Significant Study on Growth of Spirit-empowered Christianity Released at ORU
TULSA, Okla. — As the higher education leader in Spirit-empowered Christianity, Oral Roberts University is excited to host an event Monday, February 24, 2020, to release new data on the phenomenal growth of the Spirit-empowered community around the globe. World-renowned author and researcher Dr. Todd Johnson has spent the last three years studying the growth of Spirit-empowered Christianity and will be sharing his findings at 7:00pm at ORU’s Global Learning Center.
Among the findings, Johnson’s research demonstrates the rapid spread of Spirit-empowered Christianity through recent history, growing at nearly four times the rate of both general Christianity and the world’s population between 1900 and 2020. His research also shows Spirit-empowered Christianity growing worldwide, with Brazil, the United States, and Nigeria topping the list of highest number of Spirit-empowered Christians in their populations.
Johnson is a Distinguished Professor of Mission and Global Christianity and Co-Director of the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Massachusetts. He co-authored the World Christian Encyclopedia, 2nd edition and launched the online World Christian Database.
The groundbreaking study was funded by Empowered21 (E21), a relational leadership network housed at ORU that is helping shape the future of the Spirit-empowered movement throughout the world. Spirit-empowered Christians are defined as those who place an emphasis on the work of the Holy Spirit in their faith praxis.
“Empowered21’s vision is to see every person on earth have an authentic encounter with Jesus Christ through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit by Pentecost 2033, and to do that we need this first-of-its-kind research to guide us,” said Dr. William M. Wilson, ORU President and E21Global Co-chair. “This research backs up what we are seeing at E21 events around the globe, which are drawing more and more believers who are experiencing life-changing encounters with the Holy Spirit.”
One E21 event that will draw thousands this spring is the Jeruasalem2020 Empowered21 Global Congress, a gathering of Spirit-empowered believers during the week of Pentecost, providing them an opportunity to experience the Holy Land and celebrate what the Holy Spirit is doing around the world. Johnson will also present his research at this event May 31 – June 3, 2020.
About Empowered21
Empowered21 is a global Spirit-filled movement working to connect the generations for blessing, impartation, and a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the 21st century. To learn more, visit empowered21.com.
(SOURCE: Oral Roberts University via Christian Newswire)
