Digital Commons Network^™

Facing The Challenge Of Mobile Technology: A Seminar On Strengthening Intimacy In Families At The Hendersonville Seventh-Day Adventist Church, David Nicholas Wright

Doctor of Ministry Projects

The Problem

The new wave of smartphones and other forms of mobile technology presents an always available Internet connection that is hard for many families to manage. Without sufficient awareness of technology's subtle impact on relationships and without appropriate boundaries, many suffer loss of face-to-face interaction, communication and intimacy within their family circles.

The Method

The purpose of this project was to investigate whether a five-session educational seminar would create greater awareness and motivate changes in mobile technology usage that is seen as beneficial to parents and family.

The Results

Of the 11 families who committed to coming to the …

Urban Mission

Journal of Adventist Mission Studies

No abstract provided.

A Fresh Expression Of "And Are We Yet Alive?", George Hendricks, Kelli Taylor

The Asbury Journal

The paper addresses the decline in membership and overall societal influence of The United Methodist Church. In response to these life-threatening developments, new forms of ministry are emerging within the church. Many of these new ministries are grouped under a program called "Fresh Expressions" which began in the Church of England and are effectively being implemented in American Methodism. Storefront churches are discussed, bi-vocational ministers are considered and the concept of the "Third Place" as a form of ministry is introduced. Three focused interviews are utilized to understand the need and necessity for changes in the way The United Methodist …

Blessed Is The Kingdom: The Divine Liturgy As Missional Act, Kristina Whiteman

The Asbury Journal

No abstract provided.

The Papal Encyclical Ad Extremas (1893):The Call For An Indigenous Indian Clergy, Its Effects Upon Thecatholic Church In India, And Its Description Of Indian Religions, Andrew Unsworth

Journal of Hindu-Christian Studies

Ad Extremas, an encyclical epistle issued by Pope Leo XIII, gives a rare insight into the official opinion of the Catholic Church with regard to India’s indigenous religious traditions at the close of the nineteenth century. By means of a historical and textual analysis of the document, this essay offers a critical assessment of its contents facilitating a better appreciation of the ecclesial transition that occurred between the pontificate of Leo XIII and the promulgation of those texts of the Second Vatican Council that made reference to Hinduism.

Transforming Institutional Culture, Scott R. Ward

180 Symposium Publications

No abstract provided.

Conclusion And Recommendations, S. Joseph Kidder, Gerardo Oudri

180 Symposium Publications

No abstract provided.

Missional Apologetics: An Examination Of Essential Elements In The Apologetic Approaches Of Early Christian Era Apologists In Light Of The Mission Of Christ To A Pluralistic World, George B. Bannister Sr

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The cultural ethos known as postmodernism has impacted the epistemological and functional structures of contemporary society in dramatic ways. Changes in the attitudes, standards, and belief systems from which people operate in their day-to-day lives have seen radical alterations in the last fifty years. The impact of the postmodern milieu has been evident in various ways in local church ministry, as well as the extension of local church ministry on the mission field.As a result of the waning effectiveness of traditional evangelism methods and indications that there is a relationship between that waning efficacy and the postmodern milieu, scholars have …

Barriers And Solutions For Indigenous Leadership Development: An Outline For Equipping A New Generation For Dynamic Mission Among The Poor, Don Davis

Essays

No abstract provided.

Best Practices In Lcms Congregational Mergers Into Multisite Ministries, Brian Hesse

Doctor of Ministry Major Applied Project

Hesse, Brian J. “Best Practices in LCMS Congregational Mergers into Multisite Ministries.” Doctor of Ministry. Major Applied Project, Concordia Seminary, 2018. 171 pp.

In this MAP the process of a church merger is evaluated for the development of Best Practices in LCMS Congregational Mergers into Multisite Ministries. These best practices aredeveloped with special considerations towards LCMS ecclesiology, missiology and Martin Luther’s Distinction of God’s Two Kingdoms. Best practice recommendations are included for LCMS church mergers, especially for those congregations considering multisite ministry.

Church Conflict In The Atlanta-Rome District: Developing A Systematic Approach To Conflict And Membership Attrition, James C. Clements

Masters Theses

The decline in church membership and attendance of the 22 churches and 18 ministries of the Atlanta-Rome District (ARD) of the Christian Methodist Episcopal (CME) Church has dramatically impacted the ministries and effectiveness of the Atlanta-Rome District churches in conducting what Jesus Christ commanded in the Great Commission. The congregations whose membership once boasted governmental officials and civil rights icons have all but dwindled to a faithful few that continue to support the Spiritual and fiduciary obligations of the local churches. The rise of non-denominational churches with a more contemporary style of worship as well as internal conflicts within the …

