In Paradigm Shift, this book describes the challenges on intercultural relationships and with family related small to conservative African American Churches in the culture life of New England. in general. An examination of the complexes of change and addressing the need for more intercultural and communication within many churches. The term paradigm refers to a philosophical and theoretical framework for example, ideal or pattern. Many of these congregations have long standing in their communities; helping the poor, feeding the hungry, and spreading the good news of the gospel.

Paradigm Shift in the Church speaks about nothing less than a reformation. Some critics suggested that this term sounds rather lofty. That may be true. But Christian Schwarz is convinced that we will make no significant progress in our churches without changes as radical as those of the Reformation.

If there is one book you are going to read to understand the deep currents affecting Christian life and witness today, this is it. Paradigm Shifts in Christian Witness enlists the world's foremost observers of global Christianity in the task of discerning in short, incisive essays the most important patterns and paradigm shifts as the Christian movement matures beyond both colonialism and post-colonialism as a world faith translated into every culture on earth. It also celebrates the life and work of Charles A. kraft, one of the foremost cultural anthropologists, a man whose insights have helped a generation of cross-cultural missioners and church workers understand the processes involved in mission and the growth of world Christianity.

"David Bosch's Transforming Mission, now available in over a dozen languages, is widely recognized as an historic and magisterial contribution to the study of mission. Examining the entire sweep of Christian tradition, he shows how five paradigms have historically encapsulated the Christian understanding of mission and then outlines the characteristics of an emerging postmodern paradigm dialectically linking the transcendent and imminent dimensions of salvation. In this new anniversary edition, Darrel Guder and Martin Reppenhagen explore the impact of Bosch s work and the unfolding application of his seminal vision." --

How could the early church, with only a handful of men and women, under heavy persecution, without the means of mass communication or distribution of their message, have such influence in the world they lived in that was said of them that they turned it upside down! It went from being an enemy of the Roman empire, to the official religion of the same, with the Emperor Himself coming to the faith. As we look at the church today, with all of its technological advancements and boasting a membership of over 2 billion people, we find its influence waning and relevance being questioned. How is the possible? The answer is found in its "paradigm." The early church lived and operated from a paradigm established by God for those in covenant with Him, that contained not only their assignment and purpose, but the power to overcome and transform the world. The church's current paradigm (Salvation Paradigm) was intended to be used "by" the church to bring men to Christ, but was never intended to be the paradigm "of" the church, which is comprised of those already in Christ. We must recover this original paradigm, the Kingdom Paradigm, in order for the church to regain her place and fulfill her purpose in the world to which she is assigned. God has sent a shift, a paradigm shift, within His church to restore the power inherent within the Kingdom Paradigm to cause His Kingdom to come, and His will to be done, on earth as it is in heaven!

This book explores recent developments in South African Pentecostalism, focusing on new prophetic churches. The chapters engage with a number of paradigm shifts in Christology, identified as complementing Christ, competing with Christ, removing Christ and replacing Christ. What are the implications of these shifts? Does it mean that believers no longer believe in Christ but in their leaders? Does it shift believers’ faith towards materiality than the person of Christ? This volume will be valuable for scholars of African Christianity and in particular those interested in the neo-prophetic movement and Christology in a South African context.