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A theological and missiological study of the role of the miraculous in the doctrinal beliefs and practices of the Church of Pentecost, Ghana
Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2025.
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| Language: | English |
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2025
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| _version_ | 1867613892550590464 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Ayisi-Kumi, Isaac |
| author2 | White, Peter |
| author_browse | Ayisi-Kumi, Isaac White, Peter |
| author_facet | White, Peter Ayisi-Kumi, Isaac |
| author_sort | Ayisi-Kumi, Isaac |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/134501 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:43:21.794Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/134501 A theological and missiological study of the role of the miraculous in the doctrinal beliefs and practices of the Church of Pentecost, Ghana Ayisi-Kumi, Isaac White, Peter Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Practical Theology & Missiology. Pentecostal churches -- Doctrines -- Ghana Pentecostalism -- Ghana Healing -- Religious aspects -- Christianity -- Ghana Spiritual healing -- Christianity -- Ghana Divine healing -- Ghana UCTD Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. Ayisi-Kumi, I. 2025. A Theological and Missiological Study of the Role of the Miraculous in the Doctrinal Beliefs and Practices of the Church of Pentecost, Ghana. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/5a6eee08-755f-4341-b453-a757c6a034d1 ENGLISH SUMMARY: This study was undertaken in response to growing concerns among members of the Church of Pentecost (CoP) on the contemporary relevance and occurrence of miracles, which were widely reported in the Church’s formative years. The research aimed to examine critically the role of the “miraculous” within the doctrinal beliefs and ministerial practices of the CoP, with particular attention to its theological and missiological implications. The theoretical framework guiding the study was Stephen Bevans’ six models of contextual theology—the translation model, anthropological model, praxis model, synthetic model, transcendental model, and counter-cultural model. These models provided a comprehensive framework for understanding how theological concepts, particularly those related to the miraculous, are shaped by and respond to cultural and historical contexts. To gain a nuanced understanding of the miraculous within the CoP, the study employed a phenomenological approach, focusing on the lived experiences of individuals who have encountered or ministered the miraculous, thereby grounding the theological analysis in real-life narratives. Data collection was qualitative and multi-method, incorporating documentary analysis, personal narratives, semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions. Interviews were conducted with twenty active and ten retired ministers of the CoP, selected through purposive sampling. Additionally, four focus groups, each comprising fifteen participants, were convened to enrich the data set. Thematic analysis was applied to the transcribed interviews and discussions, allowing for a nuanced interpretation of the data in relation to the study’s objectives. The findings of the study are multifaceted. Historically, the miraculous has played a foundational role in the identity and growth of the CoP, though its expression has undergone significant transformation over time. Theologically, the miraculous is deeply embedded in Pentecostal doctrine, particularly in the areas of divine healing and spiritual gifts and is supported by both biblical texts and theological reflection. The study also revealed a dynamic interplay between Pentecostal healing practices and both orthodox medical and traditional healing systems, highlighting a contextual theological approach that embraces complementarity rather than exclusivity. From a missiological perspective, the miraculous continues to serve as a vital instrument in the Church’s evangelistic and pastoral mission, fostering spiritual renewal and community engagement. However, the research also identified several factors that inhibit the manifestation of the miraculous in contemporary settings, including secularisation, theological scepticism and institutional limitations. In conclusion, this study offers a significant contribution to Pentecostal scholarship by addressing a critical gap in the understanding of the miraculous within African Pentecostalism. It offers practical recommendations aimed at sustaining and revitalising the role of the miraculous in the CoP and contributes to broader theological and missiological discourse. The research affirms that the miraculous remains a vital and transformative element in the life and mission of the CoP and, by extension, in global Pentecostalism. