Pentecostalism is one of the fastest-growing religious movements in the world. Groups in the United States dominated early Pentecostal histories, but recent global manifestations have expanded and complicated the definition of Pentecostalism. This volume provides a nuanced overview of Pentecostalism's various manifestations and explores what it means to be Pentecostal from the perspectives of both insiders and outsiders. Leading scholars in the field use a multidisciplinary approach to analyze the historical, economic, political, anthropological, sociological, and theological aspects of the movement. They address controversies, such as the Oneness-Trinity controversy; introduce new theories; and chart trajectories for future research. The Cambridge Companion to Pentecostalism will enable beginners to familiarize themselves with the important issues and debates surrounding the global movement, while also offering experienced scholars a valuable handbook for reference.

Using the concept of a "religious market", this volume explores how African Traditional Religions and churches within Prophetic Pentecostalism in Zimbabwe seek to attract and retain members and clients. Chapters provide extensive coverage of two of the leading churches, namely, Emmanuel Makandiwa's United Family International Church (UFIC) and Walter Magaya's Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries (PHD). Contributors also explore the strategies adopted by Pentecostalism in general, while others focus on African Traditional Religions. They show that although Prophetic Pentecostalism has gained a significant share of the market in Zimbabwe and in Southern Africa in general, it is not without controversy. In particular, it has been associated with the abuse of women and exploiting members and clients for financial gain. Innovation and Competition in Zimbabwean Pentecostalism is an important contribution to understanding the marketization of religion.

The Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG), a church of Brazilian origin, has been enormously successful in establishing branches and attracting followers in post-apartheid South Africa. Unlike other Pentecostal Charismatic Churches (PCC), the UCKG insists that relationships with God be devoid of 'emotions', that socialisation between members be kept to a minimum and that charity and fellowship are 'useless' in materialising God's blessings. Instead, the UCKG urges members to sacrifice large sums of money to God for delivering wealth, health, social harmony and happiness. While outsiders condemn these rituals as empty or manipulative, this book shows that they are locally meaningful, demand sincerity to work, have limits and are informed by local ideas about human bodies, agency and ontological balance. As an ethnography of people rather than of institutions, this book offers fresh insights into the mass PCC movement that has swept across Africa since the early 1990s.

This state-of-the-field overview of Pentecostalism around the world focuses on cultural developments among second- and third-generation adherents in regions with large Pentecostal communities, considering the impact of these developments on political participation, citizenship, gender relations, and economic morality. Leading scholars from anthropology, sociology, religious studies, and history present useful introductions to global issues and country-specific studies drawn from Latin America, Africa, Asia, and the former USSR.

Get Your Foundation Right—Then Build Toward the Sky!

A building contractor has a top priority every time he begins a construction project: to get the foundation right. He knows that’s the key to the stability and endurance of the structure he is building. If his crew lays the foundation wrong, the rest of the building might ultimately look good—but it will always have problems and will possibly never fulfill its purpose for being constructed in the first place.

That same principle is true as you build your life in Christ. You will never build strong or last long in your quest to fulfill what God has put you on the earth to accomplish unless you first focus on laying your spiritual foundation on the rock-solid truths of His Word.

In this book, author Rick Renner provides the scriptural “mortar and brick” that defines the six fundamental doctrines listed in Hebrews 6:1,2—precisely the ingredients you need to lay a sound and stable foundation for the structure called your life in Christ.

Do you recognize a need to fortify your foundation? If so, you’re holding a mighty tool in your hands right now that will help you do just that. The rich truths found within these pages will strengthen your foundation so it can hold you steady and stable as your life grows into a mighty edifice that displays God’s glory and power—just as He has always intended!

Pentecostalism has become the fastest growing Christian movement, particularly outside Europe, and Allan Heaton Anderson is one of the foremost scholars of this phenomenon. His innovative interpretation of Pentecostalism focuses on the serious contribution made by both western and Majority World participants in its development. In this second edition of his leading introductory course book, Anderson presents an updated global history of the movement, which addresses significant events and changes in recent years, and surveys important theoretical issues such as gender and society, as well as politics and economics. The book also offers a comprehensive explanation of the significance of Charismatic Christianity throughout the world, plus its effect upon the globalisation of religion and its transformation in the present century. This new edition will be an important resource for those studying Pentecostalism, Charismatic Christianity, theology and sociology of religion.

