Assemblies of God Theological Seminary

It is important to state that many Pentecostal and Charismatic Christians in Ghana are confounded by why Jesus in his capacity as God would need the empowerment of the Spirit in his earthly ministry. This presupposes that God sent him for a purpose and he needed divine approval and empowerment in order to carry out that purpose. Jesus sets the stage for today’s Christians and ministers of the gospel to acknowledge the fact that fulfilling a God-given task depends on how one aligns with the Spirit of the Lord. The emphasis on the anointing of kings, priests, and prophets in the Old Testament to carry out their individual assignments is an important theology that Luke also affirms in his narrative in Luke 4:18-19. This paper contends that the Holy Spirit in the ministry of Jesus is a vital theological element to be considered especially at the time when many who claim to be prophets and messengers of God are exhibiting various spiritual dynamics. The paper concludes that understanding the Holy Spirit in the ministry of Jesus is critical to shaping the perspective of Christian ministers today. Keywords: Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches in Ghana, Holy Spirit, Jesus’ Ministry, Anointing.

Abstract This article investigates the various ways in which Pentecostals read and interpreted the narrative of the woman whom Jesus healed of an “issue of blood.” It explores the manner in which she and her experience are described and explained by Pentecostals in articles and sermons from the beginning of the movement to the present day. The article attempts to survey and analyze the different interpretations and how they have changed over time. While early pentecostal literature used the narrative as an opportunity to engage in anti-physician rhetoric and to defend the doctrine of healing in the atonement, later literature expanded the interpretation of the woman’s issue beyond physical healing to include other “issues” a person might face. Present throughout the literature is an emphasis on the woman’s faith and her personal agency to bring about the miracle. However, also present are negative interpretations of the woman and her “issue of blood.” Finally, the article looks forward to other possible interpretive strategies.

This study examines how international directors in religiously-affiliated nongovernmental organizations (RNGOs) cope with workplace stress. Interviews were conducted with directors from eight RNGOs who oversee programs in seven international regions. Findings reveal they experience three major stressors: difficulties communicating with others abroad, lack of funds, and dealing with constant travel. Overall, directors encounter these unique stressors due to the international demands of RNGO work, including international travel, fundraising for international programs, and intercultural communication. Moreover, they cope with stressors by striving for physical/mental health, pursuing/providing education, putting family first, seeking support, facilitating stakeholder communication, and planning ahead. Directors rely on problem-centered and emotion-centered coping, but they also describe the beneficial outcomes of avoidance-centered coping. Since only a few directors use prayer as a coping strategy, RNGOs must recognize that employees rely on secular and spiritual coping when developing organizational practices and programs related to stress management.