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Articles 151 - 180 of 251
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The Pastoral Leadership Crisis In Baptist Churches In Togo, Kossi M. Eklou
The Pastoral Leadership Crisis In Baptist Churches In Togo, Kossi M. Eklou
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The issues of leadership in Calvary Baptist Church in Lomé are unique. From the time the Baptist denomination entered the country of Togo in 1964, the election of pastors in the Baptist churches has been arbitrary. This system has engendered severe pastoral leadership flaws and the present crisis in Baptist churches in Togo. Calvary Baptist Church is no exception. The main problem is the lack of biblical training for men who lead the churches as pastors. In this project, I research and investigate what a lack of biblical training does to a pastor and the church. Though there are many …
Resolving The Shortage Of Youth At Mount Moriah Baptist Church, Sharion Dianne Otey
Resolving The Shortage Of Youth At Mount Moriah Baptist Church, Sharion Dianne Otey
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this project is to examine the lack of youth at Mouth Moriah Baptist Church. The participants’ perspective is crucial to understanding why youth are not returning to the church after graduating from high school. The following chapters show the need for youth in the church and the why youth are leaving the church after graduating high school. In this project, the data will demonstrate the causes for the lack of youth. Furthermore, it will present changes that are needed to increase the number of youth in the church. Current literature provides insight into what others have done …
Biblical Parenting, Mehret Kahsai
Biblical Parenting, Mehret Kahsai
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The goal of this Doctor of Ministry thesis project, Biblical Parenting, is to equip parents with tools that will enable them to conduct Bible study and family worship in an age-appropriate manner, so that their children will grow up understanding the Word of God and have a biblical worldview that will direct their daily decisions. Some of the parents at Calvary Baptist Church and Covenant Christian Academy appear not to be accomplishing their God given task of evangelizing and discipling their children at home. Instead they have relegated that responsibility to the church. However, according to the Bible, parents are …
Proven Biblical Discipleship: Make It According To The Pattern, Anthony Ray Mckee
Proven Biblical Discipleship: Make It According To The Pattern, Anthony Ray Mckee
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The first-century church’s spiritual growth methodology functioned to achieve the goal of Christlikeness through discipleship. God crafted a design for his church to advance followers of Jesus toward Christian maturity. God’s instruction for Israel to “see that you make it according to the pattern” came from God’s perfect mind and is practical guidance for today’s spiritual growth practices. According to the countless number of discipleship methods available, some churches communicate that Christian maturation can be achieved through any discipleship perspective. This project aims to study local churches that offer a discipleship program, process, or pedagogy and compare them with twelve …
Military Discipleship: A Strategy For Discipleship In The U.S. Military Community In The Republic Of Korea, Theodore Danecki
Military Discipleship: A Strategy For Discipleship In The U.S. Military Community In The Republic Of Korea, Theodore Danecki
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Military members, their civilian counterparts, and their family members serving in the Republic of Korea face unique challenges that stress their spiritual walk. These challenges include gambling addiction, alcohol abuse, and sexual temptations exacerbated by the stressful work environment, and some married members being unable to bring their family. These factors combine to create an environment where biblical discipleship and accountability, leading to spiritual growth is difficult. The purpose of this study is to develop and implement relational small groups that address the challenges facing military members and their families in the Republic of Korea while focusing on biblical discipleship …
Addressing The Issue Of Low Attendance In Emmanuel Church Among Young Adults, Ivett Beverley Mcdonald
Addressing The Issue Of Low Attendance In Emmanuel Church Among Young Adults, Ivett Beverley Mcdonald
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of the study was to address the issue of low attendance in Emmanuel Church among young adults. This topic is based on the investigator's awareness that individuals who grow up in Emmanuel discontinue attendance between the ages of eighteen to twenty-nine years. The literature review revealed that many churches commonly experience this problem. Emmanuel Church is primarily made up of Jamaicans and their descendants, and no literature addressed the immediate context of Emmanuel Church. The investigator interviewed twenty young adults who were previous members of Emmanuel Church. The study revealed that young adults leave Emmanuel in record numbers. …
