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Articles 91 - 120 of 251
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The Relational Fruit Of The Spirit In Youth Ministers: Do Youth Ministers Display Patience, Kindness, And Goodness?, Mary Ann Ridgley-Thornton
The Relational Fruit Of The Spirit In Youth Ministers: Do Youth Ministers Display Patience, Kindness, And Goodness?, Mary Ann Ridgley-Thornton
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Youth ministry is a crucial part of the church that can help teenagers strengthen their godly beliefs and spiritual formation. Youth ministers’ actions, characters, and behavior should reflect the fruit of the Spirit. This qualitative case study explored whether and how youth leaders displayed the fruit of the Spirit at seven Bible-based, baptistic Christian churches in southeast Georgia. Although seven was the goal, only five churches agreed to participate. A Christian church was defined as one with no more than 500 members that accept the Bible as the sole source and authority of genuine Christian faith. The fruit of the …
Addressing The Intergenerational Disconnect Through Small Group Ministry In A Rural Church, George Russell Strickland
Addressing The Intergenerational Disconnect Through Small Group Ministry In A Rural Church, George Russell Strickland
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Programs and activities at church are designed primarily to minister to the needs of specific age groups. Though this style of ministry has its place in the church, if not monitored, it can cause a division among the generations in the church. The division that exists can create a “we versus them” mindset. The generational division can create an attitude that affects the unity of the church while also a competition for resources and style preference in the church. This division also creates a culture of anemic discipleship from a lack of investment across generational lines that is a biblical …
Relational Evangelism: Family-To-Family Through Recreational Activities, Kimberly R. Williams
Relational Evangelism: Family-To-Family Through Recreational Activities, Kimberly R. Williams
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The goals of this Doctor of Ministry thesis project are to explore and implement an approach to evangelism that has the potential of family connection through relational evangelism. The approach delivers the gospel message through family to family encounters in recreational activities. The church, Idlewild Baptist Church (IBC) has a unique communal opportunity to enhance ministry efforts through relational evangelism. The church leaders at IBC realize that they can do more with their recreation center on their campus by using it as a resource for outreach connecting with unchurched families and families without a church affiliation. An identifiable dilemma in …
Virtual Recovery: Bringing The Kingdom To An Online Community, Andrew Charles Matts
Virtual Recovery: Bringing The Kingdom To An Online Community, Andrew Charles Matts
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Soon after Jesus’ Resurrection and Ascension, the fledgling church community divided into two camps: One favoring the inclusion of Gentile converts only if they observed traditional Jewish Law and custom (e.g., circumcision) and the other, led by Paul, asserting that following Jesus did not require such formality and legalism. A lengthy debate concluded by reaching into the Gentile community to provide a captivating kingdom message of hope, love, and compassion. Today, the traditional, physical church community faces a growing challenge: reaching into a growing online community by providing a captivating kingdom message, while recognizing that potential recipients of the message …
Christocentric Discipleship At Faith Baptist Church Of Tuscola, Allan Clyde Harris Ii
Christocentric Discipleship At Faith Baptist Church Of Tuscola, Allan Clyde Harris Ii
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Faith Baptist Church of Tuscola and many other churches worldwide do not currently conduct Christocentric discipleship. Discipleship, in general, is not being achieved as well. A significant disconnect between the gospel and discipleship exists today. There is ignorance regarding the gospel and its message and how believers are to fulfill the Great Commission. The disconnect is a result of the type of gospel preached and implemented. This study aims to discover a means and method to correct the ignorance of the gospel that results in improper or lack of discipleship, thus creating converts to Christianity and not disciples of Christ. …
Effective Decision-Making And Conflict Resolution For Church Leadership Teams And Governing Boards, Frederick Chambers
Effective Decision-Making And Conflict Resolution For Church Leadership Teams And Governing Boards, Frederick Chambers
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Conflict is one of the primary reasons church leaders leave churches, quit vocational ministry, are terminated or are ineffective in their leadership and Christian service. Church leaders become discouraged, less effective, quit their leadership positions, or even leave congregations because of conflict or disagreements over decisions. Ineffective decision-making and conflict within the leadership team harm the ministry organization and the leaders. The problem this action research project addresses is the need for a clearly defined process of group decision-making and conflict resolution among church and ministry leadership boards. The purpose of this project was to evaluate and improve the tools …
