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Articles 1 - 30 of 90
Full-Text Articles in Missions and World Christianity
Long-Term Partnerships Between Communities And Mission Organizations: A Case Study, Rebecca Boggs Bishop
Long-Term Partnerships Between Communities And Mission Organizations: A Case Study, Rebecca Boggs Bishop
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the long-term partnership of World Changers with the community of Chattanooga, Tennessee to understand best practices for creating similar cross-sector partnerships involving short-term mission work. Within this research, long-term partnership is defined as an arrangement existing for at least ten years. The study utilized the theories of covenant community (Lingenfelter, 2008), legitimate peripheral participation (Lave & Wenger, 1991), and cross-sector social-oriented partnerships (Selsky & Parker, 2005) to guide the research. The study considered the perspectives of community members, ministry leaders, and mission organization leadership to determine benefits and areas of …
The Impact Of Testimonies On Partner Development Strategies: Mission Work In Europe, Kimberly Witte
The Impact Of Testimonies On Partner Development Strategies: Mission Work In Europe, Kimberly Witte
Senior Honors Theses
This study seeks to answer how first-world missionaries can utilize research findings on the effectiveness of testimonials and apply that knowledge to partner development strategies. Research trends demonstrate that most missionaries are being sent to countries with the largest practicing Christian populations, such as those in Africa or South America, and are more likely to receive financial partnerships. Europe has a high rate of non-practicing Christians and is a cultural intersection due to the refugee crisis, leading to a need for mission work. This research will culminate in the creation of a prayer guide, highlighting testimonies of individuals impacted by …
Private Christian Education And Utilization Of Evangelism Curriculum, Amy N. Mcbrayer
Private Christian Education And Utilization Of Evangelism Curriculum, Amy N. Mcbrayer
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this DMIN action research project is to develop and implement curriculum for equipping students to communicate their faith and the gospel interculturally. The central focus of this DMIN research project to introduce a novel World Religions course to the curriculum at Angleton Christian School in order to provide the students with practical training for cross-cultural evangelism and apologetics. There were eleven total participants, all who were either junior and senior-level students at the start of the 2023 fall semester. Each student was assessed using the same theological assessment and world religion survey on both the first day …
Exploring The Impacts Of Funding Models On Business As Mission Organizations In Asia: A Multiple-Case Study, Jeremiah Joel Finch
Exploring The Impacts Of Funding Models On Business As Mission Organizations In Asia: A Multiple-Case Study, Jeremiah Joel Finch
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
In a 2014 research study, Dr. Steve Rundle examined the impacts of business-funded versus donor-funded business as mission (BAM) organizations. The research study answers Dr. Rundle’s call for further research on funding models, and the findings from the study help to fill in gaps in the social-entrepreneurship (SE) and BAM literature. BAM organizations, like other SE-oriented organizations, seek to achieve success in multiple bottom lines. The qualitative, multiple-case study utilized a theoretical replication design to explore differences between donor-funded and business-funded BAM organizations in Asia. Specifically, the research study explored principles related to BAM funding methodology’s impact on economic outcomes …
Enhancing Effective Discipleship Recruitment In The Local Church, Anna Patrice Shanklin
Enhancing Effective Discipleship Recruitment In The Local Church, Anna Patrice Shanklin
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This study evaluates effective discipleship recruitment in the local church. The overarching goal of this thesis research project is to increase the transition of new members completing new members’ orientation to discipleship training. Through the result of this research, the researcher will design and implement an enhanced recruitment campaign in the local ministry context and target it to new members to increase the population of membership committed to formal discipleship training.
