S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries

The Full Gospel movement is associated with Pentecostalism. According to Pentecostals, the teaching of the "full gospel" is mentioned by the apostle Paul in Romans 13:19, "I have fully proclaimed t...

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July 01 2013 • 2 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Ezekiel Kimosop Supporter

The Full Gospel Church in Kenya is a congregational Pentecostal group with its roots in Finland. 

It came to Kenya in the late 1960s. It is not clear if they are related to the Canadian assembly mentioned by Michael but it is a vibrant charismatic group that embraces speaking in tongues. 

Among its orthodox doctrines is that a believer who commits a sexual sin must be openly named in the assembly and suspended from the fellowship until they repent of their sin and be born again afresh. They appear to lean towards Arminian theological persuasion. 

They also subscribe to some degree of exclusivism and initially refused to permit marriage between their members and those from evangelical churches. This practice has since been abandoned. The Full Gospel Churches do not ordain women.

The main challenge confronting the Full Gospel churches is their limited theological training for their pastors and evangelists. Their theological colleges are not taught by scholars from accredited theological institutions because they do not recognize Evangelical theologians and will not permit them to train their pastors.

Some years ago the Full Gospel Churches in Kenyan split into two factions following some protracted leadership wrangles. This resulted in the Full Gospel Churches of Kenya that claims to be the original group and the Worldwide Full Gospel Church led by a splinter group. 

The sect has a vibrant fellowship tradition and embrace liberal giving of tithes and offerings. They believe in all the continuity of the miracles identified with the New Testament church.

Key among their doctrines is their belief in the infilling and baptism of the Holy Spirit and its evidence through speaking in tongues. 

They used to discourage church weddings for couples who came to Christ while married under traditional or civil ceremonies, arguing that those who come to Christ should remain as He found them. This controversial practice has since been abandoned.

I would consider the Full Gospel Church in Kenya as biblical church.

April 07 2015 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report