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Youth Evangelism, "Link2llife," A Strategy To Reach Postmodern Youth In Germany And Switzerland, Stephan Sigg

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

In terms of cross-cultural mission youth are the most crucial group of people to be reached with the Gospel. From a theological, a sociological as well as a psychological point of view adolescence can be seen as the most receptive phase of life regarding the adoption and integration of faith, a coherent value system and a meaningful life narrative. The process of individuation in the adolescent years offers the biggest potential for both conversion and apostasy. Despite a professionalized youth ministry youth evangelism has never been high on the missional agenda of the Christian Church.

Method

The youth ministries …

Extending Story Listening As A Practice Of Communal Formation At The Lake Orion Church Of Christ, Eric R. Magnusson

Doctor of Ministry Theses and Dissertations

This doctor of ministry thesis presents the results of a project that explores the potential for extending a practice of story listening as a way of forming community across social circles at the Lake Orion Church of Christ in Lake Orion, Michigan. The intervention involved guiding a group of six participant-researchers, each of whom had previous experience in story listening, through six sessions in the fall of 2011. Each phase of the project was informed by a participatory social Trinitarian theology. The first three sessions were designed to empower participant-researcher pairs to facilitate story listening groups of four to five …

Creating A Millennial Generation Contextualized Church Culture, Christopher Deitsch

Masters Theses

The Millennial generation, or Generation Y as some people know them, is the biggest generation in the United States of America history. As they flood schools, universities, and the job market it is easy to see that there are major differences between them and previous generations. Simultaneously, the church in America has hundreds of individual churches each year closing and tens of thousands each year declining; most churches are ceasing to grow. The inability to reach Millennials is one of the reasons for this decline. This thesis purposes to give a snapshot of the Millennial generation, overview a few of …

Life On Screen And Other Musings On Faith, Food, & Media, Mary E. Hess

Faculty Publications

Media and food have this in common: a healthy diet of either one nourishes us, while an unhealthy diet causes problems. Just as we eat together in families, we should find ways to engage media together as well.

The Application For Church Planting Through The Intercessory Prayer Ministry Of Young Adult Ministry In Choong Hyun Presbyterian Church, Kwang Lee

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this thesis is about researching church planting through the intercessory prayer ministry. This project describes several spiritual awakenings through this ministry. The most important result of spiritual awakenings is that skeptical believers in spiritual life have been changed into positive ones and passive believers have been transformed into active ones. Actually the author as an assistant pastor ministered in Choong hyun Presbyterian Church for almost five years. His wife and he led this ministry for one and half years. The author tried to find out the biblical background related to intercessory prayer through the New Testament, write …

Insights From Charles Spurgeon's Preaching For A Changing Culture, John Lewis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This project has been done in order to increase the amount of literature available that demonstrates how to preach to a 21st century culture and to enlighten preachers to the timeless truths that transcend from the great 19th century preacher Charles Spurgeon. A close evaluation of Charles Spurgeon's biblical preaching reveals a model for pastors to emulate in a post-modern context in the local church. Spurgeon was a master communicator and a survey of his mid to late 1800's preaching reveals those areas of his ministry that are still useful in the New Millennium. By reviewing Spurgeon's sermons and writings, …

The Four Spiritual Laws: An Analysis Of Campus Crusade's Method Of Evangelism, Joshua John Kellogg

Senior Honors Theses

The Four Spiritual Laws is a method of evangelism that has sold over one hundred million copies and has been translated into many different languages. This shows that the Four Spiritual Laws has been effective in its presentation of the Gospel. The purpose of this thesis is to analyze the Four Spiritual Laws. This thesis will identify whether the message of the Four Spiritual Laws is biblically accurate. This will be done through an exegetical analysis of the Bible verses that the Four Spiritual Laws cite. Suggestions will be given to improve any weaknesses of the Four Spiritual Laws that …

Calvin Theological Journal (Vol 47 No 1 - April 2012), Calvin Theological Seminary