The Role Of Story In The Creation And Life Of Man, Leah Ginion
The Role Of Story In The Creation And Life Of Man, Leah Ginion
Senior Honors Theses
Story was created by God as a vehicle for the revelation and glorification of Himself. Man, made in the image of God, was created as an innate storyteller. The world was created through story, and story is how it progresses and is sustained. As such, story is the foundation of all culture and the most natural and effective method of human communication. Research points to all of man’s stories being derivatives of the Great Story: the metanarrative of Scripture. Exploring man’s relationship with story reveals his place within the metanarrative and ultimately provides evidence for the existence and active presence …
Women: Radically Glorified, Oppressed, Or Set Free?, Easton Finger
Women: Radically Glorified, Oppressed, Or Set Free?, Easton Finger
Senior Honors Theses
A woman’s identity in society has often been debated, starting from the beginning of time. The answer to this identity question has been sought in systems ranging from oppression, slavery, radical feminism, and over-exaltation of power. This thesis suggests that the value of women and their role is not found in those systems but in the knowledge of their Creator. Two questions will be posed, including how women’s identity has been previously defined and can a woman’s identity be found in her Creator God. The history of women in biblical times will be reviewed, as well as how Christ valued …
Legitimate Business As Mission Ventures And Effective Witness, Summer Rogers
Legitimate Business As Mission Ventures And Effective Witness, Summer Rogers
Senior Honors Theses
This thesis discusses the practice of missionaries creating cover businesses solely for visa purposes, which brings a dishonest presence and harms the ministry. In contrast, Business as Mission (BAM) is a strategic business model to bring the gospel overseas through social, economic, and spiritual impact. Through a literature review, best practices for legitimate BAM ventures are explored based on studies done by BAM professionals and experts. Research shows that Christian businesspeople can establish an authentic image and credible witness through BAM businesses that are integrated into the local community, generate a profit, and incorporate biblical principles into business operations. BAM …
Non-Christian, Japanese College Students’ Perspectives Of Engaging With God Through The Participatory Components Of Christian Worship, Jacqueline Leigh Bencke
Non-Christian, Japanese College Students’ Perspectives Of Engaging With God Through The Participatory Components Of Christian Worship, Jacqueline Leigh Bencke
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This study seeks to examine the extent to which non-Christian college students in Japan perceive their engagement with the biblical God while participating in daily chapel services at Kyūshū Lutheran College. The research employs a mixed-methods approach, analyzing survey and focus group data to explore whether a relationship exists between students’ participation in chapel committee activities and their perceived spiritual engagement. Responses to Lynn Underwood’s Daily Spiritual Experience Survey, the Centrality of Religiosity Scale, and the Centrality of Buddhist Religiosity Scale are combined to create a general spiritual profile of respondents. Worship leaders and missionaries who are in positions of …
An Examination Of The Influence Of Attitudes Toward Linguistic Diversity And Immigration Status On The Pastor’S Engagement In Multicultural Ministry, Juan Antonio Seda
An Examination Of The Influence Of Attitudes Toward Linguistic Diversity And Immigration Status On The Pastor’S Engagement In Multicultural Ministry, Juan Antonio Seda
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
With the growth in cultural diversity comes the opportunity to reach and minister to people from different cultural backgrounds. This diversity also highlights the challenges pastors and ministry leaders face in implementing efforts to reach people from diverse ethnic, linguistic, and cultural backgrounds. Additionally, the pastor and ministry leader must understand how socio-political, theological, and biblical factors influence opinion and interaction with culturally diverse people. This cultural and linguistic interaction requires cultural humility, “a process of reflection and lifelong inquiry, involves self-awareness of personal and cultural biases as well as awareness and sensitivity to significant cultural issues of others. Core …
Engaging Millennials In Missions, Annell Adams James
Engaging Millennials In Missions, Annell Adams James
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The millennial members of the Power of God Church have shown a lack of interest in participating in the local church's mission ministry. This lack of interest has caused the Missions Department and the church concern because fulfilling the mission of God is the mission of the church. The mission statement of the church is the focus of the ministry programs. Suppose the mission department creates a missions training program designed to focus on a technological learning style in which millennials thrive. Could it attract, involve, and engage millennials in future mission trips while educating them? It is this question …
Commissioned To The Nations: Using Graphic Design To Mobilize Millennials For God's Strategic Mission, Victoria Dissmore
Commissioned To The Nations: Using Graphic Design To Mobilize Millennials For God's Strategic Mission, Victoria Dissmore
Masters Theses
All over the world, billions of people are walking throughout their entire lives without ever hearing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and they never will unless someone crosses into their culture to share it with them. Giving Gospel access to all people groups is a huge mission for the Church to tackle, but this mission is often not even known among the Millennial generation. Initial investigation for this thesis found that although some Millennials are engaging in missions, there is still a huge need for people to give, go, pray, and send, especially as older missions workers age out. Existing …
A Training Manual For Small-Group Evangelization Of Youth Unbelievers, Stanley Vincent James
A Training Manual For Small-Group Evangelization Of Youth Unbelievers, Stanley Vincent James
