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The Global Conversation

Did Jesus Wear Designer Robes?

The gospel preached in Africa's New Pentecostal Churches ends up leaving the poor more impoverished than ever.


The dramatic growth of non-Western Christianity across Africa is due largely to the flourishing New Pentecostal Churches. Why has the prosperity gospel, imported from the West and preached in these churches, found such fertile soil in Africa? In the second installment of the Global Conversation, Ghanaian seminary professor Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu explains how these churches' peculiar emphases resonate with tribal religious backgrounds. Unfortunately, the prosperity gospel leaves behind the rural poor and other marginalized people who have little access to wealth and success. The gospel of Jesus Christ, on the other hand, glorifies neither poverty nor prosperity, but instead offers deliverance, forgiveness, grace, and restoration.

For thousands of believers in Ghana, Jericho Hour is the place to be if you are looking for a breakthrough. Founded in 1998, the prayer meeting—where, according to its slogan, "giant solutions await your giant problems"—is hosted by Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams and his Action Chapel International in the Prayer Cathedral on Spintex Road in Accra. On Thursday mornings 3,000 people make their way to the cathedral, where they are encouraged to pray for breakthroughs in business dealings and employment, international travel, money to build houses and buy cars, help with finding a spouse or bearing a child, and, when experiencing setbacks, vengeance on those spiritually responsible.

Founded by Duncan-Williams in 1979 as Christian Action Faith Ministry International, the church was the first of a new stream of Pentecostal churches that have since flourished in Ghana and across Africa. Duncan-Williams's mentor was the late Nigerian Benson Idahosa, who, before he died in the late '90s, conferred upon himself the titles "Professor" and "Archbishop." Duncan-Williams's own transition—from "Pastor" to "The Rev. Dr." to "Bishop" and now "Archbishop"—reflects his growing influence, though these elevations must be understood as vivid examples of the blessings he promises to those who exercise faith.

Duncan-Williams's "blessings" are not just nominal. Though his 26-year marriage ended in 2005 (after American pastor T. D. Jakes tried to mediate much-publicized efforts at reconciliation), he married a prominent African American diplomat turned entrepreneur in 2008. Their lifestyle, including a home many describe as palatial, might not be exceptional in the United States, but in Ghana, lavish displays of wealth are usually the domain of politicians believed to achieve their material success by stealing from the public purse. Rumors about where the couple's wealth comes from are probably inevitable.

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The Conversation Continues: Readers' Comments
Displaying 1 - 5 of 51 comments | See all comments
ESTIMADA HERMANA RUTH: Desde El Salvador, Elisa de Rodriguez de RED VIVA le saluda y felicita por el excelente articulo. Usted ha hecho varias fotografias en su articulo de lo que estamos viviendo en El Salvador y el crecimiento del 38.2% de evangelicos (segun la UCA)http://www.edehm.net/382.htm y este crecimiento es numerico, como Iglesia NO SOMOS RESPUESTA A LA SOCIEDAD. Los pastores se estan enriqueciendo en base a predicaciones de PROSPERIDAD PARA ELLOS,mientras los feligresos padecen de hambre. Espero saludarla personalmente cuando visite El Salvador. Bendiciones Elisa de Rodriguez y todo el equipo de trabajo.
Elisa de Rodriguez, El Salvador
November 21, 2009
11:01a
Well said Christine! Suffering when understood in the context of Jesus life and teaching is truly a gift. Perhaps one that we would not at first request, but when we can experience the power of the Gospel as the way to cope with it rather than eliminate it we can truly embrace it. This truth about the Gospel is certainly part of the "whole" Gospel. How was your teaching received?
Pastor Andy Sodestrom, USA
November 21, 2009
9:44a
Last night I spoke to a group at a Presbyterian church in southern Taiwan on, "The present that no body wants." i.e. suffering! The reason I spoke on that topic is that Taiwan too, is increasingly infected with non-biblical ideas. How one can follow Jesus, who promised persecution as an evidence that we are truly his disciples, and then fail to talk about such things is a mystery to me. We discussed the reason that suffering is a gift. It can grow patience, trust, dependence, awareness of weakness, humility, contentment, bring glory to Jesus' name, encourage others to stand firm, and generally grows mature believers as gold going through refining. I would not want the curse of prosperity or the kind of 'blessing' that is offered. I much prefer to accept Jesus' presents which are designed to make my like Him and so bring Him glory.
Christine Dillon, Taiwan
November 20, 2009
8:51p
Jesus never said you couldn't be rich as long as you did for the poor. He said the poor are always with you. And, due to human nature, some poor you can help, some poor doesn't matter what you do for them, you can't help them. What these African churches need to do is instead of tripping for a blessing, put that money together and help a family learn to support itself, one family at a time, than you end up with the whole village. Everybody has a right to a decent living, a roof over your head and enough food to have leftovers for the family pets. As they raise up the first generation, the children will be able to be educated and live even better and so on to each generation. Help the person and his family first. That 's how we got to live better in the U.S. The Church was there to help its members not mislead its members.
Original Anna, USA
November 18, 2009
9:46p
Christians in the developed world who choose a life of simplicity in response to their culture's over-indulgence and luxury should consider the Ugandan Christians' choice to respond differently to THEIR cultural context of poverty and struggle. That said, I do believe our Christian faith, the Scriptures, and Jesus himself, 'error' on the side of the poor and marginalized so that's where I'm putting my money.
Matt Cottrell, US
November 18, 2009
11:04a

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The Conversation Video
The Conversation Begins
Selected writers respond to J. Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu from around the globe.

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