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Educating Church Leaders: Providing End-Of-Life Spiritual Care To Life Changers Church Ministry, Jermaine Joshua Ruffin
Educating Church Leaders: Providing End-Of-Life Spiritual Care To Life Changers Church Ministry, Jermaine Joshua Ruffin
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Life Changers Community Fellowship Church, of Jackson, Mississippi, struggles to provide end-of-life spiritual care to its members. Its church leadership has placed the responsibility of providing end-of-life spiritual care on institutions such as hospice and palliative care companies. These organizations do their best to provide end-of-life spiritual care, but struggle due to cultural and ethnical boundaries, and a lack of resources to provide such care. This study seeks to examine whether end-of-life spiritual care is a biblical concern and/or mandate within church leadership. In addition, this study will explore how hospice chaplains understand end-of-life spiritual care provided to patients and …
From Spectator To Servant: Addressing The Heart Of The Christian For Service Within The Church Based Upon Ephesians 5:18-21 And Biblical Principles Of Servanthood, David Warren Di Raddo
From Spectator To Servant: Addressing The Heart Of The Christian For Service Within The Church Based Upon Ephesians 5:18-21 And Biblical Principles Of Servanthood, David Warren Di Raddo
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
In the ninth chapter of Matthew's Gospel, verses thirty-six through thirty-eight, Jesus said to His disciples that the fields were ripe for harvest, but the workers are few. This dissertation project will address the question of why today, as in the days of Jesus, workers in the church continue to be few in number. Specifically, what factors have contributed to the majority of those who attend church becoming spectators rather than servants, and what will change the heart of the individual? This study will include three primary data collection methods comprised of a pre- and post-intervention questionnaire, a ten-question survey …
Biblical Literacy: Developing A Habit Of Personal Bible Reading Among The Members Of Contending For The Faith Christian Fellowship, Christopher L. Coleman
Biblical Literacy: Developing A Habit Of Personal Bible Reading Among The Members Of Contending For The Faith Christian Fellowship, Christopher L. Coleman
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Biblical literacy is an important value in the life of any person, and especially in the life of a believer in Jesus Christ. However, all too often, believers lack a firm grasp of Scripture knowledge and understanding, and consequently, are unprepared to detect and avoid erroneous teaching and to “contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints” (Jude 3). One of the reasons for this pervasive lack of biblical literacy among many believers is because there is a lack in the development of a habit in personal Bible reading outside of the weekly church services. …
Refilling The Oilpots: Developing A Program To Reverse Stagnancy In African-American Churches, Mancil Carroll
Refilling The Oilpots: Developing A Program To Reverse Stagnancy In African-American Churches, Mancil Carroll
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Many African American churches in America are experiencing a decline in attendance and participation. The typical church goes through a life-cycle that includes the church's birth, infancy, maturity, stagnation, and death. However, it is possible to create a rebirth process that will restart the life-cycle from the beginning. This thesis develops a strategic plan to initiate church rebirth and build momentum for the congregation. This project's research approach will include interviews with the leaders of a medium-size African American church in Dallas's suburbs. The project will also include survey questionnaires to congregants, former church members, and random subjects selected through …
An Effective Strategy Of Family Ministry In Korean Church To Build A Biblical Family, Ikjae Jin
An Effective Strategy Of Family Ministry In Korean Church To Build A Biblical Family, Ikjae Jin
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this project is to assist churches in building a biblical family and developing an effective strategy for family ministry programs. Additionally, it will address the problems and difficulties of Korean families. The study will be based on Korean churches in South Korea. A study of what churches are doing to assist these families will be conducted. This project will suggest how to build a biblical family in Korean churches. This research will survey at least 50 Korean pastors living in Korea and will conduct research on existing family ministry programs in Korean churches based on biblical and …
The Integration Of Spiritual Formation Through Distance Education For Christian Higher Education Students, Derwin Earl Lewis
The Integration Of Spiritual Formation Through Distance Education For Christian Higher Education Students, Derwin Earl Lewis
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Many factors contribute to the recent increase of digital education in higher learning institutions, including the expanded use of mobile devices, social media, and other online populations. CNBC reports that over two billion users ascribe to Facebook monthly (Balakrishnan, 2017). Over four hundred million Instagram users and over three hundred million active Twitter accounts are being used daily (Clement, 2019). Celebrating technology’s imprint on society presents another opportunity for social sciences to applaud human achievement at the risk of discounting God’s sovereignty. The digital era has created an opportunity for Christian education to expand its reachability through churches and Bible-based …