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This thesis project is a study on the evangelism toward young adult unbelievers by church members of The Power of the Living God Church of Galveston. This DMin action research project aims to motivate church members to evangelize this critical group of unbelievers. The focus will concentrate on the reasons given by members for non-participation. The questions concerning the lack of participation would be analyzed to assess the behavior of the members and to ultimately determine a path forward for effective participation. The project will utilize interviews and focus groups to ascertain the reasons for the lack of motivation for …
The Japanese Church And Cultural Engagement, Sarah Jane Garon
The Japanese Church And Cultural Engagement, Sarah Jane Garon
Masters Theses
This thesis addresses the current cultural engagement done by the Japanese church, with particular attention given to music and the arts. Japan has hosted Christian missionaries for over five centuries and yet most of the population do not claim the religion as their own. Much research has been devoted to understanding the history of Christianity in Japan and the relationship between Japanese Christians and non-Christian Japanese culture. However, very little research has been done on the interactions between Japanese Christians and music and art specifically. This thesis, therefore, is dedicated to discovering how Japanese Christians are currently engaging with music …
The Differing Of Worldviews Between Soviet And Post-Soviet Russians, Jodie David Vesely
The Differing Of Worldviews Between Soviet And Post-Soviet Russians, Jodie David Vesely
Masters Theses
The early 1990s’ foreign missionary flood into St. Petersburg, Russia led to a seemingly large spiritual harvest. However, over the years as the reported spiritual fruit substantially decreased, it was soon discovered that this harvest was actually an illusion. Research has shown that overall worldview was not implemented into missionary efforts like it should have been. Statistics reveal a declining trend in true believers in Russia, and as a new generation of Russians are rising up, so are the number of atheists in St. Petersburg. In searching for a solution to reverse this trend and more effectively reach Russians by …
Addressing The Issue Of Low Discipleship Among Adults, Sylvestre Bea
Addressing The Issue Of Low Discipleship Among Adults, Sylvestre Bea
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This research aims to help EndTime Christ Discipling Ministries identify the root causes for low levels of adult discipleship. It supports the church’s collective construction of measurable actions that members can implement to fulfill its disciple-making mandate effectively. The literature review reveals that many churches experience this problem, identify common causes, and discuss diverse solutions that better fit churches with predominantly North American culture. However, EndTime Christ Discipling Ministries is composed of mostly African immigrants and their families, and no literature specifically addresses its immediate context. As a result, the remedies proposed to tackle the discipleship challenge are not fully …
Sacred Business: Outlining Business As Mission For The Fulfillment Of The Great Commission, Eli Jackson
Sacred Business: Outlining Business As Mission For The Fulfillment Of The Great Commission, Eli Jackson
Senior Honors Theses
Business as Mission (BAM) is the operation of a for-profit business located in a cross-cultural setting and aimed toward the fulfillment of the great commission. This definition reveals four key success factors for BAM: support, financial and otherwise, for both the business and the missionaries; the ability to gain access to cross-cultural settings; the opportunity to advance the gospel; and the requirement of managing both missional and business goals. Examining each of these areas, along with the historical effectiveness of BAM, reveals that BAM is an efficient and effective missional strategy, which should be used to see the Great Commission …
Revival Today: America’S History Of Biblical Revival And Its Modern Application, Matthew Musser
Revival Today: America’S History Of Biblical Revival And Its Modern Application, Matthew Musser
Senior Honors Theses
There is a need for revival within the church today. Christian revivals are becoming less and less popular in the current times. Is this due to a subtle shift in America’s culture? Or is this decline of religious revival the result of something deeper? This thesis will seek to discover the biblical foundations of revival in American history. First, it will analyze some of the biblical revivals that took place in the Old Testament, Gospels, and Book of Acts. Then it will transition into how these biblical principles have been the cornerstone for many of the great revivals in American …
An Assessment Of The Millennial Body And Its Place In The Local Church, Jonette L. Camp
An Assessment Of The Millennial Body And Its Place In The Local Church, Jonette L. Camp
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Millennial members’ waning attendance and involvement at Simon Temple African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church is a growing concern for the church universal. This project focuses on Simon Temple’s ability to attract and retain millennials and draw on their church programs and leadership gifts. This study’s purpose was to understand better why millennials do not become or remain active members at Simon Temple. If the church implemented a strategic evangelism and discipleship plan for millennials, could it help attract, retain, and involve millennials? This study evaluates the concerns of Simon Temple leadership and millennial members as they relate to millennial involvement …
Art As Contextualization: Using Visual Communication As Christian Missions In Native American And Alaskan Cultures, Hali Gehring
Art As Contextualization: Using Visual Communication As Christian Missions In Native American And Alaskan Cultures, Hali Gehring
Senior Honors Theses
Contextualization is an important aspect of Christian ministries and cross-cultural missions to create sustaining churches around the world. There are many forms of communication that use contextualization for religious purposes, such as theatre, story, art, and dance. These important forms of communication can be used with cultural practices to contextualize the Gospel to different people groups. For Native Americans and Alaskans, artistic works that promote cultural heritage are highly regarded. A beadwork piece that explains the Gospel could be a creative way to contextualize to Native American and Alaskans.
