Factors Influencing Eritreans Joining the Pentecostal Faith Movement

Abstract

Pentecostalism, a relatively new faith movement that emphasizes Christian religious movement, including speaking in tongues, baptism in the Holy Spirit, and exercising all spiritual gifts (Allison 2021), is subject to various persecutions in the independent state of Eritrea, located in the Horn of Africa. Despite the unfriendly environment Pentecostalism encounters, it is beginning to attract many followers. This qualitative research study investigates factors influencing Eritrean Pentecostals abandoning their parental religions in favor of Pentecostalism. This study employed a grounded theory design. Data were collected using in-depth interviews with eight study participants. The study examines the genesis of Pentecostalism in Eritrea and reactions from authority figures (parents, government, and church clergy) in response to those who joined the Pentecostal faith movement. The study reveals six themes that show the reasons for joining the Pentecostalism faith movement. The researcher derived four primary conclusions from the study, leading to recommendations for a deeper understanding of an individual’s faith and allowed youth to actively participate in their preferred religious denomination. Finally, other research areas for further studies are provided.