Practical Theology Commons^™

Formation In Christ Through Conflict : Discerning God's Gifts In Group Spiritual Direction, Luke B. Richards

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Renewing Wesleyan Class Meetings Via Spiritual Formation Groups : An Examination Of The Class Meeting And Its Effectiveness At Discipleship Within The Modern American United Methodist Church, D.R. Mcewen

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

"Go Into All The World" : Rediscovering God's Calling For The Church, Richard Nevard

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Hands Of God And The Glittering Sword: A Theological History Of John Brown, Christian Chiakulas

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

The political praxis of American abolitionist John Brown (1800-1859) furnishes an example of practical liberation theology. This work advances an experimental historiographic model, termed theological history, which combines the central insights of Christian liberation theology and Marxist historical materialism to draw both historical and theological conclusions about its subject, John Brown.

The foundational work of Gustavo Gutierrez and James Cone suggests that history and praxis are central to liberation theology, and that Marxist epistemology and ontology are necessary for historical conclusions drawn from liberation theology to be valid. This work extends this contention, arguing for an even greater fusion …

Reform Of Orthodoxy: Current Challenges And Tasks, Hennadii Khrystokin, Vasyl Lozovytskyi

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

The article analyzes the current state of Orthodoxy, and highlights the problem of its reform, which consists of the need for renewal and modernization. The article establishes that the reasons for the need to reform in Orthodoxy are the crisis of the unity of the Ecumenical Church, the crisis of the management structures of local churches, the crisis in local church communities, and the significant dependence of Orthodoxy on national traditions. The article notes that the main aspects of church reform are the renewal of tradition, the need for a new reading of the canons, rethinking the negative historical experience …

The Creation Of Virtual Online Small Groups To Increase Member Participation And Build Community At The Redding Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Robert Fisher

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Many churches have struggled to continue to accomplish mission in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic while complying with the mandated restrictions. The Redding Seventh-day Adventist Church already struggled with no small group ministry prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, and the “stay at home” requirements for churches only increased feelings of isolation in the Redding Church members. These feelings of isolation created a hindrance to mission and resulted in a severe lack of biblical community.

Method

The research method employed in the design of this project was a qualitative one. It explored the question under examination by using NCD …

A Strategy To Increase Spiritual Maturity By Practicing Spiritual Disciplines At Berean Seventh-Day Adventist Church In Houston, Texas, Robert W. Norwood

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Berean Seventh-day Adventist Church has been a pillar in the Third Ward community of Houston since the 1900s. Berean has two distinctions. It is the only Seventh-day Adventist church in downtown Houston. It is also the only predominantly African American Seventh-day church in the area. Its DNA has always been community and civic minded. Like many other churches, Berean is a commuter church. There are two individuals who live near the church; however, the majority of the members who attend Berean commute to the church to minister to the community. Berean was established by individuals who had a desire …

Creating A Mission-Focused Stewardship Plan For The Shiloh Bilingual French Seventh-Day Adventist Church In Brooklyn, New York, Herode J. Thomas

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

A review of administrative data reveals that Shiloh French Seventh-day Adventist Church has lost 25% of its members over the past 5 years, while only 15% joined by baptism. Most new members come from transfers and profession of faith. The purpose of the present work is to address the issue of lack of motivation to carry out the mission of the worldwide church by asking the following question: How can a mission-focused stewardship plan help church leaders and members refocus? --

Methodology

Based on the context, theological reflection, and literature review, the initiative was presented in four phases: Mission-Focused …

Promoting Intergenerational Harmony At The Dedham Seventh-Day Adventist Church Of The Southern New England Conference, Yves Gerald Francis

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

This field research study explored the prevalence of lack of harmony among first and second-generation Dedham Seventh-day Adventist Church members. Consequently, families may be divided, and hard feelings and lost souls. Thus, a fundamental problem is an intergenerational and cultural lack of understanding.

Method

The research was a qualitative phenomenological study based on small groups and their activities. The Dedham Seventh-day Adventist Church provided a sample of 30 members, who were split into small groups of six each. For two weeks, the researcher and church leaders held small-group activities in the fellowship hall to impart the value of cooperation …

Premarital Education : A Comprehensive Approach For Seventh-Day Adventist Pastors In The Italian Union, Roberto Ianno

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Although the Adventist Church upholds the importance of a Christlike and stable marriage, the Italian Union historically never developed a systematic and comprehensive approach to both premarital counseling and enrichment programs for married couples, whose preparation is aleatory and depends on both/either the pastor’s approach and/or the couple’s request. The results could be a weakening of both marital stability and marital satisfaction. We assume that the root problem is a naïve understanding of marriage which causes couples to put more effort into preparing for the wedding day rather than for the marital journey.

Method

An action research intervention was …

Seminario Para Fortalecer La Dadivosidad En Las Ofrenda En La Iglesia Adventista Del Séptimo Día De Perth Amboy, Nueva Jersey, Ricardo Cala

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Finances have suffered a collapse in the world economy and this experience has reached the local Church, leading to a decrease in the operational resources needed to function effectively. The Adventist Church in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, has been a faithful tithing congregation; however not so with offerings, which have declined in the past few years. The Perth Amboy church, being a multicultural church, is made up of members mostly from the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Peru, Mexico, and has representation from other countries in Central America and the Caribbean. Just as language is a barrier for the majority …

Creating A Culture Shift In The Tracy Seventh-Day Adventist Church To Attract Millennials And Generation Z, Tyler Kraft

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

The Tracy Seventh-day Adventist Church is facing a shortage of committed leaders and volunteers. Most of the current ones have been serving for several decades and they desire to train and mentor potential replacements, but there are not enough people from the younger generations to take up the mantle. The demographics of the church do not represent the demographics of the community; older adults are overrepresented and younger adults are underrepresented. The church needs more youth and young adults to relieve the older members, or else the church's existence could be in jeopardy.

