Digital Commons Network^™

An Effective And Organized Mentorship Model: Does It Affect The Emerging Leaders’ Call To Ministry And The Longevity Of The Universal Church?, Linda F. Parker

Doctor of Ministry (DMin)

The concept of mentorship is undeniably a fundamental tool for personal and professional growth. Statistics show that mentorship has a vital impact on both individuals and organizations. Could having a strategic mentoring plan in ministry make a meaningful difference for individuals and the Universal Church? This dissertation has explored the effects of mentorship and models based on experiences and strategies from those who identify as ministry leaders. For the Apostle Paul, Christ's life serves as a model and example, as he states, “Follow my example, as I follow Christ” (1 Cor 11:1). These words are the exact phrase that Jesus …

Analyzing The Methods And Effects Of Implementing Multiple Service Styles In The Church, Chloe E. Dillman

Selected Honors Theses

This thesis explores the motivations and methodologies behind offering different styles of worship services in churches in Lakeland, Florida. The study is inspired by the ongoing debate over modern worship, which has intensified over the past fifty years. As contemporary worship grew in popularity, many churches adapted by incorporating various worship styles into their services. In response to the controversy surrounding these changes, some churches implemented multiple service options—one reflecting a contemporary/modern style and another adhering to a more traditional approach. As this practice became more widespread, it sparked further discussion among church leaders regarding its impact on congregational unity, …

Youth Mac: Exploring The Impact And Influence Of Varied Youth Pastor Leadership Qualities And Practices That Lead To Efficacious Student Ministry, George L. Fultz Ii

PhD in Organizational Leadership

Congregations across the United States are experiencing significant declines in youth and young adult engagement and retention, raising a red flag when thinking about the long-term sustainability of the church. While previous research has focused on senior pastoral leadership, there has been limited exploration of youth pastor leadership and its effects on church growth and adolescent retention. This qualitative study utilizes McGavran’s church growth theory to investigate how youth pastors’ leadership styles influence ministry effectiveness. This research used semistructured interviews with six youth pastors from diverse congregations to collect the data. After completing thematic analysis, four themes emerged: (a) the …

Experiential Learning From Stakeholder Perspectives At A University Partnership Program, Maggie M. Shader

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

The purpose of this non-experimental, quantitative survey study was to determine the stakeholders' perspectives on experiential learning at Canvas College. Experiential learning has potential benefits for students as stakeholders, and internship can be a vehicle for experiential learning. Experiential learning can involve benefits such as employability, real-world experience, calling confirmation and spiritual growth, soft skills, and immediate application of learning. Stakeholders in an internship are not limited to students. Faculty and internship leaders are also stakeholders; however, a partnership program encompasses more stakeholders, including church staff, alumni, and host university staff. The survey was researcher developed and the Cronbach’s alpha …

Case Study Exploring Training For Assembly Of God Pastors, Robert W. Shader

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

Abstract Pastors in the Assembly of God fellowship have several options regarding types of pastoral training. Conducting a multiple case study qualitative study, the researcher interviewed 12 pastors with 2-6 years of ministry experience who had primary training in a specific category: higher education, on-the-job training, hands-on internships, or credentialing programs. The researcher utilized a transformational leadership framework and asked questions related to idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, and individualized consideration. The findings suggest each training method (higher education, hands-on internship, on-the-job training, and credentialing programs) equipped pastors to demonstrate aspects of transformational leadership.

Bridging The Gap Between Profession And Practice: Clear Gospel Communication In A Context Saturated By Moralistic Therapeutic Deism, Jordan Dunn

Doctor of Ministry (DMin)

Research indicates a pronounced discrepancy within American Christianity between self-professed Christians and individuals who embody a biblical worldview. Overwhelmingly, those who identify as Christians are not adhering to the teachings of the Scripture in their daily lives. The American church faces an imminent threat of Christians claiming to believe in Jesus even though their lives express the opposite. This chasm between profession and practice can be traced to an alternative gospel that has saturated the context of American Christianity: Moralistic Therapeutic Deism (MTD). MTD, under the guise of Christianity, promotes a false gospel that has led many believers astray regarding …

Young Adult Attrition In The American Church: The Suspected Causes And Suggested Cures, Randall M. Morrow

Doctor of Ministry (DMin)

Young adults in America today are deciding that the Church is no longer relevant, so they are choosing to drop out in increasing numbers. Their disaffiliation from communities of faith is also harming their personal faith. This observation is irrespective of Church denominations; their exodus occurs in most faith groups, including Catholic, Mainline Protestant, Evangelical, and Pentecostal/Charismatic denominations. Consequently, the future vitality of the Church is threatened. Why does this problem exist, and what can be done to intervene and change the downward trajectory? What should Christian parents and ministry leaders do differently to achieve a higher retention rate of …

