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Articles 31 - 60 of 350
Full-Text Articles in Entire DC Network
Island Transformation: A Missional Approach To Cultivating A Jesus Culture On The Transitory Island Of South Padre., Matthew A. Wyatt
Island Transformation: A Missional Approach To Cultivating A Jesus Culture On The Transitory Island Of South Padre., Matthew A. Wyatt
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The following DMin action research project explores the transformative potential of a missional approach to cultivating a Jesus culture within the transitory community of South Padre Island. The research addresses the challenge faced by OneTwo Church, where many members, entrenched in the local island culture, find themselves ill-equipped to evangelize effectively to a transient population. This paper contends that by implementing a unique missional model, the church can instigate cultural transformation from within through strategic engagement in missional evangelism. Equipping OTC with this distinctive model will shift the community’s paradigm from passive island participants to active missional agents. Central to …
A Phenomenological Study Of Christian And Non-Christian Views On Human Dignity Among Marginalized Persons In Essex, Md, Jeffrey K. Belcher
A Phenomenological Study Of Christian And Non-Christian Views On Human Dignity Among Marginalized Persons In Essex, Md, Jeffrey K. Belcher
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to understand Human-Dignity views among marginalized persons living in Essex, MD, with Human Dignity being rooted in a biblical worldview, and how these views potentially relate to marginalized persons’ perceived experiences of marginalization. For the purposes of this study, Human Dignity is founded upon principles expressed in Genesis Chapters 1 and 2, and is defined as all people, made in the image of God, created to live in relationship with God, called to reflect the nature and character of God, as possessing intrinsic worth based upon God’s purpose for and calling upon …
Church Survivability: A Qualitative Study On Planters’ Leadership Development Role In Southern Baptist Texas Convention Planting, Alton R. Mckinley
Church Survivability: A Qualitative Study On Planters’ Leadership Development Role In Southern Baptist Texas Convention Planting, Alton R. Mckinley
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Since the pandemic, there has been an accelerated decline in church membership, and within groups of young adults, there are alarming trends that raise concern for the direction of the church. Wang (2022) wrote that the decline is about 10 percentage points between 2019 and 2021 for those under age 35 and those 65+, but only four percent for the middle-aged group. This increased decline in attendance can be addressed by developing leaders who are well-equipped to handle many issues and problems simultaneously. Many secular leadership development concepts will help leaders become more efficient and practical. Winston (2018), in his …
Systemizing Church Hospitality: Converting Attendees To Committed Members, Dallas J. Blacklock
Systemizing Church Hospitality: Converting Attendees To Committed Members, Dallas J. Blacklock
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The American church continues to lack a theoretical framework to guide newcomers through the process of becoming members. The problem is that First Mt. Carmel MBC lacks an onboarding system to guide visitors and guests through the process from attendees to members. The purpose of this DMIN action research project is to design, teach, and implement a 12-week onboarding system to integrate visitors into the congregation. To connect visitors to the congregation in the process of becoming a new creation in Christ, strategic steps are predetermined to assimilate them into the congregation. This problem was addressed by developing and implementing …
Developing A Contextualized Discipleship Pathway For Spiritual Formation And Multiplication Through A Culturally Relevant And Sustainable Model, Evans Jean
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Philadelphia Church of the Newborns (PCN) is a multigenerational Haitian church that has been serving the Haitian community for over 36 years. The church has an average of 375 members who regularly attend Sunday services. Since its establishment, PCN has embraced a traditional approach to discipleship, which is conducted through Sunday school and Bible study. Its ministry context includes Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z. Many members were raised in Haiti and understand how church traditions operate within the Haitian context. Discipleship takes place through church activities rather than structured programs. PCN is recognized for its solid biblical …
An Ethnodoxological Approach To Developing A Worship Leader Training Program In Infanta, Quezon, Philippines, Lindsay Kay Oakley
An Ethnodoxological Approach To Developing A Worship Leader Training Program In Infanta, Quezon, Philippines, Lindsay Kay Oakley
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Although there has been an increase in pastor training programs in the Philippines to fulfill the need created by the steady growth of evangelical church plants, there are few initiatives to create worship leader training programs. Worship is central to the evangelical church, and music plays an important role in the spiritual formation of believers in churches throughout the world. However, because of worship theology constructs and the implications of Filipino culture for worship contextualization, more attention must be given to equipping worship leaders for ministry in the Philippines. This study sought to identify the training and resources needed to …
