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Back To The Future: A Proactive Approach To Confirming Our Roots And Charting Ascg’S Next Generation, R. Daniel Reeves

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

Presidential Address to the American Society for Church Growth Annual Meeting Kansas City, November 21-23, 1996

Trends In Worship And Church Growth Into The 21st Century, Byron Spadlin

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

As I have traveled, in this country and in others talking to numerous Christian leaders, and observing a number of different congregations, denominations and contexts, I believe the following major broad stroke trends regarding worship I believe can be anticipated by the churches and Christian communities around the world. 1. Controversy over worship styles will continue. 2. Diversity of Worship styles will increase. 3. Worship-based services will emerge and increase. 4. Inter-denominational and Regional Cooperation in worship events will increase. 5. Worship will be seen as Evangelism. 6. Evangelicals are experimenting with more formal liturgy and Orthodoxy. 7. Technology will …

The Role Of The Pastor In Lay Development In The Seventh-Day Adventist Church In Papua New Guinea, Aaron M. Lopa

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Statement of the Problem

The task of this study was to rethink the role of pastors as shepherd-equippers of lay leaders in view of the explosive growth of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Papua New Guinea.

Method

The dissertation has two parts. Part One covers: (1) institutional factors which provided the background for this study, (2) biblical and theological dimensions as the basis for the new pastoral paradigm in PNG, and (3) cultural and sociological factors as means to understand the local cultures in order to contextualize ministry to make it more relevant to the people. Part Two synthesizes the …

New Approaches For Seventh-Day Adventist Evangelism In Swaziland, Stephen Jacobs Masuku

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

The Seventh-day Adventist church in Swaziland experienced slow growth from the time of its inception. Starting from 1920, when the first Adventist missionary arrived in Swaziland, to 1994 membership was 2075. This means that the Adventist church in Swaziland was the slowest growing church in the former Southern Union and among the Christian churches in Swaziland.

Method

This dissertation analyzes: Swazi traditional history, Swazi traditional religious beliefs, the introduction of Christianity in Swaziland, how the SDA church was planted in Swaziland, and the evangelistic methods utilized by the Adventist church and other Christian churches. This approach helped in the …

Church Growth At The End Of The Twentieth Century: Recovering Our Purpose, Thom S. Ranier

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

The thesis of this paper is that a critical element is missing in much of church growth literature and practice today. Furthermore the viability of the movement and the health of churches across our land may very well depend upon our recovery of that missing element. The mysterious missing element is, simply stated, evangelism.

A Response To Dr. Rainer, Larry Gilbert

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

A Response to Ranier's (1995) "Church Growth at the End of the Twentieth Century: Recovering Our Purpose" (in this issue).

A Response To Dr. Russell, Geroge C. Hunter Iii

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

A response to Russell's (1995) article "40 Years of Church Growth: A View from the Theological Tower."

Church Growth-- “Quo Wadis - Whither Goest Thou”, Elmer L. Towns

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

The philosophy and the strategy of the Church Growth Movement are focused on the homogeneous unit principle, people movements, receptivity, and the use of the social sciences to establish principles and methods.

A Response To Dr. Litfin, Carl George

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

A response to Duane Litfin's (1995) "Understanding Your Critics: An Outsider’s Analysis of a Core Criticism of the Church Growth Movement" (in this issue).

A Response To Dr. Russell, Jerold F. Reed

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

A response to Russell's (1995) article "40 Years of Church Growth: A View from the Theological Tower."

40 Years Of Church Growth: A View From The Theological Tower, Walter Russell Iii

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

I present these evaluative thoughts about the first forty years of the Church Growth Movement, and especially the first twenty-five years of the movement in North America (1970- 1995), with the humility appropriate to one person’s perspective on so vast and diverse a phenomenon as that of the Church Growth Movement.

