Intra-African Pentecostalism and the Dynamics of Power: The Nigerian Winners' Chapel in Cameroon - Hardcover

by Amos B. Chewachong (Author), Brian Stanley (Foreword by)

In an era when African Pentecostalism stretches its vibrant mosaic across continents, Intra-African Pentecostalism and the Dynamics of Power examines the pulsating heart of this phenomenon within Africa itself. The book explores the complex interplay of faith and power through the lens of Nigeria's Winners' Chapel and its expansion into Cameroon. What compels a movement to evangelize fervently within its own continent, making it both the preacher and the audience? The book exposes the reverse missionary flow to the northern hemisphere as a backdrop for a more profound story unravelling within Africa. Here, the mother church exerts a magnetic pull, ensuring fidelity, as charismatic leaders, like Bishop Oyedepo, maintain their spiritual gravitas. It is a story not just of spirituality but of strategic moves and socio-political undercurrents that shape identities and beliefs. Employing rich narratives and rigorous research, this book looks in depth at Winners' Chapel's transnational missions, highlighting the complexities of allegiance, identity, and the propagation of the prosperity gospel. It challenges readers to see beyond conventional religious discourse, into the depths where faith intersects with culture and power. The book invites us to understand the multi-dimensional influence of African Pentecostalism and to grasp the nuances of a faith that is transforming the continent from within.

Author Biography

Amos B. Chewachong is a Cameroonian serving as parish minister at Newport-On-Tay Church of Scotland, honorary lecturer for World Christianity at the University of St. Andrews, and visiting lecturer at the Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Kumba, Cameroon. Educated in Cameroon, the Netherlands, the UK, and the USA, he held several roles within the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon before moving to the UK in 2012.