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Asbury Theological Seminary

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

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Book Review Of The Forgotten Ways: Reactivating The Missional Church By Alan Hirsch, Gordon E. Penfold Apr 2009

Book Review Of The Forgotten Ways: Reactivating The Missional Church By Alan Hirsch, Gordon E. Penfold

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

No abstract provided.


Evangelism And Social Action—Revisiting An Old Debate: Good News For Immigrants And Evangelicals Too, Norman G. Wilson Apr 2009

Evangelism And Social Action—Revisiting An Old Debate: Good News For Immigrants And Evangelicals Too, Norman G. Wilson

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

How did evangelicals come to debate whether or not there is a connection between evangelism and social action in the first place? And why is this question so crucial regarding the ministry of evangelicals among immigrants? In this essay, I will address the character of this debate, call attention to the inadequacies of modernist theological responses, suggest ways in which postmodern evangelicals can provide a more adequate and biblically faithful approach, and explore its implications for ministry among immigrants.


Book Review Of The Forgotten Ways: Reactivating The Missional Church By Alan Hirsch, Bob Wenz Apr 2009

Book Review Of The Forgotten Ways: Reactivating The Missional Church By Alan Hirsch, Bob Wenz

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

No abstract provided.


Book Review Of The Forgotten Ways: Reactivating The Missional Church By Alan Hirsch, J. D. Payne Apr 2009

Book Review Of The Forgotten Ways: Reactivating The Missional Church By Alan Hirsch, J. D. Payne

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

No abstract provided.


Evangelizing Pre-Christian People: A Thematic Perspective, George C. Hunter Iii Apr 2009

Evangelizing Pre-Christian People: A Thematic Perspective, George C. Hunter Iii

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

To reach pre-Christian people today, a church must create a culture of authentic conversation. This article represents a chapter of George C. Hunter's forthcoming book, The Apostolic Congregation: Church Growth Reconcetved for a New Generation (Abingdon, August 2009).


Insights From Communication Theories That Inform Ministry With Pre-Christian Hispanics In The Usa, Dan W. Dunn Apr 2009

Insights From Communication Theories That Inform Ministry With Pre-Christian Hispanics In The Usa, Dan W. Dunn

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

This article discerns insights from three communication theories to inform ministry with pre-Christian Hispanics in the USA. Pearce’sCoordinated Management of Meaning theory speaks of the coconstruction of social realities in diverse circumstances. Christians have experienced what it is to be diverse and yet through Jesus’ love be able to co-construct an identity that focuses on our shared commitmentto Him and His purposes. Combining our experience with insights from Pearce would equip us to contribute to the process of identity construction that Hispanics engage in. Baxter and Montgomery's Relational Dialectics Theory could guide congregations in helping families plot a course through …


Book Review Of The Forgotten Ways: Reactivating The Missional Church By Alan Hirsch, Darren Cronshaw Apr 2009

Book Review Of The Forgotten Ways: Reactivating The Missional Church By Alan Hirsch, Darren Cronshaw

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

No abstract provided.


Book Review Of The Forgotten Ways: Reactivating The Missional Church By Alan Hirsch, Kenneth E. Bickel Apr 2009

Book Review Of The Forgotten Ways: Reactivating The Missional Church By Alan Hirsch, Kenneth E. Bickel

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

No abstract provided.


Evangelism Lessons Learned Abroad That Have Implications At Home, Tom Steffen Apr 2009

Evangelism Lessons Learned Abroad That Have Implications At Home, Tom Steffen

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

This article will address my journey in evangelism among the Ifugao of the Philippines and years of consulting and teaching on the topic at home and abroad. It will seek to take the things I've learned in cross-cultural settings and demonstrate possible implications and applications for a postmodern, post- Christian, post-literate, post-denominational, post-commitment generation in the USA.


The Impact Of Size On The Growth And Development Of A Church, Gary L. Mcintosh Apr 2009

The Impact Of Size On The Growth And Development Of A Church, Gary L. Mcintosh

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

Churches operate differently depending on the size of the congregation. "Right sizing" the various ministries and processes of communicating, welcoming, training, involving, and a host of other activities is crucial for smooth operation, as well as increased growth of a church. As a church grows, it connot simply employ business as usual practices. Larger churches are not simply bigger versions of smaller churches. In reality, they are an entirely different structure that requires different operational procedures.


