Digital Commons Network^™

Project Portfolio: Connecting Women With God Through Reflective Spiritual Practices, Victoria Niebrugge

Doctor of Ministry

Although there are various learning offerings within the context of the church, women can experience a disconnect between the head and the heart, between knowing about God and knowing God. The women involved in this study hunger for greater intimacy with God. They attend weekend worship services and weekly church Bible studies. Yet, they say they know there is more of God, desire to know Him more profoundly, and are searching for a deeper relationship with Him.

The roots of the practices used for spiritual formation today are found in the ancient rhythms of the desert mothers and fathers of …

A Theological Exposé: A Microcosmic Review Of The Relationship Between The Black Male And The Black Church In The City Of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Danielle L. Paul

Doctor of Ministry

Christianity has a prolific history, including a powerful African presence whereby many of the core tenets of faith originate. Unfortunately, biblical history and the Bible's many references to Black people are often referenced only during Black History Month or specific cultural events. As a result, many Black Christians cannot defend why Christianity is a Black man's religion. The inability to defend, coupled with the notion it has nothing to offer Black men, has created a breach in the Black man and Black church’s relationship. The Black male presence is absent in Sunday meetings, ministries serving the community, and, ultimately, the …

Lifeskills And Generation Z: Equipping For Holistic Development, Societal Engagement, And Post-Pandemic Resilience, Annette Taylor

Doctor of Ministry

This dissertation conducts a thorough examination into the integration of life skills with a faith-based approach. Rooted in theological foundations and biblical exemplars, this study explores how these qualities can serve as a catalyst for transformative change amongst Generation Z.

By examining theological principles and drawing inspiration from biblical narratives, this study seeks to demonstrate their practical relevance in addressing the complex socio-cultural and spiritual challenges faced by Generation Z. Moreover, Parachurch ministries play a significant role in fostering these skills, equipping Generation Z to become agents of positive change and social healing, fostering their holistic development, and empowering them …

No Leaders But The Laity: Equipping, Educating, And Training Laypeople To Lead The Local Church, Christian Bass

Doctor of Ministry

The unfortunate story for many modern independent local churches is decline, disconnect, and irrelevance. This was only exacerbated by the 2020 global pandemic. Despite well- intentioned staff and many “church growth” tools, the independent local church saw many pastors and members leave and institutions close. The good news, however, is the church was never intended to be a cookie-cutter home, a franchise, or a satellite location. It was designed to be a contextualized incarnation of the unique Gospel expression of a local community by and for the people. More than ever, the church needs its laypeople to see themselves as …

Project Portfolio: That We May Be One...Unifying As The Body Of Christ In A Divided World, Colleen Hurley-Bates

Doctor of Ministry

This project was born in response to the following NPO: Because the church often has difficulty talking about divisive issues in a healthy or constructive way, there is an opportunity to create new patterns of relating, which could lead to greater listening and understanding, deepened community, being more formed in Jesus’ likeness, and becoming compelling witnesses for Him.

A key insight emerging from research was how there is a true need for God’s people to come together in order to be vulnerable and truly hear one another. This takes a fair amount of trust and self-awareness. Another insight which arose …

Women Senior Pastors In The Black Baptist Church: A Study Of Pathways To Access And Model For Sustainability, Wendy Vanhosen

Doctor of Ministry

The thesis of this research is that the continued survival and influence of the Black Church hinges on the level of access and sustainability of women in senior leadership roles, emphasizing the historically protected position of senior pastor. It has become urgently necessary to move the needle beyond engaging in the perpetual debate about the role of women in ministry, and towards solutions that address the unique issues of this contemporary era. This era is characterized by a collision of the rise in women occupying senior leadership roles, increases in social justice concerns, and the unanticipated post-pandemic ramifications that have …

Hospitality In The Christian School Enrollment Process: How Theology And Theory Inform Professional Practice, Lane Rice

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Hospitality is an ever-growing area of academic inquiry. While some studies relating hospitality theory to the education field exist, there is a gap in the literature at the intersection point of hospitality theory and private Christian school enrollment practices. This case study seeks to explore the relationship between three theories emerging in hospitality research - social exchange theory, social identity theory, and the commitment trust theory of relationship marketing - and the theological and pragmatic guidelines for private Christian school enrollment offices.

