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A Response To John Ellas And Flavil Yeakley's Book Review Of Natural Church Development By Christian Schwarz, David Wetzler

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

No abstract provided.

Book Review: Choosing A Future For U.S. Missions By Mckaughan, O'Brien, & O'Brien, Tom A. Steffen

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

No abstract provided.

Resurrection Strategies For Urban Neighborhood Churches In The Wesleyan Holiness Tradition, Howard L. Olver

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Spiritual Factors Impacting Church Health And Growth In The 21st Century, Ray W. Ellis

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

The topic of this President’s address at the Annual Meeting of the American Society for Church Growth is “Spiritual Factors that Impact Church Health and Growth.” My purpose is to show that church growth is about growth of the Kingdom of God. Numerical growth and spiritual growth are not incompatible. Church growth is about numerical growth. Church growth is about sharpening skills and utilizing technology to carry out the great commission. Church growth is about redemptive growth. Church Growth is more than numbers, it is the supernatural work of God.

Perspectives On The Church And Church Growth Theory, Charles Van Engen

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

Because we will be talking about the church and its nature during this conference, I thought it might be good for us to be reminded of some basic characteristics of the church and the various ways the church has seen itself. At the risk of oversimplification, I would like to briefly survey ten broad perspectives on the Church which one may derive from the Church’s history and relate them to Church Growth theory. The ten perspectives mentioned in this paper are in no way meant to be exhaustive of the multiple ways one may view the Church. I do not …

Development Of A Strategy To Reach The Folk-Buddha Lepcha Community Of Sikkim, Joseph Tudu

Doctor of Ministry Projects

The majority of the Lepchas who live in the land of Sikkim are unreached with the gospel message. A preliminary investigation of current literature indicated that 70 to 80 percent of the Sikkimese are followers of folk-Buddhism.

The purpose of this dissertation is to develop a strategy to reach the Folk-Buddhist Lepcha community of Sikkim with the gospel message.

The dissertation traces the historical development of the Lepcha community in Sikkim,,its culture, economy, health situations, and education. Chapter 3 details the beliefs, practices, and world view of the Lepchas, discusses government restrictions against Christianity in Sikkim, and describes the growth …

Proyecto De Capacitación Laica Para La Iglesia Local, Hector Solera

Doctor of Ministry Projects

The Christian Church has the duty of evangelizing all nations. This task requires that all church members participate actively in evangelism. However, not all church members get involved because they do not know how. This research initiated and evaluated a project to train the members of the Spanish Seventh-day Adventist Church in Atlantic City, New Jersey, with the purpose of enabling them to evangelize the city.

The project was developed in five different seminars during five consecutive weekends. The topics covered were the following: the priesthood of all believers, how to present the gospel in a Christ-centered fashion, the art …

Multiple Services And Your Church’S Future, Donald E. Ross

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

Multiple worship services are a topic of consideration among most churches today. Some churches offer numerous services throughout the week, while others continue to struggle with the need for more than one. Dr. Donald E. Ross, Senior Pastor of North Seattle Christian Fellowship, shares six reasons for beginning a new worship service and a few insights on how to do it from his own ministry.

Church Planting In The Urban Setting: The Key To Reaching America, Elmer L. Towns

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

Dr. Elmer Towns discusses the biblical mandate for reaching entire cities for Christ. And, after carefully outlining the challenges of completing this task, he offers thoughts on developing a strategy for urban church planting. This article is from his address at the American Society for Church Growth meetings held in Orlando, FL, in November 1997.

Calvin Seminary Forum: January 1998, Andrew Bandstra, Henry Zwaanstra, Robert Recker, Roger S. Greenway

Calvin Seminary Forum (1994-2001)

1 - “What in Heaven is Going on?” - Andrew Bandstra
3 - “Holwerda Retires – Zwaanstra Named Editor” - Henry Zwaanstra
4 - “That Congregational Prayer” - Robert Recker
6 - “What I Most Want my Students to Know about Missions” -Roger S. Greenway

Introduction To Urban Strategies, Eddie Gibbs

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

This article presents an introduction to church planting and evangelism in urban situations. It was presented at the 1997 annual meeting of the American Society for Church Growth in Orlando, FL.

