"While the earlier two (Pentecostal) movements emphasize baptism with the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues, the third wave focuses on multiple fillings of the Holy Spirit subsequent to conversion with emphasis on 'the more evangelically acceptable area of spiritual gifts for ministry,' such as prophecy, inner healing, powerful prayer and the reality of spiritual warfare."
In other words, the Pentecostal movement has brought with it a more engaging format of Christian teaching and worship to which young people can relate and in which they can participate. More conservative theologians are starting to interpret these new approaches in a more positive light.
In a parallel way, Well-Being Australia chairman M V Tronson, claims the Green movement is being engaged by a third wave, and those who function in the modus operandi of 'old Green' are being run over by the masses who are introducing ideas of a 'new green'.
"The aftermath of the Victorian bush fires are now bearing the scares of the 'old green' where even clearing around your home would bring a hefty fine, in one notorious case, $30,000," M V Tronson noted.
The 'old green' bought with it, like the 'old Pentecostal' movement, an awakening, but there was an over-reaction that affected the entire landscape. Predictably, now 'new green' and the 'third wave' of Pentecostalism are both seeing the pendulum swinging to a more central position.
"Well-Being Australia too has experienced the 'new green' in two different scenarios that illustrate this pendulum shift," M V Tronson noted.
The first relates to Well-Being Australia's "Australia's Bush Orchestra", a 1996-2006 tourism ministry based in Moruya on the New South Wales south coast which boasted a nature bush walk through an Ironbark forest under the birdsong of Bell Minors.
"We had plans for a house to be constructed near the bush walk and required a sensible outcome so as not to destroy the trees. A thoughtful 'new green' approach was the result," M V Tronson explained.
The second presents the opposite scenario. Recently, at Well-Being Australia's Timeout in the Tweed, huge trees were found to be within the legislated limit of the building and a large clean up was required. Indeed the SES documented they needed to be removed urgently.
"Again a very sensible 'new green' approach was provided and what was both a physically dangerous and a bush fire threat was cleared," M V Tronson mused. "I don't how many times I've seen television news of a tree toppling over onto a house."
Mark Tronson speculated that the 'third wave' Pentecostalism presented similar types of compromises. He observes that it is now very common to find all types of Protestant churches taking up some 'third wave' idea that helps the congregation feel 'at home' and personally empowered.
He has noticed more choruses, singers out the front, or teachings about the relationship between the power-house within and spiritual gifts from the Lord. These outreaches from the clergy benefit all within the congregation.