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Articles 1 - 30 of 38
Full-Text Articles in Practical Theology
Discipleship In Education: A Plan For Creating True Followers Of Christ In Christian Schools, Joseph Allotta
Discipleship In Education: A Plan For Creating True Followers Of Christ In Christian Schools, Joseph Allotta
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Students are often tested to evaluate their academic knowledge, but few Christian schools evaluate whether a student has become a true disciple of Christ. Schools need to know what they can do that actually has an impact. This project will focus on high school seniors at Baptist schools in the Tampa Area. Students will take a custom survey to determine their biblical knowledge, use of spiritual disciplines, and beliefs on morality, along with what factors influenced them the most. School officials will be interviewed to identify how each is attempting to influence said aspects. Special attention will be given to …
Biblical Empowerment: The E3 Model Of Discipleship For Equipping Women For The World, Andrea Adams
Biblical Empowerment: The E3 Model Of Discipleship For Equipping Women For The World, Andrea Adams
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Young women spend years in the education system, but they often leave formal education without practical training that enables them to respond appropriately to life experiences. A biblically-based life-skills manual focused on practical training and holistic development will engage, equip, and empower women to honor God spiritually, physically, mentally, emotionally, relationally, and financially. Based on Proverbs 31 and supported by survey responses of women from various generations, the curriculum provides practical information that will benefit churches, universities, small groups, and/or mentoring relationships where women seek to follow a Titus 2 model of spiritual development.
Blended Families In Conflict: Essentials A Pastor Must Know, William Perry
Blended Families In Conflict: Essentials A Pastor Must Know, William Perry
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The rise of blended families is becoming a prevalent dynamic in our society. According to the United States Census Bureau: American Community Survey, 2009 report, the U.S. is approaching a fifty percent divorce rate. Fifty percent will remarry within three and half years of their divorce. Of these, sixty-five percent will have children from their previous marriage. The church needs to learn to effectively minister to this ever-growing population of blended families. The purpose of this thesis project is to review the issues facing the pastor in ministering to blended families. This study will be completed through research, surveys with …
Service V. Presence: Implementation Of The Ministry Of Service In The Military Chaplaincy - A Receptivity And Feasibility Study, Mark Tinsley
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
In Spring 2012, a new ministerial paradigm for the military chaplaincy was proposed in a thesis entitled “The Ministry of Service: A Critical Practico-Theological Examination of the Ministry of Presence and its Reformulation for Military Chaplains.” Known as the “ministry of service,” this new paradigm was heralded as a potential replacement for the current presence-ministry model that has guided military chaplains for decades. The purpose of the current research project is to determine the receptivity of this proposed paradigmatic shift among Army service members, analyze strengths and weaknesses of implementing a new ministry model, and verify if procedures and administrative …
An Exploratory Study Of Recovery And Recovery Maintenance For Victims Of Childhood Sexual Abuse Who Completed Faith-Based Residential Treatment Programs, Ann Kerlin
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This interpretive phenomenological analysis of the experience of recovery and recovery maintenance for women with a history of childhood sexual abuse and its sequelae included interviews and a non-standard questionnaire. Ten women with this history who had completed a faith based treatment program for substance abuse and/or eating disorders described recovery. Themes that emerged related to the process of change included: Changes in Relationships with Others, to Self, to God, and lastly, Forgiveness as a Catalyst for Change. Six practices emerged in the exploration of maintenance recovery. This research highlighted the need for thorough bio-psycho-social-spiritual assessment and areas of concern …
Lutheran Adolescent Spiritual Development: The Effect Of School Attendance On Spiritual Transformation Inventory Test Scores, Michael Weider
Lutheran Adolescent Spiritual Development: The Effect Of School Attendance On Spiritual Transformation Inventory Test Scores, Michael Weider
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Lutheran schools have been established to nurture and disciple children into the Christian faith. However, empirical evidence is lacking that Lutheran schools are accomplishing this goal. The purpose of this Causal comparative and Correlational study was to determine whether attendance at Lutheran or Public schools made a statistically significant difference on Spiritual Transformation Inventory 2.0 test scores among Lutheran adolescents. Participants (N=129) took the Spiritual Transformation Inventory 2.0 (STI) test which measures spiritual development from an attachment to God perspective. Data was analyzed using a t-test to examine between group differences as well as Spearman's rho to examine the relationship …
