Mentoring as an Effective Strategy for Leadership Development in Contemporary African Pentecostalism
Benjamin Isola Akano 
Issue: Vol.3 No.2 July 2022 Article 1 pp. 23-33
DOI : https://doi.org/10.38159/pecanep.2022321 | Published online 26th July 2022.
© 2022 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
The formation and advancement of indigenous Pentecostal movements was a significant reason for Africa’s impact on global Christianity. Notwithstanding, a critical concern is the sustenance of such a feat for future global missions. Since leadership development is key to both organizational growth and continual relevance, the African Pentecostal movement that will continue to serve the purpose of fulfilling the Great Commission mandate must ensure adequate leadership succession to keep the vision. This paper examined mentoring as an effective approach for leadership development in contemporary African Pentecostalism. Drawing heavily from the Nigerian examples, it argued that mentoring is suitable for preserving and enhancing African Pentecostal theological heritage, core values and practices for effective global missions. By the use of various pieces of literature and observation methods, the article explains the impact of mentoring on the sustenance of the African Pentecostal phenomenon. The author identified three dynamics that had sustained African Pentecostalism and made it impactful: aggressive incorporation programmes, continuous contextualized Christian education, and extensive use of media tools. Consequently, the article argues that these dynamics, amongst other factors, must be intentionally pursued, sustained, and strengthened to form future African Pentecostal leaders who will sustain and enhance the missionary impact of the African Church on the rest of the world.
Keywords: The Church, African Pentecostalism, Mentoring, Leadership Development
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Benjamin Isola Akano, PhD is currently a faculty member at the Department of Intercultural Studies, Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary, Ogbomoso – Nigeria. He has served as a Missionary with Calvary Ministries (CAPRO), an indigenous non-denominational faith-based mission agency, and the Global Missions Board of the Nigerian Baptist Convention. His research focuses on Intercultural Communication.
Akano B.I., “Mentoring as an Effective Strategy for Leadership Development in Contemporary African Pentecostalism .” Pentecostalism, Charismaticism and Neo-Prophetic Movements Journal 3, no.2 (2022): 23-33. https://doi.org/10.38159/pecanep.2022321
© 2022 The Author(s). Published and Maintained by Noyam Publishers. This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