Preparing The Next Generation For A Pluralistic World: The Need To Teach Systematic Theology To Christian Youth, Terrance Jermayne O'Neil
Preparing The Next Generation For A Pluralistic World: The Need To Teach Systematic Theology To Christian Youth, Terrance Jermayne O'Neil
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The continuation of Christianity is rooted in the historical practice of the preceding generation theologically educating the next generation. This process has led to the spreading of the gospel throughout the world. However, in recent years, the Christian church has watched an entire generation walk away from the faith. Many youths who affirmed their faith in Christ are abandoning their confessions and practice. The challenges and skepticism of a pluralistic and relativistic culture have questioned historic Christianity. Regretfully, Christian youth are unable to respond theologically and accurately with confidence. The church has failed to prepare them. This study sought to …
The Role Of Ministry Structure And Student Ministry Leadership In Retaining Students In Church Following High School Graduation, Brandon Scott Carter
The Role Of Ministry Structure And Student Ministry Leadership In Retaining Students In Church Following High School Graduation, Brandon Scott Carter
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The thesis of this project is to validate the correlations between the staff's role, leadership development, ministry structure, staff tenure and student development as they relate to retention of students in the local church after high school. Aspects considered include staff role, leadership development, and student development. Staff role covers the tenure of the pastoral staff, unified vision, resources, and congregational support. Leadership development includes enlisting, equipping, encouraging, and evaluating workers. Student development includes evangelism, education, encouragement, and evaluation. Many churches lack a clear plan for students. Untrained volunteers often lead students, or an untrained and inexperienced person is hired …
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 …
Loving The Unloveable: A Biblical Approach For The Local Church To Homosexuality In A Morally Declining Society, Robert Jonathan Archer
Loving The Unloveable: A Biblical Approach For The Local Church To Homosexuality In A Morally Declining Society, Robert Jonathan Archer
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This thesis will strive to prove that local churches worldwide have been highly ineffective at providing true recovery for parishioners that struggle with homosexuality often ostracizing them as a diseased product rather than a creation of the Father. The goal is to help the church discover, assess, and address the sin, healing, and recovery for homosexuals in their ministry in a healthy biblical manner that promotes freedom in Christ and true recovery. This will allow the local church to partake in the healing process of broken parishioners promoting evangelism and discipleship that will in turn extend into the communities of …
The Impact Of Sunday School Participation On Spiritual Formation In African American Baptist Churches In North Carolina, Christopher Eugene Harris
The Impact Of Sunday School Participation On Spiritual Formation In African American Baptist Churches In North Carolina, Christopher Eugene Harris
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this correlational quantitative study was to determine a relationship between Sunday School participation and spiritual formation upon participating congregations of the General Baptist State Convention of North Carolina (GBSCNC). The process of spiritual formation comes through the spiritual disciplines being practiced. The spiritual disciplines were measured through the study sample of GBSCNC churches in this study using four spiritual development modes from the Christian Spiritual Participation Profile: growing through a relationship with God, growing through the Word, growing through critical reflection, and growing through relationships with others (Thayer, 1996). The research findings were based on a sample …
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 …
Intentional Discipleship: Effective Disciple-Making For Church Growth In Liberia, George L. Suah
Intentional Discipleship: Effective Disciple-Making For Church Growth In Liberia, George L. Suah
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Pastors of extremely effective disciple-making churches are conscious of the degree of church efficiency, and they recognize the significance of intentional discipleship for church growth. The purpose of this study is to investigate intentional discipleship for church growth in Liberia. An anonymous research study of 12 pastors and church leaders (evangelists) from Unity Light Ministry Network (UCC) in Kakata, Liberia, West Africa, was conducted to explore why Unity Light Ministry Network (UCC) in Liberia is struggling to grow their church numerically and spiritually. The study found that the Ministry does not have adequate and systematic training on intentional discipleship for …
African American Pastoral Counseling: The Dynamics On Self-Worth, Personal Efficacy, Motivation, And Responsible Discipleship, Charles T. Walker
