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That They May Be One: Spiritual Formation And Its Locus In Community, Phillip G. Carnes

Doctor of Ministry

American Christians, as a whole, lack a spiritual maturity that infuses the whole of their lives with Christlikeness. Additionally, Americans suffer from an epidemic of loneliness. These two problems are related. We will demonstrate that American Christians lack spiritual maturity, in part, because they have privatized their faith and made spiritual formation an individual endeavor. Furthermore, we will show that spiritual formation is best located and grounded within a community context. Humans are social creatures. It is becoming ever more widely recognized that social isolation and loneliness are root causes of much psychosocial dysfunction. Humans do not function well if …

The Banner - V. 144, No. 11 - (November 2009), Christian Reformed Church In North America

The Banner

6 - Editorial: So What Do You Think? by Bob De Moor / 7 - Catch Your Breath: In a Funk? by Heather Vallejos / 8 - IMHO: No Need to Adopt Belhar by Paul Hansen / 8 - Letters to the Editor / 10 - CRC News: CRC staff safe in Honduras / 17 - Frequently Asked Questions / 18 - The Suffering of Iraqi Christians by Victor and Lisa Atallah / 20 - A Silent Dwelling by Mark Mulder / 22 - Finding God Outside the Brick and Mortar by Nancy Vander Meer / 26 - Dear Reader: …

Through The Kaleidoscope: Animism, Contextualization And The Atonement, Alan Howell

Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

The Banner - V. 144, No. 8 - (August 2009), Christian Reformed Church In North America

The Banner

6 - Editorial: Jesus Will Figure It Out by Bob De Moor / 7 - Catch Your Breath: Breathing Room by Joyce Kane / 8 - IMHO: Cultural Sensitivity by Beth Guikema-Bode / 8 - Letters to the Editor / 10 - CRC News: Digging deeper in the oil sands / 17 - Frequently Asked Questions / 18 Merciful Living by Jim Kok / 21 - Parenting: 31 Ways to Pray for Your Children by Bob Hostetler / 22 - Imagining a New Future by Leonard Vander Zee / 26 - Dear Reader: We Are Making Progress by Jerry Dykstra …

Subdivided By Faith? An Historical Account Of Evangelicals And The City, Mark T. Mulder, James K.A. Smith

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

In an echo of Michael Emerson and Christian Smith’s study of evangelicals and the racialized society (detailed vividly in Divided by Faith), Mark T. Mulder and James K. A. Smith attempt to trace the history and literature concerning evangelicals and their relationship to the city. While there exists an interesting literature about general urban antipathy in the U.S., the authors contend religion remains a salient and under-examined component within that phenomenon. This paper calls for more theologically-nuanced studies regarding evangelicals, anti-urban bias, and geographical habits. Mr. Mulder is Assistant Professor of Sociology and Mr. Smith is Associate Professor of Philosophy …

Church Growth By Another Name: Challenges And Opportunities For The Future Of A Movement, Alan Mcmahan

Great Commission Research Journal

A brief review of the church growth movement not only highlights significant accomplishments but also raises questions about its future. While church growth thinkers were compelled by the evangelistic mandate, this article argues that continued obedience to the Great Commission will require new responses to the rapidly changing context of ministry. Charting the path ahead, the author identifies six key challenges that demand new initiatives from the church: 1) the challenge to reinvent the evangelistic paradigm and imagination; 2) the challenge of diasporas, and the worldwide migration of people; 3) the challenge of urbanization, 4) the challenge of the plateaued …

Creating Church Multiplication Through A Denominational Structure, Phil Stevenson

Great Commission Research Journal

A denomination will not survive, much less thrive, if it does not strategically and effectively plant churches. Church planting is the primary means by which new inroads are made. Church planting is the method by which a denomination keeps its vitality, energy, and vigor. The denominations that neglect this emphasis become ingrown, resulting in them “. . . losing the vigor and the high octane faith that caused them to succeed in the first place.”

