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Race Matters: The Gospel, Racial Reconciliation, And The Church, Terry Crist

Doctor of Ministry

The modern Pentecostal movement has been marred by racial incongruence and division. Defying the segregationist laws of the day, the earliest revivals of the twentieth century were racially integrated, reflecting a biblical vision for the oneness of a new humanity in Christ empowered by the Holy Spirit. And yet, the unity born from these early revivals proved insufficient to sustain racial equity within the movements. A century later, Pentecostal (and Charismatic) churches fail to reflect racial diversity at the highest levels of authority, direction setting, and power-sharing. The lack of clarity surrounding key theological concepts such as the imago Dei, …

Dynamic Expansion: An Exploration Of Hospitality And Its Application To Foster Children And Families In Crisis, Sean Dean

Doctor of Ministry

The concept of hospitality has many applications. This dissertation is an exploration of hospitality using the American foster system as an example of how hospitality can be applied to an at-risk group.

Chapter 1 looks at the state foster care. There is an exploration of the two main reasons children enter foster care: neglect and drug offenses. Lastly, there is a look at the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) study and how its results are contributing factors to the current state of foster care in the United States. Chapters 2 and 3 delve into the concept of hospitality, what it is …

The Identification Of And Solution To Commonly Held Evangelical Beliefs And Perspectives That Create Barriers To Spiritual Formation, Ken Van Vliet

Doctor of Ministry

Transformation into the image of Jesus is central to Christianity. However, many who claim Christ and are active in their local churches fall short of reflecting his character. This dissertation suggests that a contributing factor for such disparity lies in the reality that many Evangelicals embrace certain beliefs that create barriers to spiritual formation. It then identifies and examines three of the most prominent beliefs, all stemming from a truncated gospel. The first is a belief in an angry God. The second, a fixation on entrance into heaven as the goal of Christianity. The third is a distorted perspective of …

Following The Man Of Sorrows: A Theology Of Suffering For Spiritual Formation, David Russell Beach

Doctor of Ministry

Suffering. Salvation’s conduit. People are often reluctant to talk about suffering, unable to find words. This reluctance usually lasts until, in the midst of crisis, the only way ahead is through suffering. In these crises, people typically reach out to caregivers— pastors and priests, counselors and social workers. But what if the same reluctance affects these caregivers? What if they, too, are often unable to find adequate words? Jesus—Man of Sorrows—makes plain the imperative of taking up our cross. How is this accomplished? This dissertation offers an answer, a theology of suffering focused on spiritual formation—formation into the image of …

Transforming Drug Addicts' Lives: Restoration Christian Outreach Community (Rcoc) In Northwest Mississippi, Rose Maria Mccarthy Anding

Doctor of Ministry

The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports on over 14,500 specialized drugtreatment facilities providing counseling, behavioral therapy, medication, case management, and other services to persons with substance-use disorders.1 Drug addiction is a complex disorder that can involve the individual's family, work, school, and community involvement with pervasive consequences, so treatment typically involves many components, with the goal of addressing each facet affected by the disorder. Residential drug-treatment programs throughout the United States follow different treatment and rehabilitation models. In Mississippi, most drug-treatment programs are offered by the Department of Mental Health, Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Services. However, residential drug-treatment …

Making The World A Better Place: The Praxis Of Christian Community Development As A Church Planting And Multiplication Strategy In Urban Poor Communities In The United States, Phillip W. Struckmeyer

Doctor of Ministry

The topic of this dissertation centers on church planting and multiplication in urban poor communities in the United States. The ministry problem being addressed is the fact that The Wesleyan Church denomination does not have a strategy for church planting and multiplication in urban poor communities. In Section One, the complexity of this problem will be explored by: first, considering The Wesleyan Church’s predominantly rural-based, white-evangelical past; second, considering the effects of urbanization and globalization, which have created an increasingly urban, multiethnic, and socioeconomically divided mission field in the United States; and last, gaining a deeper understanding of systemic racism …

Reclaming Compassion: How Compassion Moved From Virtue To Benefit, And How To Move It Back, Jon Talbert

Doctor of Ministry

This dissertation examines the growing movement of compassion that has developed and emerged in the 21st century and its impact on the current landscape of society. Section 1 takes a closer look at how compassion moved from a virtue to a benefit, and the expectation of reward that subtly crept into the developmental psyche of the culture. Section 2 traces that benefit-mentality into the seven domains of culture, including: Business, Faith, Government, Social Sector, Education, Arts & Entertainment, and the Media. Section 3 introduces a new line of thinking that reestablishes compassion to its purest form by identifying the makeup …

Intimate Partner Violence In The Black Church: Bridging The Gap Between Awareness And Policy Development, Carlos Jermaine Richard

Doctor of Ministry

The perennial problem of intimate partner violence (IPV) has gained national attention due to the increased awareness efforts of advocates, law enforcement, government, education, and social service agencies. This awareness serves as the catalyst for the upsurge in legislation, law enforcement involvement, and incarceration of abusers. Although the secular community has strategically implemented tactics and policies to combat abuse, the Black church continues to experience challenges with awareness and effective stratagems to address the issue. Further, the issue of domestic violence in the Black church has significant impact on women who suffer intolerable mistreatment at the hands of their abusers. …