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Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion
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Full-Text Articles in Arts and Humanities
Factors Of Survivability Of Church Plants In The Tarrant, Collin, North Texas, And Denton Baptist Associations, Aaron James Meraz Sr.
Factors Of Survivability Of Church Plants In The Tarrant, Collin, North Texas, And Denton Baptist Associations, Aaron James Meraz Sr.
Journal of the American Society for Church Growth
When I planted Bridgeway Baptist Church, McKinney, Texas, in October 2005, my association put me in contact with two recently deceased church plants to get some of their materials to use in our church. I talked with the two pastors and asked them why their churches died, hoping I could avoid their destiny. Though both churches made it past their fourth birthday, the pastors said that they needed more time to give to the church, a team member, and more financial support. I began looking into the survivability of church plants and, thanks to my church planting colloquium, was able …
Book Review: Strategies For Change, Jeff Mansell
Book Review: Strategies For Change, Jeff Mansell
Journal of the American Society for Church Growth
No abstract provided.
Book Review: Simple Church: Returning To God’S Process For Making Disciples, Bob Beaver
Book Review: Simple Church: Returning To God’S Process For Making Disciples, Bob Beaver
Journal of the American Society for Church Growth
No abstract provided.
Book Review: Planting New Churches In A Postmodern Age, Daryl Thompson
Book Review: Planting New Churches In A Postmodern Age, Daryl Thompson
Journal of the American Society for Church Growth
No abstract provided.
The State Of Church Planting In The United States: Research Overview And Qualitative Study Of Primary Church Planting Entities, Edward Stetzer, Warren Bird
The State Of Church Planting In The United States: Research Overview And Qualitative Study Of Primary Church Planting Entities, Edward Stetzer, Warren Bird
Journal of the American Society for Church Growth
The launching of new Protestant churches in the United States, widely known as church planting, plays an increasing role in today's ecclesiastical landscape. This article summarizes salient findings from existing literature (multiple church planting studies, 54 doctoral dissertations, 41 journal articles, and over 100 church planting books and manuals), giving particular attention to a 2007 study by Leadership Network, which itself involved fresh research among more than 200 church-planting churches, over 100 leaders from 40 denominations, 45 church planting networks, 84 organic church leaders, 12 nationally known experts, and 81 colleges and seminaries. The Leadership Network findings review the contributions …
Changing Perspectives On Leadership During Four Decades, Eddie Gibbs
Changing Perspectives On Leadership During Four Decades, Eddie Gibbs
Journal of the American Society for Church Growth
The significance of leadership for the growth of the church has been a constant focus of attention throughout the history of the Church Growth movement in North America during the past four decades. During that time, different aspects of leadership have been explored in response to the challenges and pressures encountered by leaders. Increasing pressures have resulted in heightened levels of stress.
Using Markov Chain Simulation To Measure The Eternal Impact Of Personal Evangelism,, Charles H. Reilly
Using Markov Chain Simulation To Measure The Eternal Impact Of Personal Evangelism,, Charles H. Reilly
Journal of the American Society for Church Growth
All Christians have been commanded by Jesus Christ to share the Gospel message with unbelievers so that they too may be saved. However, few Christians regularly share the Gospel with non-Christians, and there are eternal consequences to this disobedience for everyone. A Markov chain model is proposed for estimating over time the proportions of persons who are saved and receive eternal life in heaven and who are condemned to hell. An evaluation and an analysis of the model are presented. Simulation results for the model indicate that a moderate increase in present personal evangelism efforts will result in only modestly …
Introduction, Gary L. Mcintosh
Introduction, Gary L. Mcintosh
Journal of the American Society for Church Growth
For the past fourteen years, it has been my privilege to edit the Journal of the American Society for Church Growth. John Vaughan’s vision of seeing a new journal devoted to Great Commission research became a reality when the first issue was released in 1990. He edited the first four years, and I followed him as editor in 1995. My two major goals were to publish on a regular time schedule, and to move to multiple issues per year. Both of those goals were accomplished in 1997 when we first began publishing three issues per year. Now, after editing thirty-seven …
The Art Of Vision Casting For Church Multiplication, J. D. Payne
The Art Of Vision Casting For Church Multiplication, J. D. Payne
Journal of the American Society for Church Growth
“A plan in the heart of man is like deep water, but a man of understanding draws it out.” Proverbs 20:5 (NASB). The writer of the above verse reminds us of the importance of having knowledge in regard to moving one’s plans out of the deep recesses of the heart to the surface to where those plans can be carried out. This proverb has much to say about casting a vision for multiplication. Casting, or drawing out that vision from the heart so that others will take ownership of that vision and work to carry it out, requires a discerning …
Book Review: Breakout Churches: Discover How To Make The Leap, Gordon Penfold
Book Review: Breakout Churches: Discover How To Make The Leap, Gordon Penfold
Journal of the American Society for Church Growth
No abstract provided.
Book Review: The Living Church – Convictions Of A Lifelong Pastor, Roger Trautmann
Book Review: The Living Church – Convictions Of A Lifelong Pastor, Roger Trautmann
Journal of the American Society for Church Growth
No abstract provided.
Book Review: The Myth Of The 200 Barrier, Phil Stevenson
Book Review: The Myth Of The 200 Barrier, Phil Stevenson
Journal of the American Society for Church Growth
No abstract provided.
Remembering Bill Sullivan, Gary L. Mcintosh
Remembering Bill Sullivan, Gary L. Mcintosh
Journal of the American Society for Church Growth
One of the founding members of the American Society for Church, Bill M. Sullivan, passed away on June 23, 2007. Bill’s passion for church planting and evangelism made him a beloved leader in the Church Growth Movement.
