Spirit-empowered preaching: Nicholas Bhekinkosi Hepworth Bhengu’s power for impact

African Journal of Pentecostal Studies

 
 
Field Value
 
Title Spirit-empowered preaching: Nicholas Bhekinkosi Hepworth Bhengu’s power for impact
 
Creator Resane, Kelebogile T. Lephoko, Daniel S.B.
 
Subject — Pentecostal; power; preaching; church; Christ; Holy Spirit
Description Background: This year, 2025, is the 40th anniversary of Nicholas Bhengu’s passing. The legacy he left behind continues to impact the lives of thousands of people both nationally and internationally. The problem addressed here is that Pentecostal preaching should make an impact on people’s lives, and can do so if it is biblical, Christocentric, pneumatological and culturally relevant.Objectives: This presentation shows that Bhengu’s narrative preaching was Spirit-empowered, and in humility one can communicate the oracles of God and make an impact in peoples’ lives. The presentation aims to show how one fully yielded to God can become a giant of faith in simple terms without even a formal education, as is always thought by some people. It is demonstrated here that gospel presentation done in and through cultural relevance can change the dynamics within the context in which it is communicated.Method: This presentation on ‘Spirit-empowered preaching – Bhengu’s power for impact’ is based on a literature review and some experiences from those who walked and worked with Bhengu.Results: It is discovered that for the gospel to make an impact, it must be Spirit-empowered. The Spirit-empowered preaching is biblical, Christocentric, pneumatological and culturally relevant. The preacher should demonstrate humility when ministering to people.Conclusion: Bhengu’s way of life and commitment to the Missio Dei, Ecclesia and Missio Spiritus should be an example to all Pentecostals and Charismatic preachers.Contribution: This article contributes towards understanding of the life of the African man who stood on par with international preachers yet remained African with the zeal to serve his people. Church historians, missiologists and Pentecostal or Charismatics learn pastoral ethics of caring in the face of adversities such as racism, poverty and disease.
 
Publisher AOSIS
 
Contributor
Date 2026-01-21
 
Type info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion — —
Format text/html application/epub+zip text/xml application/pdf
Identifier 10.4102/ajops.v3i1.102
 
Source African Journal of Pentecostal Studies; Vol 3, No 1 (2026); 7 pages 3005-6136 3105-434X
 
Language eng
 
Relation
The following web links (URLs) may trigger a file download or direct you to an alternative webpage to gain access to a publication file format of the published article:

https://ajops.org/index.php/ajops/article/view/102/316 https://ajops.org/index.php/ajops/article/view/102/317 https://ajops.org/index.php/ajops/article/view/102/318 https://ajops.org/index.php/ajops/article/view/102/319
 
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Rights Copyright (c) 2026 Kelebogile T. Resane, Daniel S.B. Lephoko https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
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