The Evolution Of Missional Church Characteristics, Derrick Lemons Apr 2009

The Evolution Of Missional Church Characteristics, Derrick Lemons

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

The missional church movement pivots on the statement that a church in mission is being sent out and called beyond to interact with the outside culture, share Christ, and serve the community (Barrett et al. x, Bevans and Schroeder 8-9). The history of the missional church movement provides an informative starting point for understanding how existing cultures should change to embrace these ideals.


Fit Churches Missionally Engaged, Phil Stevenson Apr 2009

Fit Churches Missionally Engaged, Phil Stevenson

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

This concept of church health and fitness has intrigued me. Is there a difference between a healthy church and a fit church? Might a church move from unhealthy to healthy, but fall short of fitness? If a church can be healthy, but not fit, what does that mean? How does a healthy church move toward fitness? Does a healthy church need to be fit in order to be effective? My short conclusion is that a church can be healthy but not fit. And just as in our physical being, fitness can enhance health. Therefore, healthy churches should move to fitness. …


Introduction Winter 2009, Alan Mcmahan Apr 2009

Introduction Winter 2009, Alan Mcmahan

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

With this issue, I have assumed the General Editorship of the Journal under the new and vigorous sponsorship of the School of Intercultural Studies at Biola University. In the spirit of the Journal’s founding, the School of Intercultural Studies, now celebrating its 25th anniversary, has long been in the business of preparing men and women to cross the barriers that prevent people from hearing the good news of the gospel of Christ. Biola’s commitment to this task insures the continuation of the Journal into the future, a future that will bring many new opportunities for expansion and impact. This edition …


Contemporary Korean Ecclesiastical And Social Conditions Calling For Conversion Church Growth, Paul H. Kim Jan 2006

Contemporary Korean Ecclesiastical And Social Conditions Calling For Conversion Church Growth, Paul H. Kim

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

“‘Why is the Korean church growing so rapidly? Many Christians around the world have asked this question,” say Bong-Rin Ro and Marlin L. Nelson, in the preface of the book Korean Church Growth Explosion published a decade ago. Today, many Christians around the world ask a different question: Why has the Korean church, that grew so rapidly in such a short time, slipped into a stagnation for about two decades?


Multiplying Churches In Every Ethos: Session Three Manhattan Christian College, October 1981, Donald Mcgavran Oct 2005

Multiplying Churches In Every Ethos: Session Three Manhattan Christian College, October 1981, Donald Mcgavran

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

In 1981, Donald McGavran presented a series of lectures at Manhattan Christian College. Over the next few journals, we will publish this series in a continuing effort to honor McGavran and his legacy of Church Growth Missiology. This is the second in the series. —Editor


“God’S Unswerving Purpose”: Session One Manhattan Christian College, October 1981, Donald Mcgavran Jan 2005

“God’S Unswerving Purpose”: Session One Manhattan Christian College, October 1981, Donald Mcgavran

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

In 1981, Donald McGavran presented a series of lectures at Manhattan Christian college. Over the next few journals, we will publish this series in a continuing effort to honor McGavran and his legacy of Church Growth Missiology. —Editor


Book Review: Let The Nations Be Glad By John Piper, Ray Ellis Oct 2004

Book Review: Let The Nations Be Glad By John Piper, Ray Ellis

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

No abstract provided.


A Response To Myung-Soo Park, Gary L. Mcintosh Apr 2004

A Response To Myung-Soo Park, Gary L. Mcintosh

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

Allow me to respond in two parts. First, I will comment on the direct connection between Dr. Park’s findings and traditional Church Growth principles. Second, I will note some concerns and questions that may be of help in focusing future research on this important issue of spiritual leadership and church growth.


A Response To David S. Lim, Wonsuk Ma Apr 2004

A Response To David S. Lim, Wonsuk Ma

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

No abstract provided.