A collection of five pictures which address issues and challenges pertinent (but not exclusively so) to the Black Majority Church in the UK. They sharpen understanding of the way the BMCs have come to do church, and also challenge whether the vision is to maintain the status quo or be a prophetic church. 1. Introductory address by Bishop Joe Aldred 2. Moving beyond maintenance to mission: resisting the bewitchment of colonial Christianity by Dr Robert Beckford 3. Pentecostal Hermeneutics by Revd Ruthlyn Bradshaw 4. Women in Leadership by Dr Elaine Storkey 5. Youth Culture: Friend or Foe? By the Revd Carver Anderson.

From Justin Bieber, to Sarah Palin and Michele Bachmann, to the controversial documentary Jesus Camp (2006), the New Apostolic Reformation's influence can be seen everywhere in mainstream America. Beginning with an examination of the Latter Rain, Church Growth and Shepherding movements, this book explores how the new Reformation has become one of the most powerful movements in modern evangelical Christianity and a major influence on American political and cultural life. The author describes the New Apostolic Reformation's organization, how the movement spread and its national and international objectives.

Winner of the Pneuma Book Award 2018, from The Society for Pentecostal Studies. Pentecostalism is the most rapidly growing branch of Christianity since the 20th century, yet it does not lend itself well to a singular doctrine and there is, therefore, no single comprehensive account of Pentecostal theology worldwide. In this volume, Wolfgang Vondey suggests an account of Pentecostal theology that is genuine to Pentecostals worldwide while allowing for different adaptation and explication among the various Pentecostal groups. He argues that Pentecostal theology is fundamentally concerned with the renewal of the Christian life identified by the transforming work of the Holy Spirit and directed toward the kingdom of God. The book unfolds in two main parts illustrating the full gospel story and theology. Eleven chapters identify the spiritual underpinnings and motivations for Pentecostal theology, formulate a Pentecostal theology of action, translate, apply, and exemplify Pentecostal practices and experiences, and integrate Pentecostal theology in the wider Christian tradition.

The New Canadian Pentecostals takes readers into the everyday religious lives of the members of three Pentecostal congregations located in the Region of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. Using the rich qualitative and quantitative data gathered through participant observation, personal interviews, and surveys conducted within these congregations, Adam Stewart provides the first book-length study focusing on the specific characteristics of Canadian Pentecostal identity, belief, and practice. Stewart asserts that Pentecostalism remains an important tradition in the Canadian religious landscape - contrary to the assumptions of many Canadian sociologists and scholars of religion. Recent decreases in Canadian Pentecostal affiliation recorded by Statistics Canada are not the result of Pentecostals abandoning their congregations; rather, they are indicative of a radical transformation from traditionally Pentecostal to generically evangelical modes of religious identity, belief, and practice that are changing the ways that Pentecostals understand and explain their religious identities. The case study presented in this book suggests that a new breed of Canadian Pentecostals are emerging for whom traditional definitions and expressions of Pentecostalism are much less important than religious autonomy and individualism.

How well do you know the Holy Spirit? How real is He in your everyday life? In this new interactive guide to accompany God So Close, bestselling author and creator of the Midnight Mom Devotional community Becky Thompson invites you into a closer relationship with the Holy Spirit. In God So Close, Thompson wants to lead you into a deeper understanding of the Holy Spirit so you can have a closer connection with God, scripturally unpacking who He is and how He moves in and through the life of believers. Now in The God So Close Interactive Guidebook, you'll discover: 14 sessions that cover the entire God So Close book Additional scripture lessons and new stories Specific questions to help reflect on who the Holy Spirit is to you Designed for use by those looking for a more personal journey through God So Close Please note: This product is a companion to God So Close, for the most optimal experience it should be completed while reading the original book (purchased separately). Long gone are the days of believing that the Spirit of God only attends certain church services or speaks to or through particular people. The God So Close Interactive Guidebook will help you process his power and presence. It's for His glory that you've been given gifts to impact the world and reveal the message of Jesus.

Never has it been so crucial for us to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit's leading and for each of us to follow God's plan for our lives. It's time to shape up, friends. It's time to get serious about serving God and to be everything God wants us to be.s, but is entirely blind to all national, political, racial, social, and economic boundaries.

