The series will focus on large cultural zones so as to display contextual influences upon the Pentecostal and charismatic movements and on broad cross-cultural themes, whether these influences arise from history or from theology. I am the author of four books on South African Pentecostalism, one on African independent churches, and three books on global Pentecostalism that have received international acclaim. The largest denominations were the Apostolic Faith Mission, Ass For starters, even non-Christians are accustomed to highly experiential forms of religious worship and practice. Pentecostalism began spreading in South Africa after William J. Seymour, of the Azusa Street mission, sent missionaries to convert and organize missions. The global South has seen a remarkable expansion of pentecostal forms of Christianity in the last century, an expansion that has altered global religious demographics considerably. "I am learning new theories and trends that enhance my scholarship in the context of global Pentecostalism to become a specialist in African Pentecostalism. Pentecostalism has become a significant part of Latin America’s religious and political landscape in recent years. The Growth of Pentecostalism. Therefore, the global South, for the purposes of this paper, refers to South … The Global Pentecostal and Charismatic Studies cover the Pentecostal and Charismatic movements from a variety of perspectives. My Introduction to Pentecostalism has been translated and published in Spanish and is being translated into three other languages, and now has a second edition. 03/14/2013 10:39 am ET Updated May 14, 2013 A Catholic nun sings as people gather outside the Metropolitan Cathedral in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Wednesday, March 13, 2013. According to Jenkins, the “global south” is a concept that refers to, not so much about geography, but the areas of the world not associated with Western Christianity in the global north, i.e., Europe and North America. The largest denominations were the Apostolic Faith Mission, Assemblies of God, and the Full Gospel Church of God. Pentecostalism began spreading in South Africa after William J. Seymour, of the Azusa Street mission, sent missionaries to convert and organize missions. Most of them witness the decline of the organized Christianity in their own countries, while Pentecostalism attracts millions of people in the global South. And the Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul, South Korea, claims 800,000 members. By the 1990s, approximately 10% of the population of South Africa was Pentecostal. Pentecostalism and other Christian “renewal” sects are some of the fastest-growing religious movements on the planet, particularly in the global South. Especially since the 1960s, the region has witnessed dramatic growth in the number of pentecostals. The contribution and support from Kgatle’s international mentors who are dedicated to the same field that stimulates his passions will add greater value to his work as an associate professor. Catching the Spirit: The New Pope, Pentecostalism and the Global South. By the 1990s, approximately 10% of the population of South Africa was Pentecostal. Some Christians in the West admire this growth. Historical Overview of Pentecostalism in South Africa Origins and Growth 1890s-1905: In 1895, a former Baptist preacher establishes a church in Johannesburg, which eventually joins the Christian Catholic Church in Zion founded by faith healer John Alexander Dowie in Zion City, Chicago. Pentecostalism is one of the fastest growing Christian movements in our world today, especially in the global South. Mittlelstadt cites several reasons for Pentecostalism's explosive growth in the Global South.