Freemasonry And Evangelical Christianity: Are They Compatible?, John Carl Mozingo
Freemasonry And Evangelical Christianity: Are They Compatible?, John Carl Mozingo
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Since 1717 there has been a formalized organization known as the Freemasons. Currently, there are over six-million members worldwide, with over 18% of those members residing in the United States. The Freemasons have been controversial since their inception due to their secret nature. There are claims that the organization is anti-Christian as well as claims that support its compatibility with the church, indicating that there are Freemasons on the rolls of our Evangelical Churches. Therefore, using observation and participant research as well as secondary data analysis and archival study, this paper will seek to determine if Freemasonry is compatible with …
Surviving A Divorce With An Intact Faith: A Strategy For Ministering To Those Experiencing Divorce In The Church, Brandon Paul Wells
Surviving A Divorce With An Intact Faith: A Strategy For Ministering To Those Experiencing Divorce In The Church, Brandon Paul Wells
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Effectively ministering to divorcees is a unique aspect of church leadership. The majority of church leaders have never experienced divorce, so the unique problems that divorce presents are not familiar to them. The purpose of this D. Min Thesis Project is to investigate those problems and develop strategies that will allow church leaders to minister to divorcees effectively. This will be accomplished using questionnaires and interviews where difficult questions are asked to divorcees, and honest answers are revealed. Church leaders will also be interviewed about their positions on divorce and their responses compared to those given by divorcees in order …
Archaeology And Biblical Inspiration, Garry Leo Hill
Archaeology And Biblical Inspiration, Garry Leo Hill
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The thesis project topic is on Inspiration and Bible Archaeology. The project's main reason is a perceived lack of confidence in the Bible’s stories being real. The project addresses this worldview, which causes this belief to influence our church members. The study includes an explanation of the post-modern world view concerning the certainty of historical events. A Biblical viewpoint is addressed, and the relationship with this to Bible inspiration is explored. A survey is given to individual members of the congregation, which gives questions concerning these issues. Two interventions are then presented, one in which the debates concerning the United …
Beautiful Feet: Infusing Liturgical Dance And Discipleship, Ariesha Wilbert Murray
Beautiful Feet: Infusing Liturgical Dance And Discipleship, Ariesha Wilbert Murray
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Liturgical dance, when combined with other biblical elements in addition to worship, can revolutionize the life of a disciple. This mixed-method study explores the infusion of liturgical dance and discipleship as another method that can be used to help disciples better understand the scriptures used in the pastor’s message on fulfilling the Great Commission. While discipleship was previously the church’s primary focus, it has slowly fallen to the wayside, whereas disciples are not being made or taught how to make disciples of all nations. This research uses a focus group with the members of a local ministry to demonstrate whether …
Prayerlessness: Using Expository Sermons To Change The Way Believer's Pray, Joshua Kenton Smith
Prayerlessness: Using Expository Sermons To Change The Way Believer's Pray, Joshua Kenton Smith
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
In America, the church is operating with less supernatural power than it once did or currently does in other parts of the world, especially as it relates to those like East Barbourville Baptist Church who belong to the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). For example, the Annual Church Profile data of the SBC for the 2018 year reveals that its overall membership has reached a thirty-year low. Likewise, the data reveals a decline in baptisms for the tenth year in a row. Yet, the church has access to more ministry tools and better training than any previous generation, so what is …
Information To Transformation: The Implementation And Effects Of Sermon-Aligned Daily Bible Study On Spiritual Growth, Stephen J. Kimpel
Information To Transformation: The Implementation And Effects Of Sermon-Aligned Daily Bible Study On Spiritual Growth, Stephen J. Kimpel
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
What would occur if the biblical text that was preached in a weekend sermon was not relegated to a singular communication of information? What would change if the life of the sermon was extended through the practice of daily, scriptural study? What growth could we expect from an individual who is involved in daily Scripture that is not only integrated in the community of faith, but also aligned with the weekend sermon? It is precisely from questions such as these, that this thesis was formed. The purpose of this project was to study the implementation and effects of Sermon-Aligned Daily …
The Utilization Of The Internet In The Advancement Of Discipleship In The Traditional Black Church, Marshall Williams