A Qualitative Study On Investigating The Power Of Scripture To Conquer Depression By The Bible's Psychological Power Among Christians, Joana Okudzeto Biekro
A Qualitative Study On Investigating The Power Of Scripture To Conquer Depression By The Bible's Psychological Power Among Christians, Joana Okudzeto Biekro
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This phenomenological study investigated Evangelical Christians’ experiences using the Bible as a means of treating their depression in Orange County, CA. Depression is a painful mental illness that affects people all over the world. The rationale of the study is to add knowledge to Christians and thought leaders who seek a cure to the struggle of depression from a Biblical perspective. The research process is presented in the study of depression among Christians. Guided by these three questions, “How do evangelical Christians describe their experiences using the Bible as a means of treating their depression?”, “How do participants describe their …
Hope As A Source To Strengthen Chaplain Resiliency In The Christian And Missionary Alliance, Javier M. Torres-Chinea
Hope As A Source To Strengthen Chaplain Resiliency In The Christian And Missionary Alliance, Javier M. Torres-Chinea
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This research project intends not only to assess the levels of hope of the population of chaplains of the Christian and Missionary Alliance, but also to educate on how hope can strengthen resilience. Using Snyder's Theory of Hope (2000) provides a theoretical framework that allows a positive vision of the social and employment situation of millions of people. Snyder's Adult Hope Scale measures the hope trait in the chaplains, both male and female, between the ages of 25-65. For the participants, a questionnaire called the Hope Questionnaire was used. The SurveyPlanet website, to be distributed, answered, and collected data through …
Sustaining The Future Of The Local Church By Equipping Ministry Leaders Through A Development Program, James Wesley Harrison
Sustaining The Future Of The Local Church By Equipping Ministry Leaders Through A Development Program, James Wesley Harrison
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This dissertation-in-praxis addressed the pressing need for intentional leadership development within local churches, focusing on preparing the head, heart, and hands of aspiring ministry leaders to fulfill the calling God has placed on them. The rationale for this praxis project stemmed from the observed shortage of trained ministry leaders in many local churches. The project emphasized that many churches fail to implement deliberate efforts to equip ministry leaders to fulfill the church's mission. The Legacy Leadership Ministry Training program served as a viable solution to this problem. The purpose of this project was to develop and implement a comprehensive training …
Pastoral Unity Community Engagement Of Shiprock Area Ministry Association In Shiprock, New Mexico, Rosalind Ann Russell
Pastoral Unity Community Engagement Of Shiprock Area Ministry Association In Shiprock, New Mexico, Rosalind Ann Russell
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This praxis project examines the Shiprock Area Ministry Association (SAMA), a pastoral group which represents different religious denominations of faith in the community. SAMA is located on the Navajo Indian reservation in Shiprock, New Mexico and has struggled to return as a group amid the post COVID-19 pandemic. Since its founding as an organization, the group has gathered for support in unity, prayer, and engaged in activities in Shiprock. The return of SAMA members and new membership is to include pastor spouses, church workers, and ministers within a 15-mile radius. The Hershey and Blanchard (2001) Situational Leadership Self-Assessment will be …
Biblical Metanarrative Discipleship For Women: A Paradigm For Women In The Church That Impacts Christlike Growth Through The Influence Of Biblical Literacy, Patricia Cihak
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This DMIN research project seeks to resolve the problem of the lack of a biblically literate small group discipleship strategy to assist adult women in their spiritual journey of Christlikeness at Eastlake Church in Moneta, Virginia. Discipleship for women is assumed through the event, and program-driven ministry opportunities for women; however, the void of an intentional disciple-making strategy generates recipients rather than replicators. The gap between the discipleship that Jesus demonstrated and how it is observed among women today underscores the need for contemporary discourse on this issue. Current research reveals that biblical illiteracy is rising, and church attendance is …
Gen Mz Discipleship: Training A Generation To Live In The Postmodern Age, Christian E. Kolthoff
Gen Mz Discipleship: Training A Generation To Live In The Postmodern Age, Christian E. Kolthoff
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The church exodus of Gen MZ is one of the most significant issues affecting the health of churches in the West. Recent research has indicated that many in Gen MZ have left the church not for lack of knowledge but because of a lack of understanding of the why. It has also indicated that Gen MZ has not been trained to respond to why they are holding on to the hope of the Gospel. So, when presented with opposing views, they struggle to maintain their faith in today’s postmodern society. It is an age in which a war on ideas …
The Convergence Point Project: Assessing A Cultural Apologetics Curriculum For Today’S Believer, David L. Eadie Sr.
