Portal:Evangelical Christianity

The Evangelical Christianity Portal

Introduction

Evangelicalism (/ˌiːvænˈdʒɛlɪkəlɪzəm, ˌɛvæn-, -ən-/), also called evangelical Christianity, is a worldwide, interdenominational movement within Protestant Christianity that emphasizes evangelism, or the preaching and spreading of the Christian gospel. The term evangelical is derived from the Koine Greek word εὐαγγέλιον (euangelion), meaning "good news," in reference to the message of salvation through Jesus Christ. Evangelicalism typically places a strong emphasis on personal conversion, often described as being "born again", and regards the Bible as the ultimate authority in matters of faith and practice. The definition and scope of evangelicalism are subjects of debate among theologians and scholars. Some critics argue that the term encompasses a wide and diverse range of beliefs and practices, making it difficult to define as a coherent or unified movement.

The theological roots of evangelicalism can be traced to the Protestant Reformation in 16th-century Europe, which emphasized the authority of Scripture and the preaching of the gospel; historically, the term Evangelical referred to the Evangelical-Lutheran Churches, which use this descriptor to emphasize "adherence to the pure evangelical or gospel doctrines, and to the Scriptures in general". The modern evangelical movement is generally dated to around 1734, influenced by theological currents such as Pietism, Puritanism, Quakerism, and Moravianism—notably the work of Nicolaus Zinzendorf and the Herrnhut community. Evangelicalism gained momentum during the First Great Awakening, with figures like John Wesley and the early Methodists playing central roles.

It has had a longstanding presence in the Anglosphere, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States, before expanding globally in the 19th, 20th, and early 21st centuries. The movement grew substantially during the 18th and 19th centuries, notably through the series of religious revivals known as the Great Awakening in the United States and various revival movements and reform efforts in Britain. Today, evangelicals are found across many Protestant denominations and global contexts, without being confined to a single tradition. Notable evangelical leaders have included: Nicolaus Zinzendorf, George Fox, John Wesley, George Whitefield, Jonathan Edwards, Billy Graham, Bill Bright, Harold Ockenga, Gudina Tumsa, John Stott, Francisco Olazábal, William J. Seymour, Luis Palau, Os Guinness and Martyn Lloyd-Jones. (Full article...)

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Includes beliefs, Jesus, rites, practices, sacred texts, symbols, festivals and more

Contemporary Christian worship in a nondenominational Christian congregation

Contemporary worship is a form of Christian worship that emerged within Western evangelical Protestantism in the 20th century. It was originally confined to the charismatic movement, but is now found in a wide range of churches, including many which do not subscribe to a charismatic theology. In many evangelical churches (usually Baptist, Methodist, Quaker, Pentecostal, and nondenominational Christian), contemporary worship uses contemporary worship music in an informal setting. Congregational singing typically comprises a greater proportion of the service than in conventional forms of worship. Where contemporary worship is practiced in churches with a liturgical tradition (Roman Catholicism and Evangelical-Lutheranism), elements of the liturgy are retained while the music sung is accompanied by guitars and drums, rather than the traditional organ or piano. The terms historic worship, traditional worship or liturgical worship are sometimes used to describe conventional worship forms and distinguish them from contemporary worship. (Full article...)

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Denominations

Hillsong Church, commonly known as Hillsong, is a Pentecostal Christian megachurch and a Christian association of churches based in Australia. The original church was established in Baulkham Hills, New South Wales, as Hills Christian Life Centre by Brian Houston and his wife, Bobbie Houston, in 1983. Hillsong was a member of the Australian Christian Churches – the Australian branch of the US-based Assemblies of God – until 2018, when it separated to form a new denomination. The church is known for its contemporary worship music, with groups such as Hillsong Worship, Hillsong United and Hillsong Young & Free with many musical credits and hits charting all over the world.

Hillsong and its music have been highly successful globally, with its presence described as a global corporate brand. However, a series of scandals and criticisms have negatively affected its image in recent years. In March 2022, Houston stepped down as global senior pastor after an internal investigation found that he had breached the church's moral code of conduct for pastors by engaging in inappropriate behaviour with women on two occasions in the 2010s. In February 2023, Phil and Lucinda Dooley, who had been acting in the position since January 2022, took over as global senior pastors. (Full article...)