The Utilization Of The Internet In The Advancement Of Discipleship In The Traditional Black Church, Marshall Williams
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Discipleship and technology are interrelated. Discipleship is the process of maturing in Christ through our actions, life, and words, as well as how we present ourselves to the world. This must become integral to the vitality and mission of the traditional Black Church. Technology is a resource that can assist the traditional Black Church to fulfill the Great Commission of Matthew 28:19-20. This thesis premise is supported by applied research (survey findings from pastoral leaders within the General Missionary Baptist Convention of Georgia), academic research (scholarly material from experts in the fields of theology, sociology, statistics, and church growth), and …
Experiencing God: Engaging Elementary-Aged Children In Corporate Worship, Laura Rushing Hancock
Experiencing God: Engaging Elementary-Aged Children In Corporate Worship, Laura Rushing Hancock
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The engagement of children in meaningful worship has been neglected, despite the investment of modern churches in essential safety protocols and digital media in children’s ministry. The twenty-first-century consumerist mindset is driving worship design, essentially undermining the worship leader’s role as the shepherd of a child-centered and Christ-focused approach. Many churches are neglecting the biblical instruction to cast vision and express value for children’s corporate worship. A sense of awe and wonder is notably absent in many corporate services designed for children. Drawing upon biblical principles, educational theory, and corporate worship practices throughout history, this qualitative historical study seeks to …
The Acts Model Designed To Make Disciples, Phillip Harold Stevens
The Acts Model Designed To Make Disciples, Phillip Harold Stevens
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Churches are in decline. Every relevant statistic reveals the church has a major problem, and if it is to continue to survive it must make changes. The church is not evangelizing, not making disciples, and not making an impact in our communities. Every year it is estimated that over 4,000 churches close each year. The organism founded by Jesus is being overcome. Winfall Baptist Church, located in Gladys, VA, was arguably a church on the decline. Members of the Winfall community believed the church building would one day end up becoming a hay barn. Based on Scripture, surveys of current …
Pastoral Burnout: Practical And Biblical Insights For Prevention And Rehabilitation Within The International Pentecostal Holiness Church, Jim Tunnell
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
With the excessive demands in pastoral ministry, the spectrum of ministry workload has become a stressful occupational peril that could trigger pastors to give in and ultimately abandon ministry altogether. Before and after secession, clergy, particularly pastors, experience a wide variety of maladies, including but not limited to physical and psychological distress, that may lead to intensive outcomes. As the number of resignations continues to rise, there is an emergent interest among leaders, particularly in the denominational sector, to determine the interposing contributing factors and to develop appropriate resources to be of assistance when pastoral burnout is recognizable. With the …
The Development Of A Comprehensive Biblical Worldview In Undergraduate Students Who Attend A Regionally Accredited Christian University Located In A Church Setting, Nell Ivy Prince
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The problem this study addresses is that Christian undergraduate Generation Z students at Southeastern University’s Bayside Regional Campus (SEUB) do not have a comprehensive biblical worldview. This was confirmed when a worldview test taken by SEUB students at the beginning of this study revealed that zero students part of this study had a biblical theist worldview, and 15 percent had a moderate Christian worldview. This problem is widespread among universities as a 2018 study from Barna revealed that only 4 percent of Gen Z engaged Christians have a biblical worldview. This study proposes that students who attend a regionally-accredited Christian …
Recovering The Historical Practice Of Delayed Baptism And Pre-Baptismal Instruction For The Purpose Of Restoring The Standard Of A Regenerate Church Membership In Southern Baptist Churches, Alan Clayton Mccullough
Recovering The Historical Practice Of Delayed Baptism And Pre-Baptismal Instruction For The Purpose Of Restoring The Standard Of A Regenerate Church Membership In Southern Baptist Churches, Alan Clayton Mccullough
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The recovery of the historical practice of delayed baptism for the purpose of pre-baptismal instruction will better ensure a regenerate church membership, thereby promoting more faithful church members. This study argues that reform is needed in Baptist churches in the preparation for believer’s baptism. As Baptists are “people of the Book,” it is most appropriate to survey what the Bible teaches about the meaning of baptism. The first chapter addresses the biblical texts commonly agreed upon by Baptists regarding baptism, as well as those most commonly disagreed upon. Attention is given to the texts used by opponents of delayed baptism …
Expanding The Reach And Impact Of Hope For All Nations Ministries International In Zimbabwe Through A Women's Mentoring Initiative, Nhira Constance Ngoni
