Department of Christian Religious Studies, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Federal University Lokoja, Kogi State.
The most significant religious movement in the 21st century has been Pentecostalism. This vision emanated from the impersonal nature of the urban society that was fast emerging in the late 18th century. The relationship in the society was changing and it was difficult to reaccept the original sense of communalism. In this context, a vision where God was the centre of living and the great provider for all, leading all to experience the universal harmony in creation, restoring to the disinherited their rights, liberating them from the tentacles of the faceless oppressive society was a welcomed good news which provided an environment for the explosion of the Pentecostal movement. In the light of this, this article discusses Pentecost, Pentecostalism and the Holy Spirit conceptually and explains some of the strength and impacts of Pentecostalism in Nigeria contemporary society. The work also reviews some literature based on the explosion of Pentecostalism in Nigeria. This study therefore, is an attempt to bring to the fore, Pentecostalism as an instrument of resilience in the changing world in the aspect of evangelism, poverty alleviation, and empowerment programmes organized for their members. The article also brings to limelight, some of the teachings, preaching and doctrines that serve as resilience to their members in the changing world, i.e. the holy bible, spirituality and prayer, liturgy worship, ecclesial consciousness, and believe in the Holy Spirit. Using participant observation, this work concludes that Pentecostalism, through their teaching, preaching and doctrine have been able to serve as instrument of resilience to the Christians in the face of challenges like, insecurity, oppression, assault, health challenges, poverty and suffering, etc. This paper therefore, recommends that Pentecostal churches should do more to help their members in this turbulent and trying times. Moreso, the work also recommends that there should be an organizational model and a culture of authority among the Pentecostal Churches.
Pentecostalism, instrument, resilience, changing, world
