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Articles 1 - 30 of 36
Full-Text Articles in Entire DC Network
Unchanging Gospel Message, Changing Context: Contextualization Strategies In The Lukan Paul, Irenaeus, And Athanasius, Joy Axelsson
Unchanging Gospel Message, Changing Context: Contextualization Strategies In The Lukan Paul, Irenaeus, And Athanasius, Joy Axelsson
MA in Religion Theses
This thesis examines how early Christian leaders strategically contextualized the gospel within the diverse sociohistorical contexts of the Roman Empire while maintaining theological consistency. Using a comparative synchronic methodology adapted from Michael Gorman, it analyzes five primary texts spanning the first through fourth centuries: the Lukan Paul’s missionary speeches in Acts (Pisidian Antioch, Lystra, and Athens), Irenaeus’s On the Apostolic Preaching, and Athanasius’s On the Incarnation. Each text is analyzed within its literary, historical, and cultural context to identify patterns of strategic constants and variables in gospel presentation. The analysis shows that central gospel elements, such as Christology, monotheism, …
Training Small Group Leaders For Effective Discipleship At Ilive Ministries In Pacolet, South Carolina, Kadeem Antonio Ellis
Training Small Group Leaders For Effective Discipleship At Ilive Ministries In Pacolet, South Carolina, Kadeem Antonio Ellis
Doctor of Ministry Projects
This project examined the need for discipleship training among small group leaders at iLive Ministries in Pacolet, South Carolina. A four-week workshop incorporating lectures, discussions, and interactive activities was designed and implemented. Evaluation tools included Pre- and Post-Tests, structured observation, and participant interviews. Findings demonstrated measurable growth in confidence, facilitation skills, and discipleship understanding. The project concluded that intentional training not only equips leaders with biblical grounding and practical skills but also highlights ongoing needs for mentoring, refined assessment, and sustainable support, strengthening iLive Ministries’ discipleship culture and offering a replicable model for other congregations.
The Power Of Church Leadership Training And Development: Equipping, Empowering, And Encouraging Church Leaders To Lead Effectively, Monique Kirk
Doctor of Education Dissertations
This study explored perceptions of a church’s ministry leadership team to determine their preparation in the tools, skillsets, and strategies needed to lead themselves and others well. The study sought to understand the needs of these church ministries to meet the spiritual and daily needs of the members they serve. The study used a mixed methods design, employing a survey and focus group that examined perceptions of ministry experiences, training, development, and other support. Results were examined through the lens of Lewin’s (1947) force field analysis to determine both driving and restraining forces on effective ministry leadership (Hussain et al., …
Tickets Still Available For July 20 Concert With Carl Cartee At Gardner-Webb’S Brinkley Amphitheater, Office Of University Communications
Tickets Still Available For July 20 Concert With Carl Cartee At Gardner-Webb’S Brinkley Amphitheater, Office Of University Communications
Gardner-Webb NewsCenter Archive
Tickets are on sale now for the second event in the Summer in the Springs concert series in Gardner-Webb University’s Brinkley Amphitheater. Dove Award-winning Carl Cartee will be joined by Shaylee Simeone and April Cushman for A Night of Worship on July 20. The event is a fundraiser for GWU mission and service trips for students.
A Strategy For Developing A Mentoring Ministry At Mount Olive Baptist Church In Kings Mountain, North Carolina, Charles Leon Webber
A Strategy For Developing A Mentoring Ministry At Mount Olive Baptist Church In Kings Mountain, North Carolina, Charles Leon Webber
Doctor of Ministry Projects
Mentoring within the community of faith is a disciple-making process. Yet, research reveals bringing people together for shared learning experiences is a rarity. A four-week mentor training project at Mount Olive Baptist Church was developed to address the perceived need. Senior adult leaders received mentorship and training to engage with young adults. Although the statistical analysis was inconclusive, the project training sessions and qualitative feedback revealed positively a quest for other efforts in this direction.
Increasing Parental Participation In The Spiritual Formation Of Children At Spencer Baptist Church In Spindale, North Carolina, Kelly Settlemyre
Increasing Parental Participation In The Spiritual Formation Of Children At Spencer Baptist Church In Spindale, North Carolina, Kelly Settlemyre
Doctor of Ministry Projects
A program was created at Spencer Baptist Church in Spindale, NC to increase parental involvement in spiritual formation in the home. The 5-week program sought to connect spiritual identity with parental actions and confidence. The project focused on spiritual formation and then examined biblical mandates of family discipleship as well as examples of biblical family formation. Resources were given to participants for use within the family. Surveys measured the quantitative effectiveness of the program, while group participation provided qualitative insights. At the conclusion, there was a significant increase in participation in the spiritual formation of children in the home.
