Abstract
This chapter traces the history of Zimbabwean Pentecostal Christianity from its genesis to the present picture. Consequently, it first discusses the introduction of the Apostolic Faith Mission in Zimbabwe before moving on to discuss some of the Pentecostal churches born out of this church. This is followed by a discussion of the 1980s and 1990s explosion of American type Pentecostal churches and the current Pentecostal charismatic churches that seem to be sweeping the Christian landscape in the country.
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Notes
- 1.
Writing from a South African perspective, Marius Nel (2015) provides some detailed history and theology of the AFM.
- 2.
www.afm-newlifeassembly.org accessed 29 June 2012.
- 3.
www.bishopmanjoro.org/pages/aboutbishop.html, accessed 8/08/12.
- 4.
www.nuparadigm.co.za/Bond, accessed 8/08/12.
- 5.
www.fullgospelchurch.org.za/index.php?pg=content&mp=about&sp=history, accessed 8/08/12.
- 6.
www.africanrevival.com, accessed 13/08/12
- 7.
www.celebrate.org, accessed 13/08/12.
- 8.
- 9.
http://ufiministries.org, accessed 15/08/12.
- 10.
The child was called a miracle baby because he was conceived and born within three days.
- 11.
For example, at one of his services he declared (and his followers say this was fulfilled), “Legs will grow, teeth will come out, some with extra fat will instantly lose weight, those bald heads will receive hair, and some of you will find gold at your houses. I see some people going on for months with their groceries resurfacing and some fuel gauges increasing while you drive” (The News Day, Zimbabwe Daily Newspaper, 21 January 2013). Whether this really happens is debatable although some of his followers say the prophecies have been fulfilled in their lives.
- 12.
For a detailed discussion of the characteristics mentioned here, see L. Togarasei (2005:349–375).
- 13.
The names appeal to the international world. Some examples are: Winners Chapel International, Worldwide Family of God Churches, Forward in Faith International, etc.
- 14.
Some Pentecostals, however, distinguish between being born again and being baptized in the Spirit. Whereas for some being born again is associated with glossalalia, for others water baptism leads to being born again with glossalalia coming as one of the spiritual gifts bestowed upon believers.
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Togarasei, L. (2018). History and Characteristics of Pentecostal Christianity in Zimbabwe. In: Togarasei, L. (eds) Aspects of Pentecostal Christianity in Zimbabwe. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-78565-3_3
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