Abstract
Transmitting the Spirit in Missions is the most up-to-date history of the Church of Pentecost (CoP) in Ghana, the largest Protestant denomination in the country. The author, Amos Jimmy Markin, is an apostle of the church, in which he has served in various roles since 1991. His role as evangelism director of the denomination has afforded him access to relevant data, extensive contacts with local congregations and ministers, and information about the denomination’s affairs. The book is a revised version of his doctoral dissertation, completed at South African Theological Seminary.
The book begins with a discussion of Christianity, placing Pentecostalism in its global and Ghanaian settings (ch. 1). The author then focuses his attention on the place of Pentecostalism in Ghana’s Christian landscape (ch. 2). “A Post-Independence History of the Church of Pentecost” (ch. 3) opens the central part of his study. As he expands and updates the existing historical studies of the CoP, he also robustly engages with them. Chapter 4, “Mission and Growth in the Church of Pentecost,” offers a helpful analysis of the church’s growth. His firsthand knowledge of the denomination adds credibility to his investigation, as seen in his extensive use of data (esp. 155–81). He presents the dynamic development of the denomination as an exemplar of African Pentecostalism and its growth.
Chapter 5 examines the international expansion of the church, again serving as an example of African Pentecostal mission expansion. It is perhaps the most impressive part of the book. As the African Christian presence in many Western countries is well known and studied, one may assume that the global expansion of the CoP is simply an outgrowth of migration. The first half of the chapter, however, makes it clear that the church’s mission activities have been intentional. As early as the 1950s, its missionaries and itinerant evangelists began traveling to neighboring countries, such as Togo, Benin, and Côte d’Ivoire. In North Africa the church has reached Libya and Tunisia. Eventually the CoP arrived in twenty countries. Among the CoP entities outside of the continent, the author allocates ample space to its operation in the United Kingdom (206–18), making clear the significance of that country as a primary immigration destination for Ghanaians. The CoP-UK now serves as a valuable resource for the church’s move to other Western countries, including the United States, Canada, and Western Europe. The church presence outside of Africa and the West includes Asia (Israel, India, Nepal, and Japan) and Latin America (Brazil).
The last chapter of the main discussion outlines the theological shaping of the CoP, titled “Spirit and Mission,” which, not surprisingly, the author presents as an example for a “Theology of Pentecostal Growth in Africa.” The book concludes with a summary and conclusions (ch. 7). Two appendixes include the annual mission report form (presumably by the denominational director to the denomination) and photos of historical value.
The book has significant value in several areas. First, the denomination has an up-to-date history to capture memories and to plan for the future. Second, the author has intentionally positioned the CoP in the context of African and global Christianity. Third, the church serves as a useful example of an equally crucial role played by the national founder (Joseph Egyir-Painstil) and missionary partner (James McKeown), although we read more about the latter than the former. Fourth, as the study examines its growth, mission engagement, and the undergirding theology, the CoP is a suitable case study to explore the role of African Pentecostalism in global mission, both through intentional evangelistic activities and through migration. The study affirms that both are God’s agencies in bringing and strengthening the Christian message, and in this process West African churches have much to offer. The global nature of the study is found in more than the CoP’s global presence: its history and theology can inspire the world church. At the same time, it will need to continue charting new ways of living and serving through Spirit-given sensitivity.