The Relation Between Pastoral Leadership And Finances In The Presbyterian Denomination Of South Korea: Biblical Principles For Application, Hojin Bae
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Many pastors in South Korea are experiencing hardships with the issue of church finance because they lack the biblical and theological understanding needed to practice biblical leadership in the area of financial management within the church. The purpose of this thesis project is to assist pastors within South Korea to exercise strong biblical leadership in the aspect of church finance, by laying a firm biblical and theological foundation for managing church finances and by providing an historical analysis of exemplary spiritual leaders who practiced strong biblical leadership in the area of church finance management. Furthermore, based on analytic comparisons, both …
Biblical Leaders: Key Principles And Concepts In Overcoming And Managing Stress, Distress, And Anguish, James Taylor
Biblical Leaders: Key Principles And Concepts In Overcoming And Managing Stress, Distress, And Anguish, James Taylor
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The high turnover rate among clergy within the local church evidences the mismanagement of personal stress and distress associated with ministry. The purpose of this thesis project is to increase the effectiveness and longevity of ministers by offering them five principles for managing and overcoming their stress, distress, and anguish. If followed, these principles will successfully reduce the personal strain associated with ministry, thus encouraging clergy to remain where God has planted them to build long successful tenures. Based on surveys, personal perspectives, relevant literature, and biblical study, this project establishes essential principles and concepts for managing ministerial anguish, and …
Christ's Response To The Last, The Least, The Lost, The Left Out - Is The Church Living Up To Christ's Standard?, Jerry Staples
Christ's Response To The Last, The Least, The Lost, The Left Out - Is The Church Living Up To Christ's Standard?, Jerry Staples
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
There is a plethora of statistics concerning how many un-churched people there are in the United States and the socioeconomic ladder does not discriminate who fits this lost category. Yet, the concern of this project deals with the gang member, drug dealer, drug users, pimps and prostitutes. The intent is to take outreach to the street through cook outs, Holy block parties, street revivals and the like. The rationale of this project is to show how one can reach, teach and keep this group of people, the potential dangers, and positive consequences associated with it. The potential value of this …
A Plan For Developing An Effective Community Outreach Strategy For Churches In The Northeast, Roscoe Lilly
A Plan For Developing An Effective Community Outreach Strategy For Churches In The Northeast, Roscoe Lilly
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Community outreach is an essential part of a church's mission to be "salt and light" to those around them. Community outreach creates the crucial platform for a church's evangelistic efforts. While many churches want to reach out to their community, few have a clear understanding of how or where to begin. The purpose of this project is to help churches in the Northeast better understand how to increase their community's receptivity to the gospel through a strategic community outreach plan. The project will use NorthStar Church as a case study. It is the aim of this project to demonstrate how …
Lay-Leadership: How To Develop Lay Leaders In A Local Church With Special Reference To The Hyesung Presbyterian Church In South Korea, Kang Eun Bae
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This thesis is designed to help church leaders establish a lay leadership development process in a local church, especially in a Korean church with a size between 300 and 1,000 church members. In the first part, the fundamental knowledge of leadership is described, including the characteristics of leadership concerning lay leadership development, the reasons why a local church should develop lay leaders, and what the leaders should develop through the process. In the second part, a lay leadership development process and how to establish it in a local church is described. In the third part, Hyesung Church's leadership development process …
Conservative Holiness Pastors' Ability To Assess Depression And Their Willingness To Refer To Mental Health Professionals, Andrew Graham
Conservative Holiness Pastors' Ability To Assess Depression And Their Willingness To Refer To Mental Health Professionals, Andrew Graham
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this study was to investigate the willingness and ability of Conservative Holiness pastors to assess depression and their willingness to refer to mental health professionals. Eighty-six pastors completed a four-part survey that measured diagnostic accuracy, willingness to refer, attitudes toward mental health, perceived competency to assist, recognition of need for help and confidence in mental health professionals. Demographic characteristics and case study responses were investigated through analysis of frequency data; relationships with demographic variables were analyzed using Spearman's rho and independent t-tests; relationships with variables derived from the scales were analyzed using Pearson Product-Moment Correlation. Analyses found …
