George Fox University
Andrews University
Liberty University
Chapman University
Book Review: Disability: Living Into The Diversity Of Christ's Body,
2023
Westview Boys' Home
Book Review: Disability: Living Into The Diversity Of Christ's Body, Ron Bruner
Discernment: Theology and the Practice of Ministry
Disability: Living into the Diversity of Christ’s Body, by Brian Brock. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic. 180 pages, $21.99.
A Divine Assignment: Church Supports For Caretakers And Children Impacted By Disabilities,
2023
Lipscomb University
A Divine Assignment: Church Supports For Caretakers And Children Impacted By Disabilities, Pamela Scretchen
Discernment: Theology and the Practice of Ministry
How can the church provide leadership in the area of inclusion and offer families a place of refuge and support? How does the church care for and teach children with disabilities? As a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst, I have partnered with congregations to start programs for families impacted by disabilities. Here, we show how a family affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder challenged their church to provide a sustainable program. There is hope that the church can lead inclusion efforts and develop special needs support for caretakers. The article reveals one family’s journey in returning to worship with their autistic son and …
The Next Right Step: A Case Study In Listening For Change When Overwhelmed By Reality,
2023
Highland Church of Christ, Abilene
The Next Right Step: A Case Study In Listening For Change When Overwhelmed By Reality, Ashley Crisp, Ashley Stirman
Discernment: Theology and the Practice of Ministry
In late 2021, two ministers at Highland Church of Christ began a conversation about accessibility and inclusion, primarily aimed at children’s and student’s ministries. The two ministers knew they were adequately able to serve the children and students at Highland that required additional support, but that it was not a sustainable system. They set out on a year-long process of acquiring information, resources, and fresh ideas, in the hopes that these would provide the answer they had been searching for. In late 2022, the answer to their problem became clear: they needed to listen to the people in front of …
Disability, Difference, And Inclusion In The Church: A Special Issue,
2023
Abilene Christian University
Disability, Difference, And Inclusion In The Church: A Special Issue, Jennifer Reinsch Schroeder
Discernment: Theology and the Practice of Ministry
This introductory article sets the context for the conversations in this special issue of Discernment: Theology and the Practice of Ministry on disability, difference, and inclusion in the church.
Belonging In Unashamed Authenticity,
2023
Nathan Kitchen, President Emeritus Affirmation: LGBTQ Mormons, Families & Friends
Belonging In Unashamed Authenticity, Nathan R. Kitchen
MEI Conference: Together We RISE
In 2020, the UCLA School of Law’s Williams Institute reported that 47% of LGBTQ adults were moderately or highly religious. This equates to 5.3 million religious LGBTQ adults in America. We cannot ignore this population.
When making the transition into young adulthood, many religious LGBTQ youth feel they must make a choice between their spiritual well-being or their queerness. As a university community interested in the success of the rising generation, we can provide support for religious queer young adults through understanding:
1. What is happening in this transition and why,
2. The well-being needs of religious queer young adults …
A Phenomenological Study Exploring The Lack Of Baptist Church Participation In Seminole County, Florida,
2023
Liberty University
A Phenomenological Study Exploring The Lack Of Baptist Church Participation In Seminole County, Florida, Ismael Melendez
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This phenomenological study explores the reasons for a lack of participation in in-person Baptist churches and the rise of participation in online Baptist churches in Seminole County, Florida. The theory guiding this study was Martin Heidegger’s hermeneutical framework which focuses on the commonality of experiences. Heidegger believed that to arrive at the essence of a phenomenon a researcher must go through the revisionary process of what Heidegger termed the Hermeneutic Circle. The principal research question in this study explored existing relationship(s) between in-person and online Baptist church leaders and how such relationship(s) contributed to a lack of church participation. The …
How A Novel Research Framework Resulted In Fruitful Evangelism And Discovery: Introducing Ethnoscopy And Spiritual Patronage,
2023
Liberty University
How A Novel Research Framework Resulted In Fruitful Evangelism And Discovery: Introducing Ethnoscopy And Spiritual Patronage, L. Lynn Thigpen
Great Commission Research Journal
Faced with an unusual question from a Cambodian friend who had heard stories from God’s Word, I embarked on a quest for an answer. He worshipped an unusual and unfamiliar object and wondered whether he must abandon it to serve Christ. I knew he did, but I needed to explore the meanings ascribed to that object of worship to communicate the gospel more clearly, just as Paul did in Acts 17 while in Athens. According to Jesus’ parable of the soils in Matthew 13, fruitful evangelism involves understanding. How might individual missionaries and evangelists aid in that crucial need? With …