African American Pastoral Counseling: The Dynamics On Self-Worth, Personal Efficacy, Motivation, And Responsible Discipleship, Charles T. Walker
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This qualitative study evaluated the counseling practices of African American pastors in the Southeastern region of the United States. The study examined their perceptions and relevant themes when counseling their parishioners on self-worth, personal efficacy, and motivation. Relevant themes were: Cultural Context counseling; impaired self-worth and self-love in rural young females; and whether the rural male is dominated by loss of hope. The exploratory study collected data from 19 digital surveys, 10 selected pastoral counselors’ semi-structured interviews, and 10 collected member focus interview questionnaires. The findings from the data collected show that members felt comfortable receiving counseling from their pastor …
Spiritual Disciplines For Men In A Medium-Sized Church, Scott Lowry Willis
Spiritual Disciplines For Men In A Medium-Sized Church, Scott Lowry Willis
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The problem is that the men of Freedom Fellowship Church in Canyon, Texas, do not have adequate training in the spiritual disciplines. Training in the spiritual disciplines would offer to the men in the church the proper leadership instruction that would give them the tools necessary to accomplish this goal. If the men of the church receive instruction in the spiritual disciplines, they will be able to utilize them in their daily lives. The men will, in turn, be able to use the spiritual disciplines in leadership positions in the church with confidence in being able to increase the spiritual …
The Intergenerational Worship Model: Youth-Specific Benefits, James Alan Lott
The Intergenerational Worship Model: Youth-Specific Benefits, James Alan Lott
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
King David declared that one generation should proclaim the goodness of the Lord to another, yet what David writes of cannot take place in an age-segregated setting. Multiple generations must be present. Much progress has been made regarding the church’s acknowledgment of the significance of an intergenerational worship (IGW) model. Though each generation is precious to God and created in His image, IGW holds considerable benefits for churched youth, as it is one of the few places in society where youth can intentionally connect with older generations. Despite the importance of youth engagement in IGW, there is a limited amount …
Catechesis: Returning To A Deeper Teaching That Produces Transformed Disciples For Christ, Jeremy T. Conn
Catechesis: Returning To A Deeper Teaching That Produces Transformed Disciples For Christ, Jeremy T. Conn
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This Thesis Project addresses the lack of commitment found in many new and young believers today by providing a catechesis that engages individuals emotionally, mentally, spiritually, and experientially. After a thorough review of many biblical, historical and contemporary approaches to religious teaching, this study developed an intervention plan that merged five essential elements: (1) A culture that emphasizes the importance of baptism; (2) Adequate time to instill spiritual habits; (3) The utilization of multiple volunteers; (4) The incorporation of experiential learning; and (5) Content that encompasses both theology and discipleship. Qualitative research was conducted through the interviews of fourteen participants …
The Relationship Between Parental Stress And Externalizing Behavior: The Mediating Role Of Family Functioning On Ethnically Diverse Families In Multisystemic Therapy, Jennifer D. Vinces-Cua
The Relationship Between Parental Stress And Externalizing Behavior: The Mediating Role Of Family Functioning On Ethnically Diverse Families In Multisystemic Therapy, Jennifer D. Vinces-Cua
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Parental stress is an expected phenomenon during the parenting of an adolescent. Higher levels of parental stress are associated with an adolescent with externalizing behavior. Parents are instrumental in the development of adolescents and are critical agents of change with youth problematic behavior. Family functioning is often determined in part by a parent’s ability to adequately respond and manage their adolescent’s behavior and their environment. Focusing on improving family relations has been known to positively impact both parent and adolescent. Multisystemic therapy is a well-known treatment for adolescent externalizing behavior and families of diverse ethnicities. Additional attention and resources examining …
Dynamics Of Youth Engagement In The Local Church, Jacqueline C. Hanna
Dynamics Of Youth Engagement In The Local Church, Jacqueline C. Hanna
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