Church Life Cycle, Benjamin Boatman

Masters Theses

With thousands of American churches permanently closing their doors each year, it is important to take a closer look at the churches that are in desperate need for renewal. The Body of Christ is eternal, but each church will individually display the life cycle that is observed in the human body. With so many churches in desperate need, all attempts must be made to provide suggestions that may result in their ability to continue on with the mission of Christ. The purpose of this research study is to examine the body of Christ as to its scriptural background, compare the …

Leveraging A Massive Open Online Course In The Local Church To Teach Hermeneutics, Howard Dale Tryon

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The increase in massive open online course (MOOC) offerings in theological higher education presents unique equipping opportunities for local churches, providing high-quality instruction from authoritative scholars. The purpose of this project is to facilitate participation in a MOOC to equip members of Calvary Baptist Church, Lynchburg, Virginia, with basic hermeneutic principles in order to enrich personal Bible study and prepare for teaching the Bible. A pretest and posttest assess the effectiveness of the program to impart knowledge of hermeneutical concepts and skills. A concluding survey determines the extent to which participants plan to use learned hermeneutic methods and principles in …

Book Reviews, Spiritus Editorial Board

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

R E V I E W S

• Graham Twelftree, ed. The Nature Miracles of Jesus: Problems, Perspectives, and Prospects. Jeffrey Lamp.
• David K. Bernard. The Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ: Deification of Jesus in Early Christian Discourse. Joseph H. Howell.
• Vinson Synan, ed. The Truth About Grace: Spirit-empowered Perspectives. Daniel Thimell
• Margaret English de Alminana and Lois E. Olena, (eds). Women in Pentecostal and Charismatic Ministry: Informing a Dialogue on Gender, Church, and Ministry. Lisa M. Millen.
• Nimi Wariboko, The Split God: Pentecostalism and Critical Theory. David Bradnick.
• Jon Bialecki. A Diagram of Fire: Miracles …

Andrews University Spiritual Master Plan, Andrews University

Public Documents

Updated Fall 2018. The Spiritual Master Plan of the University correlates with the University’s Strategic Plan, Strategic Initiative four “To ensure the strength of the spiritual heart of the campus.” The plan is founded within the recognition of a great controversy and the truth of God's plan for reconciliation. The Creator pursues His Creation and invites us into intimate relationship with himself. His pursuit of us invites us, in free will, to open the door to Him. In responding to God’s invitation, allowing His work in our life and following His way we gain a clear understanding of who God …

Calvin Theological Seminary Forum: October 2018, Julius T. Medenblik, Mary Vanden Berg, Amanda W. Benckhuysen, Geoff Vandermolen

Calvin Theological Seminary Forum (2002- )

4 - Why Go to Seminary? Hoop, Hurdle or Vital Necessity? by President Jul Medenblik
6 - Are You on the Journey towards Seminary?
8 - The Stranger at the River Jabbok by Amanda W. Benckhuysen
12 - Courageous Leadership in God's Kingdom by Geoff Vandermolen
16 - Honing Contextual Savvy by Cory B. Wilson
23 - Seminary: A Layman's Perspective by Sidney J. Jansma, Jr.
24 - Encouraging One Another to Grow Up into Christ
26 - Together, We'll Invest in Your Calling
28 - Discerning Your Call by Aaron Einfeld
30 - Calvin Seminary Q&A by Gary Burge

A Case Study Of Growth And Decline: The Churches Of Christ, 2006-2016, Stanley E. Granberg

Great Commission Research Journal

The group known as the Churches of Christ is one of America’s largest religious bodies with over 1.5 million adherents and congregations in all fifty states. Like many U.S. Christian bodies, the Churches of Christ have entered a time of decline. This article is a case study of the Churches of Christ and describes the group’s growth and decline, with a specific focus on the years 2006 to 2016. The movement’s current state of health is assessed, and the impact of new church planting as the engine for movement growth is described. The article ends by addressing three hard challenges …

Book Review: Reclaiming Glory: Revitalizing Dying Churches By Mark Clifton, Chris Messerer

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.

The Future Growth Of Global Christianity And Yoido Full Gospel Church: Its Potential Role In The New Context, Wonsuk Ma

Great Commission Research Journal

Christians have long recognized the amazing growth of Yoido Full Gospel Church. It has been a pioneer in the Church Growth Movement and has set an example in its dependence on prayer and the work of the Holy Spirit. The church faces challenges/opportunities in the future as it relates to the church growth in the Global South, the changing culture in South Korea, and the Pentecostal/charismatic movements around the world.

