For much of its history, Pentecostalism has been known for vibrant worship, powerful encounters with the Holy Spirit and passionate evangelism.

It has not always been known for theology.

That, says Dr Simon Chan, is something that needs to change.

“Theology ought to come from within the Church,” said the veteran Pentecostal theologian in an interview. “It ought to impact the Church and not just remain an academic exercise.”

The former Earnest Lau Professor of Systematic Theology at Trinity Theological College believes theology is not an optional extra for Pentecostals. It is essential if the Church is to discern God’s voice amid an increasingly complex world.

“Stronger theology will help the Church to be critical of societal trends and not be swept along unquestioningly by society’s values,” he said. 

That conviction lies at the heart of the Asia Pentecostal Summit (APS) 2026, which will gather leading Pentecostal scholars, Pastors and church leaders in Singapore from July 22 to 26. Dr Chan will be among the scholars responding to a paper at the Summit next week.

Dr Simon Chan returns to Asia Pentecostal Summit next week.

Hosted by City Harvest Church in partnership with Global Pentecostal Voices, the Summit carries the theme “Rising Voices of Asian Pentecostalism”, recognising that Asian Pentecostals are increasingly contributing to global theological conversations rather than simply receiving them.

From experience to thoughtful reflection

Pentecostalism is one of the fastest-growing expressions of Christianity in the world. Yet despite its remarkable growth, it has often been characterised more by spiritual experience than theological reflection.

According to the organisers of APS, the two should never be separated.

The goal is not to make Pentecostalism more academic, but to ensure that Spirit-filled living is grounded in faithful biblical thinking.

That has become increasingly important as churches navigate difficult questions surrounding discipleship, leadership, ethics, spiritual gifts and ministry in today’s rapidly changing culture.

It is also why APS brings together theologians, Pastors and ministry practitioners instead of treating scholarship and ministry as separate worlds.

The journey of Pentecostal theology

Three decades ago, at an international Pentecostal gathering in Costa Rica, Harvard theologian Harvey Cox observed that Christianity in the 21st century would become “decidedly Pentecostal-Charismatic.”

He also famously described Pentecostalism as “a religion made to travel.”

His observations have proven astute, particularly as Christianity’s centre of gravity has shifted towards the Global South.

To nurture theological reflection within this growing movement, Global Pentecostal Voices was formed to create space for Pentecostal scholars from Asia and other parts of the Global South to contribute to global scholarship.

The inaugural Global Pentecostal Summit (GPS) in Singapore in 2023 reignited conversations about Pentecostal theology among church leaders and scholars.

That momentum continued through the Europe-Asia Pentecostal Summit (EAPS) and Asia Pentecostal Summit 2025, where participants examined some of the most pressing theological questions facing the contemporary Church.

Reflecting on the journey, Summit moderators Professors Douglas Petersen and Byron Klaus said they have witnessed “the theological acumen of Asian Pentecostals finding their voice as they shape and form the theological character of God’s gracious outpouring of His Spirit in Asia.”

What to expect at APS 2026

Among the international scholars who will present research papers at the upcoming summit are Dr Amos Yong, Professor of Theology and Mission at Fuller Theological Seminary Fuller Theological Seminary and Dr Wolfgang Vondey, a Pentecostal theologian and current Professor of Christian Theology and Pentecostal Studies at the University of Birmingham. Emerging Asian Pentecostal scholars will respond to these papers.

Next week, Dr Amos Yong will be presenting a comparative theological dialogue between the apostolic teaching of St Luke and the “Great Learning,” a classic Neo-Confucian text.

This interaction and theological exchange is as one of the defining strengths of APS, the organisers say. It is helping to sharpen theological thinking while raising up younger Asian voices.

Other presenting scholars include Frank Macchia, Candy Gunther Brown, Kenneth Archer, Melissa Archer, Wonsuk Ma and Simon Chan.

Some of the papers that will be presented include:

• “Justified in the Spirit: A Pentecostal Reflection” by Frank D Macchia, Professor of Christian Theology at Vanguard University
• “‘Come out of her, my people’: Living Ethically in Babylon” by Melissa Archer, professor of New Testament at Trinity Bible College and Graduate School
• “Harmful Spirits: From Fear to Freedom” by Candy Gunther Brown, Professor of Religious Studies at Indiana University Bloomington
• “The Anointing of the Prophet: An Aesthetic Reading of Prophetic Behavior” by Dr Wolfgang Vondey
• “Silence and Solitude in Pentecostal Spirituality: Exploring the Inner Life in Contemporary Context” by Roger Heuser, Professor Emeritus at the School of Theology and Ministry, Vanguard University

The Summit will conclude with City Harvest Church’s weekend services, where participating scholars will also minister during altar calls and the church’s Sunday healing service—a reflection of APS’s commitment to integrating theological reflection with Spirit-empowered ministry.

A summit for every Spirit-filled believer

Senior Pastors of host church CHC, Kong Hee and Sun Ho said in a message to  participants that they have observed a deep spiritual hunger across Asia in the past decade, a longing not only for authentic encounters with the Holy Spirit, but also for deeper grounding in the Word of God.

The Spirit is calling the church back to love, truth and power marked by holiness, clarity and purity, they said.

It is the organisers’ hope that Pastors, ministry leaders and any believer who desires to grow in his understanding of the Holy Spirit’s work should consider attending this summit.

APS 2026 calls the Church to love God with both heart and mind, to pursue the Holy Spirit’s power while remaining deeply anchored in biblical truth, and to allow Asian voices to help shape the future of Pentecostal theology for the global Church.

The Asia Pentecostal Summit 2026 takes place next week from July 22-26. Register here. Find out more about APS 2026 here.

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