Dynamics of proselytization and conversion in the Pentecostals’ healthcare interventions in Urban Tanzania

Abstract

This paper explores the dynamics of proselytization and conversion in the healthcare services, and healthcare related support provided by Pentecostal organisations in Urban Tanzania. With access to healthcare and health related support remaining a critical challenge in the country, religious organizations have filled the gap left by inadequate state services. Using ethnographic methods such as participant observation, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions, the study examines the various strategies Pentecostal groups employ in their healthcare interventions to facilitate religious outreach and the procedures for supporting new converts. The findings revealed that Pentecostal organizations adopt multiple approaches to intertwine healthcare interventions with religious activities. These include an implicit approach, where religious teams are part of healthcare interventions but refrain from direct evangelization unless specific circumstances arise. Additionally, an invitational strategy is used where healthcare beneficiaries are encouraged to attend religious events such as church services and prayer meetings outside of healthcare activities. The most prevalent strategy is relational, involving the sharing of religious messages by team members and leaders before and after healthcare services and healthcare related support. The study argues that in environments marked by socio-economic instability and personal crises, the integration of healthcare and religious outreach by Pentecostal organizations not only meets immediate health needs but also plays a crucial role in the spiritual and personal transformation of individuals.