Digital Commons Network^™

Professional Soccer Ministries: The Deconstruction Of Secularization Through The Globalization Of Soccer In Conjunction With The Biblical Worldview, Aaron Matsuo Tredway

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This project is an attempt to present the ministry of, conceptual/theological impetus for, and assessment of Professional Soccer Ministries as it pertains to the deconstruction of secularization. This will be accomplished by one presenting the inception of Professional Soccer Ministries. Secondly, a review of the cultural/societal shift from Christendom to Enlightenment thought and its implications for the church of the modern era will be discussed. Third, the methodology and pragmatic implementation of Professional Soccer Ministries will be reviewed and conclusions drawn based upon its effectiveness as an avenue of the church for the proactive deconstruction of secularization.

Pastoral Leadership For Local Church Growth In The Korean Church, Gi In Lee

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this thesis project is to help Korean pastors, and other pastors who want to become better leaders. It presents pastoral leadership from a biblical perspective which includes meaning, principles, disciplines, ministries, qualifications, and portraits of pastoral leadership. The project shows that the pastoral leader must lead, must guard, must feed, must equip, and must love. Pastors should lead with servant leadership, keep praying, keep the vision alive, and be a change agent.

God With The Backwards Wave: A Text In Context Analysis Of The Characterization Of God In Joan Of Arcadia, Chad Landon Kennedy

Masters Theses

God is a television star. In Barbara Hall's Joan of Arcadia, which aired on CBS from 2003-2005, teenaged Joan Girardi, played by Amber Tamblyn, has conversations with God on a weekly basis. Rather than appearing in bright lights amidst angelic voices and special effects, God speaks to Joan through a variety of human guises, both male and female. The characterization of God in Joan of Arcadia is, arguably, the most extensive portrayal of God in American television, as nearly ninety actors play the deity over the show's two-season run. Understanding the creative team's portrayal of God as a character is …

A Comparison Of The Discipleship Training Of S.F.C. Campus Ministry And Outstanding Churches, Jae Hong Song

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to develop a model of S. F. C. in discipleship training through a comparison of the discipleship training of S. F. C. campus ministry and outstanding churches. The model of churches used was Houston Seoul Baptist Church and Sarang Community Church. This study heads toward overcoming the limitations of current campus discipleship training program, and developing the discipleship training program that can cover campus ministry organization groups, especially the S. F. C. campus ministry. This study reviews historical research, the analysis concerning the discipleship training of S. F. C. and two outstanding churches, and …

Developing A Program For Every Member To Be A Missionary In The Local Church, Joey Todd Anthony

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The program was created by researching the methods of training used by the International Mission Board and the North America Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention as well as Wycliffe Bible Translators. Books and articles relating to missions and missionaries were researched. The Scriptures were applied to the theoretical basis for the program. The program, "Every Member a Missionary;' was created to train the local church member to begin to think and act like a missionary. The program equips the church member to learn how to meet the lost people where they are and point them to Jesus.

Strategy For Equipping The Laity In The Cell Group Korean Church, Tae Young Kim

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this project is to prepare a strategy for equipping the laity of GaSan Baptist Church as a cell group church in Korea. This project examines four Korean churches as cell models. These churches are analyzed in eight parts on the basis of Mallory & Smith's equipping system. Gasan Baptist Church is also examined by the natural church development. The principles obtained from four model churches are applied for equipping the laity of Gasan Baptist Church through the results of NCD's research.

This project develops a strategy for equipping ministry in the Gasan Baptist Church in Korea.

Developing A Purpose Driven Model For Today’S Korea Evangelical Holiness Church Pastors-Teachers, Seung Min Chang

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This thesis is to develop a purpose driven model for the pastors-teachers of the Korea Evangelical Holiness Church. This project explains that being a purpose driven education ministry means following the biblical principles behind the movement rather than copying specific characteristics that are unique to the Saddleback Church. In that view, this paper discusses how to implement Rick Warren's paradigm in the educational setting of the KEHC that has its own theological and cultural distinctives. Two kinds of surveys show that the denominational educational needs can be effectively covered through the results of the implementation.

A Strategy On The Application Of Cell Ministry As A Model Of A Healthy Immigrant Church, Jong Dae Kim

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The objective of this thesis is to first understand the distinctive characteristic of the cell group church, and to research the strategy of transitioning the traditional immigrant church to a healthy cell group church. The foundational concept of this thesis was brought from the early church in the New Testament, and its origin could have been found in the historical small group movement. Seoul Baptist Church of Houston and Light Mission Global Church of Washington D.C. were the model churches that were used. Surveys and interview were examined focusing on the two church’s cell group leaders and members, and it …

Insights On Leadership: God’S Preparation And Selection Of The Southern Baptist Convention’S Conservative Resurgence Presidencies, Darrell P. Orman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A review of current literature indicates that very little material analyzes the processes God used to prepare and then select the unique leadership group, within Evangelical Christianity, known as the Conservative Resurgence Presidents of the Southern Baptist Convention. Many writings have covered the history of the resurgence and some writings have analyzed the biographical history of these men. But none to date have integrated these two elements into a specific study of the leadership preparation of this group of leaders along with the office of the president. The primary source of gaining insights into their leadership preparation and abilities shall …

Barn Again: A Case Study Of Congregational Reformation As Expressed Through The Rhetoric Of Church Architecture, Karen Elizabeth Burch

Masters Theses

Understanding the way in which church architecture functions rhetorically to communicate identity formation, monumentality, and meaning was the focus of this study.

