One of the intractable problems of Africa is socioeconomic development It is a "wicked problem" that has defied decades of tinkering and tweaking of economic policies and government interventions Like many African governments that succeeded oppressive colonial governments, many religious organizations frequently promise their members the help of divine power to deliver development African Pentecostalism, especially the prosperity variant, has been at the forefront of promising to make its members healthy and wealthy through divine means How the theology of plenty and healing has practically improved the economic and therapeutic systems of Africa is a question of debate Some scholars, in line with pentecostal self-representation, claim that Pentecostalism inspires development from below This essay critiques this self-image of African Pentecostalism in the context of African economic indices and the raging and ravaging coronavirus disease pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic presents an important challenge but also an opportunity to test the doctrines and claims of pentecostal leaders In the attempt to cater to leaders' economic self-interest, pentecostal responses to the pandemic have, however, been uncoordinated and have failed adequately to mobilize resources that serve its members and the larger society in their moment of needs

中文翻译：

---

繁荣、预言和 COVID-19 大流行

非洲的一个棘手问题是社会经济发展 这是一个“邪恶的问题”，几十年来对经济政策和政府干预的修修补补和调整都无济于事 像许多非洲政府一样，在压迫性殖民政府之后，许多宗教组织经常向其成员承诺提供帮助神力推动发展 非洲五旬节派，尤其是繁荣派，一直处于承诺通过神圣手段使其成员健康和富有的前沿，丰富和治愈的神学如何实际上改善了非洲的经济和治疗系统辩论的问题 一些学者，根据五旬节的自我陈述，声称五旬节派激发了自下而上的发展 本文在非洲经济指数和肆虐肆虐的冠状病毒疾病大流行的背景下，批判了非洲五旬节派的这种自我形象 COVID-19 大流行既是一项重要挑战，也是检验这些教义和五旬节领袖的主张 为了迎合领袖的经济利益，五旬节派对大流行的反应是不协调的，未能充分调动资源，在其成员和更大的社会需要时为其服务缺乏协调，未能充分调动资源，为其成员和更大的社会在需要时提供服务缺乏协调，未能充分调动资源，为其成员和更大的社会在需要时提供服务缺乏协调，未能充分调动资源，为其成员和更大的社会在需要时提供服务缺乏协调，未能充分调动资源，为其成员和更大的社会在需要时提供服务