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Methods And Motivations Of Multigenerational Churches In Selecting A Worship Music Identity, Joshua Charles Morton

Masters Theses

Churches in the twenty-first century come in all types, shapes, and sizes. The church plant movement is bringing many new churches into existence. With many of these church plants, the assumption is that a contemporary worship style comes with it. This could be viewed this way, because of the high population of younger people that attend these churches. Churches like Elevation Church, North Point Church, Passion City Church, and Saddleback Community Church are all church plants. These churches are magnets for newly established Christians and those seeking to answer questions about God for the first time. They are magnets for …

Editorial: Spirit-Empowered Leadership: Leading And Being Led, John Paul Thompson

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

Guest editor, Dr. John Thompson, gives an introduction to this special issues dedicated to Spirit-empowered leadership.

Full Issue - Spiritus 5, Vol 2 (2020), Spiritus Journal

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

This special journal issue devoted to Spirit-empowered leadership.

John Thompson, guest editor.

The Decline Of Ministry Participation And Leadership Amid Black Males In The Worthington Missionary Baptist Church In Houston, Texas, Joseph Ray Davis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This DMin thesis project sought to address the decline of male participation in ministry leadership at the Worthington Missionary Baptist Church (WMBC) in Houston, Texas. Not only are males absent from many church congregations, but those that do attend church services tend to be seemingly content with the female populace leading an abundance of church ministries. This research study accessed rationales prompting male withdrawal and then ascertained how to restore balance to the initial design of God at WMBC. Assessment tools of questionnaires, surveys, and one-on-one interviews were utilized to gain insights from 10 WMBC males between the ages of …

Improving Adoptive Mergers At River Community Church, Gavin Roger Adams

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This thesis project cross compared the adoptive mergers of River Community Church (RCC) to identify the methodologies and strategies that created one successful campus via adoptive merger and a subsequent unsuccessful campus. Empirical analysis quantified the gap in success between RCC Chesterfield and RCC Fairway. Qualitative research provided the thematic points of differentiation in RCC’s adoptive merger implementations. The thematic findings detailed a potential revitalization plan for RCC Fairway, a common structure for future RCC adoptive merger considerations, and insight for churches contemplating adoptive merger pursuits.

The Sent Life: Discovering The Mission Of God And The Christian's Place In It, Cliff Roberts Jordan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The church in the West today has separated something that was never intended to be divided. This critical error impacts the very core of who a Christian is which informs and empowers what a Christian does. Jesus said, “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you,” and in doing so He designated all Christians as “sent ones.” This means living on mission as a sent one is not reserved for a special class of Christians, but is the very calling of all Christians. Since that is true, all Christians need to understand and be equipped for the mission …

Prosperity Gospel In Liberia: A Theological Alternative To The Gospel Of Jesus Christ, Jerome A. Newman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Many indigenous Liberian pastors are not theologically grounded on a solid biblical foundation. As such, many Liberian Christians lack foundational knowledge of the truths of the Gospel of Christ for salvation. The prosperity gospel or “Faith, Wealth, and Health” theology in Liberia is a significant deviation from the Gospel of Christ that undermines sound hermeneutical interpretation of Scripture. This study examines why a growing number of pastors in Liberia are replacing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the prosperity gospel. An anonymous survey research study of 12 pastors from Unity Light Ministry Network (Unity Community Church) in Kakata, Liberia, West …

Healing Through Preaching: Recovery For Red Oaks Baptist Church, Darin Scott Wilt

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this Doctor of Ministry thesis, Healing Through Preaching: Recovery for Red Oaks Baptist Church, is to address the need for healing Red Oaks Baptist Church’s members through a coordinated preaching and counseling ministry. Research shows there is a lack of information available on how to preach to a church after a traumatic event such as a church split or revitalization effort. The literature available addresses church problems that may have led a specific situation but does not help the pastor use the preaching of scripture to lead the church in recovery and to use God’s word to …

Predicting And Preventing Inactive Members, James David Barrett

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Most churches have many members classified as inactive. The purpose of this project is to discover if there are any common characteristics among those who have become inactive that can be used to identify and prevent others from becoming inactive members. Based on surveys and questionnaires sent to pastors, active, and inactive members from several churches in the Cabarrus Baptist Association, the project seeks to identify patterns among members who have become inactive. It then reviews the information to propose strategies to identify possible methods for preventing members from becoming inactive in the future.