The study related the three hospitality theories to philosophical/theological and pragmatic considerations through the literature review. Data regarding …

Supporting Christian Gen Z Undergraduates Through Life Setbacks By Equipping Spiritual Directors, Brandon Taylor

Doctor of Ministry

The project within this portfolio seeks to help Christian Gen Z undergraduates at Biola University navigate setbacks in a way that fortifies their faith. Both anecdotal evidence at Biola and survey data demonstrate that Gen Z required increased support and intervention when they reached college campuses in the mid 2010’s. The American College Health Association has surveyed hundreds of thousands of Gen Z college students over the past seven years and found as far back as 2016 that 87.1 percent of the 27,787 undergraduate respondents to their Fall 2016 survey said they felt “overwhelmed by all they had to do'' …

Dare To Serve: The Importance Of Servant Leadership To Christian African American Women Ceos Within The Nonprofit Industry, Sheila Tolbert

Doctor of Ministry

African American Christian women CEOs of smaller nonprofit organizations face multiple challenges in developing the necessary leadership skills to ensure their organization’s success including a deficiency in formal leadership training, difficulties in balancing Christian beliefs with leadership responsibilities, and limitations in interacting with boards of directors. The lack of appropriate leadership skills hinders their ability to effectively lead their nonprofit organizations, improve their organization’s performance, and limits career advancement.

The current options for leadership training do not adequately address the challenges and opportunities faced by these leaders. The lack in leadership development results in a deficiency of African American women …

Leadership And Emergent Faith Communities In Canada: A Phenomenological Study, Anne Anderson

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The purpose of this study is to explore how participants within emergent faith communities in Canada experience leadership. Through a phenomenological approach, members from five emergent faith communities across Canada have been interviewed in a semi-structured format. Emerging themes of transformational leadership, community along with belonging, and possible future areas of research will be discussed.

Developing A Small Groups Health Ministry At The Ventura County Korean Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Hee Choung Park

Professional Dissertations DMin

Problem

Although the members of the Ventura County Korean Seventh-day Adventist Church (VC KSDA) expressed interest in evangelism, the congregation had not shown evidence of evangelism during the past three years (2017-2020). As the pastor, I suggested that the members lacked a clear, planned, and structured program for outreach during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially for small group health programs. This study was to challenge the church to find ways to respond to the growing influence that the church wanted to have on the community.

Method

The program was designed and implemented at the VC KSDA Church in the fall of …

Programa Para Fomentar El Ministerio Filantrópico En La Iglesia Adventista Del Septimo Día Hispana De Georgetown, Delaware, Luz E. Pinzón González

Professional Dissertations DMin

Problem

In the last few years, many of the members of the Hispanic Adventist Church in Georgetown, Delaware, had not learned of community service activities, especially those available in Philanthropic Ministry. The church community has many families with economic needs, which would benefit from a philanthropic program that would supply their basic alimentary needs. Such a program would also open doors for the church to share the Adventist message with the beneficiaries. This problem was directly observed by the author, in consultation with the pastor and the church leaders.

Methodology

This present project is based on creating a program to …

Intergenerational Mentorship Model For Membership Revitalization And Involvement At The Guelph Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Aundrea A. Thompson

Professional Dissertations DMin

Problem

The Guelph Seventh-day Adventist Church faced challenges characterized by low spiritual vitality and a generational divide. These factors jeopardized the spiritual well-being of some members, leading to a decline in church engagement.

Method

Recognizing the urgency of revitalization, the study explored the impact of a seven-week intergenerational mentorship model on participants’ spiritual health and church involvement. Employing a Participatory Action Research approach led by the pastor-researcher in collaboration with the church board, the study utilized Lifeway’s Spiritual Growth Assessment and Growing Together: Taking Mentoring Beyond Small Talk and Prayer Requests by Melissa Kruger (2020) to guide the development and …

Body. Freedom. Choice: Creating Artwork In Post-Roe America, Erin Sedra

MSU Graduate Theses

I knew from a young age that I never wanted children. Whenever I expressed my disinterest in motherhood, I was often met with bewilderment, disapproval, and hostility. The church I was raised in taught me that my value and worth as a woman directly correlated with the power of my birthing hips. This fundamentalist upbringing has significantly shaped my relationship with my femininity, my body, and my artwork. When I feel powerless, turning to my art gives me a sense of control and self-expression. This body of work began as a reaction to the overturning of Roe v. Wade and …

A Strategic Approach To A Discipleship System And Culture At The Adventist Community Church Of Vancouver, Washington, Ryan H. Whitehead

Professional Dissertations DMin

Problem

Discipleship is a term that church congregations use to articulate their goal of fulfilling the call of Jesus to make disciples (Matt. 28:19, 20). The Adventist Community Church (ACC) in Vancouver, Washington is no different. With a mission to “Reach Up in Worship, Reach Deep in Discipleship, and Reach Out in Evangelism,” a discipleship culture is key to the church’s mission. A deficiency in the discipleship culture at ACC is evident in the absence of a disciple-making system. The strategy to address this challenge is to invest in an intentional and robust discipleship growth plan.

