Pentecost University

Website: pentvars.edu.gh

Organization Overview: Pentecost University is a private, chartered institution in Sowutuom, Accra, owned by The Church of Pentecost. Its origins date to the Pentecost Bible Centre, established in 1972; it became Pentecost University College in 2003 and received accreditation from the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission in 2004. On 28 May 2020, it received a Presidential Charter authorising it to award its own degrees, diplomas, and certificates. The university aims to be a distinguished Christian institution, developing resourceful, value-driven graduates through rigorous programmes in theology, business, engineering, computing, health, and allied sciences, while advancing research, innovation, and community impact.

Subgrant Project Description: This project aims to organise a conference on informal ministerial formation and develop a curriculum to train leaders of African Pentecostal-Charismatic churches in the informal sector. This curriculum aims to ensure long-term sustainability beyond the conference. Conference presentations will undergo peer review and be published in the Pentecost Journal of Theology and Mission, a publication of Pentecost University, Ghana. While scholarly attention has focused on formal theological education in Africa, informal pathways such as indigenous mentorship, apprenticeships, and experiential learning remain under-researched. This project will map, analyse, and evaluate the effectiveness of these informal systems, developing a contextualised framework to strengthen indigenous practices while maintaining authenticity.

African Pentecostal-Charismatics are among the most dynamic expressions of Christianity worldwide, with their influence evident across denominations. Unlike Western contexts where formal theological education dominates, most African Pentecostal ministers are formed through informal systems rooted in African worldviews. This project represents the first intentional study of informal ministerial formation in African Pentecostalism, employing an indigenous methodology that honours local ways of knowing. The project prioritises practical outcomes benefiting African churches and involves local leaders as research partners. Its significance lies in shedding light on these largely invisible, yet vital, informal practices. By investigating these practices, designing a curriculum, creating resources, and establishing an African Pentecostal Spiritual Formation Network (APSFN), this project aims to bridge a critical gap in understanding ministerial formation within African Pentecostal-Charismatic Christianity.

Location: Accra, Ghana

Associated Team Member: Christian Tsekpoe