Voices Loud and Clear

CONTENTS:

Editors’ Introduction 1
Words of Wisdom for Global Pentecostals 3

1 Abraham “made his home in the promised land” (Heb. 11:9, NIV)
Brian Stiller 7

2 Abraham was “A stranger living in tents” (Heb 11:9, NASB)
Brian Stiller 15

3 Voices Loud and Clear: What Does This Mean? A Reflection on Acts 2:1-13
Paul Bendor-Samuel 23

Foundational Considerations for Global Pentecostalism
Kong Hee, Byron D. Klaus, and Douglas Petersen 29

4 From the Atonement to Pentecost: An Exegetical and Theological Reflection
Frank D. Macchia 33

5 Toward Spirit-Empowered Leadership: An Old Testament Foundation
Wonsuk Ma 45

6 The Voice of Truth in the Christian Encounter with World Religions
Ivan Satyavrata 59

7 The Role of Prayer and its Centrality in Sustaining the Effectiveness of Global Christianity
Young-Hoon Lee 77

Affirmations for Global Pentecostals
Kong Hee, Byron D. Klaus, and Douglas Petersen 101

8 The Role of the Church in the Context of Violence
Juan Angel Castro 109

9 In the Power of the Holy Ghost: Africa and Spirit-Empowered Christianity in the Twenty-First Century
J. Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu 121

10 Spirit Empowered Women: Why and How the Full Participation of Women in Spirit Empowered Ministry Strengthens Global Christianity
Jacqueline Grey 141

11 Unreached People Groups and the Cultural Intelligence Model
Karl Hargestam and Jennifer Hargestam 151

12 Healing God’s Creation: A Contribution of Pentecostal Understanding of Divine Healing to Ecotheology in Response to the Global Ecological Crisis
Gani Wiyono 165

13 Singapore: The Antioch of Asia?
Kong Hee 181

Contemporary Challenges Facing Global Pentecostalism
Kong Hee, Byron D. Klaus, and Douglas Petersen 205

14 The Challenges of the Church in China in the Next Decade
Kim-Kwong Chan 211

15 Women’s Leadership in Asia and Their Influence on Global Christianity
Julie Ma 227

16 Spirit-Empowered Global Christianity: The Pathway to Agency for Children at Risk
Mary Mahon 245

17 Megachurches and Public Life: How Megachurch Congregants See Life as a Whole and Live Out Their Faith in Public Life
Joel Tejedo 257

18 Digital Pneumatology: Presence and Power of the Holy Spirit in the Metaverse
Guichun Jun 283

19 Global Christianity and Gen Z: What is the Hope for the Future of Faith?
Antipas Harris 303

Contributors 325

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

Kong Hee is Co-founder and Lead Pastor, City Harvest Church, Singapore.

Byron D. Klaus was President, Assemblies of God Theological Seminary (1999-2015) and Chair, Board of Directors, The In Trust Center for Theological Schools.

Douglas Petersen is Margaret S Smith Distinguished Professor of World Mission and Intercultural Studies (Emeritus) Vanguard University and Distinguished Professor of Social Theology, School of Theology City Harvest Church, Singapore.

More than 30 years ago Harvey Cox wrote in Fire from Heaven that 21st century Christianity would thrive in the non-western world and be decidedly Pentecostal in character. That the geographical centre of Christianity has shifted is now a well-substantiated reality. Yet there is much work to be done to give Pentecostal scholarship from the Majority World voice and serious consideration. Voices Loud and Clear offers serious reflection on the opportunities and challenges facing the church, as Global Christianity’s influence grows in the Majority World and recedes in the West. Seasoned Pentecostal leaders, from both the Majority World and the West, offer valuable perspectives on why the church in the Majority World is so vital to sustaining the continued vibrancy of Global Christianity in the 21st century.

It may seem strange for a Roman Catholic to be asked to endorse a book on Pentecostal theology and ministry. But in every chapter, I found that we and our Pentecostal sisters and brothers, along with Christians of other denominations grapple with the same challenging questions in a global church concerning, prayer, salvation, ecumenism and interreligious encounter, social outreach , interculturality, women’s roles, Spirit-led leadership, eco theology, deep incarnation, children, theology and technology and engagement with young people. This book led me to imagine what we could do if we allow ourselves to listen more deeply to one another, learning to let the Spirit unleash fully her healing, unifying and vivifying power in us and our world.
Sr Barbara Reid, OP, PhD, President, Carrol Stuhlmueller, CP Distinguished Professor of New Testament Studies, Catholic Theological Union, Chicago, USA

The book will serve as a rich resource to understand the mind of grassroots populations in our nations through the eyes of Pentecostals. The leaders who met at the Global Pentecostal Summit 2023 in Singapore suggest that the highly experiential Pentecostals are transforming the way Christianity will be experienced for years to come.
Jayakumar Christian, Past National Director of World Vision India and Partnership Leader for Faith and Development World Vision International, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Voices Loud and Clear offers mature Pentecostal scholarship and pastoral wisdom as it explores the movement’s unique contributions of the past century and the contributions it can make to the twenty-first century issues such as climate change, gender issues, new forms of congregational life, strategy for mission, religious pluralism and digital realties. These essays give voice to Pentecostal scholarship from around the world and provide clear Pentecostal perspective on issues central to the movement and to Christianity as a whole.
Daniel Aleshire, Executive Director (1997-2017) Association of Theological Schools in the Unites States and Canada

My deepest desire is that the harmonious rhythm of these well thought expressions would inspire and catalyse a fresh wave of collaboration and unity in Christ’s body that we recognise and acknowledge that those who are not against us are for us.
Adeolu F. Olanrewaju, PhD, Director of Administration,
Nigeria Evangelical Missions Association (NEMA), Jos, Nigeria