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notes that that authority does not mean authoritarianism, and emphasizes that the man must win it with love, and that violence disqualifies his authority. Although the demand that the wife and children should be submissive may appear to be domineering, it does not necessarily reflect the patriarchalism that David Maxwell observes in the context of Pentecostal churches in Zimbabwe (2006:156).\u000AMartin within this context affirms that the atmosphere generated by the Evangelical religion helps break the vices of \u2018machismo\u2019 (1990: 182). This brings a more tranquil atmosphere, and nourishes non-violence, education, and is against the aggressive exploitation of women. By assumption, he notes that all the Evangelical groups are not always successful in promoting women or stopping \u2018machismo\u2019. Steigenga in his analysis carried out among Catholics and conservative Protestants in Costa Rica, Guatemala and Venezuela, show that Christians start off from biblical convictions related to the woman, which could form the foundation to support equality of gender in the political sphere (1999: 173,174,183).\u000AChange of perspective of men\u000AThe conversion of the man reframes his vision and role in the home benefiting his wife and family. Both men and women are willing to take roles which previously were delimited for one or other sex. When a lay man was asked about the role women he shared that his conversion helped him to stimulate the development of his wife. He commented that \u2018everything changed after my conversion to Christianity, since then I have always encouraged her to be successful in her work as a secretary and then later as management assistant. She is going to be very successful in whatever field she is in\u2019. Later he emphasized, \u2018Each person\u2019s potential should be realized when there is mutual agreement\u2019. Later he shared with the researcher with tear in his eyes about the change that had operated in his life since his conversion:\u000A[He indicated that] \u2018I was a disordered man, surrounded by the vice of alcohol and I gave my wife many problems. I attended the church invited by her and some time later God changed my life\u2019. [Then he said] \u2018In spite of my bad conduct and lack of support for my\u000A307\u000A


































































































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