The Convergence Point Project: Assessing A Cultural Apologetics Curriculum For Today’S Believer, David L. Eadie Sr.
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This action research project designed, developed, and implemented a comprehensive program focused on communicating the gospel through the lens of Cultural Apologetics. This initiative’s core objective was to equip participants with the vital knowledge and practical skills necessary for effectively engaging with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds while articulating the gospel message in a meaningful way. A total of twenty-one volunteers participated in the project. They were provided a pre-questionnaire before starting, which assessed their initial understanding of Cultural Apologetics and their confidence in engaging across cultural divides. Upon finishing the program, the same individuals completed a post-questionnaire to evaluate …
How Spanish Seventh-Day Adventists Respond To A Discipleship Characteristics Training Program, Victor N. Rodriguez
How Spanish Seventh-Day Adventists Respond To A Discipleship Characteristics Training Program, Victor N. Rodriguez
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The current condition of the local church reflects a problem that concerns many churches in North America: There is a lack of understanding regarding the meaning of discipleship. The local church needs to recover a sense of biblical discipleship to execute the Great Commission and make disciples who make disciples. The purpose of this DMIN action research project was to understand how members of Olympia Spanish Seventh-Day Adventist Church would respond to a discipleship characteristics training program (DCTP). This research project used a mixed method approach to collect and analyze data from 16 participants and 16 members of a control …
Addressing Church Retention In A Post-Christian Age: A Multi-Faceted Approach, Lawrence Kendall Gurley
Addressing Church Retention In A Post-Christian Age: A Multi-Faceted Approach, Lawrence Kendall Gurley
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Declining and shuttered churches in America have become the norm in the past several decades. Congregations and church organizations have witnessed a steep decline while the average age of members and clergy continues to rise. Interventionist efforts to alter the calculus of these trends have been underway for many years in both mainstream and evangelical circles. Only recently have Pentecostal organizations begun to address this decline. The research shows that church decline and attrition, although pervasive, are not inevitable but require concerted and sustained efforts to restore health and a sense of mission to local churches. This dissertation builds on …
Exploring The Concept Of Eternal Security In The Primitive Church Of Orlando, Fl, Evelyne Petion Laroque
Exploring The Concept Of Eternal Security In The Primitive Church Of Orlando, Fl, Evelyne Petion Laroque
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This study explores the concept of eternal security in the Primitive Church of Orlando, Florida. The purpose is to accede to a genuine guarantee of eternal life. The Primitive Church of Orlando, Florida, may not understand the concept of eternal security, but the fault may not be entirely theirs. Theologians and believers have debated eternal security for centuries, with some advocating for “Once saved, always saved.” Moreover, others emphasize assurance of salvation. It is unclear how this ongoing argument serves God’s redemptive purpose for His Church. Still, it continues to frustrate believers’ spiritual formation worldwide. This study presents findings on …
A Phenomenological Study Of Syrian Refugees’ Experiences Seeking Mental Health Care In Lebanon, Mark Christopher Todd
A Phenomenological Study Of Syrian Refugees’ Experiences Seeking Mental Health Care In Lebanon, Mark Christopher Todd
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine the lived experience of Syrian refugees living in Tyre, Lebanon as it related to seeking mental health care. The theory guiding this study is the phenomenological approach of Moustakas (1994) as informed by the transcendental phenomenology of Husserl (Moustakas, 1994) in that it seeks to describe the essence of the phenomenon by putting aside all preconceptions and looking anew at the phenomenon through the lens of human experience. This study was also strongly influenced by transformative frameworks (Creswell & Poth, 2019) and decolonization theory (Smith, 2021) as it looked for answers …
Deepening Relationships With God At Crosspoint Church Through Understanding Covenantal Heritage, David J. Ogurek
Deepening Relationships With God At Crosspoint Church Through Understanding Covenantal Heritage, David J. Ogurek
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This action research project addressed the problem of Crosspoint Church’s members not understanding their heritage as God’s covenantal people, which impeded deep relationships with God. The project designed and delivered a six-week sermon series with small-group discussion guides to help participants deepen their relationships with God through understanding their covenantal heritage. The project utilized a multi-week sermon series that employed a teaching method involving biblical history to show how God’s story continually points toward Christ and is relevant to Christianity. Data were collected using surveys before and after the sermon series and a focus group of small-group leaders. The research …
Addressing A Lack Of Counseling Programs To Diminish The Psychological, Emotional, And Mental Impacts Of Church Closure Grief, Marcel Berrios