Developing A Congregational Care Model: Mount Olive Baptist Church, Donna Robinson Mack-Tatum
Developing A Congregational Care Model: Mount Olive Baptist Church, Donna Robinson Mack-Tatum
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this thesis is to develop a layperson based Congregational Care Ministry Model to assist the pastor of large congregations. The topic was chosen as a means of addressing the need for the pastor of the Mount Olive Baptist Church to have assistance with meeting the needs of the congregation. As the congregation increases in size, it has become increasingly more difficult for him to visit the sick, counsel, minister to the bereaved, preach, and teach. While there are other ministries that assist in various ways with these tasks, this ministry will enhance the efforts that are already …
Exploring The Spiritually Formative Experiences Of Female Seminary Spouses: A Phenomenological Inquiry, Benjamin Forrest
Exploring The Spiritually Formative Experiences Of Female Seminary Spouses: A Phenomenological Inquiry, Benjamin Forrest
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this paper is to present the findings of a qualitative research study exploring the spiritually formative experiences of nonstudent, female, seminary spouses whose student spouses are beyond the halfway point in their pursuit of an M.Div. at a large evangelical seminary in the eastern United States. Fifteen participants (twelve online nonstudent spouses and three residential nonstudent spouses) were purposefully sampled. The data, which was collected through questionnaires, in-depth interviews, and discussion forums, was analyzed using transcendental phenomenological analysis. Through this analysis it became apparent that seminary spouses did in fact experience spiritual formation through their husband's education. …
21st Century Evangelism And Church Growth Approach To Reach Urban Professionals In North America Metropolises, Ralph Baeza
21st Century Evangelism And Church Growth Approach To Reach Urban Professionals In North America Metropolises, Ralph Baeza
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The call of Christ, as He stated in Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15, Luke 24:7-9, John 20:21 and Acts 1:8, is to be a continuous command to follow, in order to reach the different peoples group of the world including the urban professionals in North America metropolises. Based on surveys sent to Christian leaders in church congregations and professionals in the secular workplace along with the associated research in the subject, this thesis project reviews the Great Commission call to pursue urban professionals in metropolises, examining their lifestyle environment, past and current trends to reach them, biblical principles that can turn …
Making Disciples Of Jesus Christ: Implementing An Effective Discipleship Strategy For Churches In America, Victor Ogundiran
Making Disciples Of Jesus Christ: Implementing An Effective Discipleship Strategy For Churches In America, Victor Ogundiran
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Various research findings on spiritual formation in the America church reveal that the current state of making disciples of Jesus Christ who are observing all that Jesus has commanded is woefully grim. This author believes what we have in place for making disciples is inadequate, unimplemented, or both. The purpose of this thesis project is to explain the current state of spiritual formation in the American Church and the reasons why it falls short of God's desire and design. This effort will include and incorporate research from at least 20 churches to see what discipleship systems they are using, if …
Easy Effective Counseling: A Strategy For Busy Pastors, Benjamin Karner
Easy Effective Counseling: A Strategy For Busy Pastors, Benjamin Karner
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Pastors are expected to counsel various people with various problems. However, in most circumstances, pastors have little time to prepare for counseling sessions and cannot be long-term therapists. Therefore, it is critical for the pastor to be able to quickly and effectively give substantial guidance to counselees. The purpose of this project is to develop and implement a pastoral counseling program with a decision management focus. A survey will be conducted with at least one hundred (100) pastors who engage in counseling as part of their regular ministry duties. This project will develop and communicate a practical counseling approach for …
From Evangelistic Preaching To Mentoring: A Model For The Local Church, Seunghyun Yoon
From Evangelistic Preaching To Mentoring: A Model For The Local Church, Seunghyun Yoon
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Throughout Christian history, biblical and historical figures have used strategic invitation methods that focused on the needs of the people who were listening to their evangelistic appeal. This demonstrates that evangelism and the invitation process is relevant to those who respond to the message.