The Biblical Basis For Relational Networking Among Autonomous Churches, Paul G. Thyren

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

Building networks of partnerships for effective ministry in the 21st Century is often discussed within the context of denominations. Dr. Paul Thyren focuses our attention on independent churches and how they can build relational networks in the years to come. This article focuses on the biblical basis for relational networking.

Networking Theory And Its Application To Autonomous Churches, Paul G. Thyren

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

Building networks of partnerships for effective ministry in the 21st Century is often discussed within the context of denominations. Dr. Paul Thyren focuses our attention on independent churches and how they can build relational networks in the years to come. This article discusses the theory of networking and how to apply it in practice.

Strategic Church Planting In The Central Zimbabwe Conference: Towards A Paradigm Shift In Church Growth, Nkosiyabo Zvandasara

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

This dissertation focuses on church planting in the Central Zimbabwe Conference. While impressive results have been achieved in evangelizing the lower classes of the society, there has been meager success in reaching the upper classes of the Black community as well as the White, the Indian, and the Colored minorities. A strategic church-planting approach to church growth hopes to not only target the least promising population segments served by the Central Zimbabwe Conference, but also to increase the effectiveness of the other church methods currently being employed to reach the more responsive classes in that conference.

Method

A diachronic …

Development Of An Adventist Community Services Center To Serve Navajo Residents Of Kayenta, Arizona, Dale A. Wolcott

Doctor of Ministry Projects

The Problem

A decision had been made to establish a Seventh-day Adventist Community Services Center in Kayenta, Arizona, on the Navajo Indian Reservation, in connection with a church-planting initiative. Those in charge lacked experience and training in community services ministries and faced obstacles to implementation of the plan.

The Method

A combination of research and action was used to move the envisioned Community Services Center toward reality. Study of the Bible and related literature led to formulation of Scripture-based methodological principles. Demographic research and community needs assessment procedures were utilized to gain an understanding of the Kayenta community and especially …

A Strategy For Public Evangelism In Russia, Mikhail K. Morar

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

After Perestroika ushered in new opportunities for public evangelism in Russia, local and foreign evangelists have been baptizing thousands of new converts every year. The rapid growth resulting from these crusades has brought about new challenges. This study analyzes some of the challenges associated with public evangelism in Russia and suggests a strategy to improve the longterm results of these campaigns.

Method

A descriptive analysis of John Carter's 1992 evangelistic campaign in Nizhniy Novgorod city was conducted in order to suggest ways to improve long-term results from public campaigns. The strengths and weaknesses of evangelistic campaigns in Russia are …

The Gospel Inn: Paul’S Mission To The Expatriate Communities, David J. Pederson

Faculty Publications and Presentations

No abstract provided.

Index To The Journal Of The American Society Of Church Growth 1990-1997, Gary L. Mcintosh

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

No abstract provided.

Missions In Multi-Cultural America: A Study Of Acts 15:1-35, M. Rodney Webb

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

The culture milieu of the American Christian scene during the latter part of the twentieth century is in a constant state of flux. By revisiting the experience of the early church in its multicultural world and how it grows in that world of pluralistic cultures, philosophies, and theological understandings, the American Church is able to prepare, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to win this pluralistic nation for Christ.

The Homogeneous Unit Principle Revisited: Part On, Walther A. Olsen

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

Walther A Olsen presents new perspectives on the most criticized principle of the CGM in his article The Homogeneous Unit Principle Revisited. His experience as a missionary, pastor and professor allow him to address the issue with fresh insight. The reader will see the homogeneous unit principle with new “church growth eyes” after reading this article. This is Part One of the study with Part Two to appear in the Fall 1997 issue of the Journal of the American Society for Church Growth.

Thoughts On A Movement, Gary L. Mcintosh

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

This article is the Presidential Address given at the annual conference of the American Society for Church Growth held in Houston, Texas in November 1994. Using Dr. Vaughan’s 1993 presidential address as a springboard, Dr. Gary L. McIntosh conducted a year long survey to determine the attitudes toward the Church Growth Movement among pastors, denominational executives, and members of the ASCG. The complete updated results of that survey are printed here for the first time.