According to many biblical accounts, children were included in worship experiences. Despite the efforts of many churches to engage, attract, and retain youth, there is still a lack of youth participation, involvement, and interest in the local church. This not only affects youth, but also the church. Unengaged youth do not have the opportunity to become future leaders of the church. In turn, churches will experience a void in future leadership and will be prohibited from flourishing. This qualitative historical study examined reasons for youth disengagement in an effort to find strategies for effective retention and engagement to benefit youth …
Combatting Secular Humanism: Creating A Strategy To Teach Theology And Apologetics To High School Students, Chad J. Brown
Combatting Secular Humanism: Creating A Strategy To Teach Theology And Apologetics To High School Students, Chad J. Brown
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
In today’s society, there are more distractions than ever before. Students graduate from high school and often face worldview attacks from their professors. Many times, students do not have a solid enough understanding of a biblical worldview to respond confidently. The postmodern culture has created a gap between student’s emotional need and the intellectual need for a solid biblical foundation. Secular humanism has become a dominating worldview in our culture, and this project will formulate a strategy to teach theology and apologetics to high school students to combat secular humanism. Discipleship is training of a person’s mental, emotional, and spiritual …
A Model For Mentoring The Millennials Of The Ephesus Seventh-Day Adventist Church To Perform Relevant Urban Ministry In Harlem, Cory Ryan Marshall
A Model For Mentoring The Millennials Of The Ephesus Seventh-Day Adventist Church To Perform Relevant Urban Ministry In Harlem, Cory Ryan Marshall
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
According to one scholar, the millennial generation shares the same core values as the older generational cohorts within the Christian church. Though both groups share these values, the point of contention that arises is the way that ministry is performed. All these generations possess an ideal concerning the right way to execute the tasks associated with performing ministry but fail to realize that all generations have something valid to contribute to the conversation on the praxis of ministry. This is the attitude reflected at the Ephesus Seventh-day Adventist Church in Harlem, which is located in the Manhattan section of New …
Race, Ethnicity & Culture With Purpose: The Growth Of A Multicultural Church Ministry, Jamar R. Mabry
Race, Ethnicity & Culture With Purpose: The Growth Of A Multicultural Church Ministry, Jamar R. Mabry
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Christianity is a major galvanizing factor. However, it is prudent to pay attention to the real and latent divisions in society that hinder social harmony: even without the calming effect of the Christian faith. Attempting to form a multicultural church must therefore involve an understanding of the races and ethnicities that comprise the target population. That process is as academic as it is pragmatic. The academic aspect of conceiving race involves a historically literate understanding of the heritage and factors that created the present race and ethnic power relations not only in the locale: but across the entire country as …
Exemplary Nonvocational Ministry Leadership Practices In Predominantly Black Southeastern Connecticut Churches: A Quantitative Study, Stephenie R. Guess
Exemplary Nonvocational Ministry Leadership Practices In Predominantly Black Southeastern Connecticut Churches: A Quantitative Study, Stephenie R. Guess
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine how nonvocational (unpaid) ministry leaders demonstrated exemplary leadership practices while ministering in predominantly Black Southeastern Connecticut churches. The study also showed how much theological training nonvocational ministry leaders received. Volunteer leadership is a critical resource for the church. Purposive nonprobability sampling produced a sample from an unknown population of nonvocational ministry leaders serving predominantly Black Southeastern Connecticut churches. Surveys distribution was via U.S. mail to pastors at 20 churches identified from e-mail distribution lists and social media posts. Sixty-eight participants completed the survey, which incorporated a demographic questionnaire and the Leadership …
Not A Megachurch? Creative Methods Toward Intergenerational Worship Within A Small Evangelical Church: A Case Study, Brenda L. Widger
Not A Megachurch? Creative Methods Toward Intergenerational Worship Within A Small Evangelical Church: A Case Study, Brenda L. Widger
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Larger churches have historically had the advantage in the realm of creative worship ministry due to larger budgets, more volunteers and dedicated professional staff. While megachurches have dominated the creative worship model, smaller evangelical churches have struggled to capture the essence of creativity in their services. There is a need to explore the obstacles faced by the smaller church along with methods that can be applied to overcome the challenges to offer effective worship experiences that include creative worship elements in a multigenerational model. In this qualitative historical case study, insight into the processes and resources necessary to move the …
