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Articles 1 - 30 of 57
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My Pilgrimage In The Growth Of The Church, Charles Van Engen
My Pilgrimage In The Growth Of The Church, Charles Van Engen
Great Commission Research Journal
I have lived a life invested in the growth of the church and forming leaders who would mobilize the church toward growth. I have sought to pay forward what others did for me. Born of missionary parents, I was raised in the state of Chiapas, in southern Mexico. From 1973 to 1985, my wife, Jean, and I served the National Presbyterian Church of Mexico in Chiapas, Mexico, in leadership formation, training evangelists, pastors, and teachers of rapidly growing churches. In 1981, I received a Ph.D. in missiology under Johannes Verkuyl at the Free University of Amsterdam. I taught Mission Theology …
Repairing The Missional Breach: Why The Church Isn’T Making Disciples And How We Can Fix It By Kevin Blackwell, Henry E. Walker
Repairing The Missional Breach: Why The Church Isn’T Making Disciples And How We Can Fix It By Kevin Blackwell, Henry E. Walker
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
Outside The Church Walls: An Empirical Exploration Of Organizational Culture And Pastoral Leadership In Two Urban Churches, Althea P. Gordon-Scott, Joshua D. Henson, Bethany D. Peters, Katrina Hutchins
Outside The Church Walls: An Empirical Exploration Of Organizational Culture And Pastoral Leadership In Two Urban Churches, Althea P. Gordon-Scott, Joshua D. Henson, Bethany D. Peters, Katrina Hutchins
Great Commission Research Journal
A mini-ethnographic case study explored the interconnections of organizational culture and pastoral leadership with sustainable outreach in two very different churches that focus on ministry to people with life-controlling issues and economic need: a small, primarily Black church in the Great Lakes region and a large, primarily White and Hispanic church in the western United States. Despite their differences, the churches shared similar espoused values and leadership characteristics that facilitated their outreach initiatives. Themes derived from the data include altruistic foundations, the value of relationships, exemplary pastoral leadership, organizational challenges, agile organizational systems, and the centrality of God.
Using Demographics And Psychographics To Advance The Great Commission: Lessons From The National Association Of Free Will Baptists, Edward E. Mooody Jr.
Using Demographics And Psychographics To Advance The Great Commission: Lessons From The National Association Of Free Will Baptists, Edward E. Mooody Jr.
Great Commission Research Journal
For decades, marketers have used demographics and psychographics to engage different segments of the population. Psychographics refers to the study of people’s activities, interests, opinions, values, attitudes, and lifestyles to better understand and predict behavior beyond what can be learned from demographic characteristics alone (Demby, 1974; Wells & Tigert, 1971). This paper examines whether these strategies can be effectively adapted to advance the Great Commission. The practices of the early church, particularly those of the Apostle Paul, reflect principles that are consistent with contemporary demographic and psychographic analysis. In this paper, the process of using an approach to help churches …
Book Review: Bearing Witness In Acts And Today By Troy M. Troftgruben, Christopher Robershaw
Book Review: Bearing Witness In Acts And Today By Troy M. Troftgruben, Christopher Robershaw
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
Validity And Reliability In Church-Based Research, David R. Dunaetz
Validity And Reliability In Church-Based Research, David R. Dunaetz
Great Commission Research Journal
Conducting high-quality research is difficult because so many things can go wrong, whether it be poor research design, researcher bias, inaccurate attempts to measure phenomena, random errors made by participants, or any of a myriad of other problems that can occur. Researchers need to consciously seek to maximize the accuracy of their measurements (measurements that are high in reliability) and make credible conclusions (conclusions that are high in validity). This paper explains several forms of validity and reliability using examples from measures of church attendance and spiritual gifts inventories. It first examines how the validity of research design (including both …
