Digital Commons Network^™

The Song Of The Thrush: Christian Animism And The Global Crisis Today, Mark I. Wallace

Religion Faculty Works

No abstract provided.

Mapping Africana Religions: Transnationalism, Globalization, And Diaspora, S. A. Khabeer, Yvonne Patricia Chireau, P. C. Johnson

Religion Faculty Works

This work is from the edited proceedings of a 2013 symposium at Northwestern University, organized around the question of how to theorize the study of Africana religions across wide expanses of time and space. An international body of scholars representing the fields of history, religious studies, anthropology, American studies, sociology, African studies, classics, and African American studies gathered in a two-day event to consider the past, present, and future of their shared commitment to understanding the religions of African and african-descended people. Scholars discuss the challenges of and opportunities for the study of Africana religions from ancient to modern times, …

A Nation Called To Intergenerational Justice--Comments On Nuclear Generated Electricity, Jame Schaefer

Theology Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

Love For God And Earth: Ecospirituality In The Theologies Of Sallie Mcfague And Leonardo Boff, Rebecca A. Meier-Rao

Dissertations (1934 -)

This dissertation examines the theologies of North American Ecofeminist Sallie McFague and Latin American liberation theologian Leonardo Boff in order to answer the question - What are the features of a Christian spirituality capable of helping people to clear vision, transformation and hope in this time of socio-ecological crisis? In the sixth chapter I also briefly engage the work of Carmelite contemplative Constance FitzGerald, as she both reinforces and deepens the theologians' answer to the above question.

The dissertation begins with a short explanation of the interlocking ecological and social crises, and offers a basic understanding of Christian spirituality as …

Theme And Variation: Prayer, Enstrom's Grace, And Calvin, Howard Schaap

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

Schaap's journey to and exploration of what prayer means.

Ecosystem Community Health Initiatives And Care Of Creation, Warren A. Shipton

Journal of the Adventist Theological Society

No abstract provided.

The American Socio-Political Spider Web And The Rise Of Global Christianity, Michael F. Younker

Journal of the Adventist Theological Society

No abstract provided.

Creation And Theodicy: Protological Presuppositions In Evolutionary Theodicy, Adriani Milli Rodrigues

Journal of the Adventist Theological Society

No abstract provided.

The Theological And Practical Significance Of Health Reform In The Writings Of Ellen G. White, Angel Manuel Rodriguez

Journal of the Adventist Theological Society

No abstract provided.

Women And Evangelical Individualism, Danielle C. Kuehn

All Master's Theses

By comparing the way male ministers presented their faith in gendered terms during the First Great Awakening to the responses of women who embraced their doctrine, the study examines whether women gained autonomy from the evangelical emphasis on individual choice and responsibility. Primary sources were the foundation for the research and included sermons from the most prominent ministers of the era, Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield. Journals of women evangelicals were invaluable resources providing first hand accounts of the implications of gender roles and religious ideology in evangelicals' lives during and following the Great Awakening. The primary documents studied here …

A Strategy To Share The Gospel With The Hindu Community In The South Kenya Conference, Willys M. Oruta

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

The Adventist Church in the South Kenya Conference has not developed a strategy to share the Gospel with the Hindu community. The Hindu community is generally looked at as an idol worshipping group. However, this community conducts most of the business in many towns in Kenya. For this reason, they should not be neglected because God wants them to be part of His kingdom. Jesus died for the salvation of the whole world; therefore, a strategy to share the Gospel with the Hindu community is a divine command. In the South Kenya Conference, particularly in Kisii, the Hindu community …

Using A Small Group Approach To Increase Church Growth In The Gikondo Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Schadrack Nsengimana

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem.

Although many people are baptized at the Gikondo Seventh-day Adventist Church each year, about 70% leave the church shortly after baptism.

Method.

The biblical principles of church growth were studied and theological reflection focused on four biblical themes. First, the call to integrate the Great Commission into the daily life and relationships of the individual believer in Christ was examined. Second, church growth as faithfulness to God was explored as a biblical teaching. Third, the view that a healthy church embraces multiplication of disciples as its core responsibility was studied from a biblical perspective. Fourth, the role of the …

A Strategy To Increase Giving In The South Kenya Conference, Julius M. Bichang'a

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

The South Kenya Conference (SKC) was the first to gain conference status in Kenya in 1981. Unfortunately it continues to struggle financially to the point of receiving subsidies from other conferences for its day-to-day operations. The annual stewardship statistical reports for the last 10 years show that the tithe is slightly higher than the offerings. While 14 % of the members return their tithes; only 8 % of them give offerings. This was one of the challenges I was faced with when I was elected as the conference Stewardship Director. This indicates that there is a weak commitment to …