Effective Church Leadership Through Emotional Intelligence, Joshua T. Lancaster

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In On Leadership, John Gardner wrote, “Most of what leaders have that enables them to lead is learned.” Effective leadership skills can be learned and become habits. In Primal Leadership, Daniel Goleman wrote, “Not only can emotional intelligence be learned, but it also can be retained over the long term.” Southern Baptist congregants expect their pastors to be theologians, but also effective leaders. The emotional quotient barrier suggests that pastoral leadership is less effective because of behaviors such as inconsistent management of emotions, inability to genuinely connect with people, or leading without inspiration. This has led to stagnated or declining …

A Missional Outreach Model In The Czech Republic: A Postchristian, Secular Culture, Petr Činčala

Great Commission Research Journal

The Czech Republic is one of the most secular countries in the world. Moreover, the church has not been growing over the last few decades. This case study presents the church planting efforts in the city of Liberec, focusing on an outreach center started by a small number of Christians with the goal of sharing Christ’s love in culturally relevant ways. The initial efforts led to a family-centered activity center with many programs that helped develop personal relationships, trust, and open doors to share the gospel. An English class and gospel choir have been at the center of the outreach, …

Book Review: Planting Reproducing Churches By Elmer L. Towns, David Thiessen

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of Church Plant Training Methods Within The Assemblies Of God, Bethlehem Backes

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

The steady decline of churches in America is a cause of great concern among spiritual leaders (Stetzer & Im, 2016). Missiologists agree that church planting is vital to presenting the gospel to unreached people groups. If church planting is the vehicle to deliver the life-giving message of Jesus to the world, church planters are the drivers who actively accomplish the purpose of healthy multiplication. Recent data on the health of church planters indicates many of them are not adequately prepared and desire long-term support to be successful. The Assemblies of God denomination has tasked the Church Multiplication Network with leading …

Alternative Financial Models For Churches And Church Plants: When Tithes And Offerings Are Not Enough, W. Jay Moon

Great Commission Research Journal

Many churches face financial strains, forcing some to close every year. Similarly, potential church plants may be delayed or disbanded due to a lack of finances. Instead of relying solely on tithes and offerings, this article provides six nontraditional financial approaches that churches can implement to promote financial viability and missional impact. The interaction of the church’s financial liquidity (low or high) and relational networks (closed or open) provides a starting point to determine which approach may be best in the church’s context. Practical applications are provided through examples of contemporary churches using these approaches.

God Does Not Show Favoritism: The Intentional Inclusion Of Minorities In Pentecostal Leadership, Terrell Robert Raburn

Doctor of Ministry (DMin)

Although the Azusa Street Revival, known for launching the modern Pentecostal Movement, was initially characterized by minority diversity in regard to leadership, it quickly splintered into three classic Pentecostal fellowships formed along racial lines. The research presented herein examines the racially segregated history of the Pentecostal Church in North America—acknowledging the need for the implementation of a biblically based theology of racial integration—and presents a four-step process in which minority leadership within individual Pentecostal churches is promoted, combatting the unbiblical ideology of a segregated body of Christ. The four steps include (1) the necessity for a strong visionary leader; (2) …

Church-Based Research: Challenges And Opportunities, David R. Dunaetz

Great Commission Research Journal

Because the church is the body of Christ, research focused on the Great Commission and Jesus’ concern for evangelism and disciple-making needs to be church-based. The goal of such research is to better share God’s love to a world who does not know him by building up a collection of knowledge that will enable us to do so. This research may be both theological (focusing on what the Bible and other theologians have said) and scientific (focusing on collecting new data and interpreting it, especially in light of theology). Church-based scientific research may be either qualitative (exploring broad ideas and …

Book Review: Church Planting In The Secular West: Learning From The European Experience By Stefan Paas, Keith R. Sellers

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Book Review: Donald A. Mcgavran: A Biography Of The Twentieth Century's Premier Missiologist By Gary Mcintosh, Keith R. Sellers

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.

The Effective Bi-Vocational Pastor, Cory A. Macneil

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Pastors fill an important role as they lead churches to fulfill the Great Commission. This is especially challenging for bi-vocational pastors who have jobs outside of ministry. Meanwhile, some church members view the bi-vocational pastor as the paid professional and misunderstand their role as members/ministers. The original design of God is for pastors and members to be disciples who make disciples according to 2 Timothy 2:2. The purpose of this project is to help bi-vocational pastors in the Northeast strategically equip their people to become effective members, ministers, and missionaries who realize the significance of being disciples who make disciples. …

Prayerlessness: Using Expository Sermons To Change The Way Believer's Pray, Joshua Kenton Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In America, the church is operating with less supernatural power than it once did or currently does in other parts of the world, especially as it relates to those like East Barbourville Baptist Church who belong to the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). For example, the Annual Church Profile data of the SBC for the 2018 year reveals that its overall membership has reached a thirty-year low. Likewise, the data reveals a decline in baptisms for the tenth year in a row. Yet, the church has access to more ministry tools and better training than any previous generation, so what is …

Why We Fail To Enact The Change We Need: A Framework For Adaptive Change At Large Churches, Beau J. Johnson

Doctor of Ministry

It is difficult for leaders at large churches to make changes to their ministry models. As culture rapidly evolves, large, attractional churches look to adapt their approach to reaching the unchurched. Attendance and participation in large churches continues to decline, despite the breadth of suggestions for what and how to change. These suggestions for change are often top-down, leader-centric, and rarely grounded in the academic research about change management. This paper seeks to address a comprehensive model for leading adaptive changes at large, established churches. Chapter One describes the problem, describing trends in cultural change and the impact on church …

