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Contextualized Discipleship: A Catalyst System For The Xxi Century, David Rangel

Doctor of Ministry Projects and Theses

The reality for the Christian churches in the U.S. is that congregations are declining in attendance. Local churches are being closed every year, and the people called Christians are decreasing in their discipleship practices more than in previous years. However, the reason for this disgraceful reality is not because people have stopped attending church; rather, it is because there are now fewer Christians. Unfortunately, churches in their effort to make disciples prefer to buy a curriculum that, in the end, does not reflect the needs and realities of their own context. More than ever, the Christian industry in the U.S. …

Review Of: Anderson, Cory, And Jennifer Anderson. 2019. Amish-Mennonites Across The Globe. Amish-Mennonite Heritage Series, Vol. 2. Millersburg, Oh: Acorn Publishing., Karen Conley

Journal of Amish and Plain Anabaptist Studies

The Amish-Mennonites across the Globe is a coffee-table type book, a 320 page documentary of the international mission efforts of the “car-driving” Amish groups, known variously within the plain communities as Beachy, Amish-Mennonite, or Fellowship churches. It was preceded by The Amish-Mennonites in North America, the first book of the Amish-Mennonite Heritage Series and compiled by the same authors. Naturally it is likely to appeal mostly to those people with connections to said churches. The book covers church planting efforts in 18 countries, which includes 100 congregations, most of them current but 16 of them now extinct. Each country …

Refilling The Oilpots: Developing A Program To Reverse Stagnancy In African-American Churches, Mancil Carroll

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Many African American churches in America are experiencing a decline in attendance and participation. The typical church goes through a life-cycle that includes the church's birth, infancy, maturity, stagnation, and death. However, it is possible to create a rebirth process that will restart the life-cycle from the beginning. This thesis develops a strategic plan to initiate church rebirth and build momentum for the congregation. This project's research approach will include interviews with the leaders of a medium-size African American church in Dallas's suburbs. The project will also include survey questionnaires to congregants, former church members, and random subjects selected through …

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 …

Methods And Motivations Of Multigenerational Churches In Selecting A Worship Music Identity, Joshua Charles Morton

Masters Theses

Churches in the twenty-first century come in all types, shapes, and sizes. The church plant movement is bringing many new churches into existence. With many of these church plants, the assumption is that a contemporary worship style comes with it. This could be viewed this way, because of the high population of younger people that attend these churches. Churches like Elevation Church, North Point Church, Passion City Church, and Saddleback Community Church are all church plants. These churches are magnets for newly established Christians and those seeking to answer questions about God for the first time. They are magnets for …

Editorial: Spirit-Empowered Leadership: Leading And Being Led, John Paul Thompson

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

Guest editor, Dr. John Thompson, gives an introduction to this special issues dedicated to Spirit-empowered leadership.

Full Issue - Spiritus 5, Vol 2 (2020), Spiritus Journal

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

This special journal issue devoted to Spirit-empowered leadership.

John Thompson, guest editor.

Andrews University Releases Daniel/Revelation Bible Study Journal, Jeff Boyd

Lake Union Herald

No abstract provided.

The Decline Of Ministry Participation And Leadership Amid Black Males In The Worthington Missionary Baptist Church In Houston, Texas, Joseph Ray Davis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This DMin thesis project sought to address the decline of male participation in ministry leadership at the Worthington Missionary Baptist Church (WMBC) in Houston, Texas. Not only are males absent from many church congregations, but those that do attend church services tend to be seemingly content with the female populace leading an abundance of church ministries. This research study accessed rationales prompting male withdrawal and then ascertained how to restore balance to the initial design of God at WMBC. Assessment tools of questionnaires, surveys, and one-on-one interviews were utilized to gain insights from 10 WMBC males between the ages of …

Improving Adoptive Mergers At River Community Church, Gavin Roger Adams

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This thesis project cross compared the adoptive mergers of River Community Church (RCC) to identify the methodologies and strategies that created one successful campus via adoptive merger and a subsequent unsuccessful campus. Empirical analysis quantified the gap in success between RCC Chesterfield and RCC Fairway. Qualitative research provided the thematic points of differentiation in RCC’s adoptive merger implementations. The thematic findings detailed a potential revitalization plan for RCC Fairway, a common structure for future RCC adoptive merger considerations, and insight for churches contemplating adoptive merger pursuits.

The Sent Life: Discovering The Mission Of God And The Christian's Place In It, Cliff Roberts Jordan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The church in the West today has separated something that was never intended to be divided. This critical error impacts the very core of who a Christian is which informs and empowers what a Christian does. Jesus said, “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you,” and in doing so He designated all Christians as “sent ones.” This means living on mission as a sent one is not reserved for a special class of Christians, but is the very calling of all Christians. Since that is true, all Christians need to understand and be equipped for the mission …

Prosperity Gospel In Liberia: A Theological Alternative To The Gospel Of Jesus Christ, Jerome A. Newman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Many indigenous Liberian pastors are not theologically grounded on a solid biblical foundation. As such, many Liberian Christians lack foundational knowledge of the truths of the Gospel of Christ for salvation. The prosperity gospel or “Faith, Wealth, and Health” theology in Liberia is a significant deviation from the Gospel of Christ that undermines sound hermeneutical interpretation of Scripture. This study examines why a growing number of pastors in Liberia are replacing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the prosperity gospel. An anonymous survey research study of 12 pastors from Unity Light Ministry Network (Unity Community Church) in Kakata, Liberia, West …