Cho Yonggi’S Charismatic Leadership And Church Growth, David S. Lim Apr 2004

Cho Yonggi’S Charismatic Leadership And Church Growth, David S. Lim

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

As the founding and senior pastor of the largest megachurch in the world so far, it is quite obvious that Rev. Dr. Cho Yonggi (hereafter, Cho) has been an effective leader of church growth (CG) in Korea and the world. How was he able to lead the Yoido Full Gospel Church (YFGC) to achieve such phenomenal growth? I am greatly honored to have been invited to present this paper that will focus on his personal charisma as one of the key factors that brought about such a development in church history.


Reverend David Yonggi Cho’S Leadership As Manifested In The Spirituality Of The Saints Of A Full Gospel Church, Myung-Soo Park Apr 2004

Reverend David Yonggi Cho’S Leadership As Manifested In The Spirituality Of The Saints Of A Full Gospel Church, Myung-Soo Park

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

This research has the purpose of organizing and analyzing the spirituality of Korean Pentecostal movement. Up to now, many research on Korean Pentecostal movement have been published. However, many such researches have limited themselves on the analysis of Reverend David Yonggi Cho’s life and sermons. Of course, no one can deny its importance. Aside from Reverend Cho, it is difficult, if not possible, to explain Korean Pentecostal movement. Nevertheless, there is something that we should treat it lightly in understanding Korean Pentecostal movement. That is the spiritual experience of ordinary Pentecostal believers.


Mission Leadership And Church Growth, Chris Sugden Apr 2004

Mission Leadership And Church Growth, Chris Sugden

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

My question is what we can learn from Dr. Cho’s experience and writings about the role of leadership of Christian communities in Church growth. It is quite legitimate to do this as there are precedents in Christian history to characterize a movement of God by the writings and activities of a leader – there are Lutheran churches and Wesleyan churches. We are meeting to reflect on what characterizes a Choian church.


A Response To Chris Sugden, Peter Beyerhaus Apr 2004

A Response To Chris Sugden, Peter Beyerhaus

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

No abstract provided.


About The American Society For Church Growth, Gary L. Mcintosh Apr 2004

About The American Society For Church Growth, Gary L. Mcintosh

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

No abstract provided.


Complete Issue, Gary L. Mcintosh Apr 2004

Complete Issue, Gary L. Mcintosh

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

No abstract provided.


Lay Equipping Leadership And Church Growth, Eddie Gibbs Apr 2004

Lay Equipping Leadership And Church Growth, Eddie Gibbs

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

One cannot address the topic of Lay Equipping Leadership and Church Growth without reference to the cell group structure that is so integral to the growth of Yoido Full Gospel Church. In order to do justice to the topic I would need to have spent several months interviewing lay leaders, sharing in their training program, and visiting cell groups. As it is I have only visited three cell groups, and that was during my visit to Yoido cin 1985 celebrating the tenth year of the present sanctuary, when we occupied the enlarged building for the first time.


A Response To Eddie Gibbs, Sung-Bae Chang Apr 2004

A Response To Eddie Gibbs, Sung-Bae Chang

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

No abstract provided.


Introduction, Gary L. Mcintosh Jan 2004

Introduction, Gary L. Mcintosh

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

No abstract provided.


Uses And Cautions Of Marketing As A Church Growth Tool, Darren Cronshaw Jan 2004

Uses And Cautions Of Marketing As A Church Growth Tool, Darren Cronshaw

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

Advocates of church marketing assert that every church markets. Sunday newsletters, church signs, church letterheads and visitation of newcomers are all marketing tools. The question is whether such marketing is intentional and likely to be productive, or haphazard and unfocused


Do Church Planting Systems Help Church Planters? A Summary And Study Of The System That Southern Baptists Use To Support Their Church Planters, Ed Stetzer Jan 2004

Do Church Planting Systems Help Church Planters? A Summary And Study Of The System That Southern Baptists Use To Support Their Church Planters, Ed Stetzer

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

Does the presence of a church planting system assist in the growth of new churches? Anecdotal information has existed for years. It seemed to many that church planters did better when they were screened, had mentors, met with other planters, etc. However, there has been no large-scale study on the subject until now. This paper presents the results of a three-year of study of the Church Planting Process (CPP) used by the Home Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention.