Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
- Discipline
- Keyword
-
- Evangelism (10)
- Church growth (7)
- Church (4)
- Church health (3)
- Church planting (3)
-
- Culture (3)
- Donald McGavran (3)
- Ministry (3)
- Missiology (3)
- Qualitative research (3)
- American Churches (2)
- Church Growth (2)
- Peter Wagner (2)
- Qualitative (2)
- Quantitative (2)
- Quantitative research (2)
- Research (2)
- Research methods (2)
- Academics (1)
- Autobiography (1)
- COVID (1)
- Carl George (1)
- Case study (1)
- Challenges (1)
- Christianity (1)
- Church Decline (1)
- Church Growth Movement (1)
- Church Planting (1)
- Church Renewal (1)
- Church characteristics (1)
Articles 61 - 90 of 275
Full-Text Articles in Entire DC Network
How Research On Young Adults Informs Evangelism, Gary Comer
How Research On Young Adults Informs Evangelism, Gary Comer
Great Commission Research Journal
In a time when the church is missing members of the younger generations, it is important to look to generational research and listen to compelling voices regarding currents in the culture, with the aim of informing evangelism among these generations. This treatise provides an analysis of two missiological-relevant aspects of these generations: profile and receptivity. Based on this analysis, the author proposes correctives to increase the effectiveness of evangelistic efforts.
Complete Issue, David R. Dunaetz Editor
Complete Issue, David R. Dunaetz Editor
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
Book Review: Undivided Witness: Followers Of Jesus, Community Development, And Least Reached Communities Edited By David Greenlee, Mark Galpin, And Paul Bendor-Samuel, David Bahena
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
My Pilgrimage In Church Growth, Charles Arn
My Pilgrimage In Church Growth, Charles Arn
Great Commission Research Journal
As a key leader in the church growth movement, Chip Arn was invited by the journal to share his story.
Book Review: A Testimony To All Peoples: Kingdom Movements Around The World Edited By Dave Coles And Stan Parks, Gene Wilson
Book Review: A Testimony To All Peoples: Kingdom Movements Around The World Edited By Dave Coles And Stan Parks, Gene Wilson
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
Announcements, David R. Dunaetz Editor
Announcements, David R. Dunaetz Editor
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
China’S Belt And Road Initiative: Mission Opportunities And Challenges, Paul Lee
China’S Belt And Road Initiative: Mission Opportunities And Challenges, Paul Lee
Great Commission Research Journal
The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is an infrastructure project proposed by China to improve transportation in Eurasia. This will bring both mission opportunities and challenges in the regions affected. God is perhaps giving Christians a unique opportunity for evangelism through this project which facilitates the movement of not just humans and products, but also the gospel.
A Missional Outreach Model In The Czech Republic: A Postchristian, Secular Culture, Petr Činčala
A Missional Outreach Model In The Czech Republic: A Postchristian, Secular Culture, Petr Činčala
Great Commission Research Journal
The Czech Republic is one of the most secular countries in the world. Moreover, the church has not been growing over the last few decades. This case study presents the church planting efforts in the city of Liberec, focusing on an outreach center started by a small number of Christians with the goal of sharing Christ’s love in culturally relevant ways. The initial efforts led to a family-centered activity center with many programs that helped develop personal relationships, trust, and open doors to share the gospel. An English class and gospel choir have been at the center of the outreach, …
Book Review: Planting Reproducing Churches By Elmer L. Towns, David Thiessen
Book Review: Planting Reproducing Churches By Elmer L. Towns, David Thiessen
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
Alternative Financial Models For Churches And Church Plants: When Tithes And Offerings Are Not Enough, W. Jay Moon
Alternative Financial Models For Churches And Church Plants: When Tithes And Offerings Are Not Enough, W. Jay Moon
Great Commission Research Journal
Many churches face financial strains, forcing some to close every year. Similarly, potential church plants may be delayed or disbanded due to a lack of finances. Instead of relying solely on tithes and offerings, this article provides six nontraditional financial approaches that churches can implement to promote financial viability and missional impact. The interaction of the church’s financial liquidity (low or high) and relational networks (closed or open) provides a starting point to determine which approach may be best in the church’s context. Practical applications are provided through examples of contemporary churches using these approaches.
Church-Based Research: Challenges And Opportunities, David R. Dunaetz
Church-Based Research: Challenges And Opportunities, David R. Dunaetz
Great Commission Research Journal
Because the church is the body of Christ, research focused on the Great Commission and Jesus’ concern for evangelism and disciple-making needs to be church-based. The goal of such research is to better share God’s love to a world who does not know him by building up a collection of knowledge that will enable us to do so. This research may be both theological (focusing on what the Bible and other theologians have said) and scientific (focusing on collecting new data and interpreting it, especially in light of theology). Church-based scientific research may be either qualitative (exploring broad ideas and …
Book Review: Church Planting In The Secular West: Learning From The European Experience By Stefan Paas, Keith R. Sellers
Book Review: Church Planting In The Secular West: Learning From The European Experience By Stefan Paas, Keith R. Sellers
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.
The Acts Way: Returning To The Original Plan A Of Church Planting, Joshua D. Sorrows
The Acts Way: Returning To The Original Plan A Of Church Planting, Joshua D. Sorrows
Great Commission Research Journal
This article examines the question: Is there a way to plant gospel-centered churches faster? Building off of Donald McGavran’s homogeneous unit theory, this article explores the biblical basis, the varied methodologies, and the successful implementation of a micro-church planting strategy in the Colorado Rockies. It evaluates the validity of micro-church planting alongside our current methods of church planting. The article calls for consideration to return to the Acts model of church planting through disciple-making that will help the Church go deep and reach wide.
The Acts Way: Returning To The Original Plan A Of Church Planting, Joshua D. Sorrows
The Acts Way: Returning To The Original Plan A Of Church Planting, Joshua D. Sorrows
Great Commission Research Journal
This article examines the question: Is there a way to plant gospel-centered churches faster? Building off of Donald McGavran’s homogeneous unit theory, this article explores the biblical basis, the varied methodologies, and the successful implementation of a micro-church planting strategy in the Colorado Rockies. It evaluates the validity of micro-church planting alongside our current methods of church planting. The article calls for consideration to return to the Acts model of church planting through disciple-making that will help the Church go deep and reach wide.
Book Review: Remission: Rethinking How Church Leaders Create Movement By Gary Comer, Jim Roden
Book Review: Remission: Rethinking How Church Leaders Create Movement By Gary Comer, Jim Roden
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
Something Old, Something New: How New Churches Are Embracing Liturgy, Winfield Bevins
Something Old, Something New: How New Churches Are Embracing Liturgy, Winfield Bevins
Great Commission Research Journal
The movement toward ancient church tradition has been well documented; however, there has also been a steady rise of new churches that are embracing church tradition and liturgy. The first part of this article will examine the history behind this movement and the factors that have contributed to its development. Next, it will look at four case studies of new churches that are embracing liturgy, which I refer to as neo-liturgical churches. It will end with an exploration of the promise that this may hold for reaching young adults.
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.
The Song Of Cuba’S Great Awakening: Music In Baptist Worship And Witness, Michael Sharp, Ed Steele
The Song Of Cuba’S Great Awakening: Music In Baptist Worship And Witness, Michael Sharp, Ed Steele
Great Commission Research Journal
From the 1990s to the present, Cuban Baptists have witnessed a time of unparalleled church growth. During that time frame, musicians have participated in ministries aimed at church growth by organizing largescale public musical events, compiling a Cuban hymnal that included indigenous Cubano worship songs, developing new programs of leadership training for church musicians, and employing music in missionary projects both at home and abroad. This article explores what can be learned from the Cuban Baptists’ experience regarding music as an effective tool in evangelism, the value of musicians reaching musicians as a mission strategy, the importance of ethnodoxology in …
The Life Of Donald Mcgavran: Leaving A Legacy, Gary L. Mcintosh
The Life Of Donald Mcgavran: Leaving A Legacy, Gary L. Mcintosh
Great Commission Research Journal
As the Church Growth Movement continued to develop, it gained strength and respect. The establishing of the McGavran Chair of Church Growth was a red-letter day, which established the CGM as an academic discipline. Donald and Mary McGavran slowly backed away from direct ministry, but continued to follow the movement’s impact. This except reports the final years of McGavran’s life and ministry
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.
The Life Of Donald Mcgavran: Growing Stronger, Gary L. Mcintosh
The Life Of Donald Mcgavran: Growing Stronger, Gary L. Mcintosh
Great Commission Research Journal
The 1980s were the major growth years of the Church Growth Movement in the USA. Win Arn’s Institute for American Church Growth reached its zenith, and the School of World Mission at Fuller continued to promote Church Growth thinking. Peter Wagner gradually took over the primary role as professor of church growth, as McGavran reduced his teaching load. The issue of what is the primary goal of mission—social justice or evangelism—continued to be one of McGavran’s major concerns.
