African indigenous religion. Clarke’s vast knowledge of world Christianity enables him to strategically chart the hope of a bright future for scholars seeking to know with intimacy the yearnings of an authentic African pentecostal theology.” —Leonard Lovett, Founding Dean emeritus, C.H. Mason Theological Seminary “This is an important contribution to the emerging literature on pentecostal theology in Africa. It is therefore an unavoidable read for all who want to understand contemporary African Christianity generally and Pentecostalism in particular.” —J. Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu, Baeta-Grau Professor of African Christianity and Pentecostal Theology, Trinity Theological Seminary, Accra, Ghana “This is a very important contribution, not only to the understanding of African pentecostal Theology, but also to the understanding of what could be legitimately considered as the ‘soul’ of African Christianity. It is my hope that the publishers would arrange to make the book to be easily accessible to institutions in Africa. It is by doing so that we could expect a more vibrant and holistic dialogue.” —Emmanuel K Larbi Founder and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Regent University College of Science and Technology, Ghana “This fascinating and provocative collection of seminal essays about novel theological currents within African Pentecostalism introduces the reader to fresh contextualized ways to explore theological topics such as Christology, pneumatology, eschatology, biblical hermeneutics, social action, and religious pluralism. Throughout this fine book, African theologians and perspectives, Pentecostal and non-Pentecostal, are engaged critically and imaginatively in order to illumine the theological ferment and diversity within contemporary African Pentecostalism.” —David D. Daniels, Henry Winters Luce Professor of World Christianity, McCormick Theological Seminary, Chicago, Illinois
Alexander, (Author) Stories of Transformation and Hope Mary’s Gospel Imprint: Wipf and Stock ISBN 13: 978-1-62564-544-9 / 136 pp. / $17.00 Retail / Trade Paper Publication Date: 1/8/14 Main Category: THEOLOGY Author Bio Alexander is a lecturer in counseling at the Australian Catholic University and Christian Heritage College, and also teaches in Asia. She is a spiritual director and formator, and a companion of Northumbria Community, Brisbane. Her other books include A Glimpse of the Kingdom in Academia (2013), Practicing the Presence of Jesus (2011), and You Can’t Play the Game if You Don’t Know the Rules (2006). Synopsis What if the people I know were to be transformed by an encounter with the cosmos? The foreign woman who argues with the doctor, the homeless man on the street corner, the corrupt politician, the fisherman risking his life to make a living. What if I met up with them in a decade and found that each had experienced a life transformation after meeting the God-Man, Jesus, who touched them in the deepest core of their being? And what if one of Jesus’ companions was to meet them and listen to their story, the story of their life and their encounter with the one who brought transformation? This book collects the imagined stories of men and women of whom we know very little, only the bare bones of their encounters. It is a book for the foreign woman, the homeless man, the politician, and the fisherman—any of us who want to deeply encounter a God who meets us as a real person. The stories touch us because they are refashioned into the contextual thinking of our time and our culture—and yet they reflect the reality of another time, a time when God walked among us—in our streets, and our neighborhood, and into our homes. Endorsements “In this beautifully written book, Irene Alexander has made the ancient Scriptures live for those seeking to hear a wisdom that comes from deep wells. Here the gospel narratives, in a contemporary voice, vibrate with a new relevance, and it’s as if Jesus is once again amongst us with a message that calls us to forgiveness, healing, transformation, and joy.” —Charles Ringma, Professor emeritus, Regent College, Canada