Intergenerational Discipleship At St. Paul's Smoke Church, Elle Rulavage
Intergenerational Discipleship At St. Paul's Smoke Church, Elle Rulavage
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Intergenerational ministry through discipleship is found in the archetype of Christ and His disciples. St. Paul’s Smoke Church in Windsor Township, Pennsylvania, has impacted and influenced the area through many centuries in the generational call to follow Christ. The church has seen its ebbs and flows. In the past decade, membership has tremendously decreased, but the heart of love for God and its community is lasting. The pandemic of COVID-19 had limited ministry in the traditional sense. Still, the unorthodox ways of ministry were sought out and employed to continue St. Paul’s Smoke Church in its operation and functionality while …
A Phenomenological Study Of The Perceived Influence That Generation Z Has On The Revitalization Of A Church, Linda Proctor Mathis
A Phenomenological Study Of The Perceived Influence That Generation Z Has On The Revitalization Of A Church, Linda Proctor Mathis
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the perceived influence that Generation Z had upon the revitalization of a church following its in-person decline as a result of the coronavirus in 2020 (Barna, 2020; Braddy, 2021; Earls, 2020). The theory that guided this study was based on research conducted by Lifeway Research, Pew Research, and Barna Group Research concerning Generation Z and based upon the book, You Lost Me: Why Young Christians Are Leaving Church…And Rethinking Faith, by David Kinnaman of Barna Research. The theories proposed within the books, Essential Church? Reclaiming a Generation of Dropouts by …
One Church’S Apathy Toward Fulfilling The Great Commission, David Thomas Williamson
One Church’S Apathy Toward Fulfilling The Great Commission, David Thomas Williamson
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Philippians 1:9-11 records Paul’s prayer containing four assessments believers can use to measure their progress toward spiritual maturity. These areas include a love that flows, a mind that knows, a character that shows, and a fruit that grows. The purpose of all these qualities is to demonstrate God’s glory. Where spiritual maturity is absent, apathy and complacency abound, and this dilemma must be overcome before a church can effectively pursue and sustain a viable focus on church revitalization. Because theological academia has not effectively focused on the partnership between spiritual maturity and church revitalization, this DMIN research project will address …
The Digital Pulpit: Having Church When You Can't Have Church, Joshua W. Hall
The Digital Pulpit: Having Church When You Can't Have Church, Joshua W. Hall
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The COVID-19 pandemic presented unique difficulties and challenges across the globe. Churches responded to these challenges in different ways. At Mt. Olivet Baptist Church, where the researcher serves, the physical church buildings were closed and physical worship services suspended in favor of online services. This arrangement persisted for ten weeks. After reopening the physical church building for in-person services, average church attendance had decreased, church giving had increased, and spiritual formation had taken place. This research aimed to address the reason as to why these challenging conditions produced such unexpected results. To achieve this, the researcher utilized a series of …
Teaching High School Students An Apologetic Curriculum On Relativism, Ryan G. Willert
Teaching High School Students An Apologetic Curriculum On Relativism, Ryan G. Willert
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this action research project is to develop and teach an apologetic curriculum on relativism to the high school students at Eastern Hills Church. The research project will measure the student's prior knowledge of relativism and show that an apologetic curriculum on the topic can be used in order to grow their knowledge of the worldview that inhabits their generation. There were twenty total student participants. Eight total male students ranging from 9th grade to the 12th grade level. There were twelve female students ranging from the 9th grade to the 11th grade level. Each student was given …
Women And Their Roles In The Church, Matthew Niles
Women And Their Roles In The Church, Matthew Niles
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Women and Their Roles in the Church, addresses the disagreement about the roles women are allowed to serve in at Faith Baptist Church. The problem is that congregants are disagreeing about what roles women are allowed to serve in at the church. This disagreement has led to people leaving the church and finding new churches. The purpose of this study is to develop a small group curriculum to teach leading examples of women from the Bible. The purpose of the study would help expand the participants' understanding of what roles women are allowed to serve in at their local church. …
The Final Amen: Designing And Implementing A Christlike System For The Closure Of Waypointe Christian Fellowship, Christopher E. Sherwood
