Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Birmingham, 1989. / Includes bibliographical references ((p. [279]-305)) and index.

Similar to other countries in southern Africa, the relationship between African Spiritual Churches and New Pentecostal Churches in Botswana has been characterized by considerable tension and mutual distrust. Although both movements highlight the third person of the Trinity, the Spirit of God, their followers view the world around them very differently. This study has investigated the relationship between these two types of churches by focusing on their efforts to produce unique ideologies of spiritual power in relation to the two major ideologies in the Botswana context, namely the reified Setswana worldview and the globalizing forces of Western modernity. In order to provide a careful analysis of the relationship between these movements, two churches from each group were chosen as representatives. The Hermon Church and Revelation Blessed Peace Church served as examples for the African Spiritual Churches, while Goodnews Ministries and Bible Life Ministries were the New Pentecostal subjects. Primary research methods included interviews with church leadership, questionnaires for members of each church and participant observation. Church origins, biblical hermeneutics, healing and deliverance rituals, and approaches to cultures and covenants formed the key areas of study. Creating unique “worlds of the Spirit” by means of innovative tactics, both types of churches seek to enable their followers to live well as they produce their contextualized ideologies of power. However, even though both movements lay claim to the Spirit of God as their source of power, the distinctive ideologies emerging from their sermons, technologies, rituals and symbols have brought them into conflict with one another. For African Spiritual Churches, the Spirit of God meets people in the midst of life’s struggles, providing healing and wholeness in all relationships. Their willingness to adopt certain elements of the reified Setswana worldview is a major issue in the conflict with New Pentecostal Churches. For New Pentecostals, the Spirit breaks all covenants made in the past, and empowers “born again” believers to succeed in a modern environment filled with opportunities and challenges. The key missiological concern of this study is to explore the unique efforts of these movements to contextualize the gospel message for Botswana. / Church Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / D.Th. (Missiology)

The Scriptures, as found in the Old and New Testaments, are foundational to a genuine Christian spirituality. Among the different existing approaches to spirituality, the evangelical and charismatic churches in South Africa today need to rediscover a distinctive biblical approach to spirituality for themselves in order to facilitate the discipleship of their own members. A holistic biblical spirituality can also serve society in practical ways and challenge the perceptions and practices of a South African society which is seeking to advance without religious foundations. / Philosophy and Systematic Theology / M.Th. (Christian Spirituality)

The Pentecostal and Neo-Pentecostal movements propose a subsequent to salvation Spirit baptism. This baptism is viewed as an experience in which the Spirit either confers or awakens gifts within the life of the believer. The thesis ofthis paper is that Spirit baptism occurs at conversion. Spirit filling on the other hand is one of many metaphors to describe the work of the eschatological Spirit subsequent to salvation. This distinguishing of Spirit baptism and Spirit filling is different to the Pentecostal and Neo-Pentecostal idea that Spirit baptism and Spirit filling are synonymous experiences that occur at some point subsequent to salvation. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / Th. M. (Systematic Theology)

Text in German / Summary in German and English / Die vorliegende Studie untersucht den missionarischen Gemeindeaufbau in kleinen Gemeinden anhand von acht Interviews mit Pastoren kleiner Pfingstgemeinden, welche anhand der Methode von Grounded Theory und Teilen der SWOT-Analyse ausgewertet wurden. Das Ziel dieser Arbeit ist die Diskussion um den missionarischen Gemeindeaufbau in kleinen Gemeinden anzuregen, wie auch das Potenzial kleiner Gemeinden sichtbar zu machen. Nach einer thematischen Einführung entlang eines historischen Überblicks über die Paradigmen der Weltmission und der Beleuchtung der aktuellen Diskussion um den missionarischen Gemeindeaufbau, wird nach einer kurzen Einführung der Methoden auf die Resultate der Auswertung der Interviews eingegangen. Danach werden diese anhand von SWOT analysiert. Die daraus resultierenden Strategievorschläge werden dann abschliessend ins Gespräch mit der behandelten Literatur gebracht. / The present essay investigates the missionary church building of small churches by means of eight interviews with ministers of small pentecostal churches evaluated by the method of Grounded Theory and parts of the SWOT analysis. The aim of this essay is to stimulate the discussion about the missionary church building in small churches as well as make appear the potential of small churches. A thematic introduction along with a historical survey over the paradigm of the world-wide mission and examining the current discussion about the missionary church building of the church is followed by a short introduction of the methods. Then the results of the interview evaluations are entered in and analysed by SWOT. Finally the conclusions of the strategic suggestions are brought under dialogue with the literature that has been dealt with. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / M.Th. (Missiology)

The purpose for this research journey was twofold: (1) to discover the power of certain discourses in the charismatic church context and (2) to challenge disrespectful discursive practices in order to co-operate respectful, ethical and caring ways of being. Seven leaders in charismatic churches committed themselves to this qualitative research project. The research process resulted in a confirmation by the participants that some charismatic discursive practices can be abusive and also to the acknowledgement that they too have at times fulfilled the role of abuser, even in unknowingly. This research journey ended in Hope. Hope for more transparency and trust between leaders and members, resulting in more respectful practices. / Practical Theology / M.Th. (Pastoral Therapy)