The Role Of The Pastor As The Primary Worship Leader In The Local Church, Roger Holliman
The Role Of The Pastor As The Primary Worship Leader In The Local Church, Roger Holliman
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this project is to encourage pastors to embrace their role as the principle worship leader, rather than to accept and believe "I am not the worship leader." This thesis project investigates and examines a senior pastor's theological duty and obligation as the worship leader of his or her church, and provides the biblical mandate and approaches for how to do this effectively and as a team leader. Through personal interviews of six pastors, plus current research on the topic of worship, this thesis provides instructions on how senior pastors may implement strategies to enhance their understanding of …
An Effective Prayer Training Model For Church Growth: Centered On Wangsung Presbyterian Church In South Korea, Geunbae Hwang
An Effective Prayer Training Model For Church Growth: Centered On Wangsung Presbyterian Church In South Korea, Geunbae Hwang
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this project is to investigate biblical church growth, specifically studying South Korean pastors roles concerning the healthy church and spiritual reinforcement, with a limited focus and application to WangSung Presbyterian Church and other churches in South Korea. This project primarily utilizes the New Testament, as well as literature on church growth and healthy spirituality. In addition, references specifically regarding church growth and statistical information from Korean church ministries will also be used. This project shares a new alternative way for the growth of churches: A prayer-training model as the most effective method for church growth. A healthy …
Loving Your Neighbor: A Guide To Developing And Sustaining Community Service Projects, Rickey Houston
Loving Your Neighbor: A Guide To Developing And Sustaining Community Service Projects, Rickey Houston
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
A current ministry concern is mobilizing and engaging the congregation in service projects throughout the immediate and surrounding communities to spread the love of Christ and build the kingdom of God. The purpose of this project is to examine and shed light on an approach or approaches to effectively transform service beyond the walls of the congregation to intentional, appropriate, and relevant service within the community. This subject matter has the potential of transforming congregations from a predominant notion of interaction with self to interaction with organizations and individuals who are part of the church's mission field. In addition, there …
Homegrown Pastors: Seven Timeless Reasons Why You Should Consider Starting A Church In Your Community, Joshua Turner
Homegrown Pastors: Seven Timeless Reasons Why You Should Consider Starting A Church In Your Community, Joshua Turner
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This thesis is an investigation into the advantages of planting churches in the lead planter's hometown. According to Dr. Jim Slack, missiologist for the International Mission Board, "The only feasible and viable means of planting enough churches to gain on the yearly population gains and the primarily unchurched/unsaved basic population is to plant indigenous, generationally multiplying neighborhood, `house' churches initiated by neighborhood laymen who can pastor those new churches." This claim is reinforced by the understanding that the best person to reach a national is a national within that people group who already possesses valuable connecting resources through family and …
Professional Naval Chaplaincy: The Ministry Of The Navy Chaplain In A U.S. Navy Bureau Of Medicine And Surgery Hospital, Russell Hale
Professional Naval Chaplaincy: The Ministry Of The Navy Chaplain In A U.S. Navy Bureau Of Medicine And Surgery Hospital, Russell Hale
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Through a review of the literature and personal experiences, it was found that many U.S. Navy chaplains do not see the potential opportunities and value in ministering to personnel, dependents, and retirees in a U.S. Navy hospital setting. Based on the findings of a quantitative survey sent to clinical staff, ancillary staff, Marines, and Sailors serving at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Okinawa, this project reviews historical paradigms and present institutional perspectives and attitudes regarding the value of the chaplain ministering in a U.S. Navy hospital. Since the chaplain ministers as a member of the interdisciplinary care team, it then …
Staff Healthy Small Groups: A Model For Enlisting, Training, And Motivating Lay Leaders, Steven Weems
Staff Healthy Small Groups: A Model For Enlisting, Training, And Motivating Lay Leaders, Steven Weems
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this project is to assist small to medium sized churches in their efforts to enlist, train, and motivate lay leadership within their church. This project is designed to help these churches achieve four specific goals; One, come to a biblical understanding of lay leadership. Two, learn how to identify and enlist the right people into spiritual leadership. Three, train those leaders for specific leadership roles within the church. Four, to keep these lay leaders motivated to achieve their set goals within their specific ministry. One of the primary responsibilities of a pastoral staff is the spiritual health …
