Indigenous Churches

DMIN 516
CONTOURS OF LEADERSHIP AND EMERGING CULTURE
DR. MARYKATE MORSE, PhD

Samuel D. Stephens
ACADEMIC ESSAY
THE QUEST FOR INDIGENIETY
December 10, 2012

CONTENTS

Introduction 3
Indigenous Christian Movements in Africa, 5
Latin America and Asia – an overview
Christianity Becomes Indian 7
Indigenized, Indigenous and Indigeniety 12
The Third Wave 16
Conclusion 19
Works Cited 21
Bibliography 23
Appendix 26

INTRODUCTION

Every trait that was a part of the revolutionary movement that penetrated the Greek and Roman cultures of the first century are evident in the rapidly growing Christward movement in India. In relating the origins and the growth of the New Testament Church we find an account of the origins and the growth of the present indigenous church in India
This essay is an initial attempt at highlighting a vigorous indigenous church planting movement that is gaining rapid momentum now in India. First hand eye-witnesses to the ‘field’ have repeatedly described their experience as “walking through the pages of the New Testament” and that “the New Testament comes to life in India”. It isn’t just an analogy. In many respects it is literally true. The sick are healed. Demons are cast out. The blind see and the lame walk. The Kingdom of God is flourishing. This is perhaps one of the largest movements in the history of the Indian Church however, one that is less known and needless to mention, less discussed in Christian academia. Therefore, very little documented and published material is available if none at all.
For a better understanding of this movement, it is critical to be familiar with the ‘great traditions and little traditions’ that have governed indigenous movements in various parts of the world. A description of the interaction of these traditions with indigenous movements is a vast subject for independent research.
“Subaltern” is another important word

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