Abstract
The complex nature of spirituality within church missions continues to shape both secular and theological understandings of faith, identity, and culture. Within this dynamic, African Pentecostalism has emerged as a significant force in the Global South and beyond, prompting a reassessment of how spirituality, cultural relativism, and historical consciousness intersect in reverse mission movements. This paper examines how African Pentecostal churches negotiate cultural and spiritual boundaries in Southeast Asia, with a particular focus on Thailand. It explores how African Pentecostal spirituality—deeply rooted in communal worship, prayer, and charismatic expression—interacts with diverse cultural and religious contexts in host societies. Employing an ethnographic case study conducted in 2018, the research utilizes focus group discussions to investigate how the Church of Pentecost in Thailand interpret and embody their spirituality within a reverse mission framework. Findings reveal that the African expression of spirituality both enriches and challenges local understandings of faith, highlighting tensions between cultural adaptation and the preservation of spiritual identity. Moreover, the study identifies that disconnection from traditional roots in transnational settings can influence spiritual vitality, presenting critical missiological implications for the sustainability of African Pentecostal missions in Southeast Asia.
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Religious Community and Socialization
KEYWORDS
AFRICAN PENTECOSTALS, REVERSE MISSION, SPIRITUALITY, CULTURAL RELATIVISM, HISTORICAL CONSCIOUSNESS