Learning To Cope With Grief Through The Use Of Biblical Creativity With The Community Of First Saints Community Church, Patricia Watson
Learning To Cope With Grief Through The Use Of Biblical Creativity With The Community Of First Saints Community Church, Patricia Watson
Doctor of Ministry Projects
Supporting those who are grieving has long been a complicated process for church communities and pastors. This project investigated whether introducing a creative activity to a grief support group could help participants view their loss through a lens of faith and clinical aspects of grief. Although further studies will strengthen this hypothesis, a four-week curriculum was conducted with five participants at First Saints Community Church in Leonardtown, MD. Results from quantitative and qualitative analyses showed that there was a benefit to those participants.
Strengthening An Understanding And Practice Of Spiritual Transformation For Sunday School Teachers Of Ellis Chapel Baptist Church, Patterson Springs, Nc, Linda Williams Lockhart
Strengthening An Understanding And Practice Of Spiritual Transformation For Sunday School Teachers Of Ellis Chapel Baptist Church, Patterson Springs, Nc, Linda Williams Lockhart
Doctor of Ministry Projects
The spiritual formation process can be clearly viewed through the lives of those who lived during the biblical era. People desire to change; however, the problem is that they do not know how because training in the spiritual formation process is not present within many churches today. This project was designed to train selected Sunday School teachers of Ellis Chapel Baptist Church through a four-week spiritual transformation process, hoping to strengthen their understanding of becoming image-bearers and practitioners of the Gospel that Jesus taught and exemplified. Through utilizing spiritual disciplines in journaling, training sessions, and assessments, selected teachers became aware …
Dr. Gerald Keown Remembered By Gwu Community For His Passion To Teach And Serve, Office Of University Communications
Dr. Gerald Keown Remembered By Gwu Community For His Passion To Teach And Serve, Office Of University Communications
Gardner-Webb NewsCenter Archive
The Gardner-Webb University community is remembering the contributions and legacy of Dr. Gerald Keown, who passed away on Dec. 14. Keown was professor emeritus of Biblical Studies and the former associate dean of the Gardner-Webb University M. Christopher White School of Divinity. He began his tenure at GWU in 1996 as a professor of Old Testament Interpretation and served as associate dean from 2006 to 2019.
The Reception Of Hagar In The Writings Of Origen, John Chrysostom, And Augustine, Mariah Case
The Reception Of Hagar In The Writings Of Origen, John Chrysostom, And Augustine, Mariah Case
MA in Religion Theses
The premise of this thesis is to explore the reception of the Hagar stories through three prominent early Christian thinkers -Origen, John Chrysostom, and Augustine of Hippo - in order to evaluate the theological significance she had for those particular contexts. Hagar functions predominately as a symbol in contexts where group identity, power, and ideology are contested. The hermeneutical and theological stances of the authors are examined to expose and mitigate the religious conflict occurring in their historical location. The resulting interpretations of Hagar and her story vary from Christianization of the character to outright scorn and rejection of the …
The Benefits Of Integrating An Assistance Dog With Military Chaplain Corps Services At The 169th Fighter Wing, Mcentire Joint National Guard Base, South Carolina, Christina Pittman
The Benefits Of Integrating An Assistance Dog With Military Chaplain Corps Services At The 169th Fighter Wing, Mcentire Joint National Guard Base, South Carolina, Christina Pittman
Doctor of Ministry Projects
The ministry project is addressing the spiritual resiliency of service members in an intentional and innovative approach through the presence of an assistance dog in an active military Chaplain Corps setting; specifically, through South Carolina Air National Guard. The issue is to reach service members on a level beyond the efforts of human contact. The research shows support in positive effects or no effects of engagement with an assistance dog. The participants are service members engaging with and without Avalon, a current Assistance Dog for Ministry, with a Chaplain providing warrior care. The research data collection is a survey presented …
Empowering The Church To Promote Hope And Healing To Those Suffering From Addiction Emmanuel Baptist Fellowship In Lexington, South Carolina, Donna Seay
Doctor of Ministry Projects
Addiction continues to be on the rise in the United States. “Empowering The Church To Promote Hope and Healing to Those Suffering From Addiction” was designed to educate, equip, and empower members of the church to journey with those who suffer from addiction. The four-week curriculum was based on the four functions of Pastoral Care which are healing, guiding, sustaining, and reconciliation. The project utilized a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods to analyze the results.