Ronald C. Arnett's interpersonal praxis is used as a starting point to understand how the architectural rhetoric of reformation happens. It includes the integration of three concepts: faith narrative, or worldview; historicality, the presence of history in a place; and metaphor, or symbol. I argue that it is through an understanding of an integration of these terms as applied to visual communication that architectural communication can be understood.

Sonja Foss's schema for the evaluation of visual imagery was …

The Women House Church Leaders Of China: Interviews With A Muted Group, Timothy R. Wommack

Masters Theses

While studying the Bakweri people of Cameroon in the 1960s, Edwin and Shirley
Ardener discovered that it was the men who dominated and controlled the power and language of the group and created the societal understanding and the cultural makeup of their tribe's identity. The men did not allow the women to speak or have a say in the elements of their culture; these women were muted. Throughout history many individuals, especially women, have been muted in any number of ways. These include political, economical, social, cultural constrictions, even to the point of death, to keep them from being represented. …

Characteristics Of A Healthy Church From The Seven Churches Of Asia That Can Apply To Yohan Tokyo Christ Church, Jong Yoon Kim

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this project is to understand the characteristics of a healthy church from the seven churches of Asia, using Revelation 2-3 and to apply those characteristics to Yohan Tokyo Christ Church. The project carefully examines the characteristics of a healthy church from Jesus Christ’s commendations and condemnations to the seven churches of Asia. It also analyzes and evaluates current situation of the Yohan Tokyo Christ Church based on surveys. Five practical strategies for spiritual health development of the Yohan Tokyo Christ Church are offered. Those strategies will help the spiritual health of the Yohan Tokyo Christ Church and …

The Role Of The Pastor In Southern Baptist Churches: A Biblical View Versus A Prevailing View, Wilford A. Stone

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This project will address the role of the pastor by looking at the Biblical view of the role of the pastor and the prevailing view of the role of the pastor in the Southern Baptist Church. Biblical research will be conducted and will be presented in the Biblical view of the role of the pastor. Based on surveys sent to Southern Baptist pastors, Southern Baptist seminary students, and laity in Southern Baptist Churches, perspectives on the prevailing view of the role of the pastor will be presented. Then, the two views will be compared.

Father Presence Matters: A Case For Family, Marcia Redmon Miles

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Children from single parent homes experience disadvantages that often continue into adulthood. This qualitative dissertation project examines the pain and lived experiences of a family where father absence continued through three generations. Literature regarding father absence is reviewed, and the negative outcomes associated with fatherlessness are explored. This project combines a l2-week curriculum training, a 12-day Twelve-Step component, and a 12-month mentorship in a faith-based response to fatherlessness. The objective of this project is to reconnect fathers in a meaningful way with their children, ease pain and facilitate healing of all involved parties.

Today’S Challenges And Resolutions Regarding Church Music, Philip R. Mcfarland

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this thesis is to first affirm the fact that music is one of the most powerful mediums that can control and influence people today. By emphasizing music’s impact, the objective for churches and pastors is to understand that although music plays a major part within church worship, it is only one of many functions of the church. This thesis will serve the purpose of helping pastors, church leaders, and Christians to understand the influence of music that can lead to potential challenges and problems, and to give biblically based, historical, and practical resolutions. Christians must not let …

“Waltzing With The Monster,” Interventions With The Substance-Abusing Adolescent For Pastors, Treatment Providers, And Family, Philip A. Watkins

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The biblical story of the "Prodigal Son" is a universal experience made significantly more precarious by the use of mind altering chemicals. A review of the literature reveals that approximately half of all problems impacting American families are caused or exacerbated by the abuse of alcohol or other drugs. This project's focus is the impact of substance abuse on the developing adolescent. Chemical "hijacking" of the brain's pleasure centers and resultant dysfunction is examined. Primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention are discussed. Interventions which facilitate the young person's "homecoming" and implications for the community of faith are integrated.

The Effect Of Spiritual Attitudes On Female Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder, Ralph W. Fox Ii

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study hypothesized that there is a relationship between religious orientation (conservative, moderate, or liberal) and the occurrence of Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD) among Christian women. The participants of this study were 71 married Christian women who were patients from a Christian obstetrical! gynecological medical practice in southern Georgia and who volunteered for an anonymous survey. The survey instruments used in this study included the Sexual Self-Assessment Questionnaire, the Female Sexual Function Index, and the Christian Religious Orientation Scale. Demographic information was also gathered on each participant.

Results showed that all of the women had a conservative orientation and …

Developing A Spiritually-Formative Leadership Mentoring Ministry At Southwood Community Church, Aaron David Rock

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Mentoring is increasingly being recognized as a tool for advancing the God-initiated life-long quest for spiritual formation in newer believers. The purpose of this project is to develop a mentoring ministry at Southwood Community Church in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. The project first explores biblical, historical and contemporary mentoring principles and strategies, develops mentors through a training course, and couples them up with a mentee. The mentor and mentee engage in a mentoring relationship with an assessment tool administered before and after a three-month mentoring process to evaluate the impact of the relationship upon the mentee.

Internet Training For Lay Leaders To Meet Pastoral Care Needs, David W. Peterson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A review of current literature and ministry websites demonstrates that very little material is available online to assist ministry leaders and teachers with the pastoral needs issues they face in their ministries. Most ministry websites are information based rather than education based. Based on surveys and questionnaires sent to leaders and teachers, the project reviews educational website material and takes the reader though the process of developing a ministry educational website for their own ministry. The result is an educational website that may be further developed to equip for meeting pastoral care needs encountered in ministry.