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Full-Text Articles in Arts and Humanities
Church Growth Missiologist And Defender Of The Faith: George G. Hunter, Iii, R. Daniel Reeves
Church Growth Missiologist And Defender Of The Faith: George G. Hunter, Iii, R. Daniel Reeves
Great Commission Research Journal
Reeves summarizes Hunter’s impact in McGavran missiology with professors, church planters and evangelists. He highlights Hunter’s pioneering research among secular peoples at Muscle Beach and the fifth century Celtic movement, with broad application for enlisting and equipping disciples. Reeves also emphasizes Hunter’s less reported role as friend and trusted advisor, citing his personal experience of receiving encouragement and advice while forming and facilitating the Council on Ecclessiology, a project aimed at reducing counterproductive rhetoric among several popular movements.
A Holistic Good News: Missional, Effective Evangelism And Lessons Learned While Traveling In The Hoof Prints Of Wesley, Bob Whitesel
A Holistic Good News: Missional, Effective Evangelism And Lessons Learned While Traveling In The Hoof Prints Of Wesley, Bob Whitesel
Great Commission Research Journal
The Good News can be understood as the message of the missio Dei to which varying methods can be attached. Churches, however, often specialize in a specific part or method of that mission, e.g., helping the needy, emphasizing conversion, or promoting discipleship. This article suggests the Good News has yielded significant historical impact when churches embrace a comprehensive or holistic understanding of the Good News that includes three methodological components: establishing legitimacy by meeting the needs of non-believers, effectively facilitating conversion, and spiritual formation in small communal groups. Missional and effective evangelism nomenclature will be discussed in relation to this …
Behaving Beyond Your Barriers, Melissa Pratt
Behaving Beyond Your Barriers, Melissa Pratt
Great Commission Research Journal
Pastoral leaders must embrace the attitude that God expects His church to grow. Effective pastors must be future-focused rather than problem-focused. They must see and personally live beyond where a church is, beyond where the barriers to growth are, and into the place God wants to take His people. Pastors must identify the behaviors of “next-level” churches to evaluate what kinds of behaviors current church leaders and members should adopt. After casting a “next-level” vision, Pastors should equip their members to behave not as they are, but as they desire to become in order to push through barriers to growth.
Resurrecting The Celtic Model Of Evangelism For The 21st Century: George G. Hunter, Iii, James R. Farrer
Resurrecting The Celtic Model Of Evangelism For The 21st Century: George G. Hunter, Iii, James R. Farrer
Great Commission Research Journal
Dr. George G. Hunter III has been the premier author in alerting Christians in our current era to the ancient Celtic Christian style of evangelism and mission. This model, pioneered by St. Patrick, became the “greatest sustained Christian mission in Christianity’s history.”1 The contagious power of these Christians and their communities ushered in almost 1,000 years of Christian culture to Europe. Hunter identifies the Celtic Christians’ main strategies which can be fruitful in reaching today’s prodigals, “nones,” and modern “barbarians.” This model is urgently needed today since the United States has become the third largest mission field of non-Christians in …
Book Review: Unchristian: What A New Generation Really Thinks About Christianity . . . And Why It Matters By David Kinnaman, Matthew Costner
Book Review: Unchristian: What A New Generation Really Thinks About Christianity . . . And Why It Matters By David Kinnaman, Matthew Costner
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
The Gathering Of The Saints: Noun Or Verb?, Kenneth E. Priddy
The Gathering Of The Saints: Noun Or Verb?, Kenneth E. Priddy
Great Commission Research Journal
This paper examines the question: Who are the saints? In the Old Testament the saints are the people of God, the nation of Israel, specifically those who have genuine faith and are true believers. In the New Testament the saints are the church, those who have been regenerated through the working of the Holy Spirit to be more than members of the visible church, but members of the eternal invisible church as well. In modern times we often speak of the “gathering of the saints.” Both noun and verb uses are included in Scripture and they are essentially distinguished by …
Reaching Secular Peoples: A Review Of The Books Of George G. Hunter, Iii, Gary L. Mcintosh
Reaching Secular Peoples: A Review Of The Books Of George G. Hunter, Iii, Gary L. Mcintosh
Great Commission Research Journal
“Reaching Secular Peoples: A Review of the Books of George G. Hunter III” traces the development of the author’s thought through his eighteen books (as of June 2011). The review demonstrates that Hunter is the primary interpreter of classic church growth thought to those in the Wesleyan tradition, but he also ably speaks to members of the larger Christian family across all theological spectrums with a spirit of grace, cooperation, and collegiality. While his early books, written between 1971 and 1980, communicated insights from the emerging Church Growth movement to Wesleyans (particularly the people called Methodists), his later books demonstrate …
Book Review: The Recovery Of A Contagious Methodist Movement By George G. Hunter, Iii, Randy Willis
Book Review: The Recovery Of A Contagious Methodist Movement By George G. Hunter, Iii, Randy Willis
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
Book Review: Being The Church In A Multi-Ethnic Community: Why It Matters And How It Works By Gary L. Mcintosh And Alan Mcmahan, Jeffrey Medina
Book Review: Being The Church In A Multi-Ethnic Community: Why It Matters And How It Works By Gary L. Mcintosh And Alan Mcmahan, Jeffrey Medina
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
Finding The Way Forward: George Gill Hunter, Iii, Ronald K. Crandall
Finding The Way Forward: George Gill Hunter, Iii, Ronald K. Crandall
Great Commission Research Journal
Ron Crandall recounts some of the significant personal transitions, achievements, and contributions to evangelism and church growth made by his long time colleague. This brief “inside story” captures some of both the professional and personal life of this world-class scholar, and reveals his passionate pursuit to help thousands of churches and millions of secular and disenchanted peoples “find the way forward.” Never content to only talk about evangelism, George Hunter is portrayed as employing every gift available to equip the Church for its apostolic mission to spread the power of “Christ in us, the hope of glory.”