Equipping The Congregation Of East Belmont Baptist Church In Belmont, North Carolina For Outreach Through The Development And Implementation Of An Active Prayer Ministry, Jeff Dean Taylor
Doctor of Ministry Projects
In a local congregation, joining the spiritual practice of prayer with the ministry of outreach provides the church with an effective ministry tool to connect the congregation to its community and beyond. The East Belmont Baptist Church searches for effective ways to carry out the mission of making Christ known to others by equipping themselves through study and sermons to use prayer as a ministry in the community. Through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, congregational members meet people where they are and minister to them through intercessory prayer.
Minister As Mentor: A Biblical Model For The Preparation Of A Mentoring Ministry At First Baptist Church In Reidsville, North Carolina, Thomas Leroy Barksdale Ii
Minister As Mentor: A Biblical Model For The Preparation Of A Mentoring Ministry At First Baptist Church In Reidsville, North Carolina, Thomas Leroy Barksdale Ii
Doctor of Ministry Projects
A preparation model was developed to equip mentors to effectively engage, encourage, and guide community youth. Members of the Christian faith have a responsibility to reach out and impact positively the next generations of leaders. Potential mentors were led through developmental sessions to prepare for the mentor relationships. Surveys, journal entries, pre-posttests, and questionnaires measured the effectiveness of the developmental weekly sessions and engagement.
Storytelling As A Pastoral Care Intervention That Ministers Healing To Adult Parishioners Of St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church In Canton, Georgia Who Have Experienced Violence, Lemora Dobbs
Doctor of Ministry Projects
The goal of this project was to test whether storytelling could be used to facilitate healing in adult parishioners who had experienced violence. The project engaged congregants of St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church in Canton, Georgia in a series of five workshops that taught, modeled, and used storytelling as a pastoral care intervention. The personal stories of five research participants were recorded in individual sessions. Common themes within the individual stories shared were identified and discussed with the research group. The group brainstormed ideas about how the church could use storytelling to minister healing to violence victims. The outcome …
Prayer: An Instrument For Assessment Of Spiritual And Psychological Concerns For Burundian Refugee Women In Maison Shalom Rwanda, Ornella Umubyeyi
Prayer: An Instrument For Assessment Of Spiritual And Psychological Concerns For Burundian Refugee Women In Maison Shalom Rwanda, Ornella Umubyeyi
Doctor of Ministry Projects
A qualitative research methodology was designed to analyze how prayer can be used as an instrument to reveal various spiritual and psychological issues Burundian women refugees face in Rwanda. Six Burundian refugee women were surveyed throughout the seven weeks of the research. Various modalities of prayer were used to assess different concerns that they might have had. Participants met in both one-on-ones and group sessions. Data gathered suggested that prayer was a crucial tool that allowed the participants to reveal their traumatic events and created a strong bond among participants. The collected data indicates that the practice of prayer became …
Transferring The Mantle: The Voice Of The Poet Prophet In The Works Of Elizabeth Barrett Browning And Emily Dickinson, Heidi Brown Hyde
Transferring The Mantle: The Voice Of The Poet Prophet In The Works Of Elizabeth Barrett Browning And Emily Dickinson, Heidi Brown Hyde
MA in English Theses
Elizabeth Barrett Browning and Emily Dickinson are arguably two of the most recognized names in nineteenth-century poetry. One was famous in her lifetime, a pioneer of women’s poetics with a searing vision of what her world was, her place in it and how to live. The other was only recognized for her poetic genius after her death, and but for the love of her family and friends, her poetic voice would have never transformed the landscape of American literature. Although these two women were separated by culture and geography, they both had a shared Congregationalist heritage, a poetic gift and …
Chaplain Spiritual Assessment And Its Efficacy For The Palliative Care Team At Roper St. Francis Healthcare: An Interdisciplinary-Phenomenologic Inquiry, Yhanco Monet
Doctor of Ministry Projects
A qualitative phenomenological research methodology was designed and implemented to answer the question: what is it that chaplains assessed which is perceived as useful for the Roper St. Francis Palliative Care team? Twelve Palliative Care practitioners, representing diverse specialties, were interviewed and surveyed to answer the research question. Evidence suggested that spiritual care and chaplaincy assessments were perceived as relevant to the Roper St. Francis’ Palliative Care praxis. However, the gathered data indicates that chaplains and Palliative Care practitioners would benefit from a more standardized/consistent spiritual assessment practice. A set of “Teaching Guidelines” and educational “Activities” was created with the …
Guiding The Members Of Polkville Baptist Church In Polkville, North Carolina Toward A Greater Awareness Of Their Place In The Body Of Christ, Richard Lee Hamrick
Guiding The Members Of Polkville Baptist Church In Polkville, North Carolina Toward A Greater Awareness Of Their Place In The Body Of Christ, Richard Lee Hamrick
Doctor of Ministry Projects
A church-wide emphasis, with preaching and teaching, provided the platform for instilling in members of Polkville Baptist Church a better understanding of the individual's role in the community of faith, the goal being that a greater percentage of members take an active role in the church. The twelve-member research group was tracked individually, and the control group was tracked as a unit. Following the emphasis, care was taken to discover if there were more members involved in the life of the church than before the emphasis. There was a clear growth in understanding and in the number of active members.
