To the Ends of the Earth
Pentecostalism and the Transformation of World Christianity
Allan Heaton Anderson
Reviews and Awards
"Numerous books have addressed the subject of global pentecostal growth in recent years. Allan Anderson's is uniquely valuable because it manages, in a concise and easily readable narrative, to trace a truly global history of pentecostalism's origins, characteristic features, and local variations . To the Ends of the Earth will interest a wide variety of readers including instructors and students (undergraduate as well as graduate) in courses on world religions, introductions to Christianity, and globalization. Overall, this is an excellent volume that should be of great use to many readers who want to understand the causes and implications of pentecostalism's global expansion." --Journal of Religion
"As it encourages readers towards a global perspective, the book will benefit several audiences.... To the Ends of the Earth could serve as a text for either undergraduate or graduate courses on global Pentecostal history or theology." --Encounter: Journal for Pentecostal Ministry
"Worldwide, Pentecostal Christianity may be the greatest success story of the past century, and the movement continues to grow mightily in numbers. How very valuable, then, to have such an ambitious and user-friendly guide to this global expansion, written by one of the greatest scholars of the phenomenon. To the Ends of the Earth is a really excellent book, which somehow manages to remain judicious and critical in the face of the amazing spiritual explosion it depicts."--Philip Jenkins, Institute for Studies of Religion, Baylor University
"Given the importance of Pentecostal and charismatic forms of faith in Christian expansion worldwide, Anderson s book is valuable and timely. He integrates historical and theological discussion into a remarkably concise account with an impressive global sweep and is properly critical of his subject where appropriate." --The Christian Century
"An intriguing, well-documented, and thoroughly researched book... In this highly readable, flowing narrative, Anderson's writing is engaging and insightful... lively and lucid."--CHOICE
"[A] sweeping historical survey . . . gives a sympathetic and insightful explanation of how all these diverse traditions have found their way onto the global stage." --Christianity Today
"[A} story is told with admirable clarity and detail." --The Economist
"Today, more than 100 million Africans belong to Pentecostal churches, making Anderson's book essential reading for anyone interested in the sociology of contemporary Africa." --Foreign Affairs
"Admittedly, contemporary religious history is a moving target as attempts to count the growth of Pentecostalism is a much debated and convoluted study. But Anderson does well in bringing the reader into a clearer picture of how the Christian scene has changed in the Global South. This makes To the Ends an important supplement to that of writers such as Philip Jenkins and Lamin Sanneh by focusing attention on that segment of Christianity where tremendous growth has occurred." --Nova Religio