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Full-Text Articles in Arts and Humanities

The Future Growth Of Global Christianity And Yoido Full Gospel Church: Its Potential Role In The New Context, Wonsuk Ma Oct 2018

The Future Growth Of Global Christianity And Yoido Full Gospel Church: Its Potential Role In The New Context, Wonsuk Ma

Great Commission Research Journal

Christians have long recognized the amazing growth of Yoido Full Gospel Church. It has been a pioneer in the Church Growth Movement and has set an example in its dependence on prayer and the work of the Holy Spirit. The church faces challenges/opportunities in the future as it relates to the church growth in the Global South, the changing culture in South Korea, and the Pentecostal/charismatic movements around the world.


Book Review: Reclaiming Glory: Revitalizing Dying Churches By Mark Clifton, Chris Messerer Oct 2018

Book Review: Reclaiming Glory: Revitalizing Dying Churches By Mark Clifton, Chris Messerer

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.


Religion Crossing The Frontiers: Nigerian Pentecostal Dynamics In The Western World, Jacob Kehinde Oladipupo Oct 2018

Religion Crossing The Frontiers: Nigerian Pentecostal Dynamics In The Western World, Jacob Kehinde Oladipupo

Great Commission Research Journal

This article examines how the Pentecostal movements in Africa and most especially in Nigeria are experiencing fast growth and how African Pentecostals are speaking on the global scene, especially in Europe and America in the twenty-first century. This kind of Pentecostal reverse mission from Africa to the Western countries that brought Christianity to Africa in the eighteenth century is not without strengths and weaknesses. This article unveils the nature of the Nigerian Pentecostal movements in the diaspora and how much impact the movements are making in the Western cultures of Europe and America. The passion of the African immigrants’ churches …


Do Larger Churches Tolerate Pastoral Narcissism More Than Smaller Churches?, David R. Dunaetz, Hannah L. Jung, Stephen L. Lambert Oct 2018

Do Larger Churches Tolerate Pastoral Narcissism More Than Smaller Churches?, David R. Dunaetz, Hannah L. Jung, Stephen L. Lambert

Great Commission Research Journal

Pastoral narcissism in churches is a problem, from both a theological and practical perspective. In this study, we explore the question of whether church size is related to tolerance for narcissism. In the popular press, pastors of megachurches are often portrayed as narcissistic. The Dominance Complementarity Model of narcissistic leaders (Grijalva & Harms, 2004) predicts that churches which have less dominant followers, as may be the case in larger churches, would be more tolerant of narcissistic pastors than smaller churches. Yet larger churches also have the resources to hire the most qualified staff, which would presumably exclude candidates high in …


A Case Study Of Growth And Decline: The Churches Of Christ, 2006-2016, Stanley E. Granberg Oct 2018

A Case Study Of Growth And Decline: The Churches Of Christ, 2006-2016, Stanley E. Granberg

Great Commission Research Journal

The group known as the Churches of Christ is one of America’s largest religious bodies with over 1.5 million adherents and congregations in all fifty states. Like many U.S. Christian bodies, the Churches of Christ have entered a time of decline. This article is a case study of the Churches of Christ and describes the group’s growth and decline, with a specific focus on the years 2006 to 2016. The movement’s current state of health is assessed, and the impact of new church planting as the engine for movement growth is described. The article ends by addressing three hard challenges …


Architectural Evangelism: Examination Of Place Constructs Held By Churched And Unchurched Individuals, Matthew Niermann Oct 2018

Architectural Evangelism: Examination Of Place Constructs Held By Churched And Unchurched Individuals, Matthew Niermann

Great Commission Research Journal

In recent decades, the exterior design of Protestant churches has undergone radical reformulation under the influence of the church growth architectural design theory known as architectural evangelism. Presupposing that churched and unchurched individuals hold differing place constructs, architectural evangelism seeks to attract unchurched individuals to the church by changing the exterior design from church typologies to secular typologies. In doing so, as the theory proposes, when an unchurched individual is exposed to a typology they are more familiar with, a different place construct formulation occurs—a place construct rooted in conceptions of comfort and the perception of community-based activities. Noting the …


The Global Missionary: The Emerging Roles Of North American Missionaries In The Twenty-First Century, Blayne C. Waltrip Oct 2018

