Practical Theology Commons^™

Let’S Go Outside: Transforming The Transitions, Kirk King

180 Symposium Publications

The Seventh-day Adventist Church is serious about the spiritual nurture of younger generations. It spends millions of dollars and dedicates countless hours to preserve the faith of children and youth. However, perhaps the most glaring gap in the church’s ministry for younger generations is the absence of ministry during significant times of transition. This is particularly true when those transitions take the young people outside the bubble of the Adventist world. Nowhere is this issue more critical than in the lives of Adventist college students who attend secular schools. The Church is also serious about evangelism. Curiously, the church is …

The Local Church And Public Education: Student Spiritual Care Pre- And Post-Graduation, Ronald H. Whitehead

180 Symposium Publications

Families continue to provide the foundation for the spiritual development of young people. Today adult Adventists in North America are part of the church primarily because of their Adventist roots and relationships. About half grew up as Adventists, and almost an additional third joined because of personal relationships. Both of these often get cast aside when young adults move away to college or graduate school. It’s time to be proactive to identify local churches can will provide a welcoming home atmosphere for young adults in transition. A new system called “Churches of Refuge” (COR) identifies such churches and provides certification, …

Facebook Faith: Social Networking In A Faith Based Community, Kirsten Øster-Lundqvist

180 Symposium Publications

Social networking provides a high impact and efficient ministry to the moveable generation. Through social networks such as Facebook, ministry from a pastoral perspective can become more authentic and meaningful. A young person’s digital identity often reflects one’s faith due to increased openness. A minister can engage in a non-hierarchical manner. Prayer and bible study as well as pastoral care through social networking occur as relationships deepen via social networking and making people real. Spiritual and religious views are freely shared, creating sacred spaces in the midst of life practicing a holistic faith identity in a secular community. Contacts can …

The Obama Factor, Timothy Nixon

180 Symposium Publications

The candidacy of Barack Obama and historic presidential election revealed some important lessons to us about our country and its future. One of the most interesting elements of his election was the way in which this campaign was able to engage youth and young adults. In the general election Obama won 66% of 18-29 year old voters. Much of his organization and support for youth was done by collegians on college and university campuses around the country. At a time when the Christian church is hemorrhaging 70% of young adults ages 18-22 Obama’s ability to galvanize and win the youth …

Lead The Way, Steve Case

180 Symposium Publications

The primary need for public campus ministry is leaders. For the Seventh-day Adventist Church, this has been the key element. Leaders direct mission, determine the emphasis, draw followers, extend their own influence, and develop stability for campus ministry. Calling leaders should take precedence over institutional approval, endorsement or funding. The call for leaders remains foundational for public campus ministry.

Supporting An Army Of Youth: Providing Needed Support For Adventist Students On Public College Campuses, Ron Pickell

180 Symposium Publications

The Seventh-day Adventist Church stands poised before a great mission field opportunity to reach today’s college campuses. We have a clear mission field – the campus closest to the nearest local Adventist church. We have a clear mandate in the stated mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church: “To proclaim to all peoples the everlasting gospel.…” We also have potential missionaries on those campuses in the estimated 50,000 Adventist students enrolled there. In addition, we also have an organizational structure in the NAD Youth/Young Adult Department (ACF/NAD), which is ready to move forward to develop resources and provide networking, training, and …

When The Canaries Stop Singing, Martin Weber

180 Symposium Publications

Concerned about attrition of Adventist students attending secular campuses, we seek ways of inducing them to remain with us—unaware that their departure is due to systemic dysfunction in churches throughout North America. The causative factor of young adult attrition is judgmentalism resulting from a lack of knowing how to love. We have forgotten a core insight into the Great Controversy—that love requires freedom of choice, despite the inevitable risks. Paradoxically, our very concern about safeguarding the spirituality of our young adults generates a judgmental counterfeit of love that drives them away in a spirit of toxic anxiety.

Taskforce Now, Michael J. Stevenson

180 Symposium Publications

The world is currently wrestling with an economic downturn. As life gets rearranged; plans have to change. The convergence of a sluggish economy, lack of jobs and fewer slots available means that more Adventist young people are out of a job. At the same time the huge needs for leadership, mentoring and global economic mix up, we can seize the moment, employ and deploy hundreds to nurture the needs of thousands through the revival and adaptation of Adventist Collegiate Taskforce (ACT).

Ellen G. White And The Secular Campus, William Cork

180 Symposium Publications

Ellen White’s statements about secular college campuses provide principles that can guide the development of Adventist campus ministry today. Remarks she made in 1891 and 1895 acknowledge the challenges of the secular campus, but also the necessity of a positive witness. Guided by the principles she outlines, Adventist campus ministry will both support students on the secular campus and live out a nonconfrontational ministry of presence in the heart of the university.

