Unto the Least of These: The Pentecostal Church and Social Ministry

• Main Author: Tucker, Stacey U
• Format: Others
• Published: Trace: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange 2011
• Subjects: Pentecostalism; Congregation; Social Ministry; Social Service; Sociology of Religion; Other Sociology; Religion; Social and Behavioral Sciences; Sociology
• Online Access: http://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_graddiss/1034

This project explores the relationship of Pentecostal churches in the U.S. to social ministry. Taken from the results of multivariate logistic regression and likelihood ratio tests utilizing the National Congregations Study , a nationally representative sample of US congregations, I found that Pentecostal congregations are statistically less likely to participate in social ministry than non-Pentecostal Christian congregations. Through chi-square analyses, I also found Pentecostal churches to be less likely than non-Pentecostal Conservative congregations to participate in social ministry. Through a series of interviews and observations of five Pentecostal Assemblies of God churches in the Atlanta, Georgia metropolitan area, assessments were made on Pentecostal identity and Pentecostal perceived involvement in the community of Atlanta. Recommendations for further research are provided.