A Strategy For Conducting Evangelism And Discipleship With The Unchurched In The Cane Bay Plantation Residential Development’S Restricted Communities In Summerville, Sc, John Paul Tornifolio

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The late Twentieth and early Twenty-first Centuries witnessed an unprecedented rise in the numbers of families moving into restricted, residential communities, seeking security, an improved quality of life, and high property values. These communities hinder traditional churches from fulfilling the Great Commission. Homeowners’ associations disallow door-to-door neighborhood evangelism. Zoning laws prevent churches from erecting buildings for church services and discipleship programs. This research studies the effectiveness of small group ministries, using non-traditional evangelism and discipleship methods, as a counter measure to these hindrances. The study results found small groups are an effective method of fulfilling the Great Commission in restricted, …

Religion In Latvia After The Fall Of The Soviet System: Fragmentation And Postsecularism, Valdis Tēraudkalns

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

"The purpose of this article is to analyze changes that religions in Latvia have experienced since the collapse of the USSR. This is too broad of a topic, therefore I will concentrate on only two aspects, fragmentation of religious groups and postsecularism."

The Acts Model Designed To Make Disciples, Phillip Harold Stevens

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Churches are in decline. Every relevant statistic reveals the church has a major problem, and if it is to continue to survive it must make changes. The church is not evangelizing, not making disciples, and not making an impact in our communities. Every year it is estimated that over 4,000 churches close each year. The organism founded by Jesus is being overcome. Winfall Baptist Church, located in Gladys, VA, was arguably a church on the decline. Members of the Winfall community believed the church building would one day end up becoming a hay barn. Based on Scripture, surveys of current …

Creating More Discipleship At Mount Olivet Baptist Church Through The Brotherhood Ministry, Kevin Ml Jefferson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Getting volunteers to serve in the Brotherhood Ministry will increase the opportunity to create more discipleship at Mount Olivet Baptist Church and better serve the Community. The purpose of this research is to address the problem through some sort of intervention and report the results based on the interventions provided. Research is needed on this particular ministry because it is the ministry that does outreach in the local community.

A Strategy To Plant Missional Churches That Multiply In Small Urban Communities, Michael Scott Moore

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This thesis will use Hopewell, VA, as a microcosm of small urban towns across America that are in need of spiritual and economic revitalization. The purpose of this thesis will be to develop a strategy for planting churches in Hopewell, VA, that is not only able to reach its community but serve as a model to reach other similar urban communities. The rationale for this topic is to shine the light on the need for revival in spiritually and economically depressed towns. Demographic and ethnographic research will be done, as well as interviews with a minimum of ten local leaders. …

Church Planting, Humanitarian Services, And Christian Holiness In Central India : A Study Of The Life And Mission Of Ernest And Phebe Ward, Shivraj Kumar Mahendra

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Strategies And Biblical Principles To Keep Church Plants From Closing Its Doors Within The First Three Years, Damian Billups

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Christians are commissioned to disciple the nations. Many attempts to fulfill this commission encounter variables that hinder the fulfillment of this dictum. Statistics indicate significant proportions of church planting endeavors are challenged to survive beyond one year. This project will expose reasons church planting efforts struggle to thrive and will provide strategies and biblical principles to remedy the identified obstacles. The data will be utilized for current and future church planting efforts. The goal of this project is to reduce factors that cause church plants to close prematurely. Church laity and clergy will be surveyed for their perspectives regarding church …

Transformational Leadership: Equipping Small Churches To Make Disciples By Integrating Wesleyan Principals, Ronald Kent Wise

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This ministry thesis project will use qualitative research to address Wesleyan Transformational Leadership and how to apply the principles to equip churches to make disciples for Jesus Christ. The principles addressed within the project are defined by the acronym L.E.A.D: L-Love, E-Educate, A-Adapt and D-Duplicate. In today’s politically correct culture, the persecution of the Christian worldview occurs in communities, politics, and the church. Transformational leadership introduces biblical principles in conjunction with time-tested leadership principles to promote and strengthen individual and corporate growth. Individual and corporate growth transforms lives of individuals as relationships and stories are shared. As transformation takes place, …

A Study On ‘Big Forest Movement’ Of Ansandongsan Church: The Case Of Church Planting, Dongsung Park

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation aims to study about the ‘Big Forest Movement’ conducted by Ansan Dongsan Church which experienced healthy growth in its community through small group ministry. The Korean church has been leading growth and revival through church planting. However, from the 21st century, church growth is rapidly declining and planted churches are also experiencing severe period of decline. There are still many churches being planted but the reality is that many of them are not growing or being shut down. There may be various reasons for this phenomenon but the main reasons would be the lack of preparation and no …