The Cultural Relevance Model Of Worship, Mark David Brumagin
The Cultural Relevance Model Of Worship, Mark David Brumagin
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
n the early decades of the twenty-first century a new model of worship has begun to emerge in some North American evangelical churches. Significant events in North American church history combined with cultural ideologies inherent to the North American context have influenced particular churches resulting in new worship practices. Churches that are affected are often marked by the development of highly affective worship experiences, the production and consumption of goods, the involvement of the worship team in marketing, and an elevated use of technology. In examining the cultural values at work in this development, this study found a historical thread …
Micro-Kingdom: A Theological And Missiological Apologetic For The Microchurch Model As An Effective And Faithful New Testament Expression Of The Kingdom Of God, Donald Clayton Dodge
Micro-Kingdom: A Theological And Missiological Apologetic For The Microchurch Model As An Effective And Faithful New Testament Expression Of The Kingdom Of God, Donald Clayton Dodge
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Using a bibliographic methodology, this thesis is a theological and missiological defense for the microchurch model as a solution to the limitations of the prevalent Western attractional model to effectively live out Jesus command to be a community of disciples making disciples. The declining western model is proving insufficient in a post-Christian, post-Christendom world to fulfill the intended role of the church. And as more churches are continually planted, if the erroneous presuppositions responsible for the decline of the church’s efficacy are not amended, there will be no lasting change regardless of how much effort and money is invested. New …
A Method For The Evaluation Of Song Texts In Evangelical Churches: A Crucial First Step In Developing Indigenous Songs, Kristi Jeanne Colas
A Method For The Evaluation Of Song Texts In Evangelical Churches: A Crucial First Step In Developing Indigenous Songs, Kristi Jeanne Colas
Masters Theses
How important are song texts in worship services? According to the Bible, these songs have a multi-faceted role. Not only do they contain truths about God’s revelation of himself in Scripture, but they also call his people to respond with their whole being. The same song can express worship to God, teach believers truths about him, and challenge unbelievers to turn from their false gods. Therefore, the lyrical content of Christian congregational songs is of utmost importance. However, a survey of ethnodoxological literature reveals a greater focus on songs’ musical content. One reason for this may be the general emphasis …
Palestinian Evangelical Christian Music In Bethlehem, Israel/Palestine, Abby Smith
Palestinian Evangelical Christian Music In Bethlehem, Israel/Palestine, Abby Smith
Senior Honors Theses
Often the story of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is portrayed as Jewish vs. Muslim, Hebrew vs. Arab. There is little room in the international dialogue for minorities such as Arab Christians. Though Palestinians have a rich culture of Arabic musical and poetic heritage, they are unable to produce their own new songs. In this study I interviewed three members of Immanuel Evangelical Church on their experiences and opinions on local Christian worship. The findings show that Palestinian Christians may feel unable to write worship music because of a prevalent feeling of inadequacy and a lack of musical training. I propose several …
Missional Social Media: Content And Strategies For Missions Organizations, Kathryn Larson
Missional Social Media: Content And Strategies For Missions Organizations, Kathryn Larson
Senior Honors Theses
Technology can be used in amazing and creative ways to spread the gospel and create community across borders. The Apostle Paul used the communication tool of his time, letters, to communicate with churches from a distance. Today’s tools include social media which, when used properly and with intent, can positively influence an organization in the name of the gospel. Missions organizations have an incredible opportunity to use strategies and content to create a viable social media ministry. Theories such as the Community Development Theory and various reception theories contribute to an understanding of two-way communication and engagement between organization and …
The Impact Of Short-Term Mission Trips On Religiosity And Motivations For Helping In College Students, Patricia Minerva Cepeda-Russell