Calvin Theological Journal

Articles: Revisiting the Psalm of Jonah by Amanda W. Benckhuysen - 5 / Calvin's Theological Appropriation of His Philosophical Sources: A Note on Natural Law and Institutes 2.2.2 2-23 by Charles D. Raith II - 32 / Vos and Berkhof on Union with Christ and Justification by J. V. Fesko - 50 / Groen van Prinsterer: Godfather of Bavinck and Kuyper by Harry Van Dyke - 72 / It's About Time: Opening Reformational Thought to the Eschaton by Nicholas Ansell - 98 / Reforming Public Theology: Two Kingdoms, or Two Cities? by James K. A. Smith - 122 / …

The Crippling Problem The Church Faces Today, S. Joseph Kidder

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Is The Church One Generation From Extinction?, Tracy Wood

180 Symposium Publications

As we grow older we find ourselves asking questions about the future of our church and its relevance to the lives of our children and grandchildren, especially if they have not embraced our beliefs. The Bible gives a definite generational prophecy concerning the “last days.” Older church leaders can create opportunities to engage and involve youth and young adults in areas of leadership to their generations. But that necessitates a mentoring and then a release with support for these new leaders. By trusting God’s Word, we will allow younger generations, inspired by the Holy Spirit, to see and do ministry …

Growing Up In Adventism: A Sharing Of Some Personal Concerns And Suggestions For Reaching Young People, Michael R. Swenson

180 Symposium Publications

In this paper I apply the revolving door model and some of the data from Valuegenesis 2 to my personal experiences and observations. I provide suggestions to reclaim Adventist young people in conversation with Malcolm Bull and Keith Lockhart’s work Seeking a Sanctuary, in which they explore the “Revolving Door” model of Adventist faith development and experience. I particularly emphasize the need to accept young people where they are instead of trying to correct their theological views before we develop relationships with them.

If Religion = Restrictive, “I’M Leaving It!” “Well, I’M Changing It!” Say The Two Millennials: Welcome To The Second And Third Generation Rebels, Filip Milosavljevic

180 Symposium Publications

Second and third generation young adult Christians have rebelled against the church of their parents, against the status quo. Therefore, in a simple two-group understanding, they have either left the church altogether or have chosen to cope by personalizing their faith. In response to these two “rebellious” groups, older generations have either pulled in their reigns against apostasy of the latter group or have chosen to exclude the mavericks and forget those considered to be “weak” who have left the ranks. What do leaders do with the alarming statistics regarding those who have left, and what do they do with …

God Has No Grandchildren, Steve Case

180 Symposium Publications

Biological births create second and third generations. A spiritual birth creates a child of God regardless of that person’s age or relationship to other biological generations. That’s why God has no grandchildren; only children. The second birth may lack obvious, tangible markers. Those who grow up with religious parents might not be able to name a date or place for their own spiritual re-birth. New environments seem more conducive for new-birth experiences. We need additional markers. Complications, misunderstanding, and power plays may arise when the first, second and third generations flatten into one generation called “Children of God.”

Communities Of Creativity: The Role Of Symbols On Youth Formation, Andrew Locke Kellner

Children, Youth, and Family (CYF) Papers

No abstract provided.

A Future I Trust In: Identity And Vocation As The Parent-Leader, Karen M. Gieseke

Children, Youth, and Family (CYF) Papers

No abstract provided.

Joining God's Work, Andrew Root

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Key Factors Of Faith Development : The Relationship Between Family And Church Factors And Faith Development Of Adolescents And Young Adults In German-Speaking Europe, Alexander C. Schulze

Dissertations

Problem. The church is losing its children. Research revealed that more than two thirds of the next generation leave their congregations during their teens and early 20s. Without these adolescents and young adults the church has no viable future. While the youth are able to make their way without church, the church will definitely not make its way without the youth. The problem addressed in this study is the continuing challenge for church leaders, educators, and administrators to provide the best possible conditions for spiritual and organizational growth in order to retain the next generation.

Method. Observation and anecdotal evidence …

2012 - 106th Annual Summit, "Intimacy", Abilene Christian University, Abilene Christian University

Lectureship and Summit Programs

No abstract provided.