Healing Through Preaching: Recovery For Red Oaks Baptist Church, Darin Scott Wilt

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this Doctor of Ministry thesis, Healing Through Preaching: Recovery for Red Oaks Baptist Church, is to address the need for healing Red Oaks Baptist Church’s members through a coordinated preaching and counseling ministry. Research shows there is a lack of information available on how to preach to a church after a traumatic event such as a church split or revitalization effort. The literature available addresses church problems that may have led a specific situation but does not help the pastor use the preaching of scripture to lead the church in recovery and to use God’s word to …

Great Europe Mission Business Plan, Jorge Barrientos, Justice Davenport, Vinicius Oliveira, Neilson Pettingell, Drishana Pillay, Jonathan Pride, Vauntez I. Purnell, Dr. Bill Crawford, Dr. Joel Dash, Prof. Michael Jelsing

Business Undergraduate Work

Greater Europe Mission’s business model, while still relatively new, is centered on sending a diverse mix of missionaries from many different cultures and countries. The new model provides several benefits for GEM, including insurance if the U.S. further wanders from its Christian roots, opportunities to recruit missionaries outside the U.S., and access to the many giftings that exist throughout Christ’s church. The company’s two primary competitive advantages are its expertise on witnessing in Europe and its member care services, such as leadership development and counseling. GEM’s primary target market for acquiring donors is Baby Boomers or those belonging to older …

Flexible Leadership In A Changing World, Petr Cincala

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

No abstract provided.

Complete Fall Issue

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

No abstract provided.

Christian History Of East Indians Of Guyana, Clifmond Shameerudeen

Journal of Adventist Mission Studies

No abstract provided.

Predicting And Preventing Inactive Members, James David Barrett

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Most churches have many members classified as inactive. The purpose of this project is to discover if there are any common characteristics among those who have become inactive that can be used to identify and prevent others from becoming inactive members. Based on surveys and questionnaires sent to pastors, active, and inactive members from several churches in the Cabarrus Baptist Association, the project seeks to identify patterns among members who have become inactive. It then reviews the information to propose strategies to identify possible methods for preventing members from becoming inactive in the future.

Effective Church Leadership Through Emotional Intelligence, Joshua T. Lancaster

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In On Leadership, John Gardner wrote, “Most of what leaders have that enables them to lead is learned.” Effective leadership skills can be learned and become habits. In Primal Leadership, Daniel Goleman wrote, “Not only can emotional intelligence be learned, but it also can be retained over the long term.” Southern Baptist congregants expect their pastors to be theologians, but also effective leaders. The emotional quotient barrier suggests that pastoral leadership is less effective because of behaviors such as inconsistent management of emotions, inability to genuinely connect with people, or leading without inspiration. This has led to stagnated or declining …

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, …

Editorial, Bruce L. Bauer

Journal of Adventist Mission Studies

No abstract provided.

The Banner - V. 155, No. 9 - (October 2020), Christian Reformed Church In North America

The Banner

No abstract provided.

Book Review: Planting Reproducing Churches By Elmer L. Towns, David Thiessen

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of Church Plant Training Methods Within The Assemblies Of God, Bethlehem Backes

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

The steady decline of churches in America is a cause of great concern among spiritual leaders (Stetzer & Im, 2016). Missiologists agree that church planting is vital to presenting the gospel to unreached people groups. If church planting is the vehicle to deliver the life-giving message of Jesus to the world, church planters are the drivers who actively accomplish the purpose of healthy multiplication. Recent data on the health of church planters indicates many of them are not adequately prepared and desire long-term support to be successful. The Assemblies of God denomination has tasked the Church Multiplication Network with leading …

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.

Romans 12: A Leader's Guide To Transformation, Steven Ruggerio

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

No abstract provided.

Aspects Of Leadership And Their Effects On The Growth And Vitality Of North American Churches, Kimon Nicolaides Iii

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

No abstract provided.

God Does Not Show Favoritism: The Intentional Inclusion Of Minorities In Pentecostal Leadership, Terrell Robert Raburn

Doctor of Ministry (DMin)

Although the Azusa Street Revival, known for launching the modern Pentecostal Movement, was initially characterized by minority diversity in regard to leadership, it quickly splintered into three classic Pentecostal fellowships formed along racial lines. The research presented herein examines the racially segregated history of the Pentecostal Church in North America—acknowledging the need for the implementation of a biblically based theology of racial integration—and presents a four-step process in which minority leadership within individual Pentecostal churches is promoted, combatting the unbiblical ideology of a segregated body of Christ. The four steps include (1) the necessity for a strong visionary leader; (2) …

Beyond The Statistics: Learning From The History Of Mission Behind The Iron Curtain, Petr Činčala, Cristian Dumitrescu, Chung Yin Mak

Journal of Adventist Mission Studies

No abstract provided.

Anti-Urbanism In Culture And Seventh-Day Adventism: Advocacy And Action For Urban Ministry, Jerry R. Chase

Journal of Adventist Mission Studies

No abstract provided.