Gardner-Webb School Of Divinity Equips Grad To Serve People In His Hometown, Office Of University Communications
Gardner-Webb School Of Divinity Equips Grad To Serve People In His Hometown, Office Of University Communications
Gardner-Webb NewsCenter Archive
In 2007, basketball standout Chris Gash (’16) graduated from Gardner-Webb University with a degree in psychology. A leader on the court and a role model for his teammates, he headed to Orange, Calif., for a coaching job. A year later, however, his convictions brought him home to Kingstown, N.C.
Grief In Community: The Establishment Of Bereavement Ministry Teams From The Congregation At Sandy Run Baptist Church In Mooresboro, North Carolina, Andrew S. Rawls
Grief In Community: The Establishment Of Bereavement Ministry Teams From The Congregation At Sandy Run Baptist Church In Mooresboro, North Carolina, Andrew S. Rawls
Doctor of Ministry Projects
The Church is to be the expression of hope through the various contours of the human story. Too often congregations have difficulty expressing this hope during the time of death and extending that hope to ministry with the bereaved. In this project I studied the increase in self-efficacy in bereavement ministry with the congregation of Sandy Run Baptist Church in Mooresboro, North Carolina. The research focuses on the teaching of a curriculum that explores the biblical, theological, and clinical aspects of grief. The results of my research show this was an effective means of increasing self-efficacy.
Resiliency-Based Spiritual Support: A Preventative Approach Empowering Spiritual Resiliency In Clinical Pastoral Education Students At Duke University Hospital, Durham, North Carolina, Michael Gross
Doctor of Ministry Projects
Resiliency-Based Spiritual Support: A Preventative Approach was designed to empower a minister's spiritual resiliency practices. These practices allow him/her to courageously navigate the seasons of ministry and bounce back from stressful experiences. The six-week curriculum intervention for clinical pastoral education participants involved control and intervention groups. It focused on five spiritual resiliency themes (community, hope, sound of the genuine, meditation, stewardship) and related spiritual resiliency practices. Research methods included quantitative and qualitative instruments. Post-training evaluation scores evidenced participants were empowered by a greater understanding of the biblical/theological foundations and exploration of practices. Participants did recommend spiritual resiliency training for clergy.
Enriching Christian Hospitality At Malaby's Crossroads Missionary Baptist Church In Knightdale, North Carolina, Barbara Starr Barner
Enriching Christian Hospitality At Malaby's Crossroads Missionary Baptist Church In Knightdale, North Carolina, Barbara Starr Barner
Doctor of Ministry Projects
Hospitality is the welcoming of strangers, family, and friends. In the early biblical and historical traditions, hospitality focused on welcoming the alien and extending resources to them. Hospitality, however, need not be limited to the basic physical needs of the stranger, but spiritual needs are to be addressed as well. In the reflection of Jesus’ work on the cross, Christian hospitality should be the intentional, responsible, and caring act of welcoming or visiting strangers, enemies, the distressed, downtrodden, without regard for reciprocation. The goal of this project was to enhance Malaby’s Christian hospitality culture and take our personal interactions to …
Developing Pastoral Identity In Level One Clinical Pastoral Education Students At Duke University Hospital, Durham, North Carolina, Biju Chacko
Doctor of Ministry Projects
Pastoral identity development is a necessity in today's pastoral context. Clarity on one's emerging pastoral identity creates authenticity in pastors to fulfill their pastoral duties. Pastoral identity development is an ongoing process. This project studied how Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) developed pastoral identity in Level I CPE students at Duke University Hospital. The project used a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods to gather and analyze data. The project found that pastoral identity is a combination of multiple components namely call, perception, skills, community, and experience.