Toward Building Resilience As The Best Path To Prevention, Duane Mcbride, Gary Hopkins, Peter Landless, Jeffrey Spady

180 Symposium Publications

Substance abuse in the form of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs wreaks havoc in the lives of young and old. The party scene seems to be a given on college campuses. Seventh-day Adventist schools are not immune to these cultural influences. The best method of prevention is resilience. The components that contribute to resilience include a positively involved family, good self esteem, adult supervised after school activities for young people, a sense of community at school, service activities, and faith. By fostering these elements, we can be intentional about making our campuses exception in all areas.

Jump On Board, Steve Case

180 Symposium Publications

No abstract provided.

¿Integridad O Habilidad?: La Pregunta Acerca Del Liderazgo, Felix H. Cortez

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Shall Thou Reincarnate Or Not? A Quest For Spirituality Among Czech "Irreligious" People, Petr A. Činčala

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

In Spite Of The Fact, Roy Gane

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Mentoring And Coaching Executive Secretaries In The Zimbabwe Union: A Strategy For Change, Solomon Maphosa

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

The Southern Africa Indian Ocean Division (SID) has never developed or implemented a program for coaching and mentoring newly elected leaders at any administrative level—division, union, or conference. Newly elected officers report personal and professional frustration as a result. It is reasonable to infer this has contributed to new leaders facing difficulty in delivering expected performance on the job, effecting their careers and service to the community of believers.

Methodology

The study followed the qualitative research paradigm. Qualitative research became a method of choice because it is descriptive in nature and it provides the researcher with the opportunity to …

Formation Of A Widows' Association: Empowering Women In The Local Church In The Kabwe East And West Districts Of The Central Zambia Conferance, Lubinda Ngenda

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

The failure to meet the basic needs of life for the many widowed women in Kabwe East and West Mission District of the Adventist Church has affected the faith of widows in God’s ability to help them meet their physical needs and has eroded their confidence in the ability of the local church to help, as well as the genuineness of purpose the local church has in helping its needy members. The many widowed women in this region of Zambia, represented as 50% by some researchers, make responding to the problem urgent.

Method

Literature on leadership and community efforts …

Development Of An Action Plan To Transform The Erwin Hills Seventh-Day Adventist Church Into A Family-Friendly Church For The Purpose Of Winning Families With Youth And Children, Eli Rojas

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Through a period of a few years the Erwin Hills Seventh-day Adventist Church went from a thriving congregation with members of all ages to a small group of faithful members who desired to see the return of the days when their church was thriving. As the new pastor took office a desire to change came upon the leadership, one that led them to think of ways to attract and retain families to their ranks. There was a lack in ministry that was inclusive of all the members of a household and thus unattractive to new members with young adults …

Creating A Culture Of Community Involvement In The Adventist Church In Gugulethu Township, South Africa, Jongimpi Papu

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Most Adventist churches in South Africa live in isolation from their communities. Christianity in general and Adventism in particular are becoming irrelevant to the needs of the church, with serious implications for church growth.

Methodology

Tembalethu Adventist church in Gugulethu Township in South Africa was used to pilot a community services program by adopting a school nearby. A mixed approach of both qualitative and quantitative methods was used. This consisted of structured interviews, both personal and by telephone, and questionnaires. An analysis of a government census was also done.

Results

Tembalethu started an after-care program which was attended by …

A Strategy For Effective Youth Ministry In The Bantama Seventh-Day Adventist Church Ghana, Kofi Opoku Acheampong

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Young people comprise two-thirds of the 1,500 members of the Bantama I Seventh-day Adventist Church in Ghana. Despite a continuing increase in the number of young people, only a few of them attend youth activities. It appears that there may be a lack of formal programming or clear directions for youth ministry in the church. The result is a lack of spiritual connections between the youth and the church. In addition, there are behavioral problems among the young people when they are left to their own activities; consequently, parents are not allowing their children to attend youth-initiated activities, resulting …

Stewardship Patterns In The North Katanga Field Of East Congo: Implications For Leadership, Mutombe N'Gili-Muloko

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

The General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church (GC) has reduced funding in terms of the appropriation to the lower entities. The GC has encouraged all organizations to reduce debts and manage their income more effectively. This project was formulated to determine to what extent the North Katanga Field (NKF) can increase its tithes and manage its income adequately. From 1999 to 2003 tithe decreased in the NKF when at the same time it increased in the North-East Congo (NECAT) areas and these regions were compared.

Method

Substantial written materials from specialists were used to find strategies for tithe …