Method

A systems-thinking approach …

A Leadership Strategy To Train And Equip African Pastors And Lay Leaders For Effective Ministry To Central African Refugees And Immigrants In Phoenix, Arizona, Joel Mpabwanimana

Professional Dissertations DMin

Problem

Since 2010, there has been a growing number of Central African refugees and immigrants resettling in Arizona. This transition adds many other challenges to the trauma some of them have already endured. Unfortunately, there is a lack of trained pastors and lay leaders to effectively minister to them. I designed this project to develop and implement an effective strategy to train and equip pastors and lay leaders to minister to Central African refugee and immigrant communities in the Ubumwe Seventh-day Adventist Church and Glendale Seventh-day Adventist Church in Phoenix, Arizona.

Method

This project had several primary objectives: (1) to …

“I Know What Nothing Means”: Nostalgia, Hope, And The Postmodern Search For The Sublime, Kathryn L. Donati

Theses and Dissertations

Amid simultaneous crises of self, nation, digital citizenship, global health, climate change, and socio-political polarization, to name but a few of the catastrophes that seem to define life in the global West in the twenty-first century, where do we find hope? Do we find it at all? Is there any hope to be found? These are the questions that serve as the genesis for this undertaking in which I locate the origin of these crises far before the events of the 2016 and 2020 elections, far before even the panic of Y2K. I begin my examination of hope in contemporary …

Programa De Discipulado Sobre La Familia Nuclear Para La Iglesia Bilingue Adventista Del Septimo Dia De Hanford, California, Usa, Bismarck Castillo

Professional Dissertations DMin

Problem

The Great Commission (Mt. 28:18-20) charges each believer with the duty of forming disciples among people inside and outside the church and could be applied to members within the nuclear family. The Hanford Bilingual Adventist Church (IABH) does not have a program that trains parents in making disciples within their homes. Such a program has the potential to strengthen the nuclear families of the IABH and to form disciples within other families in the community.

Methodology

This research was carried out in the field of practical theology and its main objective was to develop a discipleship program oriented towards …

Pastoral Leadership Of Seventh-Day Adventist Pastors In Sub-Saharan Africa And Congregational Giving During 2020-2021: A Grounded Theory Study, Eric Jean-Bruno Aniel Barbe

Dissertations

Problem

The purpose of this study was to develop a theoretical model that describes how the behavioral strategies of Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) pastors in Sub-Saharan Africa may have positively influenced congregational giving during the years 2020-2021 of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Method

A qualitative grounded theory research design was used (Corbin & Strauss, 2015). In-depth interviews were conducted to collect data from a purposive sample of SDA pastoral leaders in Sub-Saharan Africa. The collected data were analyzed using an iterative process consisting of open, axial, and selective coding, thereby facilitating the construction of subcategories and a core category. This analytical process …

Encouraging Intergenerational Faith Transmission And Spiritual Growth In Home And Church: Reconnecting Youth And Older Generations Through Family Systems Concepts At The Adelaide Seventh-Day Adventist Church, The Bahamas, Larry L. Green

Professional Dissertations DMin

Problem

This Doctor of Ministry (DMin) project addresses a pressing issue within the church context of the Adelaide Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Bahamas. We first observed sporadic attendance of our youth (Gen Z and Millennials) and their lack of identity with the church. Wider observation revealed weak relationships among the various generations within our church as well as in our homes. This absence of relatedness across generations potentially hinders some from embracing the community’s faith and growing spiritually.

Method

This study aimed to understand and address the nuanced factors contributing to this generational disconnection through the intervention of an …

Seminarios Para Aplicar Principios De Interpretacion De Los Escritos De Elena G. De White Para Las Iglesias Adventistas Hispanas En Paterson, New Jersey, Jose Alberto Hernancez Lache

Professional Dissertations DMin

Problem

The observations made by the researcher in the district of Hispanic Adventist churches in Paterson, New Jersey, in the years 2021 and 2022, led to the conclusion that the way the leaders uses the writings of Ellen G. White is not the best. Even the understanding held by fellow church members, mostly used for rebuking the behaviors or judging certain situations of other members, clearly demonstrates a lack of wisdom and balance on this subject. This issue creates discontent and animosity towards the task Ellen G. White sought to accomplish when called by God to encourage, strengthen, and sustain …

Leadership In Philippians: A Postcolonial View, Rick M. Kress

Masters Essays

No abstract provided.