Unique, Powerful Call to the Front Lines of Prayer From bestselling author James W. Goll, a strategic prophetic leader in global intercessory prayer, comes an in-depth journey into the heart of what it means to be a "watchman on the wall." Designed for serious worshipers and intercessors, this unique 21-day journey will help you move to the front lines of prayer--becoming more alert to the presence of God and praying his will with confidence. With reflection questions, devotional prayers, and practical application, this book will help you * discern the specific spiritual atmosphere around you * discover the strategies of God for certain times * pray more effectively for others * understand how to intercede for current events Walking in the lifestyle of a watchman means that you can be the sentinel that God is calling his mature intercessors to be. Learn to partner with the strategies of heaven and step boldly into your calling.

Mike Bickle has known both the exhilaration and the confusion caused by ministry focused on the exercise of spiritual gifts. As a young pastor not personally inclined toward prophecy, he was taken by surprise by the upsurge of the gift in his own church. Feeling almost ambushed by God, he looked for help and advice, but with little success. Thus began an often painful journey away from "prophetic chaos" toward a clearer understanding of God's order. It is out of this experience he now writes for all those who are interested in seeing prophetic ministry developed in the church today.

Scripting Pentecost explores and develops an analysis of worship and liturgy in Pentecostal and Charismatic traditions around the world. It is organized into two main sections: history and theology, and global case studies. The first section considers early Pentecostal traditions, the influence of the Welsh revival, classical Pentecostalism, the Charismatic Renewal movement and subsequent practices up to the present day. It also provides contemporary constructive theological reflections on sung worship, sacramental theology and liturgical practices. The second section offers a selection of global case studies from America, Europe, Kenya, Myanmar, Venezuela and Papua New Guinea. These case studies focus on contemporary worship and liturgical practices and their significance for Pentecostal and Charismatic studies..

Use your spiritual authority to cancel the devil’s plans!

In our day, a powerful revelation has been released, teaching all believers how to enter the realm of breakthrough prayer and Kingdom authority—the Courts of Heaven.

As a believer operating in the courts of heaven, you have been granted the legal right to issue divine restraining orders against satan and his demons!

Through revelatory insights, Biblical examples, and supernatural testimonies, Dr. Francis Myles invites you to enter Heaven’s courtrooms, step into your place of spiritual governance, and release divine restraining orders that destroy the schemes of the enemy!

• This groundbreaking teaching will empower you to:
• Restrain the devil’s power against your life.
• Increase your spiritual authority as a judge in the Courts of Heaven.
• Identify and overcome the “Delilah Spirit” that aims at your destiny.
• Apply practices modeled by key biblical figures to issue divine restraining orders.

We have only scratched the surface of what God’s grace means!

Perhaps no other truth has experienced more controversy and counterfeit than the grace of God. The word “grace” is frequently used in the Christian community to speak of our undeserved salvation or an extra dose of spiritual strength.

But there is so much more to the grace of God. Indeed, we have only scratched the surface of the ocean that is the supernatural power of God’s grace!

In this landmark book, Phill Urena reveals that grace is, in fact, the most powerful force in the universe! But to access this supernatural power, we must understand its true meaning and learn how to apply it. Phill Urena has experienced miracle after miracle—even the dead being raised—by learning how to access the life-giving flow of God’s grace.

In Redefining Grace, you will learn how to:

• Partner with God to manifest His character and power.
• Walk in freedom from religious bondage and failure.
• Operate in the miraculous dimension of grace, releasing healing, deliverance, and miracles.
• Enjoy a deeper more intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit.
• Stop believing you are a “sinner” and start living like a “saint.”

How can people believe that the supernatural end of the world lies just around the corner when, so far, every such prediction has been proved wrong? Some scholars argue that millenarians are psychologically disturbed; others maintain that their dreams of paradise on earth reflect a nascent political awareness. In this book Damian Thompson looks at the members of one religious group with a strong apocalyptic tradition--Kensington Temple, a large Pentecostal church in London--and attempts to understand how they reconcile doctrines of the end of the world with the demands of their everyday lives. He asks such questions as: Who is making the argument that the world is about to end, and on whose authority? How is it communicated? Which members are persuaded by it? What are the practical consequences for them? How do they rationalize their position? Based on extensive interviews as well as a survey of almost 3000 members, Thompson finds existing explanations of apocalyptic belief inadequate. Although they profess allegiance to millennial doctrine, he discovers, members actually assign a low priority to the "End Times." The history of millenarianism is littered with disappointment, Thompson notes, and the lesson has largely been learned: "predictive" millenarianism--with its risky time-specific predictions of the end--has been substantially supplanted by "explanatory" millenarianism, which uses apocalyptic narratives to explain features of the contemporary world. Most apocalyptic believers, he finds, are comfortable with these lower-cost explanatory narratives that do not require them to sell their houses and head for the hills. He does uncover a handful of "textbook" millenarians in the congregation--people who are confident that Jesus will return in their lifetimes. He concludes that their atypical beliefs were influenced by their conversion experiences, individual psychology, and degree of subcultural immersion. Although much has been written about apocalyptic belief, Thompson's empirically-based study is unprecedented. It constitutes an important step forward in our understanding of this puzzling feature of contemporary religious life.