Addressing A Lack Of Counseling Programs To Diminish The Psychological, Emotional, And Mental Impacts Of Church Closure Grief, Marcel Berrios
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Besides spiritual activities, the social activities that happen in church buildings are vital to the functioning of most communities; therefore, churches play a central role in the social fabric and social infrastructure of communities in ways not necessarily thought about until they are no longer around. The looming absence of this role or function of the church becomes the overarching focus to address when an announcement is made that a church is permanently closing. Lost in navigating the business and community aspects of a church closure is the congregation's metamorphic spiritual, emotional, and psychological journey. Subsequently, many church members are …
The Soil Test: Facilitating Increased Receptivity To Spiritual Formation In A Large Church Through Education, Motivation, And Resources, Rosemary Moore
The Soil Test: Facilitating Increased Receptivity To Spiritual Formation In A Large Church Through Education, Motivation, And Resources, Rosemary Moore
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Decades of recent research and writing about spiritual formation and discipleship assume that there will be growth in spiritual maturity if churches have more models and biblical information. However, the literature addresses the wrong problem; it presupposes that the church is ready for spiritual formation. In their efforts to facilitate it, those trying to help the church are like the farmer who sows seed onto unprepared soil. Good seeds, such as discipleship groups, are sown into the soil of the church without paying attention to whether the soil can produce a harvest. The project posited that five conditions should be …
Disunity Of Pentecostal Pastors Planting Churches In Suburban Areas: Unifying Leaders With The Same Goal, Jamare L. Razor
Disunity Of Pentecostal Pastors Planting Churches In Suburban Areas: Unifying Leaders With The Same Goal, Jamare L. Razor
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The problem is that disunity exists among suburban church planting pastors of multidenominational and nondenominational churches in a tri-state region of the United States. Approximately 4,000 churches are planted in America each year and sadly about 3,700 of those churches will close. One reason for this is disunity among pastors that leads to the lack of support needed for church plant success and longevity. This problem must be remedied if the church plants are to succeed. The purpose for this Doctor of Ministry action research project is to identify the causes of the disunity that hinder church plant success in …
Developing A Biblical Worldview: Equipping African American Leaders With The Tools Needed To Combat The Reemergence Of Syncretism Within The African American Church, William Taft Wallace Jr.
Developing A Biblical Worldview: Equipping African American Leaders With The Tools Needed To Combat The Reemergence Of Syncretism Within The African American Church, William Taft Wallace Jr.
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Historically, African Americans have grappled with questions of identity, a struggle initially precipitated by the diaspora. Over time, this ongoing struggle has led many to seek answers from various sources, each of which has influenced and shaped their worldview. In response to this ongoing identity crisis, the African American church has traditionally served as a stabilizing force, emphasizing that identity is rooted in the image of God, as affirmed by the Bible. However, today’s African American church faces significant insider threats from other African American-based groups that promote counter-biblical and anti-Christian narratives regarding identity. These threats have infiltrated the church, …
When Obedience Becomes A Sacrifice: Creating And Sustaining Resilient Leaders, Janet G. Wooten
When Obedience Becomes A Sacrifice: Creating And Sustaining Resilient Leaders, Janet G. Wooten
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This thesis, “When Obedience Becomes a Sacrifice,” discusses the role of sacrifice in obeying God's call to lead. The lay leaders of Call to Conquer Ministries do not seem to understand this role, leading to ministry challenges. This research aims to provide a deeper understanding of the role of sacrifice in leadership and how to maintain resiliency during difficult times. Potential leaders answer God’s call to lead, believing that “obedience is better than sacrifice" (1 Samuel 15:22a). However, there is a lack of full clarity concerning the sacrifices made because of their obedience. The question to be addressed is “What …
Millennial Evangelism: Mobilizing Millennials Towards Faith-Sharing At Hope Chapel Foursquare Church, Peter O. Kolawole
Millennial Evangelism: Mobilizing Millennials Towards Faith-Sharing At Hope Chapel Foursquare Church, Peter O. Kolawole
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This action research project addresses the problem of dispassion or apparent detachment from the ministry of evangelism among millennials at Hope Chapel Foursquare church in Raleigh, North Carolina. Evangelism is the cornerstone of the Foursquare Church, of which Hope Chapel is a branch. As members of Hope Chapel come for bi-monthly community faith-sharing events, the largest group in the church, the millennial, was noticeably waning, which, if not rectified, will prevent the church from achieving its missional mandate. Evangelism is the nucleus and gateway to spiritual formation is essential to the Great Commission. Attaining spiritual formation and discipleship leads to …