The North American Church Journey: Lessons We Are Learning, Daryl K. Thompson
The North American Church Journey: Lessons We Are Learning, Daryl K. Thompson
Great Commission Research Journal
The North American church is on a journey. It is a journey compelled by the church’s decline in the past half century. The primary lesson that is being learned on this journey is that mission catalyzes Christianity in a way that nothing else does. Western European Christendom has significantly influenced the North American church. This expression of Christianity drifted radically from the early churches missional clarity. The result was an anemic Christianity that saw little personal and societal transformation. Missionally-minded and outwardly-focused pastors are essential to helping the North American church recover its missional orientation.
Evangelism Or Disciple-Making?, Charles Arn
Evangelism Or Disciple-Making?, Charles Arn
Great Commission Research Journal
Evangelistic “success” is often defined by the number of “decisions for Christ”—those who raise their hands . . . come to the altar . . . pray the sinner’s prayer. However, the definition of success, when measured by the “fruit that remains” (Jn. 15:16) indicates that decisionmaking does not always result in disciple-making. In fact, upon closer study, many of the evangelistic methods commonly used by churches and Christians today have been shown to be ineffective—and even counter-productive—in producing disciples and responsible church members. In this article, Charles Arn contrasts the difference in practice and results between traditional evangelism vs. …
Book Review: The Celtic Way Of Evangelism: How Christianity Won The West Again By George G. Hunter, Iii, Allan Karr
Book Review: The Celtic Way Of Evangelism: How Christianity Won The West Again By George G. Hunter, Iii, Allan Karr
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
The Profile Of Asian-American Pastors, Jonathan H. Kim
The Profile Of Asian-American Pastors, Jonathan H. Kim
Great Commission Research Journal
This case study surveyed 277 and interviewed 47 Asian-American pastors to gather information regarding their demographic characteristics, ministry context, sense of call, spiritual formation, employment status, length of tenure, conflict in ministry, and reasons for ministry or career changes. The purpose of this study was to understand personal and institutional issues affecting Asian-American pastors’ ministry tenure.
Book Review: The Explicit Gospel By Matt Chandler, Jeremy Mcgarity
Book Review: The Explicit Gospel By Matt Chandler, Jeremy Mcgarity
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
Book Review: The Churching Of America 1776–2005: Winners And Losers In Our Religious Economy By Roger Finke And Rodney Stark, Charles Salmon
Book Review: The Churching Of America 1776–2005: Winners And Losers In Our Religious Economy By Roger Finke And Rodney Stark, Charles Salmon
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
The Shaping Of Things To Come: Innovation And Mission For The 21st Century Church By Michael Frost And Alan Hirsch, Jihoon Lee
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
Book Review: Christian, Evangelical & . . . Democrat? By George G. Hunter Iii, Willam Ingram
Book Review: Christian, Evangelical & . . . Democrat? By George G. Hunter Iii, Willam Ingram
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
Book Review: Cure For The Common Church: God’S Plan To Restore Church Health By Bob Whitesel, Joshua L. Henry
Book Review: Cure For The Common Church: God’S Plan To Restore Church Health By Bob Whitesel, Joshua L. Henry
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
Donald Mcgavran And The City, Jeff K. Walters
Donald Mcgavran And The City, Jeff K. Walters
Great Commission Research Journal
As the “father of the Church Growth Movement,” Donald A. McGavran’s impact on twentieth century missiology is undisputed. His teaching on missions in urban contexts holds great value for our rapidly urbanizing world, but those contributions have been studied very little. The purpose of this article is to survey McGavran’s urban missiology, especially as presented in his seminal work, Understanding Church Growth.