Understanding Church Size Based On Empirical Data, Bill M. Sullivan
Understanding Church Size Based On Empirical Data, Bill M. Sullivan
Journal of the American Society for Church Growth
One of the most remarkable graphs I have ever seen was developed by ANSR’s own Rich Houseal. While he was serving as president of ASARB he was able to acquire, from five other denominational statisticians, the church attendance data for their respective churches. Attendance data has only been collected in recent years and has not been readily available. Of course, actual report data is more desirable than survey data. It may not be 100% accurate but it is generally consistent and reliable. Most denominations have standard reporting procedures which over time have produced an acceptable level of reliability.
Church Conflict/Church Growth, Thomas Hammond, Steve Wilkes
Church Conflict/Church Growth, Thomas Hammond, Steve Wilkes
Journal of the American Society for Church Growth
Sadly, conflict is a common occurrence in congregations of every denomination across America. It happens to traditional, blended, and contemporary churches for a variety of reasons, with the capacity to reach extreme levels of intensity. Its impact on a congregation can be devastating. Relationships are damaged, friendships strained, and many decide to stop attending. The church's ministry and evangelism efforts are usually brought to a standstill, leaving a divided fellowship that has taken its eyes off the harvest and has become distracted from fulfilling the Great Commission.
A Glimpse Into The Missional House Churches Of America, J. D. Payne
A Glimpse Into The Missional House Churches Of America, J. D. Payne
Journal of the American Society for Church Growth
Discussions of house churches in western contexts have been increasing over the last decade. Though one can speculate as to the reason for the interest and growth in this particular expression of the Body of Christ, few have attempted to study the present realities. For some time I heard of these simple expressions of the Church in countries throughout the world, but wondered if there were such churches in the United States that were evangelistic and involved in church planting. I wanted to know if there were more to house churches than the stereotypical small group of disgruntled believers huddling …
Book Review: Growth By Accident, Death By Planning: How Not To Kill A Growing Congregation, Darrell Lamos
Book Review: Growth By Accident, Death By Planning: How Not To Kill A Growing Congregation, Darrell Lamos
Journal of the American Society for Church Growth
No abstract provided.
Shall We Reinvent Our 100 Year Old Denomination? Surveying Organizational Models, Kenneth Crow, Richard Houseal, Stan Ingersol, Dale Jones
Shall We Reinvent Our 100 Year Old Denomination? Surveying Organizational Models, Kenneth Crow, Richard Houseal, Stan Ingersol, Dale Jones
Journal of the American Society for Church Growth
David Moberg has described the life cycle of religious organizations in The Church as a Social Institution. His model suggests five predictable stages. FIGURE 1 In the beginning of the ascending curve there is a phase of incipient organization characterized by a negative reaction to existing churches, emotional enthusiasm for the new church, and diffused leadership. Second, as the age and effectiveness of the organization increase, there is a phase of formal organization characterized by membership commitments, specification of goals, symbolic separation from the larger society, and a gradual move from charismatic leaders to rational or bureaucratic leaders. Third, as …
The God-Equipped Magnificent Obsession: A Christ-Centered And Values-Based Strategic Intent, Allen H. Quist
The God-Equipped Magnificent Obsession: A Christ-Centered And Values-Based Strategic Intent, Allen H. Quist
Journal of the American Society for Church Growth
It was the first-century believers’ Christ-centered core values that drove their evangelism behavior. Core values still drive the behavior of present day believers. For present day followers of Christ to maximize the work of Christ’s Great Commission, Christians need Christcentered core values held at an obsessive level, plus God’s preparation and provision. Believers making up the first-century church, engaged their world through touch points of their time; the Roman political system providing relatively safe travel and quality roads, the widely-used Greek language, and scattered post-Pentecost new Christian believers. Today’s Christians need to engage our world through the touch points of …
The Impact Of Donald A. Mcgavran’S Church Growth Missiology On The Church Of The Nazarene, Gary L. Mcintosh
The Impact Of Donald A. Mcgavran’S Church Growth Missiology On The Church Of The Nazarene, Gary L. Mcintosh
Journal of the American Society for Church Growth
On February 23, 2004 I interviewed Bill Sullivan by phone regarding the development of the Church Growth Movement in the Church of the Nazarene. The interview was recorded, transcribed, and then sent to Dr. Sullivan for his review. After receiving his edits, I wrote the following history of how Donald A. McGavran’s Church Growth missiology impacted the Church of the Nazarene. As the reader will discover, Bill Sullivan was the primary architect of translating Church Growth theory into action within this denomination.
Misperceiving The Real Reasons For Non-Attendance, Attribution Theory, Peter Burch
Misperceiving The Real Reasons For Non-Attendance, Attribution Theory, Peter Burch
Journal of the American Society for Church Growth
My wife Holly and I arrived at Vista Del Mar Baptist Church (VDMBC) in Pacifica, California, a suburb of San Francisco, just three weeks shy of Easter in the year 2000. VDMBC began in the garage of a tract home in the 1950s. After two decades of consistent growth, the congregation dedicated an attractive 200-seat sanctuary in 1976. Regrettably, the next two decades brought consistent decline and, when I arrived as the new pastor in 2000, the church had returned to a garage-sized congregation. Having no staff to direct, secretary to talk to, or walls to paint, I decided to …
Book Review: A Second Resurrection: Leading Your Congregation To New Life, Randy M. Keeley
Book Review: A Second Resurrection: Leading Your Congregation To New Life, Randy M. Keeley
Journal of the American Society for Church Growth
No abstract provided.