God's option for the poor
Researchers Donald Miller and Tetsunao Yamamori went looking for fast growing churches in the developing world addressing social needs in their community. The churches had to be led and funded indigenously. No foreign money or leadership.
Is it any surprise that 85% of the churches that fitted the criteria were Pentecostal or charismatic?
Their conclusion after a four year study spanning twenty nations: some of the most innovative social programs in the world are being initiated by fast-growing Pentecostal churches.
Case studies cited include, AIDS projects in Kampala, ministries to children in the slums of Cairo, schools for the children of prostitutes in Calcutta, treatment programs for drug addicts in Hong Kong, political rights for indigenous people in Guatemala.
It seems that while Liberation Theology opted for the poor, the poor opted for Pentecostalism.