Core Values: Backbone Of A Movement, Kent R. Hunter

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

In the last 10 to 20 years, the Church Growth Movement has proliferated in at least three dimensions. First, the Movement has proliferated by topics. In the last decade or so, we have seen church growth leaders concentrate on mega-churches, metachurches, philosophy of ministry, understanding secular people, mission statements, the age wave, builders, boomers, busters, lifestyle evangelism, vision, change, small groups, Sunday Schools, breaking barriers, etc. In a second dimension, there has been proliferation in other ways. Not only was there the founding of the American Society for Church Growth, but there Church Growth Associations in other countries. In a …

Effective Leadership In Small Group Ministry Through The Application Of Family Systems, James Knill

Doctor of Ministry Major Applied Project

The premise of this project is that small group leaders can become more effective and caring through the application of family systems theory, specifically Bowenian theory, to the leadership process. The author developed a four-part training manual that provides a general orientation to family systems thinking for group leaders, with a specific focus on self-differentiation, homeostasis or balance, and emotional triangles. All leaders indicated improved ability to work with groups and in other settings as self-differentiated persons, though some wanted to understand the concepts more completely. All felt they were more effective leaders following the training process.

Church Grwoth Bibliography, John N. Vaughan

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

This is a bibliography relevant for church growth

About The North American Society For Church Growth 1992, John N. Vaughan

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

No abstract provided.

Improving Our "Sink Or Swim" Training Model For Church Planters, Tom A. Steffen

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

Many of those sent out locally or internationally to plant churches have never planted a church or been involved in the process, worked on a team, or have been trained in crosscultural studies. This paper argues that we can do a much better job of preparing our church planters.

The Methods Of Selected British Pastors Evaluated In The Light Of The New Testament And Ellen G. White For Their Usefulness To The Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Paul R. Smith

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Since the early 1950s immigrants have been arriving in Britain in large numbers from the Caribbean and from Asia. Some immigrants from the West Indies have joined Seventh-day Adventist churches. Currently, statistics indicate that although Seventh-day Adventist membership has increased in Britain since 1950, the Black percentage has risen considerably while the White percentage has dramatically declined. This study was undertaken in the hope that by examining the methods of four successful non-Seventh-day Adventist pastors in England and comparing their approaches with instructions found in Scripture and the writings of Ellen G. White we could find pointers which could help …

Wave Makers, Bill M. Sullivan

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

1991 Presidential Address of the North American Society for Church Growth. It discusses critical issues facing the Church Growth Movement in the 1990s.

Church Planting In The Korean Nazarene Church: An Evaluation Of The "1991 Thrust To The City Of Seoul" Program, Ki Young Hong

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

The Korean Nazarene Church (KNC) plans to plant 70 new churches in Seoul by 1993 through the "1991 Thrust to the City of Seoul” program. To date, more than fifteen churches have been planted in Seoul through this program. The purpose of this article is to evaluate the KNC’s church planting effort in Seoul and offer some suggestions for how it could be strengthened.

Staffing A Church For Growth: A Church Planting Model, Gary L. Mcintosh

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

What is the best way to staff a church so that it grows? Historically this has not been an urgent question for church leaders. Throughout most of church history few churches were large enough to have multiple church staff members. It has only been since the Industrial Age of the mid 1800s that enough people were clustered in cities to produce churches large enough to need multiple staff members. Even then multiple staffing did not become a well known phenomenon until the 1950s when the growing complexity of the so-called Information Age sprang upon the church increasing mobility, diversity, and …

The Framework For A National Strategy In Church Planting, Charles Chaney

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

A revolution has occurred in the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) in the past half century. The geographical boundaries of the South no longer contain us. Cultural and racial sameness, which once marked the convention, while still pervasive in some areas of our greatest strength, is no longer true nationally. Southern Baptists are ready now to think and act from a national perspective. For the first time, a truly national strategy is a possibility.

About The North American Society For Church Growth 1990, John N. Vaughan

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

No abstract provided.

Complete Issue, John N. Vaughan

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

No abstract provided.

