Conclusion: Challenges, Theories and Methods in Studying Chinese “Pentecostalism”

One of the most fundamental questions posed by this book is the very definition of Chinese “Pentecostalism,” if “Pentecostalism” is indeed the correct term to use, which many in this volume would question. This is particularly the case in mainland China, where the vast majority of Chinese Christians live. The Chinese-led megachurches in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore are
another world away. Methodologically, outsiders like me rely on the reports, research, and writings of others and not on firsthand knowledge or experience. Most of the chapters in this volume, unlike mine, come from that firsthand knowledge. But I hope to place this concluding chapter within the context of my own research into Pentecostalism worldwide and offer some observations from this perspective. China is very much part of the story of the influence of Pentecostalism on the character and demographics of world Christianity. I begin by looking at the historical context of Chinese Christianity in mainland China and close with a final look at challenges of methodological issues to face in the future.