Book Review: Administry: The Nuts And Bolts Of Church Administration By Thomas F. Tumblin,
2023
Grace Theological Seminary
Book Review: Administry: The Nuts And Bolts Of Church Administration By Thomas F. Tumblin, Timothy Clothier
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
Book Review: New Funding Models In Global Mission: Learning From The Majority World By Tim Welch,
2023
Grand Canyon University
Book Review: New Funding Models In Global Mission: Learning From The Majority World By Tim Welch, John Cheong
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
Book Review: Smart Church Finances: A Pastor’S Guide To Budgets, Spreadsheets, And Other Things You Didn’T Learn In Seminary By George Hillman, Jr., And John Reece,
2023
Grace Theological Seminary
Book Review: Smart Church Finances: A Pastor’S Guide To Budgets, Spreadsheets, And Other Things You Didn’T Learn In Seminary By George Hillman, Jr., And John Reece, Walter Castro
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
Book Review: No Shortcut To Success: A Manifesto For Modern Missions By Matt Rhodes,
2023
California Baptist University
Book Review: No Shortcut To Success: A Manifesto For Modern Missions By Matt Rhodes, Kenneth Nehrbass
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
Book Review: Church Plantology: The Art And Science Of Planting By Peyton Jones,
2023
Biola University
Book Review: Church Plantology: The Art And Science Of Planting By Peyton Jones, David Thiessen
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
Need-Oriented Evangelism: Encountering, Embracing, And Experiencing God,
2023
Andrews University
Need-Oriented Evangelism: Encountering, Embracing, And Experiencing God, Petr Činčala, Allison Sauceda
Great Commission Research Journal
This article provides a fresh perspective on evangelism by reflecting a belief in the Triune God--the source of saving truth and loving community. Mission is part of God’s nature; he is the ultimate Missionary. Mission happens naturally whenever children of God intentionally invite and facilitate God’s presence. Over time, the word “evangelism" has become contaminated by myths, a false understanding of God, and unpleasant religious experiences and practices. Genuine evangelism addresses the most burning issues of people’s lives and should be treated as such. True evangelism involves caring about, praying for, and sharing with people. The practical part of this …
Book Review: Portraits Of Global Christianity: Research And Reflections In Honor Of Todd M. Johnson Edited By J. Gina Zurlo,
2023
A3 (fomerly Asian Access)
Book Review: Portraits Of Global Christianity: Research And Reflections In Honor Of Todd M. Johnson Edited By J. Gina Zurlo, Joe Handley
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
Great Commission Research Journal Fall 2023,
2023
Asbury Theological Seminary
Great Commission Research Journal Fall 2023, David R. Dunaetz Azusa Pacific University
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
Book Review: Multiplying Leaders In Intercultural Contexts: Recognizing And Developing Grassroots Potential By Evelyn And Richard Hibbert,
2023
Kingdom Leadership Training Center, Darhan, Mongolia
Book Review: Multiplying Leaders In Intercultural Contexts: Recognizing And Developing Grassroots Potential By Evelyn And Richard Hibbert, Mark D. Wood
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
Book Review: Christian Martyrdom: A Brief History With Reflections For Today By Edward L. Smither,
2023
Asbury Theological Seminary
Book Review: Christian Martyrdom: A Brief History With Reflections For Today By Edward L. Smither, Francis Kyle
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
About The Great Commission Research Network,
2023
Asbury Theological Seminary
About The Great Commission Research Network, David R. Dunaetz Azusa Pacific University
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
Survey And Questionnaire Design For Church-Based Research,
2023
Azusa Pacific University
Survey And Questionnaire Design For Church-Based Research, David R. Dunaetz
Great Commission Research Journal
To better understand behaviors, beliefs, and attitudes in churches, survey research can be very useful, especially to test a hypothesis that we believe to be true. Before creating a survey or questionnaire, the phenomena being examined need to be well understood and appropriate measures chosen. The items included in the survey need to measure the concepts desired and should be clear and unambiguous. The survey should be laid out to motivate maximum participation and minimize biased responses. This article provides many principles for how to accomplish these goals and to ensure that the research undertaken is credible.
Disciple Making Starts At A Different Point Today,
2023
Presidential Address at the 2023 Annual Conference of the Great Commission Research Network, Orlando, Florida
Disciple Making Starts At A Different Point Today, Brad Ransom
Great Commission Research Journal
Disciple-making starts at a different place today than it did forty years ago. Knocking on a stranger’s door today is unlikely to be effective for people distant from the gospel as is characteristic of today's generations. We must now view evangelism as a process and we must have a non-judgmental acceptance of all people. We must be willing to change to communicate the gospel in a way persuasive way.