Leadership And Church Growth: The Case Of Chuck Smith, Pierre Alain Giffard
Leadership And Church Growth: The Case Of Chuck Smith, Pierre Alain Giffard
Great Commission Research Journal
How can we understand church growth in a way that is healthy and doesn’t lead pastors to exhaustion? This article answers this question by looking at the experience of the late Chuck Smith, founder of the Calvary Chapel movement. It also explores some of the characteristics of the early church and compares Smith’s approach with church growth advocates. The observation and analysis bring about a better understanding of the role of the pastor and his mindset regarding church growth and a recognition of who is really responsible for growth.
Why I Train Christian Leaders Of The Global Church, Richard Frazer
Why I Train Christian Leaders Of The Global Church, Richard Frazer
Great Commission Research Journal
In the spring of 2019, the author utilized an email survey consisting of two questions to ascertain the opinions of eighteen indigenous leaders who had received equipping and resourcing from Western leaders sent through Spiritual Overseers Service (SOS) International. The recipients were invited to elaborate on the intrinsic and long-term value of equipping leaders within their spheres of influence. This article comes from three sources: these responses, the author’s thirteen-year experience training indigenous ministry leaders as a full-time pastor, and his fifteen-year leadership of the global Christian equipping ministry known as Spiritual Overseers Service (SOS) International. The author is well-acquainted …
Finding The Church Planting Model For Our Church: How Existing Churches Can Be Part Of The Church Planting Movement, Seungsoo Jun
Finding The Church Planting Model For Our Church: How Existing Churches Can Be Part Of The Church Planting Movement, Seungsoo Jun
Great Commission Research Journal
Church planting has become an effective method for revitalizing denominations. In many cases, however, church planting is limited to one or two charismatic leaders or a large church’s multi-site movement. This article attempts to present a roadmap to categorize the models of church planting. After understanding pathways for church planting, it suggests a method that enables existing churches to be part of this exciting movement of God.
An Alternative Mission Paradigm For Healthy Church Growth, Paul Seung-Oh An
An Alternative Mission Paradigm For Healthy Church Growth, Paul Seung-Oh An
Great Commission Research Journal
Christianity is becoming weaker and nominalized, and it is expected to be surpassed quantitatively by Islam in 2070. The purpose of this article is to analyze the limitations of the holistic mission paradigm, a representative view of mission today, in terms of healthy church growth, and to propose key points of an alternative mission paradigm which would be helpful for overcoming these limitations. The history of holistic mission is examined to show the identity and characteristics of the paradigm, and then an alternative mission paradigm that can contribute to healthy church growth is presented.
Introduction, Mike Morris
Perceived Strengths And Weaknesses Of American Churches: A Quadrant Analysis Of Church-Based Ministries, David R. Dunaetz, Joshua Mcgowan
Perceived Strengths And Weaknesses Of American Churches: A Quadrant Analysis Of Church-Based Ministries, David R. Dunaetz, Joshua Mcgowan
Great Commission Research Journal
The needs and expectations of both Christians and non-Christians concerning churches vary according to the cultural context. Similarly, a church’s ability to respond to these needs depends on its ability to fine-tune ministries so that they are appropriate to the cultural context. This study uncovers various elements of American church ministries (especially those that can be supported by technology) which church members consider important but which are poorly executed. A sample of 325 members of American churches indicated which ministries they considered most important and to what degree they believed that they were carried out well in their church. A …
Reach, Assimilate And Develop: Essential Keys For The Resurgence Of The Church In America, Gordon E. Penfold
Reach, Assimilate And Develop: Essential Keys For The Resurgence Of The Church In America, Gordon E. Penfold
Great Commission Research Journal
This article presents a way to understand church growth from the perspective of reaching, assimilating, and developing people in the church. In Re:Vision: The Key to Transforming Your Church, Aubrey Malphurs and Penfold researched the characteristics discovered in re-envisioning (turnaround) pastors. The two researchers gathered a great deal of information about the ministry and practices of effective pastors including statistics on worship attendance, conversions, and baptisms. The statistics on conversion and baptism did not find their way into the book. This article examines worship attendance, conversion, baptism, and assimilation rates of reporting pastors. These rates reveal a great deal about …
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 …