Text in Afrikaans / In hierdie studie word die boodskap van Miga 2:1-13 binne 'n raamwerk van Pinksterhermeneutiek geplaas. In hoofstuk een is die probleem gestel, naamlik: dat Pinkstermense oor die algemeen alle tekste, ongeag die aard daarvan, vergeestelik. Die hipotese van hierdie studie is egter dat indien Pinksterhermeneutiek tot sy reg kom dit nie nodig is vir Pentekostaliste om van tekste met sterk sosiale ondertone weg te skram nie. In hoofstuk twee word gese hoe die Pinksterhermeneutiek funksioneer. In hoofstuk drie word 'n agtergrondstudie van Miga gedoen, met klem op die inleidingsproblematiek. Hoofstuk vier is die eksegese van Miga 2:1-13. Die sosiologiese metode is gebruik om die teks te eksegetiseer. In hoofstuk vyf word die boodskap van Miga 2:1-13 geartikuleer. In die laaste hoofstuk word die aard van Pinkster sosiale betrokkenheid bespreek. / In this study it is attempted to put the message of Micah 2: 1-13 in a Pentecostal hermeneutical framework. In the first chapter the problem is stated namely, that Pentecostals in general tend to spiritualise biblical texts irrespective of the nature of the text. The hypothesis in this study is that if Pentecostal hermeneutics are properly applied, it will no longer be necessary for Pentecostals to avoid texts with strong social elements such as Micah 2:1-13. In chapter two it is explained how Pentecostal hermeneutics function. In chapter three a study of the background of the book Micah is done, with special emphasis on introductory problems. Chapter four is the exegesis of Micah 2:1-13. The sociological method is applied in order to highlight the social issues in the text. In chapter five the message of the text is articulated. In the last chapter the nature of Pentecostal social involvement is discussed. / Biblical and Ancient Studies / M.A. (Bybelkunde)

Moral formation is a crucial aspect of the training that young Christian leaders have to be exposed to during their education. A holistic focus was adopted to analyse the nuances of the moral self and give moral formation the focus it requires. Three major areas of the moral self namely knowledge, emotion and socialization have been investigated. The study was exploratory in nature and made use of a qualitative approach using semi-structured interviews. The data was analysed with a constructivist framework using content analysis. Findings mainly related to the three areas under focus with the impact of emotions being the most prominent. The influence of the Holy Spirit was also a key finding as charismatic emerging adults depended on his guidance during moral decision making. The data also reflected the significant interaction and overlap of the three areas exercising an influence on emerging adults’ moral decision making. / Practical Theology / M.Th. (Practical Theology)

Moral formation is a crucial aspect of the training that young Christian leaders have to be exposed to during their education. A holistic focus was adopted to analyse the nuances of the moral self and give moral formation the focus it requires. Three major areas of the moral self namely knowledge, emotion and socialization have been investigated. The study was exploratory in nature and made use of a qualitative approach using semi-structured interviews. The data was analysed with a constructivist framework using content analysis. Findings mainly related to the three areas under focus with the impact of emotions being the most prominent. The influence of the Holy Spirit was also a key finding as charismatic emerging adults depended on his guidance during moral decision making. The data also reflected the significant interaction and overlap of the three areas exercising an influence on emerging adults’ moral decision making. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M.Th. (Practical Theology)

Summary in German and English / Die vorliegende Arbeit widmet sich dem Gemeindeaufbau und der Mission von Pfingstgemeinden unter Russlanddeutschen in der UdSSR und der BRD. Leitend ist dabei die Frage, welche missiologische Praktiken und Prinzipien für den Wachstum dieser Gemeinden verantwortlich waren. Die historische Untersuchung beginnt mit der Entstehungsgeschichte der Pfingstbewegung unter den Russlanddeutschen in der UdSSR und BRD. Dabei werden vor allem die Gemeindeaufbaumethoden der Pfingstgemeinden, ihre geographischen Ausdehnung und ihre zahlenmäßige Ausweitung betrachtet. Der historische Teil der Studie bildet im weiteren Forschungsverlauf die Grundlage zur Entwicklung einer qualitative Studie der russlanddeutschen Pfingstgemeinden in der BRD. Dazu wurden mittels qualitativer Interviews Leiter aus 14 Gemeinden zu ihrer Glaubenspraxis, dem Gemeindeaufbau und ihrer Mission befragt. Auf Basis der Grounded Theory wurden die gewonnenen Daten ausgewertet, nach verschiedenen Wachstumsfaktoren geordnet und vor dem Hintergrund missionstheologischer Aspekte interpretiert. Schließlich werden die Ergebnisse aus der historischen und empirischen Untersuchung mit den gegenwärtigen missiologischen Konzepten verglichen und eine handlungsorientierte Perspektive eröffnet. Die vorliegende Studie soll als Diskussionsbeitrag zum Gemeindeaufbau und der Mission der russlanddeutschen Pfingstgemeinden in der Missiologie dienen / The present paper deals with the development and mission of the Pentecostal community of German- Russians in USSR and FRG (Federal Republic of Germany). The main purpose is which missiological practices and principles brought about the development of these communities. The historical investigation starts with the history of the origins of the Pentecostal movement among the German- Russian people in the USSR and FRG. The attention is paid to the methods of the establishment and development of the community, its geographical extension and also the numerical growth. Furthermore the historical research is the basis for the development of the qualitative study about the Pentecostal- communities of the German- Russians in FRG. Therefore leaders of 14 Pentecostal Churches were interviewed and asked about their religious practices, community development and mission. Based on the Grounded theory the collected data were classified in different growth factors and they were interpreted against the background of mission- theological aspects. Finally the results of the historical and empirical research are compared with current missiological concepts so that they open an action-orientated perspective. This study provides a basis for a debate for the community development and missionary of German- Russian Pentecostal Communities. Key Terms / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / D. Th. (Missiology)