https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/435 Fri, 01 May 2026 16:23:58 GMT 2026-05-01T16:23:58Z https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/32048 Diagnostic and Prescriptive Prophecy in African Independent Churches: A Distinct Ritual Healing Process. kgatle, mookgo solomon African Independent Churches express Christianity in the African context through divine healing. Hence, divine healing is popular among these churches. This article uses the ritual healing process as a theoretical framework to assess the role of prophecy in African Independent Churches. The argument is that both diagnostic and prescriptive prophecies are used in these churches as part of the divine healing process differently than mainstream Christianity, traditional healing, and modern medicine. Therefore, the African Independent Churches, unlike mainstream Christianity, do not confine divine healing only to conventional methods such as laying on of hands, but also include other rituals through diagnostic and prescriptive prophecies. The research objectives were achieved by providing background to the ritual healing process as a theoretical framework for the study. The diagnostic prophecy was discussed as part of the healing process in the African Independent Churches. Similarly, the prescriptive prophecy concerning the healing process was discussed. The aim is to demonstrate that both diagnostic and prescriptive prophecies are part of the ritual healing process in the African Independent Churches, which makes the latter have a distinctive healing process when compared to mainstream Christianity, traditional healing, and, to a certain extent, modern medicine. Data was collected by reviewing the literature on ritual healing and prophecies in the African Independent Churches. A case study evaluated ritual healing in churches such as Zion Christian Church, Saint John Apostolic Faith Mission, and the International Pentecost Holiness Church. The findings are that African Independent Churches do rely on diagnostic prophecy to trace the root cause of the problem but that such a prophecy and prescriptions should be differentiated from divination and other traditional healing methods. Mon, 27 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/32048 2025-01-27T00:00:00Z https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/32047 Racism and the Development of Pentecostalism in South Africa: A Socio-Historical Analysis. kgatle, mookgo solomon The historical role of the church in South Africa regarding the development of colonial racism and apartheid is well documented. South African Christianity and the concomitant ecclesiastical developments and counter-developments were directly influenced by the changing socio-political circumstances. The mainline or historical churches, including Catholics, Anglicans, Methodists, Congregationalists, and Presbyterians, were members of the South African Council of Churches that rejected and opposed apartheid. Some Pentecostal denominations were fundamentalists who believed personal salvation and private prayer would save the country. In practice, these Pentecostal churches were either largely silent or apolitical about the apartheid situation, or they isolated and segregated themselves. In reality, whether they acknowledged it or not, they were part and parcel of the system of white benefit and black oppression. This paper, therefore, attempts to investigate this phenomenon and also to put forward a theological praxis in the context of diversity. Sat, 16 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMT https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/32047 2024-11-16T00:00:00Z https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/32046 A Missiological Approach to Migration and Mission in the Apostolic Faith Mission International Ministry in the United Kingdom: a Pneumatological Missional Imagination kgatle, mookgo solomon The intersections of migration and mission have been studied in past, but little has been developed regarding theoretical frameworks for approaching the subject from the discipline of missiology. This calls for the development of a framework that will assist in the missiological approach to migration and mission. The current study reflects on the current missiological approaches to migration and mission to identify the existing gaps such as relevance to Pentecostalism. To fill the gaps, this article brings together three theories of pneumatological imagination, missiological spirit and missional imagination to develop a pneumatological missional imagination. The findings are that a pneumatological missional imagination is relevant for dealing with some of the challenges in migration and mission in Pentecostalism such as an inability to minister relevantly to the host countries, cultural differences, and orientation to the mission of God. These challenges are outlined by using the Apostolic Faith Mission Ministry International in the United Kingdom (AFMIMUK) as a case study. The pneumatological missional imagination is relevant for witnessing to others, speaking foreign languages, and orientation to the mission of God. Wed, 11 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMT https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/32046 2024-12-11T00:00:00Z https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/32042 Towards Holistic Healing: A Pentecostal Ecotheological Perspective kgatle, mookgo solomon Pentecostal ecotheology presents a holistic approach to healing that recognises the inherent worth of all creation and the interconnectedness of human and nonhuman creation. It draws on the Pentecostal full gospel and the experiences of biblical Pentecost to inspire an expansive pneumatology that transcends an anthropocentric soteriology and views the entire cosmos as the altar where human and nonhuman creation can tarry for and experience the sacred presence, power, and conviction of the Holy Spirit with a sense of eschatological urgency such that (inter alia) repentance from ecological transgression becomes normative. This framework envisions all of creation participating in the Spirit’s presence, power, gifting, and renewal. Leveraging Pentecostal ecotheology for holistic healing involves intentionally engaging, replicating, and contextualising the pneumatological experiences of the biblical Pentecost. It also involves embracing the pneumatological continuity between us and the biblical charismatic communities, enabling us to administer healing in contemporary environmental contexts through the Spirit’s anointing. Engaging in ecotheological intercession, overcoming the creational desacralisation that leads to the mechanistic exploitation of creation, and adopting a Spirit-born sense of solidarity with creation are further essential strategies for leveraging Pentecostal ecotheology for holistic healing. Thu, 05 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMT https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/32042 2024-12-05T00:00:00Z