New Member Retention Strategy For The Makoko Church, Yoseph Nyambega Otieno

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

The effort made by the Makoko Seventh-day Adventist Church to fulfill the great commission (Matt 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16) through public evangelism is challenged by the constant exodus of newly baptized converts out of the church. The emigration of new members out of the church has a compound effect on the church; it denies the church the opportunity to disciple new converts and discourages church members from continuing to fund public evangelisms as they are considered a waste of resources. When people accept Jesus they also receive eternal life, but when they leave the church they risk forfeiting the gift …

A Biblical Hiv/Aids Mitigation Strategy In The Oyugis Central Adventist Church, Kenya, Tom Eli Arunga Ogal

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

HIV/AIDS is an epidemic that has and continues to adversely impact the quality of life of not only the members of the Oyugis Central Seventh-day Adventist Church, but of the community in general. Its negative impact touches the social, economic, political, and demographic fabric of society. It is robbing the Adventist Church and society in general of requisite human resource through death and sickness, and is adversely challenging the church’s competencies to effectively engage in its mission.

Method

The Logical Framework Approach (LFA) was used to present the strategy. A Gantt chart was also be used to detail the …

Resisting The Influence Of The Imeyomwana Heresy In The Nyangweta District, Lenard B. Aencha

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Imeyomwana (a heresy involving the concept of what it means to be in Christ), a group of former Adventists, is causing problems in the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Nyangweta district of the South Kenya Conference. Many of their teachings contradict those of the Seventh-day Adventists Church and many members are apostatizing to this group.

Method

To deal with the heresy I employed a two-pronged strategy. On one hand I sought to enter a dialogue with those involved in Imeyomwana, while on the other hand I confronted the false teaching with biblical truth. This strategy employed two powerful planning …

Health And Social Ministries: A Holistic Approach To Ministering In Contemporary Society, Ezekiel Adeyemi Oyinloye

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

It has been observed for thirty years that Adventists conventional way of doing outreach ministries especially in the cities, fail to have expected response that fulfills goals. Attitudes of people are apathetic and reserved they stand aloof and are removed from sharing in what has been offered. They cannot be bothered. The inner city of Ibadan especially displays this type of attitude. Thus, inner city Ibadan has remained unentered by the Adventists since the inception of the Church in Ibadan a century ago. There is no single church of the Seventh-day Adventists in inner city Ibadan.

Method

A strategy …

A Biblical And Theological Strategy For Dealing With Spiritualism In The Zambian Context, Peter Chulu

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Rusangu Secondary School has experienced many incidents in recent years where dorm students were harassed by evil spiritual forces, causing fear and uncertainty among the students.

Method

A systematic study of the Bible, commentaries, books, journals, and articles concerning spiritualism was undertaken. Once theological and historical data on spiritualism was identified, it was utilized for training, equipping, and empowering prayer band members on how to deal with demonic harassment at the school.

Results

The school and church experienced revitalization. Members learned how to utilize a prayer band ministry to pray for the students who were being harassed by evil …

A Strategy To Increase The Number Of Young People In The Jericho District Marrying Members Of The Adventist Faith, Alfred G. Marundu

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

The negative impact and loss of members due to many Adventist young people marrying non-Seventh-day Adventists is tremendous. Church services are not attended regularly by those who marry outside the faith community because families are split on the day of worship due to doctrinal differences. There is pressure to do things with the family on Sabbath and even children are confused as to which parent to follow. Two churches were selected to study the extent of this problem. Principles from the Bible, the writings of Ellen G. White, other Adventist and non-Adventist authors were explored to come up with …

A Biblical Strategy To Equip Students To Deal With Spiritual Powers In Nyanchwa Adventist College, Ernest Nyakina Motaroki

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Fear of evil spiritual powers has been a major problem among students and staff members at Nyanchwa College. In Kisii, fear of witchcraft has also had major consequences among the community, and hence is a serious problem. People have reacted in various ways in dealing with those suspected of being in possession of these powers. There has been a common belief that some students and members have inherited witchcraft practices and powers which they continue to practice at college. Fear of evil powers among students and members of the college has immensely affected spiritual fellowship and worship services, and …

A Pilot Christian-Based Restorative Justice Program Designed For A Correctional Institution, Leo James Campbell

Doctor of Ministry Projects

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of Media On The Morality Of Young Adventist Church People In The Nairobi Central Church, Alex Ambuchi

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Young people in urban areas are especially affected by the liberal trends of the media industry.The media advertises and broadcasts programs that promote immoral behaviors among young people. The Nairobi Central Seventh-day Adventist Church is located in the capital city of Kenya and the negative effects of the media have impacted the youth of this church.