From Doubter To Disciple: A Case Study On The Process Of Spiritual Transformation, Petr Činčala
From Doubter To Disciple: A Case Study On The Process Of Spiritual Transformation, Petr Činčala
Great Commission Research Journal
This study examines the spiritual transformation of Hadassah, who, despite a Christian upbringing, struggled with faith until a series of crises—including a severe car accident—catalyzed her journey toward discipleship. Grounded in theological principles such as the Great Commission and the Parable of the Sower, the article explores the unpredictable nature of spiritual growth. Integrating scientific research on conversion and six key motifs of transformation, it highlights the roles of crisis, mentorship, rituals, sensory experiences, rebirth, and triggering catalysts. Hadassah’s story underscores that discipleship is not an immediate outcome but a dynamic, ongoing process requiring divine intervention, relational support, and personal …
2025 Vol 17(1) Complete Issue.Pdf, David R. Dunaetz
2025 Vol 17(1) Complete Issue.Pdf, David R. Dunaetz
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
Review Of Diaspora Missions To International Students By Enoch Wan, I. Francis Kyle Iii
Review Of Diaspora Missions To International Students By Enoch Wan, I. Francis Kyle Iii
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
Trust, Scripture, And The Spirit As Core Values Of Evangelism In A Chinantec Village In Oaxaca, Mexico, Eliseo Arce Hernandez, Ashley Stamper
Trust, Scripture, And The Spirit As Core Values Of Evangelism In A Chinantec Village In Oaxaca, Mexico, Eliseo Arce Hernandez, Ashley Stamper
Great Commission Research Journal
The paper provides both a rationale for an approach to evangelism and a practical, replicable ministry model focusing on three core values (trust, Scripture, and the Spirit) in order for churches and individuals to effectively fulfill the Great Commission (Matt. 28:18-20), particularly in cross-cultural contexts. A case study using this model in an indigenous Chinantec community in Oaxaca, Mexico, is presented. In contrast to modern evangelistic strategies that emphasize speed and numbers, this model and field example offer an alternative approach to church planting, an approach with a long-term focus and a goal of mature disciples and healthy churches.
Apologetics And Disability: Reframing Our Response To The Question Of Suffering, Rochelle Scheurermann
Apologetics And Disability: Reframing Our Response To The Question Of Suffering, Rochelle Scheurermann
Great Commission Research Journal
A prominent question that is asked when people consider God is how to account for suffering if God is good and all-powerful. For Christians, answering this question is a major part of apologetic and evangelistic training. But what if the way we have traditionally approached this question is not good news for everyone? This paper examines the suffering question in light of disabilities and suggests a new way to engage in apologetics that is centered in creation (not fall) and celebrates the gifts and opportunities that come through a diversity of ability.
About The Great Commission Research Network Spring 2022, David R. Dunaetz
About The Great Commission Research Network Spring 2022, David R. Dunaetz
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
Book Review: When Everything Is Mission By Denny Spitters And Matthew Ellison, Kenneth Nehrbass
Book Review: When Everything Is Mission By Denny Spitters And Matthew Ellison, Kenneth Nehrbass
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
The Sinner’S Prayer: An Inappropriate Ritual For Thai Christian Culture And A Suggested Replacement, Kelly M. Hilderbrand
The Sinner’S Prayer: An Inappropriate Ritual For Thai Christian Culture And A Suggested Replacement, Kelly M. Hilderbrand
Great Commission Research Journal
The practice of encouraging seekers to say the sinner’s prayer has become commonplace in Thailand. However, the practice is relatively recent and has developed out of Western individualistic assumptions. It is not an explicitly biblical practice and has serious practical problems, producing decisions for Christ that often do not result in a long-term commitment to Christianity. The practice also runs counter to many Thai cultural norms and can be harmful to evangelism and discipleship in Thailand. This article suggests a different approach, the prayer challenge.