The Final Amen: Designing And Implementing A Christlike System For The Closure Of Waypointe Christian Fellowship, Christopher E. Sherwood
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Like a myriad of other churches across the country, WayPointe Christian Fellowship (WCF) experienced a long decline leading to a critical question: Should the church permanently close? In the case of WCF, the answer was yes, which led to other questions about how to accomplish the task while maximizing God's glory, minimizing the pain felt by those involved, and preparing the congregation to migrate to another body of believers. This thesis project was designed to enable the leaders of WCF and other church leaders to answer these questions. In this pursuit, a comprehensive closure plan was created and implemented at …
A Training Program For Adult Mentors Working With Teenagers To Enhance Their Spiritual Health And Church Life, Mark Damon Albertino
A Training Program For Adult Mentors Working With Teenagers To Enhance Their Spiritual Health And Church Life, Mark Damon Albertino
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
A major problem facing the church is that a significant number of teenagers leave after high school. The researcher addressed the problem of teenagers leaving Taylorsville Church of God after high school by training adult members to mentor the church’s teenagers. In the program, seven adult mentors, which included six females and one male, and six teen mentees, which included four females and two males, participated. The training program included the following topics: mentor spiritual health, servanthood, church life, active listening, parents, empathy, compassion, spiritual health of teenagers, and current teen issues. Through a series of interviews with the adult …
The Decline And Absence Of Young Adults At Grace Place Christian Church, Michael Carnell Mcgill
The Decline And Absence Of Young Adults At Grace Place Christian Church, Michael Carnell Mcgill
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of the study was to address the problem of low attendance and engagement among young adults at Grace Place Christian Church. This topic is given consideration based on the researcher’s observation of the absence of this demographic within the local ministry context. The literature review revealed this is a common problem throughout the Body of Christ. Grace Place Christian Church is a predominately African American within a military community. The unique characteristics of this ministry context warranted research specific to it. The researcher interviewed twenty unchurched young adults and ten pastors and collected over one hundred nine questionnaires …
A Survey Of Teaching Methods Used To Relate To Generation Alpha Congregants In Central Texas, Shawna Mischell Dixon
A Survey Of Teaching Methods Used To Relate To Generation Alpha Congregants In Central Texas, Shawna Mischell Dixon
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The evolution of time and approaches to addressing the learning styles of students were influential in designing and redesigning educational programming to meet the needs of each generation. The theory that guided this study was the Strauss-Howe generational theory which proposes that each generation has a personality and characteristics that shape how they learn. However, literature described current-day youth congregants as being taught with the same or very similar teaching methods as those that were implemented to teach previous generations. The purpose of this quantitative descriptive study was to discover the teaching methods being used by youth ministry leaders and …
Theological Education And Spiritual Formation In The Lives Of Engaged, Emerging Adults, Markus David Colbert
Theological Education And Spiritual Formation In The Lives Of Engaged, Emerging Adults, Markus David Colbert
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This thesis seeks to answer the following question: What is an effective discipleship method for emerging adults who are already engaged in IChurch? The method chosen was multi-layered and utilized corporate discipleship which involved a classroom setting geared toward theological and doctrinal education based on Bloom-Anderson’s taxonomy of educational objectives, communal discipleship which was concerned with small group activities and peer-to-peer accountability, and personal discipleship geared toward individual spiritual formation given an edited list of Whitney’s personal spiritual disciplines. Participants were asked to take an introductory Theological examination which plotted them from analyze level to the create level of Bloom’s …
A Process For Training In Godliness: A Team Approach To Personal And Spiritual Growth, Kraig Alan Smith
A Process For Training In Godliness: A Team Approach To Personal And Spiritual Growth, Kraig Alan Smith
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this thesis is to address a problem relating to spiritual discipleship within a group of local church men. The men of Heritage Baptist Church may not have a process for training in godliness. The thesis will supply a process for training in godliness, developed by the author and based on numerous streams of thought from the literature with regard to spiritual growth. The thesis will also illustrate hindrances to training in godliness, looking at past and current trends which have stymied spiritual growth, particularly in men. This study will suggest that current methods for training in godliness …