Korean Church Planters’ Perception On Church Planting Education, Hansung Kim

Great Commission Research Journal

This study seeks to understand how Korean church planters perceive the church planting education that they received. This study employs the qualitative approach, which uses words and open-ended questions to explore and understand the meaning that individuals or groups ascribe to a social or human problem. To collect data, I interviewed nine church planters. I analyzed, interpreted, and wrote data as soon as possible. In addition, I collected other data. I also compared different data with each other to generate categories, and it was done consistently. The followings are the findings. While their passion for church planting was great and …

Book Review: You Don’T Have To Cross The Ocean To Reach The World: The Power Of Local Cross-Cultural Ministry By David Boyd, Jeff K. Walters

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Book Review: Shaped By God’S Heart: The Passion And Practices Of Missional Churches By Milfred Minatrea, Grant Horner

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Bridges Of God: The Mission Legacy Of Donald Anderson Mcgavran, Charles Van Engen

Great Commission Research Journal

This short essay is about Donald McGavran and his ground-breaking book, Bridges of God, that became the cornerstone of Church Growth theory and the foundation of what is now called the School of Intercultural Studies at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. Missiological thinking and missionary practice was transformed by the energy, vitality, insight, and stubborn tenacity of Donald McGavran. Whether they agreed with McGavran or not, after the publication of The Bridges of God, mission professors, mission executives, and mission practitioners could no longer do business as usual, nor their usual business.

Book Review: Vintage Church: Timeless Truths And Timely Methods By Mark Driscoll And Gerry Breshears, Aaron James Meraz Sr.

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Doubling Down On Jesus, Joshua Rhone

Great Commission Research Journal

How can we go about meeting people's needs in a way that is faithful to the Good News of Jesus Christ?

Whither Church Planting?, Hutz Hertzberg, Francis Lonsway

Great Commission Research Journal

Church planting is a clear response to the gospel command to spread the good news. While the term “church plant” may not be shared across Christian traditions, its meaning and goal are universally embraced. What is also clear, however, is the fact that the establishment of a new plant does not guarantee its success. Likely the critical factor in denomination, free, or independent church expansion is the nature of the individual or team assigned or commissioned to spread the good news.

Ethical Guidelines For Church Planters: A Suggested Approach For Starting (And Continuing) The Conversation, J. D. Payne

Great Commission Research Journal

Church planters, regardless of their ministry contexts, need to develop a set of ethical guidelines to direct their ministry practices. This paper presents eleven particular guidelines.

The Banner - V. 144, No. 5 - (May 2009), Christian Reformed Church In North America

The Banner

6 - Editorial: We Can Be Sure and Wrong, Right? by Bob De Moor / 7 - Catch Your Breath: Home Free by Peter Schuurman / 8 - IMHO: How We Fail to Create Safe Churches by Mary Vander Vennen / 8 - Letters to the Editor / 10 - CRC News: A glimpse into the CRC’s first prison congregation / 16 - World News: Economic decline forces congregations to make tough decisions / 17 - Frequently Asked Questions / 18 - A Second Blessing? by Rob Braun / 20 - Just for Kids: The Big Night Mystery by Sandy …

Christian Mission In Post-Communism: Missiological Implications And The Bulgarian Context, Viktor Kostov

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

No abstract provided.

Chinese American Christianity: How The Ethnic-Specific Church Interacts With The Processes Of Migration And Americanization, Joshua D. Lo

Pitzer Senior Theses

This study will examine the lives and experiences of the Chinese American Christian with particular focus on the ways in which the church has affected the lives of the Chinese immigrants.

Fit Churches Missionally Engaged, Phil Stevenson

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

This concept of church health and fitness has intrigued me. Is there a difference between a healthy church and a fit church? Might a church move from unhealthy to healthy, but fall short of fitness? If a church can be healthy, but not fit, what does that mean? How does a healthy church move toward fitness? Does a healthy church need to be fit in order to be effective? My short conclusion is that a church can be healthy but not fit. And just as in our physical being, fitness can enhance health. Therefore, healthy churches should move to fitness. …

Book Review Of The Forgotten Ways: Reactivating The Missional Church By Alan Hirsch, Bob Wenz

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

No abstract provided.

