Abstract:
The term missional is meant to refer fundamentally to the missio Dei, just as the term missionary
does. Missiology is the systematic study of all aspects of mission. It encompasses the historical
origin of the churches, their growth, successes and failures. It pays attention to the methodology
and context for mission. Ghanaian church history gives us a clear picture of the massive
developmental contribution the Western missionaries have made in the social, educational
and economic life of Ghana. Although the Western missionaries did very well in meeting the
social and economic needs of Ghanaians, they were, however, unable to make a significant and
lasting impact on the religious level – mainly because they did not address the traditional
worldview of Ghanaians – a worldview embedded in the belief in spirits. This therefore caused
some African Christians to seek for an African identity as far as Christianity is concerned. In
the light of the search for African Christian identity and mission theology, this article discusses
how Pentecostalism has been used as a tool for decolonising Western missionaries’ mission
theology and practice in the Ghanaian context. The article discusses Pentecostalism in Ghana,
Western missional theology and practices in their missionary activities in Ghana, as well as
Ghanaian Pentecostals’ approach to decolonisation of Western mission theology.
