African Pentecostalism appeared in Ghana and Nigeria during the 1930s (Reuters)

At the beginning of the 20th century and coinciding with the emergence of the "Pentecostal movement" in the United States and England, Africa witnessed the emergence of religious movements calling for the establishment of independent churches that reflect African identity and specificity.

In response, African Pentecostal churches emerged that took African beliefs and Old Testament teachings as their basis, emphasizing the marriage between African culture and Christianity.

These churches, which arose from the heart of African societies, aimed to serve them and be free from Western colonial and missionary influences, which made them embody the spirit of independence in money and institutions, but they turned into supporters of Israel on the continent.

This report seeks to answer the question: How do Pentecostal churches alongside African Jews contribute to supporting the Israeli narrative?

History and geographical spread

The Pentecostal-Charismatic church movement began in 1905 in the United States and England, emanating from the Apostolic Church, reaching South Africa in 1908 and Ivory Coast in 1914. The modified African version first appeared in Ghana and Nigeria during the 1930s, and witnessed an increase in the number of its members beginning in the 1980s. Century.

In a study in the Oxford Encyclopedia entitled “The History of African Pentecostalism,” Nigerian expert Mimi Takambo says: “Pentecostalism contributed to making Christianity an African religion; it absorbed the Bible, then developed the faith to suit their cultural sensitivities and interests, and modified the texts to align correctly with their original maps of the universe...” According to the study, it started small in size but grew at a rapid pace, and is characterized by extensive networks extending to the remote countryside.

In 2015, the number of Pentecostals (renewed) in Africa was estimated at approximately 202 million and 92 thousand people, which represents approximately 35% of the total number of Christians on the continent, which number 574 million and 52 thousand, and about 17% of the total population of the continent, which amounts to 1.19. One billion people.

In Sub-Saharan Africa alone, Pentecostalism represents 36% of the 564 million and 5,000 Christians. This is a remarkable growth compared to 1970, when they constituted only 13% of Christians in the region.

The number of Pentecostals (renewed) in Africa is estimated at about 202 million and 92 thousand people (Reuters)

Cooperation with Israeli institutions

The basic structure of these churches shows closer harmony with the Jewish faith compared to other religious denominations. Pentecostals' attraction towards Judaism is based on a direct interpretation of the Bible, rejecting what is known as the "replacement of the people" theory, which says that the Jews lost their status as a chosen people as a result of their rejection of Christ, insisting that the divine covenant with the Jews is still valid, and view the theory as a fallacy that has been promoted. Through Western missionary churches.

Pentecostals also believe that Western churches have tampered with the texts, so one of their tasks is to expose the falsehood and the true divine intentions. This belief has important implications on the political level, such as the belief that supporting the Jews and Israel brings divine blessings, based on “God’s covenant with Abraham in the Book of Genesis” and their essential role in the prologues to the end.

Nigeria stands out as a prime example of the growth of the Pentecostal movement in Africa (Reuters)

Pentecostalism in Nigeria

Nigeria stands out as a prime example of the growth of the Pentecostal movement in Africa, where the influence of religious leaders such as Chris Oyakhilome, TB Joshua, and Enoch Adeboye extends globally. These leaders, who attract millions of followers, have made visits to Israel, relaying their experiences through the media, such as TB Joshua who received the title of “Tourism Goodwill Ambassador” from the Israeli Minister of Tourism after organizing a prayer service in Nazareth.

As for the famous Pentecostal pastor Enoch Adeboye, he commented during his visit to the Israeli settlements, saying: “Problems between the Jews and the world arise because they are favored by God. Being special to God means that Satan will not love you either,” referring to their rivalry with the Arabs and Palestinians.

This attraction to Israel includes those in senior positions of power. Former President Goodluck Jonathan (2010-2015) relied on his Pentecostal Christian identity to gain power, taking advantage of the influence of senior clerics to influence the masses. During his presidency, he made “several pilgrimage visits to Israel,” bringing with him delegations of officials and priests.

In the international context, during its membership in the UN Security Council (2014-2015), Nigeria played a pivotal role in voting on a resolution demanding Israel’s withdrawal from the occupied Palestinian territories, but after a phone call from Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to Jonathan, Nigeria abstained from voting in December. The first was in 2014, which allowed the United States to avoid using the veto, in a move that surprised observers.

Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan (right) hosted by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Getty)

Uganda case

In January 2016, a “Repentance Conference” was held in Uganda in support of Israel. It lasted for 5 days on Busi Island, west of Lake Victoria, and Nadav Bildman, Deputy Israeli Ambassador to Kenya, and Jos Van Westing, Director of Finance and Development at the World Zionist Organization, participated in it.

The conference witnessed emotional moments; The officers asked - in tears - for forgiveness from Bildmann in the name of the Jewish people for what they had committed during the era of Idi Amin, in what was described as a “defining moment” that reflects the belief in accepting repentance and divine forgiveness.

The conference was organized by the Ugandan branch of the Organization of Christians in Support of Israel under the supervision of Drake Kanabo since its founding in 2009, and was attended by more than 150 officers from the Uganda People's Defense Force (UPDF). It was directed at praying, fasting and atonement for Uganda's actions towards Israel during the rule of former Muslim President Idi Amin Dada.

The organization, which has a strategic headquarters in Kampala near the Ugandan Parliament, was active in organizing pilgrimage trips to the Holy Land and celebrating the anniversary of the establishment of Israel on usurped Arab land in 1948.

Ghana case

Since its reopening in Accra in 2011, the Israeli Embassy in Ghana has become active in deepening relations between the two countries, not only at the governmental level, but also at the grassroots level, with a particular focus on ties with Christian communities and Ghanaian Jews known as the “House of Israel.”

Ghanaian President Nana Afoko Addo announced plans to establish a multi-denominational national cathedral (Reuters)

The embassy supported the activities of the Israel-Africa Initiative, hosted the leaders of this initiative, and participated in organizing their religious conferences and prayer events. Among the most prominent religious figures participating in the embassy's activities is Bishop Nicholas Duncan Williams, founder of Christian Faith Action Ministries. Even the spokeswoman for the Israeli embassy in Ghana, Shani Cooper Zubeda, stressed the goal of deepening relations between the two countries through the paths of religion.

In 2018, Ghanaian President Nana Afoko Addo, a Pentecostal, announced plans to establish a multi-denominational national cathedral as an expression of unity and spiritual harmony.

To promote this thinking, the Ghana Israel Alliance (GIA) was established. On March 5, 2020, the foundation stone was laid for the National Cathedral in the capital, Accra, in the presence of religious leaders, government officials and diplomats, including the Israeli ambassador.

The foundation stone was imported from occupied Jerusalem, which Zupeda presented as a gift, and, according to her, has a distinctive spiritual energy. “The stone is expected to bestow its blessings on the cathedral and the surrounding area, emphasizing the importance of Jerusalem for Christians and strengthening bilateral relations between Ghana and Israel.”

Pentecostalism and defending Israel's crimes

Similar to Ghana, Israel has penetrated Christian communities in East, Central and South Africa in cooperation with African Jews and Pentecostal churches.

This tendency towards Judaism was evident in the position of the Pentecostal churches in Africa regarding the recent events in Gaza, with their refraining from condemning Israeli actions, and some of their members even moved to defend the Israeli operations fiercely on social media platforms.

This behavior is normalization of violence that has reached the level of what has been described as “genocide,” as they see in their justification that it is Israeli self-defense against groups that harbor hostility towards the Jews because they are, according to Pastor Adebioh’s description, “chosen by God.”

Source: Al Jazeera