Placing the poor within the current [prophetic] ministry of the Pentecostal Assemblies of God of Zambia (PAOG (Z)) pastors

Abstract

ABSTRACT The Pentecostal church in Zambia is steadily losing its understanding of the “prophetic ministry” as hundreds of prophets have surfaced and misplaced the “prophetic ministry” leaving the Pentecostal church in a limbo,as there is no correlation to the Early Church “prophetic ministry”. The Pentecostal Assemblies of God Zambia (PAOG (Z)) pastors have been affected by the emergence of Christian prophets who have no role model to look to for guidance to effectively address the plight of the poor under the New Covenant. Pastors are enticed bythe lure of wealth, power and prestige;they forsake their biblical understanding of “prophetic ministry” under the New Covenantand set out on a self-pleasure-seeking, materialistic expedition. In the end, they practice an unbalanced “prophetic ministry”(with no spiritual and social action) which is not informed by the practice of the Early Church.Still the question of how the pastors in the PAOG (Z) should place the poor within their “Prophetic ministry” under the New Covenant needs attention? For this reason,this thesis demonstrates that the “prophetic ministry” of the Early Church towards the poor as understood in Acts 11:19-30; II Corinthians 8:1-9:15; Romans 15:23-28 and Galatians 2:10 can stir pastors within the PAOG (Z) to consider a balanced “prophetic ministry” under the New Covenant essential to the ministry within the socio-economic and religious contexts of Zambia

ABSTRACT The Pentecostal church in Zambia is steadily losing its understanding of the “prophetic ministry” as hundreds of prophets have surfaced and misplaced the “prophetic ministry” leaving the Pentecostal church in a limbo,as there is no correlation to the Early Church “prophetic ministry”. The Pentecostal Assemblies of God Zambia (PAOG (Z)) pastors have been affected by the emergence of Christian prophets who have no role model to look to for guidance to effectively address the plight of the poor under the New Covenant. Pastors are enticed bythe lure of wealth, power and prestige;they forsake their biblical understanding of “prophetic ministry” under the New Covenantand set out on a self-pleasure-seeking, materialistic expedition. In the end, they practice an unbalanced “prophetic ministry”(with no spiritual and social action) which is not informed by the practice of the Early Church.Still the question of how the pastors in the PAOG (Z) should place the poor within their “Prophetic ministry” under the New Covenant needs attention? For this reason,this thesis demonstrates that the “prophetic ministry” of the Early Church towards the poor as understood in Acts 11:19-30; II Corinthians 8:1-9:15; Romans 15:23-28 and Galatians 2:10 can stir pastors within the PAOG (Z) to consider a balanced “prophetic ministry” under the New Covenant essential to the ministry within the socio-economic and religious contexts of Zambia