Digital Commons Network^™

A Strategy For Strengthening Romanian Seventh-Day Adventist Families Dealing With Couple Separation Due To Economic Reasons, Mihail Baciu

Professional Dissertations DMin

Problem

Financial challenges in Romania have prompted many Seventh-day Adventist people to leave their spouses and country to seek employment abroad. The impact of this phenomenon upon families has been significant. This situation occurred primarily between 1991 and 2000. Before 1990, generally speaking, the number of Seventh-day Adventist family separations or divorces was very low (around 30-40 families) in Romania. After 1991, this number increased dramatically to estimated 10-12,000 families. Temporary separation of spouses for economic reasons does not necessarily lead to a divorce. However, due to the complex implications of temporary separation on families, children and faith communities, this …

A Strategy To Reach Animistic People In Madagascar, Jacques Ratsimbason

Professional Dissertations DMin

Problem

The majority of the Malagasy people who live in Madagascar are unreached with the gospel message. A preliminary investigation of current literature indicated that 50 percent of the Malagasy are followers of traditional religions. This present study was to develop a strategy to reach the animistic people with the gospel message.

Method

This study presents Malagasy people, their social characteristics, population, worldviews, and lifestyles. A study;and evaluation of Malagasy beliefs and practices were developed using Hiebert's model of critical contextualization.

Results

The study reveals that the Seventh-day Adventist Church must update its evangelistic methods to reach animistic people and …

La Perfilación Como Método Para Identificar Las Necesidades De Los Inmigrantes, Ruben Ramos Rivera

Professional Dissertations DMin

The Hispanic community is currently the largest minority group in the United States and its annual rate of growth continues to be significant. Hispanic immigrants, in particular, face very unique problems and challenges, Seventh-day Adventist pastors and churches need to develop effective strategies that may help them to fill the needs of this group as well as to obey the divine commission of bringing them to Christ. This dissertation seeks to contribute to the wealth of resources and strategies available to pastors by providing them with a valuable tool that may help them to effectively plan their outreach ministries to …

A Koinonia Model For Building Better Marriage Relationships, Hee Man Park

Professional Dissertations DMin

Problem

Modem Korea is experiencing family crises. Marriages are ending in separation and divorce. The purpose o f this study was to develop a program based on biblical principles o f koinonia, one that could be used to improve communication for Christian couples and enhance their communion with God.

Method

A theoretical framework for this study was established based on the literature review. The biblical overview was presented using the koinonia perspective. The principles o f koinonia are found in the creation story, the covenant between God and His people, in the life and teaching o f Christ, and the …

Developing A Curriculum To Train The Lay Leaders In Ghana, Isaac Bimpeh Boateng

Professional Dissertations DMin

Problem

The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Ghana is growing at a very fast rate. The rate of growth far exceeds the rate at which ministers are trained. There were over 300,000 baptized members at the end of 2005 and fewer than 200 pastors. The pastor to laity ratio is therefore very high. Some of the elders who are assisting the pastors do not have the needed skills to work effectively as leaders. As a result of this there is an increase in apostasies especially among new converts.

Method

In an attempt to train the laity in Ghana to assist the …

A Preaching Program To Instill Social Consciousness In African-American Churches In Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, Willie Edward Hucks Ii

Professional Dissertations DMin

Problem

In Adventist African-American churches in the Dallas/Fort Worth (D/FW), Texas, Metroplex, there has been a dearth of preaching to issues pertaining to social consciousness. This dearth is due to the utilization of preaching models that are incapable of addressing all the needs of African-Americans who are constantly buffeted by the stresses of life. The primary focus of preaching has traditionally been upon longterm salvation and spiritual formation, as opposed to community concerns—especially as they relate to preaching in the African-American communities of the D/FW Metroplex. As a result, many Blacks in this region are not being reached as effectively …

A Biblically Based Strategy For Disciple-Making In The Seventh-Day Adventist Churches Of Malawi, Wenson Lyson Masoka

Professional Dissertations DMin

Problem

The current rapid growth of the church in Malawi lacks an on-going strategy to foster the membership increase and its spirituality. The failure to systematically train the laity as disciple makers has resulted in their under utilization. By default, the church has become clergy-dependent and the majority of the members warm the pews as mere spectators. Meanwhile, their conversions seem to be equated with disciple-making. There is need for a paradigm shift which will produce active lay persons who can adequately rise to the challenge of the Gospel Commission, making disciples of all nations. Although this research has a …

Developing An Interdisciplinary Analysis And Application Of Worldview Concepts For Christian Mission, Paulo Candido De Oliveira

Professional Dissertations DMin

Problem. The Adventist emphasis on cognitive knowledge and behavioral change instead of deep changes of worldview assumptions and allegiance is the main concern of the present work. It is easier to emphasize cognitive beliefs and behavior than to do the difficult task of working to change the underlying worldview premises that drive behavior. The emphases on cognitive beliefs and behavior have frequently generated syncretism, created loyalty based on surface advantage instead of deeper allegiance, and hindered the Seventh-day Adventist Christian message from being adapted to different cultures.

Method. An interdisciplinary library research is conducted to establish the foundational knowledge of …

Ellen White's Counsel To Leaders: Identification And Synthesis Of Principles, Experiential Application, And Comparison With Current Leadership Literature, Cynthia Ann Tutsch

Professional Dissertations DMin

Ellen G. White’s counsel to leaders on both spiritual and practical themes, as well as her personal application of that counsel, has on-going relevance in the twenty-first century.

The author researched secondary literature, and Ellen G. White’s published and unpublished works. She surveyed current leadership literature to compare and contrast with Ellen G. White’s leadership principles and constructed a theological foundation for Ellen White’s unique leadership world view.

Ellen White’s leadership principles relating to knowing God, authority, visioning, and human relations may still inspire compassionate action and a deepening commitment to Jesus Christ in today’s Christian leader.