The Global Missionary: The Emerging Roles Of North American Missionaries In The Twenty-First Century, Blayne C. Waltrip

Great Commission Research Journal

This article explores the emerging roles of the North American missionary in light of the changing face of global missions. Missionary sending has become a phenomenon of reciprocity. Because the Global South has become a missionary sending force, missionaries are going from everywhere to everywhere. This shift has created a need for North American missionaries to reevaluate their roles in missions. They are increasingly becoming “Global Missionaries” that serve in more than one context. The author defines and describes a Global Missionary, evaluates the factors for the shift, and advocates a greater global partnership to fulfill the Great Commission.


The Life Of Donald Mcgavran: Turning To North America, Gary L. Mcintosh Oct 2018

The Life Of Donald Mcgavran: Turning To North America, Gary L. Mcintosh

Great Commission Research Journal

The event that put Church Growth on the worldwide map was the Lausanne Congress on Evangelism held on July 14-28, 1974. Then, as the Church Growth Movement took hold around the world, the focus of some faculty at Fuller’s School of World Mission gradually turned toward North America. This article describes the actions and processes that propelled the movement into world prominence.


Book Review: Turn-Around Churches: How To Overcome Barriers To Growth And Bring New Life To An Established Church By George Barna, Harvey Mitchell Jr. Oct 2018

Book Review: Turn-Around Churches: How To Overcome Barriers To Growth And Bring New Life To An Established Church By George Barna, Harvey Mitchell Jr.

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.


Book Review: Who Broke My Church? 7 Proven Strategies For Renewal And Revival By Kent R. Hunter, David Thiessen Oct 2018

Book Review: Who Broke My Church? 7 Proven Strategies For Renewal And Revival By Kent R. Hunter, David Thiessen

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.


Pentecostalism And Charismatic Movements In Nigeria: Factors Of Growth And Inherent Challenges, Matthews A. Ojo Sep 2018

Pentecostalism And Charismatic Movements In Nigeria: Factors Of Growth And Inherent Challenges, Matthews A. Ojo

The WATS Journal: An Online Journal from West Africa Theological Seminary

Since about 1986, i.e. in the past 46 years and within our own generation, we have witnessed certain fundamental changes in the way Christianity is perceived and practiced in Nigeria, and in other parts ofWest Africa. The most substantial change is associated with a kind of spirituality brought into existence by the rise of Pentecostal and Charismatic movements. This new religious effervescence is part of what is generally referred to as the Charismatic Renewal, a revivalist movement within the Christian church with global dimension. From its old form as a sectarian religion in Africa in the early twentieth century, by …


The Unity Of Brotherhood In The African Church: Establishing A Biblical Self-Identity In The Shared Leadership Of Elders, Dr. J. R. Miller Sep 2018

The Unity Of Brotherhood In The African Church: Establishing A Biblical Self-Identity In The Shared Leadership Of Elders, Dr. J. R. Miller

The WATS Journal: An Online Journal from West Africa Theological Seminary

The continent of Africa has an enduring Christian legacy; both in what has been penned in the annals of history, and in the future that has yet to be written. Writing as an observer from the West, it is my hope that the Church in Africa can build on recent progress and overcome the errors of history to build a strong church on the foundation of the historic biblical faith she helped foster in the early centuries of Christianity. The African Church can grow stronger through the establishment oflocal congregations founded on shared leadership (more than one man leading the …


A Christian Response To Boko Haram Insurgency In Nigeria, Gwamna Dogara Je'adayibe Sep 2018

A Christian Response To Boko Haram Insurgency In Nigeria, Gwamna Dogara Je'adayibe

The WATS Journal: An Online Journal from West Africa Theological Seminary

Nigeria, particularly the north-eastern region, has been the target of a sustained Islamist terrorist onslaught for many years, leading to massive human causalities, the loss of property, and destabilisation of socio-economic, religious and cultural processes. A major target of these attacks have been Christians and churches. This paper attempts to address some of these disturbing trends with specific focus on the Boko Haram Islamic insurgency group, which has attracted scholarly discourse since its formation, growth and spread. Diverse views have emerged as to its etymology, intentions, factors for their emergence, and source of growth and sponsors. This paper examines the …