Announcements, David R. Dunaetz
Announcements, David R. Dunaetz
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
Identifying Current Gaps In Church Planting Movements Research: Integrating First- And Second-Order Perspectives, Warrick Farah
Identifying Current Gaps In Church Planting Movements Research: Integrating First- And Second-Order Perspectives, Warrick Farah
Great Commission Research Journal
The proliferation of church planting movements in least-reached peoples today provides an opportunity ripe for missiological research. Using the online application form for the Movements Research Symposium 2020 of the Motus Dei Network, this article identifies six gaps of understanding in the missiological discourse on movements: 1) Deepening Theological and Missiological Descriptions of Movements, 2) Identifying Best Practices and Effective Movement Strategies, 3) Clarifying Issues of Ecclesiology – Practical, Theological, and Spiritual, 4) Training Movement Catalysts and Practitioners, 5) Highlighting Contextual, Sociological, and Holistic Features of Movements, and 6) Documenting Movements with Respect to Verification, Metrics, and Administration. However, issues …
Complete Issue Fall 2021: Innovation In Churches, David R. Dunaetz
Complete Issue Fall 2021: Innovation In Churches, David R. Dunaetz
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
Book Review: Donald A. Mcgavran: A Biography Of The Twentieth Century's Premier Missiologist By Gary Mcintosh, Keith R. Sellers
Book Review: Donald A. Mcgavran: A Biography Of The Twentieth Century's Premier Missiologist By Gary Mcintosh, Keith R. Sellers
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
That All May Hear: How Indigenous Church Music Encourages Church Growth In Africa, Trevor Yoakum
That All May Hear: How Indigenous Church Music Encourages Church Growth In Africa, Trevor Yoakum
Great Commission Research Journal
This article demonstrates how indigenous church music can be an effective tool in promoting healthy church growth. After defining indigenous church music through the insights of ethnodoxology, the author explains how it engages local hearers through their own conceptual categories. This cognitive interaction is relevant in that it augments comprehension of biblical themes and content. But it also impacts hearers through the various levels of their worldview. The article ends with a case study of how a consortium of African theological institutions and IMB missionaries are developing orality-based indigenous music to teach, refute heresy, and evangelize the continent.
“Lift Up Your Eyes”: Case Study Of Journey Church, Tucson, Jim Roden
“Lift Up Your Eyes”: Case Study Of Journey Church, Tucson, Jim Roden
Great Commission Research Journal
The receptivity principle of church growth discerns who in the local population is generally responsive to the gospel. The biblical warrant for this principle is seen in Jesus’ instructions to his disciples (Mark 5:11) and in Paul’s ministry (Acts 14:19-20). Donald McGavran emphasized, “Evangelism can be and ought to be directed to responsive persons, groups, and segments of society…. Correct policy is to occupy fields of low receptivity lightly.” The experience of anxiety typifies gospel-receptive groups; when their anxiety dissipates, their gospel receptivity diminishes. The special-needs population and those who are close to them experience unrelieved chronic anxiety that predisposes …
Partnership In Missions As A Tool For World Evangelization, Adedayo Oladele Odesola, Moses Audi
Partnership In Missions As A Tool For World Evangelization, Adedayo Oladele Odesola, Moses Audi
Great Commission Research Journal
Partnership, though challenging, can be a valuable tool for world evangelization. The teaching of the Bible and the experience of the Church have shown that joining effort and resources enhances effective ministry, making the Church achieve formidable results in relatively shorter time. Partnership harnesses resources and potentials around the world and encourages mutual participation and engagement globally without duplication or negligence.
