Noyam eBooks

Contemporary Christianity has seen the escalation of charismatic prophetism, especially in Ghana. This has influenced the emergence of many independent prophet-led churches, most of which are founded by young people from the historic mission churches or older Pentecostal churches who find the need for independence to operate fully their spiritual gifts, especially the prophetic gift, in their own ministries. Others either break away from their mother churches to join charismatic and prophetic churches or are constantly involved in the activities and services of prophetic churches while maintaining their membership in their mother churches. A positive correlation is realized between this and tertiary school-leaving by these young people. This book focuses on assessing the impact of charismatic prophetism on the youth ministry of the Methodist Church Ghana.

It aims at tracing the basis of Christian prophetism from conceptual, traditional, biblical and theological points of view, identifying the major areas of influence of neo-Prophetic theology and practices on the youth, assessing the appreciation of the use of spiritual gifts and emerging approaches to youth ministry in the Methodist Church Ghana. Interviews, participant group observations and questionnaires administered to 321 young people reveal an undeniable influence of charismatic prophetism on the youth ministry of the Methodist Church Ghana.

The factors of influence are mainly the theology and practices of charismatic prophetism, as the concept of salvation, enemy, prosperity, and the practice of anointing, healing and deliverance, and the extensive use of contemporary music and media is replicated in youth service or sought for outside the church. The book recommends a proper management of youthful charisma and exuberance by ensuring monitored freedom of operation of spiritual gifts, creativity and dynamism in worship, increased time for prayer and expositional teaching of the word of God, use of contemporary music in church worship and involvement of the youth in church leadership.