Book Review: Wisdom From Lyle E. Schaller: The Elder Statesman Of Church Leadership By Warren Bird, Ed., James R. Farrer
Book Review: Wisdom From Lyle E. Schaller: The Elder Statesman Of Church Leadership By Warren Bird, Ed., James R. Farrer
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
Donald Mcgavran’S Understanding Of Conversion, Gustavo V. Suarez
Donald Mcgavran’S Understanding Of Conversion, Gustavo V. Suarez
Great Commission Research Journal
This paper seeks to explore Donald McGavran’s understanding of conversion. First, we will look at the people and events that shaped his theology and methodology. Second, we will explore McGavran’s understanding of conversion. He clearly emphasized in his writings that Church Growth was conversion growth. He also was very clear that salvation is only through Jesus Christ. However, Donald McGavran’s understanding of conversion was clouded with the conflicting theological and sociological views that consequently influenced his methodology. Donald McGavran’s view of conversion lacked a clear theological explanation as to how man becomes a Christian. Most of McGavran’s explanation of conversion …
Blow Ups Or Grow Ups: Strategic Issues For Turnaround Churches, Kent R. Hunter
Blow Ups Or Grow Ups: Strategic Issues For Turnaround Churches, Kent R. Hunter
Great Commission Research Journal
This article addresses the theological and strategic issues affecting current turnaround churches in North America. In at least two scenarios, pastors can either “blow up” or “grow up” their church. The difference lies in the way change is introduced. Dr. Hunter explains that the biblical model of repentance, or metanoia, is always focused on turning towards God. To refocus the church’s mission on discipleship and away from the cultural drift, an understanding of the three most common church change strategies is essential. This discussion includes an analysis of the transition, extension, and organic models, along with an illustration of what …
The Rise And Decline Of The Church Growth Movement, Elmer Towns
The Rise And Decline Of The Church Growth Movement, Elmer Towns
Great Commission Research Journal
Dr. Towns surveys the movements and personalities that brought the Church Growth Movement into being and gave it a focus in the American church scene. Then he discusses the several accomplishments in its golden age of influence. After 20 years of ministry in various areas, the Church Growth Movement began to decline as evidenced by nine trends surveyed by Dr. Towns. Then he noted seven continuing influences of the Church Growth Movement on today’s church culture. Finally he reminds the reader of what God can do through the church and that God is still using churches today.
The Twenty-First Century Relevance Of Donald Mcgavran, Gary Mcintosh
The Twenty-First Century Relevance Of Donald Mcgavran, Gary Mcintosh
Great Commission Research Journal
Donald A. McGavran is widely considered to be the greatest missiologist of the twentieth century. However, recent articles and books often ignore his contributions to mission theory. This lecture presents ten major influences of McGavran on the church in North America, and suggests five ways he challenges missional thinking in the twenty first century
Finding Still Waters And Green Pastures: Understanding And Reducing Stress In Urban Church Planting, David R. Dunaetz
Finding Still Waters And Green Pastures: Understanding And Reducing Stress In Urban Church Planting, David R. Dunaetz
Great Commission Research Journal
The work of urban church planters is often hindered by high levels of stress. Stress may be viewed as a process that involves stressors and an individual’s perceptions of both the level of threat and his or her ability to deal with the threat. The long-term and the short-term consequences of stress can be attenuated through appropriate coping strategies such as problem solving, prayer, and seeking social support. Recent empirical evidence indicates that exposure to nature is also very effective, a strategy that might be especially beneficial to urban church planters and their ministries. Several practical applications are suggested.
Converge International Missionaries And Their Churches In Thailand: Different Strategies Reaching Different People Groups In The Bangkapi District Of Bangkok, Thailand, John F. Easterling
Converge International Missionaries And Their Churches In Thailand: Different Strategies Reaching Different People Groups In The Bangkapi District Of Bangkok, Thailand, John F. Easterling
Great Commission Research Journal
In 1990, two missionary families moved to Thailand under the supervision of the Baptist General Conference to study the Thai language, intern under a Thai pastor, and eventually plant churches. Their coming to Thailand was following many years of Buddhism that is firmly established in the land. Christianity has not had an easy reception, but slowly the Christian church has been planted by men and women with faith, a call, determination, vision, and hard work. As these two missionary families began to work together, they started to realize that they each had a distinct calling. After twelve years, their one …
Book Review: Understanding World Christianity: The Vision And Work Of Andrew F. Walls By William R. Burrows, Mark R. Gornik, And Janice A. Mclean, Eds., Dwight P. Baker
Book Review: Understanding World Christianity: The Vision And Work Of Andrew F. Walls By William R. Burrows, Mark R. Gornik, And Janice A. Mclean, Eds., Dwight P. Baker
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
Hermeneutics And The Methods Of Oral Bible Storytelling For The Evangelization And Discipleship Of Oral Learners, Jennifer Jagerson
Hermeneutics And The Methods Of Oral Bible Storytelling For The Evangelization And Discipleship Of Oral Learners, Jennifer Jagerson
Great Commission Research Journal
The methods of oral Bible storytelling are expanding in influence for proclamation of the Gospel, discipleship, and church planting on the mission field. Such strategies are essential to reach those from primarily oral cultures where few have strong skills in literacy. As these methods are implemented, it is of critical importance to insure that they equip nationals with the fundamental skills of biblical interpretation. The author will demonstrate that at the level of proclamation and early discipleship, oral methods are able to effectively empower nonand semi-literates in the practices of robust inductive Bible study of the narrative texts of Scripture.