The Nigeria Civil War Revival And Its Progeny, Dr. Danny Mccain Sep 2018

The Nigeria Civil War Revival And Its Progeny, Dr. Danny Mccain

The WATS Journal: An Online Journal from West Africa Theological Seminary

The Pentecostal and Charismatic outpouring that began during the Nigerian Civil War of 1967-1970, popular referred to as the Nigerian Civil-War Revival, introduced new elements into the experience and practice of Christianity in the country. It was a revitalizing force characterized by a renewed emphasis on prayer, holy living, Bible study, and evangelism. It was also marked by spiritual phenomena such as the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues and the operation of spiritual gifts, particularly healing and prophecy. The movement has gone through several phases since those early days and this article examines …


A Gifting Of Sweetgrass : The Reclamation Of Culture Movement And Naiits, An Indigenous Learning Community, Wendy L. Peterson Aug 2018

A Gifting Of Sweetgrass : The Reclamation Of Culture Movement And Naiits, An Indigenous Learning Community, Wendy L. Peterson

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.


A New Church Model : Inviting And Including People With Or Affected By Mental Health Conditions, Robyn Kay Bradley Bishop May 2018

A New Church Model : Inviting And Including People With Or Affected By Mental Health Conditions, Robyn Kay Bradley Bishop

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.


Visible Practices Of Christian Community In Online Video Small Groups, Joel Peter Jupp May 2018

Visible Practices Of Christian Community In Online Video Small Groups, Joel Peter Jupp

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.


Orthodoxy And The Great Commission In The South Georgia Conference Of The United Methodist Church, Lee Edward Pettis May 2018

Orthodoxy And The Great Commission In The South Georgia Conference Of The United Methodist Church, Lee Edward Pettis

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.


We Preach Christ : Recovering The Gospel In Christian Preaching, Richard G. Hutchison May 2018

We Preach Christ : Recovering The Gospel In Christian Preaching, Richard G. Hutchison

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.


Mobilizing Habesha Immigrant Churches In Greater Boston : Training Servant Leaders For Transformation And Growth, Mulualem Kaba Apr 2018

Mobilizing Habesha Immigrant Churches In Greater Boston : Training Servant Leaders For Transformation And Growth, Mulualem Kaba

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.


The Impact Of Leadership Matters Course On Christian Leaders, Crispus Christian Apr 2018

The Impact Of Leadership Matters Course On Christian Leaders, Crispus Christian

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.


At The Intersection Of Acts And Galatians : New Strategies For Women Church Planters, Carolyn Moore Feb 2018

At The Intersection Of Acts And Galatians : New Strategies For Women Church Planters, Carolyn Moore

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.


Early Protestant Views Of Hinduism: 1600-1825, Norvin Hein Jan 2018

Early Protestant Views Of Hinduism: 1600-1825, Norvin Hein

Papers

No abstract provided.


African Religious Beliefs And The Christian Faith, Eduardo C. Mondlane Jan 2018

African Religious Beliefs And The Christian Faith, Eduardo C. Mondlane

Papers

No abstract provided.


The Meeting Of Muslim And Christian, Kenneth Cragg Jan 2018

The Meeting Of Muslim And Christian, Kenneth Cragg

Papers

No abstract provided.


The Christian Faith And Other Religions: The Present Phase, R. Pierce Beaver Jan 2018

The Christian Faith And Other Religions: The Present Phase, R. Pierce Beaver

Papers

No abstract provided.


Issues Arising In The International Missionary Council Study On The Christian Enterprise In China, M. Searle Bates Jan 2018

Issues Arising In The International Missionary Council Study On The Christian Enterprise In China, M. Searle Bates

Papers

No abstract provided.


Missions In The Curriculum, Creighton Lacy Jan 2018

Missions In The Curriculum, Creighton Lacy

Papers

No abstract provided.


Two Years Of The Literature Of Missions, Frank W. Price Jan 2018

Two Years Of The Literature Of Missions, Frank W. Price

Papers

No abstract provided.


Discipleship And Mission, James W. Pyke Jan 2018

Discipleship And Mission, James W. Pyke

Papers

No abstract provided.