Loneliness And The Church: Creating Effective Discipleship Systems For The Next Generation, Sarah Brits

Selected Honors Theses

Loneliness is the most common shared experience. With Generation Alpha already predicted to be the loneliest and most anxious generation of all time, it is more important than ever for next-generation ministry leaders to step ahead of the trend of loneliness and establish effective discipleship systems within their ministry. This study explores to what level people are experiencing loneliness on a daily basis and how their church involvement impacts said loneliness. The church is good at offering large group and small group connections for individuals, but most participants said their church does not offer mentorship opportunities, neglecting the vital intimate …

Differentiated Instruction In A General Children’S Ministry Curriculum: Evaluating Discipleship In An Inclusive Classrooom, Jennifer E. Pelissero

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the perception children’s pastors have in their ability to provide a comprehensive instructional program for children with special needs. The quantitative study utilized a survey research method to address three research questions. The survey instrument was distributed electronically to children’s pastors nationwide to identify instructional and environmental elements required to provide a comprehensive instructional program within the ministry setting for children with special needs. In an effort to further research why children with special needs do not regularly attend religious worship services, this research study focused on elements that create the greatest …

Southeastern Alumni Magazine- Winter 2022, Southeastern University

Southeastern Alumni Magazine

INTRODUCING THE POWELLS: SEU’S NEW CAMPUS PASTORS James and Brittany Powell are SEU’s new campus pastors. Beginning in the summer of 2021, James stepped into the role of executive director for spiritual formation, and Brittany started serving as the director of ministry operations. The Powells have been working side by side in ministry roles across the country since 2011.

MEET LEXI — SEU’S CERTIFIED THERAPY DOG Lexi is Southeastern’s very own certified therapy dog who resides in the university’s tutoring center. During the academic year, Lexi is available to meet with students, staff and faculty with no appointment necessary.

FORD …

The College Student Study Playlist: A Comparison Of Genres, John C. Pokhan

Selected Honors Theses

Music has played a significant role in the lives of students. Various genres of music have been studied to determine their specific effects on human behavior. Christian Praise and Worship music is a normal piece of service, whether it is in the chapel and or the church. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is a renowned classical music composer whose music has been shown to have positive effects in improving concentration. A student’s emotions are critical when it comes to studying. When a student is studying, they need to concentrate and work on their assignment with confidence, inspiration, and excitement while managing their …

Embracing Worship And Performance, Robson N. Galvao

Selected Honors Theses

Music is a very powerful tool. It is a very important part of the world around us. Some would even say that without it, life would not be the same. When it comes to church, it is not any different. Music plays a very large part of most church services today, whether that be having someone play a church organ in a more traditional church or by having a full worship band with lights and production in a more contemporary church. With that comes the issue of performance within the church music context. One of the biggest issues within the …

Youth Ministry In 2020 And Beyond: The Mental Health Of Generation Z, The Impact Of Covid-19, And Its Implications For Youth Ministry In America, Abigail J. Smith

Selected Honors Theses

Generation Z is a generation that is completely unique to the ones before it. However, this also means that Generation Z also has its own unique challenges from the generations that came before. This thesis examines who Generation Z is, explores Generation Z’s struggle with mental health issues such as stress, anxiety, and loneliness. In light of those issues, this thesis seeks to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected and continues to affect Generation Z’s battle with mental health. The purpose of this thesis is to identify and define these issues and understand how youth pastors can meet the …

Family Fuel: The Church Partnering With Parents In The Spiritual Formation Of Children And Family, Vanessa A. Flores

Selected Honors Theses

American culture is shifting responsibilities away from parents and onto professionals, such as teachers and coaches for the informing and developing of their children. Is this applicable in the church setting, where parents drop off their kids to let the children’s ministry pastors spiritually influence their child? Through the corroboration of theology and social science, it is seen that the impact of children’s pastors is incomparable to the spiritual and emotional influence that parents give to their children. With the enjoin of Deuteronomy 6, churches today are equipping families to become the church so that there is a reciprocated relationship …

The Pauline Concept Of Discipleship As A Model For Addressing The Youth Dropout In The Twenty-First Century United States Of America Church., Jacob Al Hassan

Doctor of Ministry (DMin)

The dropout rate of more than five million young adults from faith and church in the last decade, who were originally born and raised in Christian homes, has reached a critical point. The Christian community must rethink its discipleship methods in order to impact the youth of today.