Developing A Curriculum For African American Pastors And Church Leaders In Crescent City, Florida, Cornelius Golden
Developing A Curriculum For African American Pastors And Church Leaders In Crescent City, Florida, Cornelius Golden
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
It is the writer's premise that there is a great void, particularly within the African American Church of academic training in theology amongst clergy and church leaders in rural areas. However, training is disparately needed. The training should be very practical and engaging. The writer proposes to develop a curriculum designed to develop the non-seminary trained pastor in six vital areas of ministry: (1) Church History, (2) Church Administration, (3) Theology, (4) Ethics, (5) Evangelism, and (6) Pastoral Care. This project would be useful to the life and work of the church because it makes available a researched curriculum especially …
Key Strategies In Effective Pastoral Leadership In The Africa Gospel Church, Kenya: Biblical Foundations For Leadership And Healthy Church Growth, Philip Ngasura
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this Thesis Project is to understand the strategies for effective pastoral leadership based on Biblical foundations necessary for leadership and healthy church growth in the Africa Gospel Church-Kenya. Research will be conducted through questionnaires and surveys of 15-20 Christian Leaders analyzing and evaluating the status of urban churches, rural churches, mission fields, and institutions of the Africa Gospel Church-Kenya. The main objective is to provide key principles for effective pastoral leadership and healthy church growth in terms of spiritual life, leadership, staff development, services, finances, and ministry potentials. Lastly, this project will suggest and outline strategic approaches …
Transitions: Surviving Congregational Change, Reginald Weems
Transitions: Surviving Congregational Change, Reginald Weems
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The Holston Baptist Association is the oldest Baptist Association in Tennessee. Established in 1786, the Association presently boasts 106 congregations. Yet for all of its success, statistics reveal that pastoral longevity is not the norm for its churches. This project will analyze the tenure of present pastors within the Holston Baptist Association and provide a blueprint for pastoral longevity in the midst of local church transitions. It will utilize the history of Heritage Baptist Church, Johnson City, Tennessee (USA) and the present pastor's 21-year tenure as a source of research and model for successfully navigating that change. Although specifically intended …
The Fight For The Family: Biblical Applications For Navigating Life's Toughest Challenges In Ministry, Wendell Bishop
The Fight For The Family: Biblical Applications For Navigating Life's Toughest Challenges In Ministry, Wendell Bishop
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This thesis project is an assessment of the life of a minister's family. The purpose of this project is to prepare new pastors, missionaries, and other Christian leaders so that they do not lose their own children while they are reaching the world. After careful research from contemporary ministries and research projects, the Christian leader will be aware of the challenges before him or her and have biblical applications that will help the families navigate through the difficult life of ministry. As a result of reading this thesis project, the reader will become aware of the battle that is taking …
Strategy For Merging Unhealthy Churches And Leading The Merged Congregation To A Healthy Christ-Centered New Testament Church, Samuel Holdbrook-Smith
Strategy For Merging Unhealthy Churches And Leading The Merged Congregation To A Healthy Christ-Centered New Testament Church, Samuel Holdbrook-Smith
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The hypothesis of this project is that merging two or more local churches is a practical option to growing a healthy Christ-centered New Testament church as opposed to closing those declined and dying churches. This project will examine and evaluate the merger process of Charles Wesley United Methodist Church and Earle's Chapel United Methodist Church in 2005, led by the author to form a new congregation called New Life Community United Methodist Church. A post-merger questionnaire will be developed and used to evaluate the merger process. Second, a healthy growth ministry plan will be developed and implemented to lead the …
The Essential Leadership Elements For Transforming The Ethos Of A Local Church, Austin Rammell
The Essential Leadership Elements For Transforming The Ethos Of A Local Church, Austin Rammell
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this project is to demonstrate the essential leadership elements involved in transforming the ethos of local church from a community organization for Christians into a movement to change the world. It is a case study of what took place at Hardin Baptist Church (now Venture). In addition to published scholarship, the findings from the case study will be compared with five other churches that have experienced a similar transformation. The reason for this project is to document the key elements of the transformation of Hardin in hopes that the changes will serve as a tool for other …