The Impact Of Short-Term Mission Trips On Religiosity And Motivations For Helping In College Students, Patricia Minerva Cepeda-Russell
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
There is an abundant amount of research on the negative aspects of short-term mission trips; however, there is a lack of literature that reflects the religiosity of college students and studies using religious assessments for the specific age range of 18-25. The current research intends to answer the following three questions: Does going on short-term mission trips make a difference in religiosity in the lives of college students who participate? What is the mean difference in religiosity practices between college students that participated in short-term mission trips compared to those that did not? What are the motivating factors that lead …
Advancing Christ: Understanding How Foreign Cultures Respond To Missionary Aviation, Aidan Van Pelt
Advancing Christ: Understanding How Foreign Cultures Respond To Missionary Aviation, Aidan Van Pelt
Senior Honors Theses
After World War II, missionary aviation became a profound influence on the world of missions. The impacts of missionary aviation culture on the spread of the Gospel in foreign locations will be investigated to better understand how it influences Christianity. The effect of expediting the travel-time to remote locations is apparent, but missionary pilots have several other influences as well, such as, community development, education and discipling locals. These various cultural aspects will be explored by first defining the culture, discussing the history of missiological responses and the origin of missionary aviation, and then examining the effects of missionary aviation …
The Impact Of People Of The Dream Applied To Kingdom Authority Christian Center Lay Workers Church Plant: A Mixed Methods Approach, Kenneth Kief Davis
The Impact Of People Of The Dream Applied To Kingdom Authority Christian Center Lay Workers Church Plant: A Mixed Methods Approach, Kenneth Kief Davis
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Kingdom Authority Christian Center (KACC) is growing more attentive to the changing demographics in the world. It seeks to understand that as other countries and nations continue to diversify by race and ethnicity, change is needed. The problem is that KACC has no training curriculum designed to impact and employ change. A mixed-method approach will be applied to fix KACC’s problem and the proposal of correspondence from People of the Dream. This thesis project will provide research from individual interviews, a population group, and an inside viewpoint from one of the people in the dream. This project will also add …
Cultural Intelligence Development And Study Abroad: The Effect Of Destination, Luke Zirkle
Cultural Intelligence Development And Study Abroad: The Effect Of Destination, Luke Zirkle
Senior Honors Theses
Cultural intelligence (CQ) is an emerging field in a globalized world. As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, study abroad opportunities at higher educational institutions have become widely-accepted means for developing students’ CQ. While a number of variables seem to impact CQ development through study abroad programs, one variable seems as yet to have been largely unexplored. This research examines anonymous archival data from juniors in Liberty University’s Global Studies program during the spring semesters of 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019 to observe a potential pattern that suggests the role of a study abroad host-culture on the student’s CQ development. Though …
A Missional Resurgence: Helping Bridges Church Rediscover Her Missional Purpose Resulting In Vibrant Growth, Patrick Headen Norris
A Missional Resurgence: Helping Bridges Church Rediscover Her Missional Purpose Resulting In Vibrant Growth, Patrick Headen Norris
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The church in America is facing difficult times. The majority of churches are experiencing plateaued or declining attendance and a lack of spiritual vitality. While every church is unique in her own experience, there are some common factors that can lead to new life and vibrancy. The purpose of this study was to understand how to lead a specific church, Bridges Church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina to rediscover her missional purpose and discover vibrant growth, as individuals and as a corporate body. This study utilized the REVEAL for Churches Survey, an online survey that is both descriptive and prescriptive in …