Expanding The Reach And Impact Of Hope For All Nations Ministries International In Zimbabwe Through A Women's Mentoring Initiative, Nhira Constance Ngoni
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Female leaders serving in strategic mentoring roles are critical to the work of equipping women to serve in local churches and para-churches. As demonstrated through scripture in Titus 2:3–5, women in positions of influential leadership have vast opportunities to prepare younger generations of women through strategic mentoring efforts. This study analyzes the significance of the mentoring process utilized by Hope for All Nations Ministries International (HFANMI) to equip women in their efforts to impact the nation of Zimbabwe. The goal for this project was to develop women leaders who were able to walk in freedom, experience God, grow in their …
Multigenerational Worship: Liturgical Dance And Mime Within The African American Baptist Church, Lydia Marie Toliver
Multigenerational Worship: Liturgical Dance And Mime Within The African American Baptist Church, Lydia Marie Toliver
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Historically, the African American Church has utilized movement to express personal faith. As attitudes towards movement changed, many churches limited or banned the use of dance in worship. Currently, many African American Baptist Churches have developed liturgical dance teams, providing a ministry for a variety of generations. These lyrical movements are danced to live or recorded music, usually contemporary Gospel music. Popularity of the liturgical dance teams has expanded to include mime, also known as Gospel mime. Many churches that worship in a multigenerational model provide relevant and transformational opportunities for all ages. Incorporating liturgical dance and mime as worship …
Enhancing Pastoral Care And Support By Providing Opportunities For Spiritual Growth And Transformation To Crisis And Trauma Sufferers, Angela Roberts Jones
Enhancing Pastoral Care And Support By Providing Opportunities For Spiritual Growth And Transformation To Crisis And Trauma Sufferers, Angela Roberts Jones
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Trauma experiences are becoming more prevalent in today’s society. For example, each day, the media reports the widespread impact of war, gun violence, domestic and international terrorism, violent crimes, sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse and neglect, mass shootings, and natural disasters in the general population. The church has long been considered a place of refuge, hope, and healing for people who suffer from crises and trauma. It is often the first place Christians and the surrounding community turn in times of distress. Because pastors and churches are often the first responders when people experience crises and traumatic events, there …
A Study On The Evangelism Training Program For Church Growth: The Case Of Bethel Bible Baptist Church In Korea, Sung Hee Lee
A Study On The Evangelism Training Program For Church Growth: The Case Of Bethel Bible Baptist Church In Korea, Sung Hee Lee
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this case study is to find an evangelism training program for church growth in Korea. The researcher will study the evangelism strategies for church growth and will suggest effective evangelism training program to churches in order to find effective ways for church growth. The reason for selecting the evangelism training program for this study is to use it at Bethel Bible Baptist Church because evangelism is essential ministry for church growth and lots of churches have been experiencing growth by evangelism. The researcher will take advantages and supplement disadvantages from old evangelism programs to suggest new evangelism …
The Effectiveness Of The African American Church Evangelism Outreach Process, Jeffrey Lawrance Dennis
The Effectiveness Of The African American Church Evangelism Outreach Process, Jeffrey Lawrance Dennis
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Many African American churches are on a continual decline or have become stagnant in membership due to a lack of relational and spiritual community evangelism. The focus of this project reflects that African American churches in North Carolina are not growing because they do not focus on Jesus Christ’s central mandate to his disciples and the church to evangelize the community and the world around it. The researcher performs applied research on African American churches that directly interacted with these communities and investigates positive and negative data by surveying twenty African American churches in Winston Salem, Greensboro, High Point, and …
The Ministry Of Ezra: A Biblical Model Of Intergenerational Worship, Matthew Ryan Nix
The Ministry Of Ezra: A Biblical Model Of Intergenerational Worship, Matthew Ryan Nix
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Despite many studies on intergenerational worship, there is little focus on a specific biblical character with the aim to edify the Church family as a whole in terms of intergenerational worship and how it impacts all generations and family types in the Church today. This study focuses on the ministry of Ezra and how he led others through a time of intergenerational worship and transition. Guided by examples from Ezra’s ministry, along with historical research, this study will seek to discover ways that Ezra taught worship across generational lines, lessons that the 21st-century church can glean from his ministry, and …
Classical Christian Education And Students' Christian Formation, Melody Kay Smith
Classical Christian Education And Students' Christian Formation, Melody Kay Smith
