Christianity Commons^™

The Desecration And Restoration Of The Temple As An Eschatological Motif In The Tanach, Jewish Apocalytic Literature, And The New Testament, John Randall Price

Faculty Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Best Practices For Online Theological Ministry Preparation: A Delphi Method Study, John Cartwright

Faculty Dissertations

This doctoral thesis intended to provide a clear vision of best practices in the area of online theological ministry training at the graduate level by consulting experts in the field. The research question that needed to be answered was, “What are the best practices for ministry preparation in online theological education?”

Despite tremendous growth in online learning even among theological institutions, casual observations suggest that the decision to offer online programs may not always have been rooted in deep pedagogical or theological reflection. In other words, in the quest to utilize online education as a viable option for degree preparation, …

An Analysis Of Youth Ministers' Perceptions Of Character Qualities, Leadership Competencies, And Leadership Flaws That Facilitate Or Hinder Effective Youth Ministry, Troy W. Temple

Faculty Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Trends In The Portrayal Of The Puritans Found In American History Textbooks From The 1870s Through The 1990s As Influenced By Secular Educational Philosophy, James A. Wicks

Faculty Dissertations

There has been a movement to exclude a Biblical worldview from high school American history textbooks exchanging it for a secular worldview through the use of historical revisionism. Available literature failed to adequately address the impact of revisionism within the pages of American history textbooks specifically concerning the portrayal of the American Puritans. Therefore, an analysis of American history textbooks beginning in the 1870s through the 1990s was necessary to demonstrate the existence of historical revisionism regarding the treatment of the American Puritans and whether a trend existed to revise their place in American history textbooks over the past two …

Using Assessments In Facilitating The Assimilation Of Adults At Calvary Church In Grand Rapids, Michigan, David D. Nemitz

Faculty Dissertations

The goal of assimilating believers into the community of faith has been, is and will continue to be a crucial element and a significant challenge for churches. Most commonly, assimilation is used to describe the process by which people are absorbed into the cultural tradition of an existing population or organization. This thesis explores the impact that a standardized assimilation process has on the incorporation of people into the community of a large church setting.

"Through The Eye Of A Needle": The Role Of Pietistic And Mystical Thought Among The Anglican Elite In The Eighteenth Century Lowcountry South, Samuel C. Smith

Faculty Dissertations

This dissertation examines the transmission and eventual manifestation of Christian pietistic and mystical thought into the Colonial and Revolutionary lowcountry South. The facilitators of this transmission include the Continental Pietists, who were themselves heavily influenced by the mystics, and British Evangelicals such as John Wesley and George Whitefield, who, even in their public denials of mysticism, nevertheless demonstrated its strong influence in their ministries. Mystical and pietistic expressions impacted the religious, social, and political life of the lowcountry more than has been previously recognized. Evangelical Pietism's mid-eighteenth century infusion prompted some to correctly recognize its subjective (i.e. inwardly focused and …

Demonstrative Faith In The Public And Private Life Of John Adams Based On His Writings, James A. Wicks

Faculty Dissertations

John Adams was the second President of the United States (1797-1801). Considered to be a "passionate sage," many historians quote him in their manifold volumes. There is a problem, however, in many references to Adams' faith. Ignored, dismissed, and distorted by these writers, the context of Adams' life expediently conforms to secular writers' presuppositions and conclusions. These misrepresentations occur in lieu of the many references to God, Providence, and the Supreme Being found in his personal letters and other writings.

The purpose of this thesis was to chronicle elements of Adams' life related to his faith in public and private, …

Trends In Gospel Music Publishing: 1940 To 1960, Vernon M. Whaley

Faculty Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to compile a historical survey of gospel music publishing from 1940 to 1960. Elements for investigation included the stated objectives, decisions, and marketing strategies employed by gospel music publishers to expand their markets from 1940 to 1960 and factors contributing to the growth in the gospel music publishing industry from 1940 to 1960.

The information for the study was collected through oral history methodology consisting of interviews with seven leaders in the industry including: Billy Ray Hearn, Chuck Fromm, Ralph Carmichael, John W. Peterson, Robert R. MacKenzie, Jessy Dixon, and Bill Gaither. Personal interviews …