Church Turnaround: Perspectives, Principles, And Practices, Kenneth E. Priddy

Great Commission Research Journal

Prominent church analysts agree that over 80% of American Protestant churches are in plateau and decline and that the growth of the church is not keeping pace with the growth of the population. Sacrifice on the part of church leaders and congregants is sorely needed but strongly resisted, as congregations tend to prefer stability and familiarity above risk and change. This paper presents insights into the origin of plateau and decline and offers perspectives, principles, and practices that when properly and faithfully applied, generate health, growth, and multiplication in churches that commit to sustainable church turnaround.

Generational Faith: Change And Consistency Across Generations, Steve Case

All Books

Will your children be just like you? Will their faith look like yours? If so, to what extent? If not, why? The Bible refers to consequences continuing to the third and fourth generations, and blessings for a thousand generations. If that’s true, why has the next generation dropped out of church and lost interest in God? Have the Bible’s promises expired? Maybe the world’s rapid changes have sped up the process, or perhaps this world has simply become too evil for faith to survive. And yet when all hope seems to be gone, young people shoot past their parents in …

Implementing A Discernment Phase For Those Nominated In The Shepherd Selection Process At The Cinco Ranch Church Of Christ, Aaron Walling

Doctor of Ministry Theses and Dissertations

This doctor of ministry thesis presents the results of a project that implemented a discernment phase for those nominated in the shepherd selection process at the Cinco Ranch Church of Christ. Occurring in the fall of 2010, this project involved nominees in a series of six one-hour, thirty-minute sessions designed to establish the theological foundations for shepherding and to explore its practical expression at Cinco Ranch. For the theological component, this project primarily utilized Ephesians 4:11-16, and for the practical side, it incorporated group interactions with those serving as shepherds along with the review of guiding leadership documents. The project‟s …

On Beyond Zebra: Thinking Beyond Traditional Models Of Children's Ministry, Amber Espinoza

Children, Youth, and Family (CYF) Papers

No abstract provided.

Art As Church, Katy Vitek

Children, Youth, and Family (CYF) Papers

No abstract provided.

Cool Copy Cats: Placing Youth And Young Adults As Ministry Leaders, Steve Case

180 Symposium Publications

No abstract provided.

Delegating And Nurturing Youth Ministry, Karin Wieczorek

180 Symposium Publications

No abstract provided.

The Youth Ministry Foundation, Timothy Allen Cross

180 Symposium Publications

No abstract provided.

The Abcs And Ds Of Young Adult Relationships: A Conceptual Model For Discipling New Generations, Allan Martin, Kasper A. Haughton Jr

180 Symposium Publications

No abstract provided.

Locating Practical Theology In Catholic Theological Discourse And Practice, Kathleen A. Cahalan

School of Theology and Seminary Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Discovering The Inventory Of Spiritual Gifts Of Bethel Baptist Church Of Rock Hill, Inc., Rock Hill, South Carolina, Robert Joseph Crawford

Doctor of Ministry Projects

The hypothesis of this ministry project is that Bethel Baptist Church does not lack any spiritual gifts that are needed for contemporary Christian ministry. The challenge is which church members possess which spiritual endowments. To discover the church's spiritual gifts inventory, we used Bugbee's spiritual gifts assessments and gave opportunities for the expression of the gifts that were uncovered. The ministry experiment revealed clusters of spiritual gifts in the Bethel faith community. They were the gifts of faith, helps, mercy, and teaching. Ministries formed were prayer team ministries, praise and worship leaders, and a teacher's preparedness team.

Toward An Integrated Youth Ministry: A Case Study Of The Application Of Principles From Ephesians Among Teens And Their Families Of The Collegedale Church Of Seventh-Day Adventists, Timothy Allen Cross

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

According to recent research on young adults in the Collegedale Church of Seventh-day Adventists, there has been an approximate 68% attrition rate (Rainer, 2009, pp. 5-6). This research revealed that 84% of the young people growing up in the Collegedale Church drop out and only 38% of those who drop out engage in another church. Consequently, of the young people who grow up in the Collegedale Church, this leaves a net result of 68% who drop out from church entirely. DeVries’ seminal work (2004), combined with Rainer and Rainer’s research (2008), demonstrate the potential of a significant increase in …