Calvinism Resurgence And Western Cuba Baptists In The Twenty-First Century, Bárbaro Abel Marrero
Calvinism Resurgence And Western Cuba Baptists In The Twenty-First Century, Bárbaro Abel Marrero
Great Commission Research Journal
Church splits and denominational strife have resulted from the global resurgence of Calvinism and its impact in the Western Cuba Baptist Convention. That situation is affecting their fulfillment of the Great Commission. The outside influence of American Calvinists has added fuel to the new emphasis on Calvinism within the Cuban convention. The resurgence of Calvinism is a current world trend. The New Calvinism is not only touching evangelicals in the US, among whom the movement emerged particularly in the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), but also its influence has reached other countries. In this paper, the author will focus on the …
Visionary Differences, Chris Messerer
Visionary Differences, Chris Messerer
Great Commission Research Journal
Organizational vision is nearly universally accepted as being critically important to a church in any stage of growth or decline. Church plants and church revitalization efforts depend on organizational vision because it provides focus and direction. Organizational vision is also important because it inspires people to participate. Successful church planters and church revitalization leaders excel at casting vision. While church plants and church revitalizations have similarities, leading one is significantly different from leading the other. Likewise, organizational vision is different between a church plant and a church revitalization. This article analyzes the differences between an organizational vision for a church …
The Life Of Donald Mcgavran: Turning To North America, Gary L. Mcintosh
The Life Of Donald Mcgavran: Turning To North America, Gary L. Mcintosh
Great Commission Research Journal
The event that put Church Growth on the worldwide map was the Lausanne Congress on Evangelism held on July 14-28, 1974. Then, as the Church Growth Movement took hold around the world, the focus of some faculty at Fuller’s School of World Mission gradually turned toward North America. This article describes the actions and processes that propelled the movement into world prominence.
The Life Of Donald Mcgavran: Building A Faculty, Gary Mcintosh
The Life Of Donald Mcgavran: Building A Faculty, Gary Mcintosh
Great Commission Research Journal
Following the founding of the Fuller School of World Mission and Institute of Church Growth in 1965, Donald McGavran began to enlarge the faculty. To the initial members—McGavran and Alan Tippett—he added Ralph Winter, J. Edwin Orr, Charles Kraft, C. Peter Wagner, and Arthur Glasser. This excerpt tells the story of these hires and the early development of the Church Growth curriculum.
A Clothesline Theology For The World: How A Value-Driven Grand Narrative Of Scripture Can Frame The Gospel, Tom Steffen
A Clothesline Theology For The World: How A Value-Driven Grand Narrative Of Scripture Can Frame The Gospel, Tom Steffen
Great Commission Research Journal
This article attempts to answer the question, why is it important to view Scripture as a single grand narrative? Too many of us are specialist in fragmentation when it comes to Scripture. We therefore continue to perpetuate a fragmented understanding of Scripture, and her Author. To grasp a more comprehensive picture of the face of God we must be able to move beyond the individual pieces of clothing placed on the clothesline, whether linear or circular, and learn to value how they all tie together to form a comprehensive wardrobe that brings honor to the Wearer.
Book Review: Growing God’S Church: How People Are Actually Coming To Faith Today By Gary L. Mcintosh, Garrett R. Eaglin
Book Review: Growing God’S Church: How People Are Actually Coming To Faith Today By Gary L. Mcintosh, Garrett R. Eaglin
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
Book Review: Race And Theology By Elaine A. Robinson, Aaron Perry
Book Review: Race And Theology By Elaine A. Robinson, Aaron Perry
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
Entrepreneurial Church Planting, Jay Moon
Entrepreneurial Church Planting, Jay Moon
Great Commission Research Journal
Entrepreneurial church planting (ECP) explores innovative approaches for church planting in the marketplace. This article describes how entrepreneurial church plants leverage the networking and value creation provided by business in order to form communities of Christ followers among unchurched people. Biblical, theological, historical, and missiological support is provided to guide ECP planters. Four contemporary examples provide a paradigm of church planters that are typically suited for this approach to include the artist, social scientist, evangelist, and builder. These examples demonstrate the potential of ECP to break out of limited contexts and plant churches in larger networks of relationships in the …
Eight Steps To Transitioning To One Of Five Models Of A Multicultural Church, Bob Whitesel
Eight Steps To Transitioning To One Of Five Models Of A Multicultural Church, Bob Whitesel
Great Commission Research Journal
Theories of change and theories of changing are insufficiently studied, hence often inadequately understood by the ecclesial academy. The few theories that are available are based on an author’s experience with singular process model developed from similar homogeneous contexts. However, the present author, reflecting on case studies over a ten-year window, strengthens the argument for a holistic, eight-step model as first developed by John P. Kotter at Harvard University. Whitesel argues that the eight-step process model is resident and visible in ecclesiological change. He then suggests that the requisite change objective for many churches will be a heterogeneous, multicultural model, …