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Training young people to love and serve God is an important responsibility shared by both parents and church leaders. This study explored one approach to that mandate: classical Christian education, a modern revival of a centuries-long tradition. The modern renewal began in the 1980’s after a near century-long hiatus during which time classical methodology was replaced by a progressive, secular approach. Currently, research is still minimal, therefore this study seeks to fill a gap regarding this unique Christian pedagogy. The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study is to determine if any perceived relationships exist between the distinguishing characteristics of …
Mental Health Chaplaincy: A Guide For Geriatric Psychiatric Chaplains, Deena Anne Martinelli
Mental Health Chaplaincy: A Guide For Geriatric Psychiatric Chaplains, Deena Anne Martinelli
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The Veterans Administration (VA) and Department of Defense (DOD) evaluated the expanding roles of chaplains in mental health and identified the prevalent need for additional training among chaplains when integrating chaplaincy and mental health services. Literature revealed that chaplains were lacking in the skillsets and pastoral care practices needed to effectively care for elderly patients with mental health disorders. A gap remains in literature regarding the reported level of training and preparedness of chaplains who ministered to geriatric mental health patients within clinical settings, which this project sought to examine. Harter’s competence motivation theory and the Holy Bible served as …
Judge Jesus: Interpreting Jesus’ Role As Judge In The Gospel Of John Through An Early Jewish Mindset, Jeremiah Stallman
Judge Jesus: Interpreting Jesus’ Role As Judge In The Gospel Of John Through An Early Jewish Mindset, Jeremiah Stallman
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Jesus proclaimed that the Father gave him the authority to judge because he is the “Son of Man” (John 5:22, 27). This proclamation is spoken to an immediate Jewish audience that would have had preconceived theological beliefs concerning eschatological judgment and messianic expectation. However, these are not the preconceived beliefs of the modern reader. The modern reader of the Gospel of John will better understand John’s presentation of Jesus’ words concerning his role as messianic judge through an Early Jewish interpretive lens. The first century Jew in John’s audience would have been infused with two to three centuries of preconceived …
Christian Education: Eight Essential Elements To Foster Spiritual Formation And Christlikeness, Alice Tillman O'Neal
Christian Education: Eight Essential Elements To Foster Spiritual Formation And Christlikeness, Alice Tillman O'Neal
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Effective Christian education in the church setting should be a process that stimulates growth. The problem is that without the provision and engagement in the essential elements of Christian education, believers can attend church for an entire life span and never grow into Christlike maturity. This research project provides a paradigm to foster the demonstration of Christlikeness by the individual maturation toward spiritual formation and the operationalizing of the community of believers as a life-giving organism. The research approach includes the examination of recognized models of Christian education, spiritual formation, and Christian community development. Additionally, pastors of fifteen churches in …
An Aggressive, Arrogant, And Argumentative Society: A Biblical Perspective From African American Pastors Of Carolina Low Country, James Mack Jr
An Aggressive, Arrogant, And Argumentative Society: A Biblical Perspective From African American Pastors Of Carolina Low Country, James Mack Jr
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
In a nation mired in racial violence, how can African American churches reach the divided communities with the love of Jesus Christ? What methods can African American pastors use to enlighten their communities and seek racial unity within the greater community? How can African American pastors share this single truth with their communities: As long as America is divided by racial bigotry, economic disparity, and cultural indifference, every citizen is injured, and our nation is bound to fail. Although similar questions are asked nationwide, this thesis focuses on the perspectives of African American pastors and their churches from the Gullah …
Discipling Generation Z Marines: A Qualitative Study At The Center For Naval Aviation Technical Training, Jeffrey Scott Tagert
Discipling Generation Z Marines: A Qualitative Study At The Center For Naval Aviation Technical Training, Jeffrey Scott Tagert
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Generation Z is the largest generation currently serving in the United States Armed Forces. This project sought to identify the generational trends and their influences in discipleship ministry in the context of the United States Marine Corps. The researcher further planned and instituted a unit Bible study at the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training New River. The project utilized a “Basic Bible Questionnaire,” a “Generational-Methodology Questionnaire,” and a five-week Bible study. The researcher utilized the Bible storying method as a means to short-term discipleship in Marine students at the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training New River. The information …