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie is onderneem in reaksie op groeiende bekommernisse onder lede van die Kerk van Pinkster (KvP) oor die hedendaagse relevansie en voorkoms van wonderwerke, wat wyd gerapporteer is in die Kerk se vormingsjare. Die navorsing het ten doel gehad om die rol van die “wonderbaarlike” binne die leerstellige oortuigings en bedieningspraktyke van die KvP krities te ondersoek, met spesifieke aandag aan die teologiese en missiologiese implikasies daarvan. Die teoretiese raamwerk wat die studie gelei het, was Stephen Bevans se ses modelle van kontekstuele teologie—die vertaalmodel, antropologiese model, praksismodel, sintetiese model, transendentale model, en teen-kulturele model. Hierdie modelle het ’n omvattende raamwerk gebied om te verstaan hoe teologiese konsepte, veral die wat verband hou met die wonderbaarlike, gevorm word deur en reageer op kulturele en historiese kontekste. Om ’n genuanseerde begrip van die wonderbaarlike binne die KvP te verkry, het die studie ’n fenomenologiese benadering gevolg, met fokus op die geleefde ervarings van individue wat die wonderbaarlike ervaar het of daarmee bedien het, en sodoende die teologiese analise gegrond in werklike lewensverhale. Dataversameling was kwalitatief en multi-metodologies, en het dokumentere analise, persoonlike narratiewe, semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude en fokusgroepbesprekings ingesluit. Onderhoude is gevoer met twintig aktiewe en tien afgetrede bedienaars van die KvP, gekies deur doelgerigte steekproefneming. Daarbenewens is vier fokusgroepe, elk bestaande uit vyftien deelnemers, byeengeroep om die datastel te verryk. Tematiese analise is toegepas op die getranskribeerde onderhoude en besprekings, wat ’n genuanseerde interpretasie van die data in verhouding tot die studie se doelwitte moontlik gemaak het. Die bevindinge van die studie is veelsydig. Histories het die wonderbaarlike ’n fundamentele rol gespeel in die identiteit en groei van die KvP, alhoewel die uitdrukking daarvan oor tyd beduidende transformasie ondergaan het. Teologies is die wonderbaarlike diep gewortel in Pinksterleer, veral op die gebied van goddelike genesing en geestelike gawes, en word ondersteun deur beide Bybelse tekste en teologiese nadenke. Die studie het ook ’n dinamiese wisselwerking tussen Pinkstergenesingspraktyke en beide ortodokse mediese en tradisionele genesingstelsels aan die lig gebring, wat ’n kontekstuele teologiese benadering uitlig wat komplementariteit eerder as uitsluiting omarm. Vanuit ’n missiologiese perspektief dien die wonderbaarlike steeds as ’n belangrike instrument in die Kerk se evangelistiese en pastorale sending, en bevorder geestelike hernuwing en gemeenskapsbetrokkenheid. Die navorsing het egter ook verskeie faktore geidentifiseer wat die manifestasie van die wonderbaarlike in hedendaagse kontekste inhibeer, insluitend sekularisasie, teologiese skeptisisme en institusionele beperkings. Ten slotte bied hierdie studie ’n betekenisvolle bydrae tot Pinksterwetenskap deur ’n kritieke leemte in die begrip van die wonderbaarlike binne Afrika-Pinksterisme aan te spreek. Dit bied praktiese aanbevelings wat daarop gemik is om die rol van die wonderbaarlike in die KvP te onderhou en te herleef, en dra by tot breer teologiese en missiologiese diskoers. Die navorsing bevestig dat die wonderbaarlike ’n lewensbelangrike en transformerende element bly in die lewe en sending van die KvP en, by uitbreiding, in globale Pinksterisme. Doctoral 2025-12-11T10:13:42Z 2025-12-11T10:13:42Z 2025-12 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/134501 en Stellenbosch University xiv, 280 pages : illustrations, includes annexures application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Pentecostal churches -- Doctrines -- Ghana Pentecostalism -- Ghana Healing -- Religious aspects -- Christianity -- Ghana Spiritual healing -- Christianity -- Ghana Divine healing -- Ghana UCTD Ayisi-Kumi, Isaac A theological and missiological study of the role of the miraculous in the doctrinal beliefs and practices of the Church of Pentecost, Ghana |
| title | A theological and missiological study of the role of the miraculous in the doctrinal beliefs and practices of the Church of Pentecost, Ghana |
| title_full | A theological and missiological study of the role of the miraculous in the doctrinal beliefs and practices of the Church of Pentecost, Ghana |
| title_fullStr | A theological and missiological study of the role of the miraculous in the doctrinal beliefs and practices of the Church of Pentecost, Ghana |
| title_full_unstemmed | A theological and missiological study of the role of the miraculous in the doctrinal beliefs and practices of the Church of Pentecost, Ghana |
| title_short | A theological and missiological study of the role of the miraculous in the doctrinal beliefs and practices of the Church of Pentecost, Ghana |
| title_sort | theological and missiological study of the role of the miraculous in the doctrinal beliefs and practices of the church of pentecost ghana |
| topic | Pentecostal churches -- Doctrines -- Ghana Pentecostalism -- Ghana Healing -- Religious aspects -- Christianity -- Ghana Spiritual healing -- Christianity -- Ghana Divine healing -- Ghana UCTD |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/134501 |
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