Method

The strategy involved sensitizing Adventist youth concerning the negative impact of the media on morality. A theology of morality and purity was developed and a description of the context for the project conducted. I then used the logical framework and the Gantt …

A Strategy To Increase The Retention Of Members In The Nyaguta District, Paul G. Kiage

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

According to a report given at the 2010 year-end church board meeting that was conducted in the Nyaguta district of the South Kenya Conference, more than 40 percent of the members baptized each year drop out from the church.

Method

The current nurturing programs in the Nyaguta District churches were reviewed to see whether they were effective. A questionnaire was administered to the focus groups to obtain information. Seminar materials on membership retention from the Bible, the writings of E. G. White, and other Christian writers were developed and a series of seminars were conducted to train a group …

Model For Training, Empowering, And Organizing Churches In The Mampong-West District For Shared Leadership In The Central Ghana Conference Of Seventh-Day Adventists, Michael Adomako

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem. The Mampong-West District of Seventh-day Adventists in Central Ghana, West Africa, has a membership of over 1,943 with a minimum number of active lay members. There is a need to develop a training curriculum and create an organizational design for the district that will facilitate a shared leadership. Statement of the Task The task of the project is to develop a model for training, empowering, and organizing the churches in Mampong-West District for shared leadership that will equip and deploy members for effective leadership roles.

Proposed Method. The project will use the Extension Movement in Theological Education (EMTE), the …

Leadership Strategies In Visioning And Strategic Planning For Members In Ministry In The Hamilton Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Kenneth Manders

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

The Hamilton Seventh-day Adventist Church in Bermuda has over 800 church members and 170 church officers, yet only one ministry has been actively engaged in interfacing with the community. The gospel commission calls us to return to the united ministry given to our first parents, to populate the earth with children of God. It requires ministry to be conducted by all believers without distinction, from the entire world, to the entire world. Pastoral leaders are called to cast this vision and strategically plan how to develop and how to deploy church members into the community, according to their spiritual …

Whispers From Eden: A Narrative Inquiry Into The Long-Term Influences Of The Circle Of Trust Retreats For Clergy Participants, Diane Martin Bell

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Evaluating The Cognitive And Affective Changes In The Worldview Of A Group Of Eastern Kentucky Community College Students Resulting From A College-Level Course In Religious Studies, Alan David Profitt

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Stories Behind The Story (Foreword And Introduction To Introducing Evangelical Ecotheology: Foundations In Scripture, Theology, History, And Praxis), Daniel L. Brunner, Jennifer L. Butler, A.J. Swoboda

Faculty Publications - Portland Seminary

Excerpt: "Nathan and I (Dan) pulled into the Mbanhela community in the Gaza province of Mozambique and were greeted by the high-spirited singing of six women who form the livestock association of that small community. A Christian relief and development organization, of which Nathan is the country director, provided funds for a large chicken coop, feed, supplies, and 300 chickens for the Mbanhela community. In addition, it furnished training in basic animal husbandry and marketing. Every two months the community starts a new cycle with 320 chicks. Raising chickens for income empowers that community and helps it toward health and …

"They Are Not Gods!" Jewish And Christian Idol Polemic And Greco-Roman Use Of Cult Statues, Nijay K. Gupta

Faculty Publications - Portland Seminary

Excerpt: "One set of trademark convictions of early Judaism and Christianity includes their aniconic tradition, monotheistic commitment, and polemic against idols. In the late second or early third century c .e ., for example, Christian apologist Minucius Felix mocked pagan idol worship with these words: “When does the god come into being? The image is cast, hammered, or sculpted; it is not yet a god. It is soldered, put together, and erected; it is still not a god. It is adorned, consecrated, prayed to—and now, finally, it is a god once man has willed it so and dedicated it” (see …

Gilgamesh, Enkidu, And The Civilizing Mission: A Political Irony In The Gilgamesh Epic [Part I And Ii], Ekaputra Tupamahu

Faculty Publications - Portland Seminary

The Epic of Gilgamesh is one of the most famous epic stories from ancient times. Benjamin Foster is right that the Gilgamesh Epic “offers a splendor of language, imagery, themes, and ideas to the modern reader.”¹ This epic story has been translated into many different modern languages, and as well as into a cartoon movie, a children’s storybook, etc.² Many scholarly books, articles, and essays have been dedicated to investigate, examine, and interpret its meaning.³ This said, this paper is written to examine particularly the relationship between two main characters of the narrative, namely Gilgamesh and Enkidu. …