South African Pentecostal Missions: Parochial or Incarnational?

Abstract

This paper intends to unravel the historical development of South African classical Pentecostalism missions, looking at their strategies, methodologies, and options through the epochs of colonialism, apartheid, and democracy. Each of the three classical Pentecostal denominations i.e. Apostolic Faith Mission, Assemblies of God, and the Full Gospel will be referenced throughout the paper to substantiate the research question of whether South African Pentecostalism is parochial or incarnational in their missional focus and activities. From the early twentieth century when Pentecostal missions entered South African turf, colonialism hovered over its methodology and when apartheid ascended the political landscape, Pentecostal missions complied with the political ideology in their strategies. During the advent of the current era of democracy, Pentecostal missions withdrew into a laager, opting for parochial strategies, while at the same time fighting for missional incarnationality. This tension is addressed through the literature study. The socio-political involvement, social justice initiatives, and economic engagement are acts of being incarnational.