Pastoral Pitfalls: Solutions To Navigating The Stresses Of Twenty-First Century Ministry, Chris Moore
Pastoral Pitfalls: Solutions To Navigating The Stresses Of Twenty-First Century Ministry, Chris Moore
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
American church clergy and their families are suffering from the effects of Twenty-First Century ministry and the stresses of the local church, according to research from the Fuller Institute, Barna Group, and Pastoral Care Inc. Much of the research in this area and its effects on the clergy and churches occurred more than a decade ago. Through updated research and surveys of current Southern Baptist ministers in the Baptist General Convention of Texas, this thesis will offer solutions to how these dangers can be lessened or alleviated. Through the presentation of updated statistics, the seriousness of this problem for the …
The Spiritual And Emotional Dynamics Of Pastoral Transitions: A Phenomenological Study, Carl Michael Mclaughlin
The Spiritual And Emotional Dynamics Of Pastoral Transitions: A Phenomenological Study, Carl Michael Mclaughlin
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the central phenomenon of how the spiritual and emotional dynamics of outgoing and incoming pastoral leadership impacted the pastoral transition and to discover common patterns in successful transitions. The central question addressed in this phenomenological research was, “How do pastoral teams consisting of the outgoing pastor and spouse and the incoming pastor and spouse process the spiritual and emotional dynamics of a pastoral transition?” The church is described as a family (Eph 3:15) with spiritual and emotional needs. The pastor should possess personal competence and social competence to lead the …
A Training Manual For Small-Group Evangelization Of Youth Unbelievers, Stanley Vincent James
A Training Manual For Small-Group Evangelization Of Youth Unbelievers, Stanley Vincent James
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This thesis project is a study on the evangelism toward young adult unbelievers by church members of The Power of the Living God Church of Galveston. This DMin action research project aims to motivate church members to evangelize this critical group of unbelievers. The focus will concentrate on the reasons given by members for non-participation. The questions concerning the lack of participation would be analyzed to assess the behavior of the members and to ultimately determine a path forward for effective participation. The project will utilize interviews and focus groups to ascertain the reasons for the lack of motivation for …
How To Help The Bi-Vocational Pastor At Sandy Grove Church To Have Balance In Ministry And Life Through Equipping & Teaching Of The Saints Along With A Structured Plan To Meet The Ministry Demands, Duran Kiley Odoms
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Burnout, a subject that was birthed in the 1970s was only associated with the private and public sectors of the workforce. It has transitioned into other avenues where personal interaction takes place. Ministry is a profession where people interaction happens weekly and sometimes daily. Ministry is repetitive work that must be done daily, weekly, and monthly. Many pastors have fallen prey to this awful and painful enemy. Burnout has caused many pastors to lose their church, family, and life. The lack of ministry assistance and the demand for the job have taken a toll on many pastors whether they are …
A Phenomenological Qualitative Study Of Discipling Church Congregants Using Three Christ-Practiced Church Communities, Bryan Wade Ewing
A Phenomenological Qualitative Study Of Discipling Church Congregants Using Three Christ-Practiced Church Communities, Bryan Wade Ewing
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this phenomenological study was to discover the perceived impact of local church leadership’s implementation of three Christ-practiced discipling communities for the equipping of local-church congregants within six local bodies in the state of Indiana. Communities are generally defined as intentional groups of different purposes within the local church. The study sought to better understand the impact of congregants being involved in weekly, corporate worship, small groups, and mentorship groups in their discipleship journey. The rationale behind the study was to explore the phenomenon of the discipleship process as certain congregants were engaged in only a weekly worship …
Discipleship On The Role And Responsibility Of A Youth Minister, Warren Douglas Choice
Discipleship On The Role And Responsibility Of A Youth Minister, Warren Douglas Choice
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The thesis project is designed to equip the congregation at Cary’s Baptist Church to understand the role and responsibility of a youth minister. Cary’s Baptist Church is an older congregation located in Yorktown, Virginia. The congregation was established in the 1800’s and has served the community by sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ and serving individuals who live in the Yorktown community. Throughout the years of serving the community, the congregation has been effective in evangelism and open for youth to be a part of the congregation. However, there has been a decline in youth attendance and involvement in the …
