In South Africa the earliest Pentecostal churches to establish themselves were the Apostolic Faith Mission, the Full Gospel Church in South Africa and the Assemblies of God.

They were also the first to set up congregations among Indian South Africans.

Within the spectrum of the churches, however, Pentecostals were perceived as existing outside the mainstream.

In this book Pillay takes a close-up view of 'the inner world of these Christians, to show that far from being a deviant or peculiar form of religion at the limits of Christendom, Pentecostalism should be seen as a vital expression of Christianity challenging other more established forms of Christianity by emphasising what in fact has become neglected'.