Evangelism Lessons Learned Abroad That Have Implications At Home, Tom Steffen

Journal of the American Society for Church Growth

This article will address my journey in evangelism among the Ifugao of the Philippines and years of consulting and teaching on the topic at home and abroad. It will seek to take the things I've learned in cross-cultural settings and demonstrate possible implications and applications for a postmodern, post- Christian, post-literate, post-denominational, post-commitment generation in the USA.

An Effective Strategy For Church Revitalization Through A Case Study Of Hosanna Church, Hyung Woo Park

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this project is to suggest an effective strategy of church revitalization through a case study of Hosanna Church. The case study will focus on the strategic process for church revitalization at Hosanna Church. This model of ministry extracted the principles, critical components, and elements that have been primary for the revitalization. Ten principles of church revitalization were discovered in the literature and diagnose the reality of the Hosanna Church, confirming the application of these principles. The principles were found to be transferable and applicable to various setting.

It Takes A Missional Order To Raise A Leader: "Order-Ing" Leadership Communities For Life Transformation And Missional Impact, Daniel L. Steigerwald

Doctor of Ministry

The times in which we live in the West grow more complex from year to year. This presents a problem, as church and para-church leaders find themselves increasingly less prepared to meet the demands of "missional leadership," that is, leadership that exemplifies and passes on the passion, practices and perspectives conducive to fostering growth in God and fruitful missionary engagement with his world.

In chapter one I identify this problem both from the vantage point of my own leadership journey and also from that of Christian leaders in general. I then propose my thesis: Amid the complexities, distractions and pressures …

Program - Calvin Symposium On Worship: Word, Music, Vision, Action

Symposium on Worship Archive

We wrote this welcome letter during Epiphany, remembering how the star of Bethlehem drew the Maji to the place where the Christ child lay. They came from the Middle East, possibly from Iraq, and they traveled to Bethlehem–troubled spots then and still now, occupied territories with terrible violence. They were looking for the newborn King, not knowing whom they were seeking, but following the star. We pray that each of you also came to seek the light of Christ, to offer him your gifts of praise, returning to Christ the gifts already received–in preaching, music, drama, visual arts, and hospitality. …

Faith And Practice: A Book Of Christian Discipline 2009, George Fox University Archives

Faith and Practice

Faith and Practice: A Book of Christian Discipline, Northwest Yearly Meeting of Friends Church 2009. Publication of the Northwest Yearly Meeting of Friends.

Ministerial Training For Seminarians At Northeast Brazil College, Emílio Abdala

Journal of Adventist Mission Studies

No abstract provided.

66th Annual Pepperdine Bible Lectureship -- The Lord Of Creation: The Preeminence Of Christ In Colossians (2009), Jerry Rushford

Pepperdine Bible Lectures: Programs

Program booklet for the 66th Annual Pepperdine Bible Lectures, held at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California, May 5-8, 2009. The Pepperdine Bible Lectures is an annual event hosted by Pepperdine University featuring a wide variety of lectures and classes on topics and themes in the Bible and Christianity.

Jerry Rushford, Lectureship Director

Rick Gibson, Tami Williamson, and Joella Michael, Lectures Team

Chronological Bible Storying/Teaching, Don Fanning

Themes of Theology that Impacts Missions

The following texts are eBooks that are used in the course on Theology of Missions. These topics are vital for the missionary to be solidly grounded in as he seeks to invest his life in the greatest purpose known to mankind: fulfilling the Great Commission of our Savior -- building and establishing the Church through the Gospel among every people group on earth.

Missions History Of The Early Church, Don Fanning

History of Global Missions

No abstract provided.

Brief History Of Methods And Trends Of Missions, Don Fanning

Trends and Issues in Missions

The following trends and issues are faced everyday on the foreign field and need to be analyzed and evaluated before getting involved so as to know how to plan and react. This is a vital area of training for the contemporary foreign missionary.