Developing And Implementing A Strategic Ministry Plan For Crosspoint Community Church In Huntington, West Virginia, Eddie C. Gandy
Developing And Implementing A Strategic Ministry Plan For Crosspoint Community Church In Huntington, West Virginia, Eddie C. Gandy
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Various organizations use strategic planning to produce growth and promote organizational health. Crosspoint Community Church in Huntington, West Virginia, had never developed or implemented a strategic plan. This project seeks to develop and implement a strategic plan for Crosspoint Community Church to produce growth and promote ministry health. A team of twenty congregants participated in the project. Through six three-hour sessions, the team used storyboarding to create a mission statement and a vision statement and identify and define the foundational values framing the strategy. The team evaluated the church’s ministries, leadership structure, facilities, and finances to develop a strategy to …
Addressing The Inactivity Of Youth And Young Adults In The Church Environment, Leonard Burgest
Addressing The Inactivity Of Youth And Young Adults In The Church Environment, Leonard Burgest
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
One of the significant components of church growth and development is having a functioning youth and young adult ministry founded on the Gospel and managed by individuals who understand youth participation in the church. Unfortunately for the black church and many others, the grim reality is that they have been suffering from the same inactive youth and young adult ministry problem for quite some time. Local churches have recently witnessed a steady decline in youth attendance due to neighborhood irregularities, parental responsibilities, and youth activities. This thesis project seeks to address and implement methods and processes that will aid in …
A Phenomenological Study: The Self-Efficacy Of Twice-Exceptional Students, Lisa Ann Glover
A Phenomenological Study: The Self-Efficacy Of Twice-Exceptional Students, Lisa Ann Glover
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this transcendental, phenomenological study was to describe the perceived self-efficacy of twice-exceptional students in a singular school district located in the southeastern United States. The theories which guided this study are Swain and French’s affirmative model of disability, Deci and Ryan’s self-determination theory, and Bandura’s self-efficacy theory because students who view their disabilities in a positive sense may have greater self-determination and thus increased self-efficacy. The guiding research question for the study examined the shared perceptions of self-efficacy among twice-exceptional students. Data to examine this question were collected from 10 high school students at East Lake School …
The Decline Of Youth At Ministry Under The Sky, Wanda Elaine Belvin
The Decline Of Youth At Ministry Under The Sky, Wanda Elaine Belvin
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The decline of youth attending their services is no secret for many churches. The influences of the world, technology, wanting to fit in are just a few reasons youth find other things to do than attend their church services faithfully. Ministry Under The Sky is a small ministry with a big heart. At its birth in 2001, Ministry Under The Sky’s start was in the researcher’s home and her husband, the Overseer of the ministry. God blessed Ministry Under The Sky with its first building in 2007. The church outgrew the first two buildings less than two years each. The …
Discipleship Mentoring Program For Emerging Adults That Have Abandoned Church, Acquenetta Thompson
Discipleship Mentoring Program For Emerging Adults That Have Abandoned Church, Acquenetta Thompson
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
There has been and continues to be a mass exodus of emerging adults that have stopped attending church services after they graduate high school. Many emerging adults have abandoned church and other religious institutions, abandoned their affiliation with the title of Christianity or religion, their religious beliefs that they once held, or have participated in other worldview religions or atheism. The purpose of this research study focuses on the similarities and differences between the current generation of emerging adults and earlier generation of young adults, other reasons why emerging adults have abandoned church, and how effective discipleship mentoring can be …
Youth Discipleship Framework For Church Revitalization, Temaris Loran Moore
Youth Discipleship Framework For Church Revitalization, Temaris Loran Moore
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
In most recent years, the decline of youth in North American churches has become a general area of concern. Churches, para-ministries, and youth ministries alike have sought to combat the mass youth exodus. Despite the gains recognized in education, ministry to emerging generations in practical ways churches ar not fairing well in their ability to engage and maintain young believers. This project stems from the idea that a youth discipleship framework is essential to youth discipleship and church revitalization. This study uses dual quantitative and qualitative interviews with youth ministry leaders to understand their experiences and observations regarding the barriers …