A Study Of The "Grassroots Integrated Development Agency" In Uganda, John B. D. Kakembo

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

When poverty in Uganda deepened due to the miseries and destabilization caused by economic mismanagement, turbulent politics, and the incessant civil wars in Uganda up to 1985, all public, private, and religious organizations were adversely affected. At the end of 1985, conditions in the Seventh-day Adventist church were characterized by massive poverty among its rural membership, a slow church-growth annual rate of 4.9 percent--the lowest tithe per capita in the Eastern Africa Division (EAD)--and the lowest remuneration scales for pastors in the EAD. In 1986, an indigenous, grassroots organization sprouted in the SDA church under the leadership of a …

Book Review: Values-Driven Leadership By Aubrey Malphurs, James R. Braddy

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

No abstract provided.

Producing Quality Training Through Partnerships: Assemblies, Academics, And Agencies, Tom Steffen

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

Dr. Tom Steffen, a missiologist at Biola University’s School of Intercultural Studies, addresses the issue of how to produce quality training partnerships for effective cross-cultural church planting. Using three case studies, Dr. Steffen develops four needs which exist for effectively training church planting teams.

Book Review: Primary Purpose: Making It Hard For People To Go To Hell From Your City By Ted Haggard, Jerry L. Graham

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

No abstract provided.

A Strategy For Church Planting Among The Ewe-Speaking People Of The Volta Region, Ghana, Emmanuel Osei

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Since the Seventh-day Adventist Church came to Ghana over one hundred years ago, there has not been any concrete and coordinated plan to establish SDA churches among the Ewe-speaking people of the Volta Region, Ghana. Unconsciously or otherwise, the Volta Region has been left unentered by the church, particularly the area from Ho southward to the sea. This study was undertaken to develop a strategy for reaching the Ewe-speaking people group (of the Volta Region Ghana) through church-planting ministry by which converts won would be gathered to form congregations of the Seventh- day Adventist Church.

Method

In an attempt …

A Strategy To Reach The English-Speaking People Of The Bay Islands Of Honduras, Stavely P. Elwin

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

The English-speaking Seventh-day Adventist church in the Bay Islands has experienced slow growth over the last ten years. An evaluation reveals that some of the problems include poor evangelistic methods, few well trained pastors and workers, the churches' lack of support from the local mission and pastors, and no material provisions for the departments of the church. In addition, programs are lacking to help members come in contact with secular-minded people, and the methods used to improve the retention rate of newly- baptized members indicate there is a tremendous need for change in the style of evangelism in the …

Development Of A Program For Intentional Growth In The Antioch Seventh-Day Adventist Congregation, Long Island, New York, Trevor Saint Aubyn Forbes

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

The Antioch Seventh-day Adventist congregation was started in 1988 and grew steadily; however, for the last four years membership growth has plateaued. This lack of church growth has caused much concern among the church’s administration. The original hope and intention that the congregation would establish a growing church was founded on the premise that in order for the congregation to grow, it must implement intentional church growth programs.

Method

In order to learn how churches grow, I surveyed literature on church growth. I also interviewed six pastors of growing churches — three who are Seventh-day Adventists and three who …

Calvin Theological Journal (Vol 31 No 2 - November 1996), Calvin Theological Seminary

Calvin Theological Journal

Editorial: John Bolt - 333 / Calvin and Sixteenth-Century Spirituality: Comparison with the Anabaptists by Richard C. Gamble - 335 / Moderate Religious Liberty in the Theology of John Calvin by John Witte, Jr. - 359 / Did Calvin Use Lippoman's Catena in Genesim? by Anthony N. S. Lane - 404 / Calvin Bibliography: 1996 by Paul Fields - 420 / Scholia: Unfulfilled Expectations of Church Planting by David Snapper - 464 / Are Harold Netland's Principles Universal and Neutral? by T. S. Perry - 487 / The Question of Criteria: A Response to Mr. Perry by Harold …

A Philosophy Of Worship And Church Growth, Byron Spadlin

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

It seems very clear—from the Scriptural record, as well as the realities each of us face in daily ministry—that there exists the need to develop a conscious philosophy of how worship relates to the whole arena of church growth. To that end then, let me make some suggestions, not so much in offering something brand new, but by giving some broad stroke observations and principles.