Skip to Main Content

ORU Press - Book page - Proclaiming Christ: About

 
 

Proclaiming Christ in the Power of the Holy Spirit
Opportunities & Challenges

How may the church claim that Christ is the only Savior in a world in which tolerance and relativism are prized and societies are increasingly religiously plural? How does the Spirit empower believers and communities in their daily life and work as they face formidable cultural and ideological challenges?

How may the church claim that Christ is the only Savior in a world in which tolerance and relativism are prized and societies are increasingly religiously plural? How does the Spirit empower believers and communities in their daily life and work as they face formidable cultural and ideological challenges?

Such questions these essays answer. Half originated at "Proclaiming Christ in the Face of Challenges," the 2018 Scholarsʼ Consultation of Empowered21, a global network of Spirit-empowered churches and communities. This Consultationʼs location in Johannesburg accounts for eight essaysʼ focusing on distinctively African concerns; another four center on Asia and the Global South and three on Europe. Others address Western concerns of modernism, postmodernism, secularism, and pluralism, while several probe biblical and historical-theological foundations of Christian faith and its Spirit-empowered proclamation.

Readers will benefit from exploring the universality of the Christian gospel from its first proclamation and its proven adaptability to the cultural pluralism that is todayʼs global reality, a flexibility that is faithful to Godʼs revelation and effective in imparting divine life where proclaimed and believed.

Contents

  • Foreword by George O. Wood
  • Preface by the Editors
  • Introduction by Wonsuk Ma and Emmanuel Anim
  • Part I. Establishing the Foundation
    • 1. The Name of Jesus in Luke-Acts with Special Reference to the Gentile Mission by James B. Shelton
    • 2. Only Jesus Is Savior and Lord? How the New Testament Responds to Religious and Political Pluralism by Mark E. Roberts
    • 3. A New Antinomianism: Universal Salvation and All-Inclusive Grace in Contemporary Charismatic Teaching by Michael McClymond
    • 4. Pentecostalism, Primal Spirituality, and Secularism by Allan H. Anderson
    • 5. “And These Signs Shall Follow. . .”: Authenticity and Authentication of the Gospel in the Early Church by Clayton Coombs
    • 6. The New Pluralism: The Place of the Christian Church in the 21st Century by Samuel Thorpe and J. Elias Stone
  • II. Proclaiming the Uniqueness of Christ in the World
    • 7. The Uniqueness of Jesus in African Culture: An African Pentecostal Perspective by Emmanuel Anim
    • 8. “God Has Made Him Both Lord and Messiah. . .”: An African Perspective on Christology and the Pentecost Day Message by J. Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu
    • 9. Power Encounter in the Proclamation of God’s Word by Opoku Onyinah
    • 10. Towards a Contextual and Effective Engagement of the African Spirit World by Christian Tsekpoe
    • 11. “No Other Name": Presenting Jesus Christ in Multi-Cultural and Religious Environments by Sylvia Owusu-Ansah and Philip Adjei-Acquah
    • 12. The Spirit-Empowered Church: God’s Answer to a Postmodern World: A Sermon by Sakkie Olivier
    • 13. Integrating Christianity in the Traditional Religious Milieu: The South African Experience by Dela Quampah
    • 14. Redundancy in the African Cosmos: Witnessing Jesus Christ as the Only Savior through the Power of the Holy Spirit by Lord Elorm-Donkor
    • 15. Witnessing to Jesus Christ as the Only Savior through the Power of the Holy Spirit: An Asian Experience by Julie C. Ma
    • 16. Christian Marginality and the Holy Spirit: A Pakistan Encounter by Zia Paul and Rebecca Paul
    • 17. The Challenge of a “Displacing” Secularism: A Tactical Response by Hindu and Christian Traditions in India by Brainerd Prince and Jeffrey R. Thomas
    • 18. Fresh Fire, Fresh Wind: Stories of Young African Pentecostals Engaging Secularism in Europe by Harvey Kwiyani
    • 19. Witnessing to Christ in Eastern Europe: An Assessment of Context by Marcel V. Măcelaru
    • 20. Refugee Ministry in the Contrasting Settings of Greece and Germany by John Thompson
    • 21. Witnessing to Christ Among Urban Youths: A Bogota Experience by Richard Harding and Manuela Castellanos
    • 22. Postmodernism, Pluralism, and Pneumiotics: Three Major Influences on the Spirit-Empowered Church by Michael Rakes
  • The Gift of Christ’s Uniqueness: Postscript by Rebekah Bled
  • Contributors
  • Select Bibliography

“[This book offers] deep reflection on Pentecostal theology and sensitive evaluation of Pentecostal practices by scholars and practitioners, with one passion: to exalt the name of Christ in this complex era, among people of different faiths and contexts. This book stands as a witness to the presence and power of the Holy Spirit through the ages till today; for all Christians, whether associated with the Pentecostal Church or not.”
—Loun Ling Lee, Editor, Lausanne Global Analysis

“Pentecostals and charismatics have long regarded Acts 2 as a paradigm for ministry in every age. The book you hold in your hands demonstrates the persistence of the Acts 2 paradigm in today's Spirit-Empowered Movement (SEM). The result is a fascinating look at the theology and practice of Spirit-filled Christianity worldwide.”
—Dr. George O. Wood, Chairman, World Assemblies of God Fellowship; Global Co-Chair, Empowered21

Wonsuk Ma is a Korean Pentecostal, and he serves as Dean and Distinguished Professor of Global Christianity at Oral Roberts University, Tulsa, Oklahoma. He previously served as Executive Director of the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies, Oxford, UK. He serves as Co-chair of Scholars Consultation, Empowered21..

Emmanuel Anim serves as the Director of the School of Theology, Mission, and Leadership at Pentecost University College in Accra, Ghana and is an Associate Minister of the Pentecost International Worship Center. He was formerly Principal of the Pentecost Theological Seminary at Gomoa Fetteh in Ghana. He is a visiting lecturer at the Akrofi-Christaller Institute of Theology, Mission and Culture in Ghana, and the All Nations Christian College in the United Kingdom.

Available now:

opens new window follett icon opens new windowopens new windowAmazon icon

International & translation rights available

Price:
$28.99
ISBN:
978-1-950971-03-9 (print), 978-1-950971-05-3 (ebook)
Published:
May 31, 2020
Copyright:
2020
Pages:
496
Size:
6 x 9 in.

© ORU Press, 2019–2021. All Rights Reserved