Would you like to know God’s will more clearly?

You want to follow to God’s will--but sometimes knowing what that is seems hard to
figure out. Here at last is a straightforward approach to being able to recognize God’s
will in your life, to know with more certainty the good things He has for you, what he
wants you to do and how you can live your life with more purpose, joy, significance
and blessing.

Daniel Kolenda has been actively serving the Lord since he was a teen. God has given
him keen insights through Scripture and his own experiences that will help you
discover and follow God’s will. You’ll discover practical truths that will enable you hear
His voice with more clarity and be able to make important decisions with more
confidence and assurance. Start living in a way that lines up with God’s favor. He
WANTS TO BLESS YOU! With advice that is both practical and inspiring Daniel reveals:

· Five secrets to discovering God’s will
· How to start moving in the right direction
· What to do when God says wait
· How to stay in the will of God

He also answers the following questions:

· How do I recognize God's will?
· What if God calls me to do something I don't want to do?
· What if I’ve already missed the will of God?
· If I encounter resistance, does that mean I'm out of God's will?
· How do I get from where I am now to where God wants me to be?
· What should I do now while seeking God's will?
· What if I’ve been waiting for a long time?
· How do I stay in the will of God?

Whether your journey takes you to the mission field or medical school...whether you
become a construction worker, stay-at-home mom, businessman, teacher, chef, or
pastor...YOU can experience the wonder of God’s will for your life and live His
adventure for you. It’s time to go for it!

Where is God when my suffering seems never-ending? Can I really find joy in this fallen world? This powerful book confronts these questions with stories of the author's near-death experience, a daughter's suicide attempt, mental illness, and numerous other gripping stories that demonstrate not only that God is present when we need him, but that through our trials we can find true intimacy with him. Author Randy Kay recounts how, as a former devout agnostic, he survived a near-fatal accident while searching for the truth--and when he met the One he sought to disprove, his journey changed from a life of extreme trials into one of genuine joy. In these pages, Kay offers his testimony to show readers how God uses suffering and brokenness to build an intimate and indestructible relationship with him, while breaking down barriers and ushering the reader into an authentic relationship with the Author of love.

Jesus’ disciples heard every message, witnessed every miracle and deliverance and healing and we don’t see one recorded time where they asked Him, “Teach us to preach,” or “Teach us to heal,” or “Teach us to deliver.” After spending three and a half years with the Son of God in the flesh, they cried out to Him, “We want Your prayer life… Teach Us to Pray!” They understood that Jesus’ public life of ministry was the result of His private life of prayer with the Father.

It’s in light of this reality that we must begin to shift all of our discipleship and training of the next generation. We are living in turbulent days, therefore we must get back to the foundational realities of intimate connection with heaven. We must come out of the swirl of noise and busyness and distraction and reconnect to heaven so that we will see heaven’s invasion into the earth.

Corey Russell has given himself to 30-plus hours of prayer a week for the last 20 years, and longs to take the lessons he has learned through all the seasons of life and impart them to as many as will receive.

Discover how:

• To tune out the noise, distractions, and busyness of our culture and cultivate hours at the feet of Jesus
• To allow the Lord to remove all of the props we build our lives on and hear His voice
• To ascend to the throne of God and see His power manifested in our families, our circumstances, and our world
• To persevere in prayer when you hit walls of resistance
• To be sent with authority and power and compassion into the world around you
• To build a life of consistent prayer that hosts the anointing of prayer
• To go from being an echo of someone else’s message to becoming a voice in your generation
• To develop a deeper intimacy with the Holy Spirit+BB36