Church Growthcoming Of Age, Elmer Towns

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

The Church Growth movement is relatively young in recognition and development. Even though there have been growing churches since Pentecost, Church Growth is a relatively young area of study. As a discipline, it has come a long way since its birth, and must move through adolescence to adulthood. I think we in the North American Society of Church Growth have a better understanding of the nature and purpose of Church Growth than anyone outside our discipline. Some outside our movement, or perhaps many, do not know who we are or what we do. There is still ignorance about Church Growth.

Towards A Church Growth Agenda For The 1990'S, Eddie Gibbs

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

The Church Growth Movement in North America is now fifteen Years old and these two days represent the occasion of the fourth annual meeting of the North American Society for Church Growth. As we review the past we can celebrate a great deal of significant achievement in applying Church Growth insights to mobilizing the membership in a giftbased ministry, leadership management, and a new church planting. It occurs to me that, having covered a range of basic issues, and since we are now beginning to see the proliferation of individual concerns according to our various areas of interest, that there …

Ethnic Church Planting, Daniel Sanchez

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

Undoubtedly one of the first questions which comes to mind when we think about this subject is, "Why do we need to plant ethnic churches?" Several answers can be given. Permit me to mention three reasons: (1) a clear biblical mandate; (2) an urgent demographic necessity; and (3) an encouraging pattern of receptivity.

Mission: Vol. 21, Nos. 5 And 6

Mission

Mission: Vol. 21, Nos. 5 and 6. The articles in this issue include: "A Manager and a Cross" from the Editor, "Joy Song" by Wilma C. Buckner, "Should We Mention the Cross at Christmas?" by Bill Love, "A Christmas Prayer" by Charles R. Boatman, "He Gave Himself" by Nita Short, "Together at the Foot of the Cross" by Larry James, "The Old Rugged Cross" by Paul Watson, "Touched by Love" by David Henderson, "God Wants Us to Be One" by Myron J. Taylor, and "The Spirit of Christ: The Hermenutical Advantage" by Leroy Garrett. A WORD FOR OUR TIMES: "Peace …

A Study Of Factors Related To The Numerical Growth Of The Seventh-Day Adventist Church In Iceland From 1950 To 1980, Steinthor Thordarson

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

The rate of growth in the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Iceland has not been previously analyzed. This study was undertaken to discover, through historical and numerical analysis, what may have contributed to or hindered growth in the church since 1950, and to analyze the programs of the church and the patterns of growth.

Method

A survey of records of the Iceland Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, i.e., the church paper, executive minutes, constituency reports, membership lists, and accounts of outreach emphasis for several decades, presents a clear picture of the methods used in an attempt to achieve church growth. In …

A Biblically Based Instruction Program In Preaching For Local Church Elders And Lay Preachers In The Philippines, Archibald P. Tupas

Doctor of Ministry Projects

This project sought to develop programmed instruction materials designed to guide laity of the Philippines in independent study in the art of preaching. Preaching is especially challenging to Filipino lay people-- particularly to the church elders--because of the lack of ordained ministers. Preaching the Gospel and nurturing members rest largely on lay shoulders. Unfortunately, the laity who do the bulk of the work in the Philippines are handicapped by lack of formal ministerial training. Thus Seventh-day Adventist church leadership is challenged to equip and instruct the laity to preach more effectively to meet the demands of a rapidly growing membership. …

A Study Of Church Planting And Growth Patterns Of Eight Korean Seventh-Day Adventist Congregations In The Eastern North America, Hai Chong Pak

Doctor of Ministry Projects

NOTE: This Doctor of Ministry Project falls in a category described in the Andrews University Theological Seminary Bulletin as "Project II" in fulfillment of requirements for an alternate curriculum plan under which the candidate prepares two related papers—a theological position paper that addresses some issue or problem that exists in the church in a theological setting and a professional paper that addresses that issue or problem from a standpoint of ministerial practice.

(No abstract)