An Experiment In Civil Dialogue In A Clinical Pastoral Education Group At Caromont Regional Medical Center, Gastonia, North Carolina, Stephen Allen Lemons
An Experiment In Civil Dialogue In A Clinical Pastoral Education Group At Caromont Regional Medical Center, Gastonia, North Carolina, Stephen Allen Lemons
Doctor of Ministry Projects
An Experiment in Civil Dialogue... was designed to create a setting for civil dialogue concerning homosexuality and Christian faith. The seven-week process involved eight daylong sessions with eight Clinical Pastoral Education students. Sessions focused on a study of biblical passages regarding homosexuality. Passages were examined from a traditional and progressive viewpoint. Six guests presented from a traditional or progressive viewpoint. Participants wrote verbatims and theological integration papers focusing on pastoral care to LGBT persons/families. Research methods included focus and control group and quantitative-qualitative research. Interviews, surveys and written reflections attest that the group maintained civil dialogue throughout the process. The …
Bridging The Latino--Anglo Gap: A Transition Towards A Cross-Cultural Church At First Baptist Church, Robbins, North Carolina, Ernesto Robledo
Bridging The Latino--Anglo Gap: A Transition Towards A Cross-Cultural Church At First Baptist Church, Robbins, North Carolina, Ernesto Robledo
Doctor of Ministry Projects
In its 2,000 years of existence, the church has remained mostly segregated in regards to the inclusion of other cultures within one setting. Christians from various traditions have spent centuries trying to be more like Jesus as they worshiped in many different settings. Even though the church has been active for so long, the reality is that she has been predominantly white. Through an intentional pastoral project, twenty-four individuals participated in a four-week bilingual Bible study and a community-wide missionary event. These purposeful interactions proved that the church can change her traditional ministry pattern by engaging members of the Latino …
The Cleansing Of The Temple In The Fourth Gospel As A Call To Action For Social Justice, Douglas Thompson Goodwin
The Cleansing Of The Temple In The Fourth Gospel As A Call To Action For Social Justice, Douglas Thompson Goodwin
MA in Religion Theses
Historically, there has been the attitude that the writer of the Fourth Gospel, due primarily to his emphasis on the high Christology of Jesus, is uninterested, or even unconcerned, with the issues of social justice. The contention of this study is to show that this is just the opposite. By placing the Temple cleansing episode at the beginning of Jesus' earthly ministry, instead of the end as the Synoptics do, the author of the Fourth Gospel uses Jesus' Temple episode as the vehicle for showing the importance of caring for those in society who have no voice and no future. …
Learning Together: Integrating Worship, Education, And Personal Devotion At Oakhurst Baptist Church Of Asheboro, North Carolina, Hunter Duncan
Learning Together: Integrating Worship, Education, And Personal Devotion At Oakhurst Baptist Church Of Asheboro, North Carolina, Hunter Duncan
Doctor of Ministry Projects
The hypothesis of this project is that an integrated worship experience that engages church members with one biblical concept each week through various interactions will strengthen the community of faith. The ministry experiment sought to accomplish this goal by integrating weekly worship, Sunday School, daily devotions, and an internet-based discussion forum. Data was collected from project participants before the project began, weekly to measure the ongoing impact, and again at the project's conclusion. The results of the project revealed that integrating worship elements does improve engagement with the community of faith and the overall satisfaction with the weekly worship experience.
Gardner-Webb University M. Christopher White School Of Divinity Celebrates 20 Years, Office Of University Communications
Gardner-Webb University M. Christopher White School Of Divinity Celebrates 20 Years, Office Of University Communications
Gardner-Webb NewsCenter Archive
Individuals who dared to dream that a Baptist seminary could one day be established in the foothills of Western North Carolina gathered at Gardner-Webb University on Monday to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the M. Christopher White School of Divinity. Dozens of former and current faculty, staff members, and students attended a luncheon celebration followed by the 20th Anniversary Convocation, held in the Dover Chapel on the Gardner-Webb campus. Since its establishment in 1993, hundreds of people have achieved their post-baccalaureate educational goals through the Gardner-Webb University School of Divinity, which also began offering the Doctor of Ministry degree in …
Gardner-Webb, The Magazine 2013, Spring (Volume 48 No. 1), Noel T. Manning Ii
Gardner-Webb, The Magazine 2013, Spring (Volume 48 No. 1), Noel T. Manning Ii
Gardner-Webb, The Magazine
Gardner-Webb, The Magazine, previously titled The Webb Magazine, focuses on alumni news and campus events from Gardner-Webb College; now Gardner-Webb University. This issue includes an article about the progress Gardner-Webb made with their Higher Ground Campaign as well as several articles detailing honors and achievements within athletic programs. There are also numerous articles highlighting various noteworthy career paths of alumni and past faculty members including Neal Alexander and Sharon Decker being named to serve in North Carolina cabinet posts.