The Global Missionary: The Emerging Roles Of North American Missionaries In The Twenty-First Century, Blayne C. Waltrip

Great Commission Research Journal

This article explores the emerging roles of the North American missionary in light of the changing face of global missions. Missionary sending has become a phenomenon of reciprocity. Because the Global South has become a missionary sending force, missionaries are going from everywhere to everywhere. This shift has created a need for North American missionaries to reevaluate their roles in missions. They are increasingly becoming “Global Missionaries” that serve in more than one context. The author defines and describes a Global Missionary, evaluates the factors for the shift, and advocates a greater global partnership to fulfill the Great Commission.

Do Larger Churches Tolerate Pastoral Narcissism More Than Smaller Churches?, David R. Dunaetz, Hannah L. Jung, Stephen L. Lambert

Great Commission Research Journal

Pastoral narcissism in churches is a problem, from both a theological and practical perspective. In this study, we explore the question of whether church size is related to tolerance for narcissism. In the popular press, pastors of megachurches are often portrayed as narcissistic. The Dominance Complementarity Model of narcissistic leaders (Grijalva & Harms, 2004) predicts that churches which have less dominant followers, as may be the case in larger churches, would be more tolerant of narcissistic pastors than smaller churches. Yet larger churches also have the resources to hire the most qualified staff, which would presumably exclude candidates high in …

The Life Of Donald Mcgavran: Turning To North America, Gary L. Mcintosh

Great Commission Research Journal

The event that put Church Growth on the worldwide map was the Lausanne Congress on Evangelism held on July 14-28, 1974. Then, as the Church Growth Movement took hold around the world, the focus of some faculty at Fuller’s School of World Mission gradually turned toward North America. This article describes the actions and processes that propelled the movement into world prominence.

150 Years Of Spiritan Presence And Mission In Mainland Tanzania, Philip Massawe C.S.Sp.

Spiritan Horizons

No abstract provided.

2018 Denominational Survey Results, Calvin University

CRCNA Denominational Survey Results

As part of the denominational ministry plan, Our Journey 2020, the CRCNA has contracted with Calvin College’s Social Research Center to administer a denominational survey every year. The results from the 2018 survey have now been compiled.

All CRC-affiliated adults and older youth are welcome to respond to this survey every year as they are led. In order to ensure a healthy number of responses to the survey every year, however, CRC leaders have randomly assigned every CRC church to one of five “cohorts”. Each cohort includes about 20 per cent of all active congregations, and each congregation will …

2018 Proceedings: Sixth Annual Reynolds Chair Symposium, Southern Adventist University School Of Education And Psychology, Bonnie Eder, Eliezer Graterol, Scott R. Ward, Douglas Jacobs

Reynolds' Chair Symposium Proceedings

This year’s Reynolds’ Symposium featured a partnering of the School of Religion with the School of Education and Psychology.

Pentecostalism And Charismatic Movements In Nigeria: Factors Of Growth And Inherent Challenges, Matthews A. Ojo

The WATS Journal: An Online Journal from West Africa Theological Seminary

Since about 1986, i.e. in the past 46 years and within our own generation, we have witnessed certain fundamental changes in the way Christianity is perceived and practiced in Nigeria, and in other parts ofWest Africa. The most substantial change is associated with a kind of spirituality brought into existence by the rise of Pentecostal and Charismatic movements. This new religious effervescence is part of what is generally referred to as the Charismatic Renewal, a revivalist movement within the Christian church with global dimension. From its old form as a sectarian religion in Africa in the early twentieth century, by …

The Unity Of Brotherhood In The African Church: Establishing A Biblical Self-Identity In The Shared Leadership Of Elders, Dr. J. R. Miller

The WATS Journal: An Online Journal from West Africa Theological Seminary

The continent of Africa has an enduring Christian legacy; both in what has been penned in the annals of history, and in the future that has yet to be written. Writing as an observer from the West, it is my hope that the Church in Africa can build on recent progress and overcome the errors of history to build a strong church on the foundation of the historic biblical faith she helped foster in the early centuries of Christianity. The African Church can grow stronger through the establishment oflocal congregations founded on shared leadership (more than one man leading the …

Intentional Faith, Prayer And Community, Hannah Gallant

Lake Union Herald

No abstract provided.

The Cultural Appropriations Of Organic Church Leadership, Rhythms, And Methodologies Into The Traditional Church Model, Aaron Lewis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Within this thesis project an engagement with organic church structures, in relation to elements of leadership replication and natural rhythms of life, which are foundational to organic church expressions, will be explored. The metanarrative of leadership replication strategies and methodological elements which are foundational to the bio-communities contained within the context of simple and organic church expressions will be evaluated for their replication within the traditional church context. The intention of this thesis is to provide traditional church communities with crossover methodologies from organic church gatherings for the development of replicating leadership as well as holistic biblical communities.

Mission Research

Journal of Adventist Mission Studies

No abstract provided.