Method

In consultation with my advisor …

Finding A Voice: A Preaching Model To Address The Postmodern And Post-Soviet Young Adults At The Compass Seventh-Day Adventist Church In Tallinn, Estonia, Mervi Cederstrom

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

In Northern and Eastern Europe, probably more than in any other part of the world, the gap between the inner culture of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and that of the surrounding culture has grown large, hindering the church’s ability to share the Gospel to young adults (ages 16-29) in a meaningful and clear way. It is especially true about people who have grown up in the Postmodern and Post-Soviet context of Estonia and have very little biblical knowledge. This present study concentrates on homiletics and how this culture gap can be bridged via preaching.

Method

A five-part preaching series …

A Lay Preachers' Training Program At Reading West Adventist Church Focusing On Preaching That Connects With Second Generation Seventh-Day Adventist Young Adults, Trevor A. Thomas

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

The pastoral team and church members observed that most teenagers at Reading West up to the age of 18 attended church with their parents. However, from 18 to 25 years, the pastoral team and church members saw a drop in their attendance. Many attended universities in other cities. However, Reading, being a university town, should have attracted more Adventist young adults from other churches, and the young adults of Reading West should have returned during university term breaks. Sadly, most did not. Instead, they either visited other churches following popular youth preachers, attended other churches with a contemporary style …

Building Intergenerational Relationships With Mutual Benefits At North Port Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Breath Of Life Seventh-Day Adventist Church, And Conyers Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Paul David Lincoln Wilson

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Within our churches, North Port Seventh-day Adventist Church (North Port, Florida), Breath of Life Seventh-day Adventist Church (Fort Washington, Maryland), and Conyers Seventh-day Adventist Church (Conyers, Georgia), there is a real problem between adults and youth. There is a need to build intentional intergenerational relationships and to examine their effects on spiritual growth/development on both adults and youth. As the adults and the youth of our congregations begin intentional intergenerational relationships (building greater intergenerational bonding) with each other, I believe that greater spiritual growth will be realized by both. While there are relationships that have been developed between the …

Developing Small Group Ministry Based On Spiritual Temperaments In The Olympic Korean Seventh-Day Adventist Church In Los Angeles, California, Young Rin Kim

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Pastoral observation revealed that members of the Olympic Korean Seventh-day Adventist Church struggle to develop their own spirituality due to a lack of understanding regarding spiritual temperaments. Discerning one's own spiritual temperament or style is needed at both the individual and the church level in order to understand that there are more styles than those in the corporate doctrinal focus reflected in Adventism. Approaches to relationships with church attendees and responses to church-sponsored activities can be transformed by a better understanding of these temperaments/styles. Steps must be taken to expand Adventism to accept all different styles. A variety of …

A Leadership Strategy To Identify And Reverse The Effects Of Consumerism On The Commitment To The Mission And Management Of The Village Seventh-Day Adventist Church Members, Ronald Paul Kelly Jr.

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Low levels of commitment have detrimentally affected many aspects of the Village Church's health and vitality. The present study was developed to see to what degree the leaders of the Village Church had imbibed consumer constructs of identity and ministry and to what degree those constructs could be changed when presented with a biblical construct of identity and ministry.

Method

A week of spiritual emphasis entitled "Built on the Rock" examined the principles of the church growth movement as manifest in the megachurch movement. By contrast, the scriptural paradigm of the church as a family was presented as a …

Strategy Implemented For Intentional Intergeneration Interaction At The Lacey Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Jason Canfield

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Like many other churches, ongoing tension between generations resulting in conflict or segregation in the Lacey Seventh-day Adventist Church necessitated further research to develop a strategy to foster maximum congregational buy-in that would reverse these natural tendencies and aid in developing a desire to be intentionally intergenerational. With minimal denominational research extant, an approach that aided members in seeing evidence from within their own congregation was necessary. Additionally, a biblical foundation that included an eschatological framework within the traditional paradigms and a historicist view that placed intentional intergenerational methods as needed in the last days was also needed to …

Programa De Discipulado Para Líderes De Las Unidades De Acción Del Distrito Misonero De "La Era" De La Iglesia Adventista Del Séptimo Día, Lima Este 2022, Hector Willy Roncal Salazar

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Since 2018, North Peru Union Mission (NPU) has promoted discipleship through the structure of the Sabbath School made up by the Action Unit teachers who shepherd their members through friendship, relationship, and the missionary action units that also have the function of small groups in the district mentioned above, the leaders of the action units focus on fulfilling traditional Sabbath School teachers and not on being leaders who shepherd their small group members. For this reason, the leaders of these units are required to have a disciple-makers profile. Several authors affirm that if you learn how to make disciples …

Programa De Capacitación Evangelística Para La Iglesia Adventista Hispana De Poughkeepsie, New York, Fernando Rosario Castro

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

An investigation conducted along with the church board revealed that the congregation has not had an evangelistic training program in the last 5 years. Consequently, only 5 of the 347 members are involved in the evangelistic work of the local community. An evangelistic training program has the potential to involve members fully equipped to evangelize the people in their community.

Purpose

The purpose of this project is to develop an evangelistic training program to involve more church members in the evangelization of the community and to involve church members in holistic growth.

Methodology

This investigation belongs to the discipline …