Faith and Culture: the Pentecost International Worship Centre and the Growth Patterns of the Church of Pentecost.
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Date
2013-08
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Abstract
This thesis examines the causes and content of the discontent among some of the indigenous members of the CoP as a result of the introduction of the PIWCs. The thesis notes that, the Church of Pentecost begun as an indigenous church and as the church grew, there were calls for reforms by some members of the church. These members, predominantly the youth and intellectuals demanded that, reforms be made in the church’s traditions and practices to reflect modern trends in worship. The calls have not been welcomed by the older members and leaders of the church who see any reform as a deviation from cherished traditions handed down from the founding fathers of the Church of Pentecost. The thesis also explores what accounted for the many youth and intellectuals leaving the church and it reveals that leadership, content of worship and some of the traditions of the church contributed to the exodus of the youth to other churches. The emergence of the Neo-Pentecostal or Charismatic Movement on the Ghanaian scene also played a major role in the exodus. The research shows that, the PIWCs have contributed immensely to the growth of the church in the areas of finance, human resource development and more importantly, retaining a lot of youth and intellectuals in the church. Further observation by this research indicates that despite their contribution, they have not fared so well in evangelism and discipleship, social responsibility and community church planting. This thesis recommends that to reduce the discontent between the PIWCs and the local assemblies and also help the Church of Pentecost to sustain her growth, leadership training and education should be taken seriously by the church. It also recommends that, evangelism and discipleship and the language policy of the PIWCs should be reviewed. The research acknowledges that, culture is dynamic and change is also inevitable. Yet, the Church of Pentecost should tread cautiously as she introduces changes in her age old traditions and practices so that these cherished values are not sacrificed on the altar of modernity.
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A Thesis submitted to the Graduate School, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi College of Arts And Social Sciences Department of Religious Studies in Partial Fulfillment of the requirement for the Degree of Master of Philosophy (Religious Studies),