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Music topics

Tercer Cielo (in English Third Heaven) is a contemporary Christian Latin pop music duo formed in 2000 by Dominicans Juan Carlos Rodriguez and Marcos Yaroide. The duo is currently composed of Rodriguez and his Mexican-American wife, Evelyn Herrera. Their biggest hits are "El uno para el otro", "Yo te extrañaré", "Mi último día", "Creeré", "Tu amor no es de este mundo", "Demente" and "No crezcas más". Their album Gente común, sueños extraordinarios, reached number one on the Billboard Latin Pop Albums chart in September 2009 and obtain a RIAA's Gold Certification.

Their albums have been well received in the Christian music genre in Latin America. They have sold more than 1,500,000 albums, which allowed them to travel to many Spanish-speaking countries to share an inspirational message using positive lyrics with a Biblical message and full of hope and life. Tercer Cielo sings not only Christian music but also includes love songs in their records, which opened doors in the world of secular music. They have received award nominations from around the world, including in Puerto Rico, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Orlando, and California. (Full article...)

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Biographies

See List of evangelical Christians for a list of people who are notable due to their influence on the popularity or development of evangelical Christianity or for their professed evangelicalism.

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Megachurches

Bethany Church Building, 2018

Nginden Bethany Church (Indonesian: Graha Bethany Nginden) is an evangelical megachurch affiliated with Bethany Indonesian Church in Surabaya, Indonesia. The senior pastor of this community is Pdt. David Aswin Tanuseputra since 2012, replacing his father Pdt. Abraham Alex Tanuseputra. In 2020, the attendance is 140,000 people. (Full article...)

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Education topics

LeTourneau University (/lətˈərnoʊ/; abbreviated LETU) is a private, interdenominational evangelical Christian university in Longview, Texas. Founded as LeTourneau Technical Institute in February 1946 by R. G. LeTourneau with his wife, Evelyn, the school initially educated veterans returning from World War II. Total annual enrollment is nearly 3,000. (Full article...)

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See also: List of evangelical seminaries and theological colleges

Media topics

Dollar with wife Taffi Dollar

Creflo Augustus Dollar Jr. (born January 28, 1962) is an American pastor, televangelist, and the founder of the non-denominational World Changers Church International (WCCI), based in College Park, Georgia. He is the head of Creflo Dollar Ministries and the Creflo Dollar Ministerial Association.

For much of his career, Dollar has been a prominent figure in the Word of Faith movement, known for teaching prosperity theology. However, in the 2010s, his ministry shifted focus toward what he terms the "Gospel of Grace." In 2022, Dollar garnered significant public attention for formally retracting his long-held teachings on mandatory tithing, stating that the practice is not required for New Testament believers. (Full article...)

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Organizations

The National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) is a national evangelical alliance in the United States and is a member of the World Evangelical Alliance. The association represents more than 45,000 local churches from about 40 different Christian denominations and serves a constituency of millions. The mission of the NAE is to honor God by connecting and representing evangelicals in the United States.

The NAE seeks to strengthen denominations and ministries by offering resources to inform and inspire evangelical leaders, and facilitating collaboration among evangelical leaders and groups. The NAE also represents its membership's concerns to the U.S. Congress, the White House, and courts. The NAE Chaplains Commission endorses and supports chaplains in the U.S. military and other institutions. World Relief is the NAE's humanitarian arm. (Full article...)

List of organizations topics

See also: List of parachurch organizations § Evangelical

Humanitarianism

Operation Straight Up (OSU) was an evangelical organization that provides Christian-themed entertainment to the United States military. OSU operates under the United States Department of Defense's "America Supports You" program (though the DoD has no formal control over OSU's activities). It is led by former kickboxer Jonathan Spinks, and prominently features the actor Stephen Baldwin, along with various celebrities, professional athletes, and NASCAR drivers.

Controversy arose when in 2007 it was involved in a program to ship "freedom packages" that included Bibles and proselytizing material in English and Arabic, as well as the apocalyptic computer game Left Behind: Eternal Forces, to soldiers in Iraq. Especially controversial was the Left Behind game, which some have criticized for allegedly being exclusionary to other faiths and for allegedly promoting "convert or kill"-type violence against non-Christians in a post-Rapture world. After receiving controversial media coverage, OSU dropped its plans to include the game in the care packages. (Full article...)