Church Adoption: Three-Pronged Elements That Support The Revitalization Of Coastal Church Battery Park Location In Virginia, Michael Christopher Bard
Church Adoption: Three-Pronged Elements That Support The Revitalization Of Coastal Church Battery Park Location In Virginia, Michael Christopher Bard
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The church is God’s plan for delivering the good news of Jesus Christ’s finished work on the Cross. This finished work is evidenced through the bodily resurrection of Christ (1 Cor. 15). In the US a steady decline in church attendance has been prevalent over the past three decades and church buildings are either near empty or closing. This research explores the concept of church adoption merger in hopes of one avenue that would promote revitalization of local fellowships. Though multiple elements are supportive in revitalization this research explore three elements that should lead towards centralizing the church on Christ. …
Mentoring Emerging Leaders As It Relates To Senior Leadership Succession, Kevin D. Neal
Mentoring Emerging Leaders As It Relates To Senior Leadership Succession, Kevin D. Neal
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this case study was to explore the effects that a leadership mentoring plan had on the development of emerging leaders within the ministry of the International Ministry Network of Churches (IMNC). This study also sought to determine future leadership readiness regarding succession. This church fellowship currently does not have an established mentorship program in place, and without a successful plan for preparing new leaders for the future of the IMNC, the organization's growth and perpetuity can be potentially impacted negatively. The research was conducted by surveying senior local church leaders within the IMNC to assess their current …
Documentation For Developing And Managing Multiple Learning Centers As Gospel Outreach Programs In Nyc Chinese American Churches, Alice Tam
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This thesis project is dedicated to creating comprehensive documentation for developing and managing multiple learning centers in various Chinese churches in NYC. It is a strategic initiative for the future growth and expansion of the Creator’s Voice Learning Center, and it also builds up a collaborative effort with churches to encourage gospel outreach in NYC Chinese communities. The CV Learning Center has been a pillar of success in NYC Chinatown for over twenty years as a beacon of hope in gospel outreach. However, CV needs assistance to launch its ministry ideology on multiple sites. The project employed two pilot testing …
Missional Leadership: An Instructional Program To Cultivate Leaders Of A Missional Church, Conner Mathias Brew
Missional Leadership: An Instructional Program To Cultivate Leaders Of A Missional Church, Conner Mathias Brew
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this action research project is to design, execute, and evaluate a small group instructional framework that cultivates a missional culture focused on communal discipleship at MVMNT Church, a local church in the Association of Related Churches network, while also addressing a gap in scholarship surrounding the interrelation of discipleship and the missional church. Using a mixed-methods approach, this study leveraged inductive thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with survey data to validate the lack of discipleship activity at MVMNT Church and moderate-to-low comprehension of topics related to mission, discipleship, and leadership in the church. This project recommended and …
A Phenomenological Study Of Church Revitalization In Coastal North Carolina, Paolo Engle Santos
A Phenomenological Study Of Church Revitalization In Coastal North Carolina, Paolo Engle Santos
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Pastors and ministry leaders share the important responsibilities of church growth and revitalization. This research focused on overcoming decline and moving towards a season of strength and multiplication. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore church growth and revitalization within Southern Baptist churches in coastal North Carolina. The theory guiding this study was Rainer's (2020) central thesis about revived churches, which suggests that churches must adapt to cultural shifts and actively engage with the changing world. The study sought to gain insights into the perspectives and mindsets of full-time pastors and ministry leaders regarding numerical expansion, spiritual awakening, …
Best Practices Associated With Medical Device Regulatory Strategy Success: A Case Study, Jonathan P. Ward
Best Practices Associated With Medical Device Regulatory Strategy Success: A Case Study, Jonathan P. Ward
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
In the evolving medical device industry, understanding how to achieve effective regulatory strategies is crucial. This study explored the foundations of regulatory strategy success in the United States, using qualitative insights from regulatory affairs professionals and industry investors. It identified operational, leadership, product design, and external factors essential for developing and implementing successful regulatory strategies. Key findings highlighted the importance of financial planning, agile regualtory process management, strategic knowledge integration, and proactive engagement with regulatory authorities. The study also pointed to the role of business ecosystems in supporting regulatory outcomes, suggesting a strategic planning approach that aligns product design with …