Provision Of God In Our Lives: Examining Impact Of Church Memorials, Jeffrey William Johnsen
Provision Of God In Our Lives: Examining Impact Of Church Memorials, Jeffrey William Johnsen
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The study assumes that church memorials have significant meaning in our faith journey, are visible within the church, and have little meaning if no interpreter is present. If the membership is aware of a memorial’s history, it draws them to understand the memorial as a provision of God. The study’s research question is, “Will people remember the provision of God in their lives when engaging a memorial regularly with an interpreter present?” Memorials used in the study were within Mount Pisgah United Methodist Church. The Bible was the primary literary resource in God’s provision to redeem and restore humanity. The …
Church Leadership: Examining The Role Of Non-Pastoral Leadership In A New Church Plant, Douglas Martin Beckman
Church Leadership: Examining The Role Of Non-Pastoral Leadership In A New Church Plant, Douglas Martin Beckman
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
In today’s western Christianity, many small churches are closing their doors; hundreds of pastors are quitting the ministry. Churches are planted quickly, and just as quickly close and disappear. What can be done to bring a halt to this downhill slide? The great message of Jesus Christ is as important and powerful as it always has been. However, in many churches today, there are dissident elements working to take attention away from the gospel. Dissident non-pastoral leadership (a person or persons who undermine the Pastor’s authority and cause disruption for their own benefit) can destroy the entire vision of a …
Spiritual Transformation: Community Outreach And The Harvest House Of Hope, In San Bernardino, Ca, Kevin Duane Strickland
Spiritual Transformation: Community Outreach And The Harvest House Of Hope, In San Bernardino, Ca, Kevin Duane Strickland
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The Harvest House of Hope (HHH) located in the inner-city of San Bernardino, Ca offers a mission services ministry to their community, they had become inactive in their community outreach missions. The ministry concerns of HHH surround the subject of spiritual transformation and the role of the church in community outreach. The purpose of this project is to educate the men, women, and children of Harvest House of Hope on the value of mission services, in hopes to drive them towards the spirit of community outreach. The proposed educational component included a theological structure built upon the Holy Scripture, as …
Youth Decline In Church Growth And Attendance, Marion Diane Jones
Youth Decline In Church Growth And Attendance, Marion Diane Jones
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Youth attendance in the church has declined in the recent past. The reason for their decline is that they no longer find a church to be socially and spiritually relevant to their lives. The paper seeks to provide a solution to the problem through spiritual formation and increasing the depth of youth programs so that they can remain socially relevant to the lives of the young people. This will be done by encouraging youth people to know who Jesus is and how to have a personal relationship with him through faith.
Transitioning To A Televised Worship Service Via Internet To Provide For The Continued Existence Of A Small, Declining Congregation, Clifford L. Herd
Transitioning To A Televised Worship Service Via Internet To Provide For The Continued Existence Of A Small, Declining Congregation, Clifford L. Herd
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Prince of Peace (POP) congregation, Ft. Payne, Alabama has less than twenty members and is struggling to survive. POP needed another option for her continued existence and sustainability as a small, declining congregation. Utilizing Internet technologies, it was possible for this small congregation to connect with a host congregation to receive their worship service and message on a large screen television. The thesis project investigated if POP congregation could make a transition from a live person-led worship service/message to a televised worship service/message to enable them to continue to worship and survive as a congregation. The congregation was prepared to …
Developing An At Risk Youth Prevention Model In Local Church, Norman Dwight Vick
Developing An At Risk Youth Prevention Model In Local Church, Norman Dwight Vick
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Congregations must be spiritually positioned to receive and pass on the Gospel baton to all believers. This work will concentrate on those that are at risk for emotional disorders, particularly at the stage of adolescence. This effort will point to the young with emotive challenges that will assist them in being able to pass on the faith constructively and wholesomely. This dissertation will utilize an analytic approach that consists of multi-components related to mental health classifications and disorder, therefore, Christian leaders should be looking beyond secularism to provide support for adolescents who are at risk. Given the presence of millions …