Sacred Screens: Hinduism, Buddhism, Shintoism And Islam In Popular Culture, Arianna A. Poveda

Theses and Dissertations

Popular media content creators have routinely drawn from religious concepts when seeking inspiration for new material. Developers in the West have traditionally relied heavily on Christian themes to supply new ideas. Now, more artists have begun to look towards Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, and Shinto religions for inspiration when conceiving many of the storylines we find in mainstream entertainment today. This thesis will study key examples of film, video game, literary, and television media to show how these artists weave their religiously inspired themes into their respective platforms. In using the rich stories and traditions to develop more in-depth landscapes and …

Venturing Free: An Empowerment Journey, Sara Taylor Lattimore

Doctor of Leadership

NPO Statement

Experienced leaders who have experienced burnout or leadership trauma lose their risk-taking capacity.

Emerging Insights

Emerging insights began to imply that leaders in helping professions such as ministry leaders who are serving in this post-COVID world may experience increased burnout and trauma as they lead in spaces where they are tasked with leading while helping others heal. Burnout and lack of community started to arise as a potential factor that could lead to leaders slipping into survival mode and avoiding risk-taking in their contexts. Research workshops revealed leaders had feelings of survival, burnout, and loneliness. They spoke of …

The Holy Imagination Of God: An Invitation To Dissent: Fostering Inclusive Theology For Holistic Understanding, Justice, And Liberation, Daron George

Doctor of Leadership

The Western American Evangelical theological tradition has been marred by expressions of homophobia, misogyny, racism, and a problematic alignment with political power. This prevailing theological stance, lacking in inclusivity and imagination, has hindered a holistic understanding of faith and justice, precipitating a crisis within many evangelical churches. This project proposes a novel pathway for those disillusioned with or departed from the evangelical church, commonly referred to as ex-evangelicals.

Central to this project is the exploratory question: “What was in God’s imagination in the beginning?” While not claiming to discern God's intentions definitively, this inquiry has yielded insights valuable to the …

Honoring God: Purity In A Promiscuous World, Tonnette Kellett

Doctor of Leadership

A significant number of Native American girls get pregnant in their teens, permanently affecting their future. This issue has been observed both within the Choctaw communities in Mississippi and among local churches surrounding the reservation of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. The project, Teenage Consequences, was developed through stakeholder workshops and feedback and is a result of the independent research of a much larger project entitled Honoring God: Purity in a Promiscuous World. Five videos have been created and uploaded to YouTube and TikTok. Moreover, the content will be a curriculum in nearby churches catering to Native American communities …

Paideia: A Mentorship Framework For Training Aspiring Pastors To Lead In Our Changing World, David Beavis

Doctor of Leadership

There is a pastoral leadership crisis in the US. With the convergence of pastors aging out, burning out, moral derailment, or simply choosing another career outside of pastoral work, there is a great need to raise up the next generation of pastors. However, traditional institutions for training pastors (such as seminary or bible college), though important, are not sufficient in and of themselves for producing future pastors. We live in a VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex, ambiguous) world with novel pastoral challenges perpetually emerging. But our normative pastoral training assumes a world (Christendom) that no longer exists.

What is required is …

40-Day Fit, A Journey For Heroes, Michael B. O'Neill

Doctor of Leadership

This project is a collective portfolio of discovery and development that explores the intersection of societal health and the vitality of the church, recognizing a state of decline in both areas. This critical, yet often overlooked issue, is the foundation of this research-driven initiative. It is a practical process of diagnosis and treatment of a problem or an opportunity, in context, leading to application. The portfolio project represents a journey of discovery and reframing, where research methods, strategic objectives, and project milestones guide the identification of needs, problems, and opportunities. These elements serve as the driving forces behind crafting solutions …

Overcoming Racism In The Church Small Group Study Guide, Audrey E. Robinson

Doctor of Leadership

The role of Christianity in the formation of white supremacy has been embedded and hidden in the Church far too long. The objective of this project is to provide comprehensive data that articulates the evolution of racism in the Church in a manner that evokes conversation and heart-to-heart sharing between Blacks and Whites of faith. The goal is to pave the way for repentance, healing, and reconciliation. Research led to the development of the Overcoming Racism in the Church Small Group Study Guide class. The class is an online course with eight content sessions. It provides laser-focused video lessons and …

Coming Home Nw: A Compelling Invitation To Connect With Nature For Improving And Sustaining Health, Strengthening Identity, And Deepening Relationship With God, Jennifer Lynn Steinbrenner Hale

Doctor of Leadership

The Covid-19 Pandemic has created an opportunity in local churches of the Pacific Northwest to develop new ways of connecting to God and improving health through movement in nature. The Pandemic damaged physical, mental, and social wellness for individuals and communities, as well as highlighted areas of dysfunction existent before the Pandemic. Research shows that when human beings engage with nature, they experience improved physical, psychological, cognitive, and spiritual health. Through activities such as running, walking, or simply sitting still in a natural environment, participants have the opportunity to deepen their relationship with God and strengthen their identity and understanding …