The researcher explored the root causes of the problem and identified that the current discipleship assumptions and strategies, rooted in modern mechanistic mass production paradigm do not work. Therefore, these assumptions and strategies must give way to a personally crafted one-on-one relational fatherly mentorship interconnected approach for the faith formation of the …

A Theology Of Compassion: Encouraging Local Church Ministry To Children In Foster Care, Allen Griffin

Doctor of Ministry (DMin)

Compassionate care within the local community of a church is of vital essence to a thriving church ministry. For centuries church leaders have endeavored to make an impact in the lives of the people living in their vicinity through outreach efforts. The compassion of the local church is needed in the area of children in foster care. Through the analysis of two church programs focused on serving the spiritual, educational, and social needs of teens in the foster care system, this dissertation will examine how to assist local churches in establishing a program to serve the children in their local …

The Separation Of Church And Race: The Role Of Intent In Creating A Racially Integrated Church, Shannon Marie Wolf

Selected Honors Theses

This thesis reviews the role of intent in creating a racially integrated church congregation in the United States. It considers a brief history of the American church’s relationship to race, surveying church involvement in slavery, segregation, and Civil Rights. It reviews the current state of race relations in the church through modern research on church responses to race and integration efforts, and it presents novel research on the factor of church mission in building racial integration in individual congregations. Research consisted of interviewing members of leadership at a successfully integrated church in the northeastern United States. Findings indicate that intent …

Southeastern Alumni Magazine- Summer 2019, Southeastern University - Lakeland

Southeastern Alumni Magazine

This issue features alumni from a variety of different colleges.

REMEMBERING DR. JAMES HENNESY As the longest-serving president of Southeastern, Dr. James Hennesy’s tenure included leading the university to gain regional accreditation, several building projects and spiritual revivals on campus.

RAY & JUDY RACHELS: A LIFETIME OF LOVE AND MINISTRY Ray and Judy (Homer) Rachels fondly remember meeting as students at Southeastern and their preparation for ministry.

BRANDON HURST: TREKKING THROUGH LIFE With an adventurer’s spirit, Brandon Hurst ’08 has hiked on both U.S. coasts, mountain climbed around the world and has run ultra marathons.

JAYMI YAMOAH: INSPIRING HOPE THROUGH …

Southeastern Alumni Magazine- Summer 2017, Southeastern University - Lakeland

Southeastern Alumni Magazine

Since its inception in 1935, Southeastern has been training servant leaders in ministry. This issue of the magazine features alumni from the Barnett College of Ministry & Theology. In this special issue, we will share the history of the college, future plans and new programs along with some stories of our alumni from the college who have pursued a lifetime in ministry.

Southeastern Alumni Magazine- Spring 2017, Southeastern University - Lakeland

Southeastern Alumni Magazine

Servant Leadership in Corporate America with Michelle Trindade. Michelle "discovered that God is not expecting you to be a phenomenal leader when you start a new role. God does expect you to grow into a phenomenal leader through him." Read this wonderful article about Michelle, Manny and Kaitlyn. This issue also includes a message from President Ingle who released his third book, enactus, Dr. Ed Plastow, information about The Forum and much more.

Discussion Of How To Effectively Communicate The Gospel Considering Generations, Cultures, And Paul’S Biblical Example., Rebeca Garnica

Selected Honors Theses

Every communicator of the gospel message should trust that God has called and prepared them to communicate His truth to His people. As a result, communicators should be stewards of God’s gifts and calling by diligently growing and preparing to reach His people. This paper is a discussion created to facilitate communicators of the gospel message with practical tools to be effective communicators. This effective communication is based on three main concepts: generations, cultures, and the Biblical example of the Apostle Paul. The purpose of this thesis is to help all communicators, but primarily those in North America, by examining …

Southeastern Alumni Magazine- Summer 2014, Southeastern University - Lakeland

Southeastern Alumni Magazine

Breaking New Ground
This issue of Southeastern looks at the exciting projects that some of our alumni are engaged in around the nation and the world. Their stories are inspiring and empowering to our community as they affirm the strategic mission and vision of our amazing school.

Southeastern Alumni Magazine- Summer 2012, Southeastern University - Lakeland

Southeastern Alumni Magazine

National Leadership Forum
This year’s Forum brought a lot of excitement to the campus with one of the country’s most popular athletes – Tim Tebow – featured during the two-day leadership conference. Robert Gates, Pat Williams, and Mark Sanborn, along with a number of other prominent leaders, also spoke to an audience of close to 700 during the March 2012 event held in Bush Chapel.

Southeastern Alumni Magazine- Winter 2012, Southeastern University - Lakeland

Southeastern Alumni Magazine

60 Year Later
This past year has been a remarkable year for the Southeastern University Alumni Association. We successfully published two alumni magazines, and we held a number of events last year in which over 1,000 alumni, former faculty, and guests participated.

SEU On Mission:
Students and alumni share a passion for missions across the globe.