Digital Commons Network^™

Sustaining The Future Of The Local Church By Equipping Ministry Leaders Through A Development Program, James Wesley Harrison

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation-in-praxis addressed the pressing need for intentional leadership development within local churches, focusing on preparing the head, heart, and hands of aspiring ministry leaders to fulfill the calling God has placed on them. The rationale for this praxis project stemmed from the observed shortage of trained ministry leaders in many local churches. The project emphasized that many churches fail to implement deliberate efforts to equip ministry leaders to fulfill the church's mission. The Legacy Leadership Ministry Training program served as a viable solution to this problem. The purpose of this project was to develop and implement a comprehensive training …

Walking In Promise, Living In Reality: Exploring The Mental Health Implications Of The Pentecostal Discourse Of Divine Calling, Robert D. Mcbain

Salubritas: International Journal of Spirit-Empowered Counseling

Pentecostalism places a strong emphasis on the discourse of divine calling, where individuals believe they are purposefully created, guided, and empowered by God to fulfill a specific mission. This sense of calling profoundly shapes Pentecostals’ sense of identity and purpose. Using Grounded Theory, this study analyzes open, in-depth interviews with Pentecostals in the U.S. to explore the impact of the Pentecostal discourse of divine calling on their mental health. The metaphor of ‘walking in’ one’s calling emerges as the central theme used by participants to explain the interaction between their perception of divine calling, their lived realities, and their mental …

The Echo: May 12, 2025, Taylor University

2024-2025 (Volume 112)

No abstract provided.

A Bronx Tale Of Environmental Justice: The Intersection Between Urban Planning And Transportation, Elodie S. Weinman

Student Theses 2015-Present

This thesis explores the intersection of urban planning and transportation, focusing on creating sustainable, efficient, and livable cities without overburdening communities. The borough of Bronx, characterized by its diverse socio-economic landscape and intricate transportation network, offers a compelling case study for examining the impact of urban planning strategies on transportation infrastructure. Through a combination of expert interviews, my fellowship with Tri-State Transportation Campaign (TSTC) in 2024, and policy review, this research identifies key areas where transportation planning and urban development intersect and influence each other. The research evaluates current planning practices, assesses the effectiveness of recent transportation initiatives, and proposes …

Communicating A Helpful, Saving Relationship With Christ For Students Scarred By Harmful Religion, Rachel Williams-Smith Ph.D., Ed.D.

The Journal of Biblical Foundations of Faith and Learning

There are students in our midst who come from backgrounds and situations in which harmful religion was the norm and who are thereby wounded and scarred and struggle with religion as a whole and/or with attending a religious school. This paper discusses harmful religion and what is needed to heal from it, and it introduces upcoming research on communication tools that can aid an instructor who has students who have been scarred by legalism, spiritual abuse, or other forms of harmful religion. The goal is for those who have a saving relationship with Christ and have a heart of compassion …

Incarnational Mathematics_ Applying Relational Ministry To The Classroom, Thomas Shifley

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2024

No abstract provided.

Ministry In A Secular World, Steve Case

Journal of Adventist Youth and Young Adult Ministries

No abstract provided.

The Securing Of Divine Attachment: The Role Of Intergenerational Sharing In Attachment-Oriented Discipleship In Youth Ministry, Kristina Freed

Journal of Adventist Youth and Young Adult Ministries

Divine attachment styles, whether secure or insecure, are strongly influenced by intergenerational interactions and attachments. This paper considers the role of multiple generations on faith transmission with a view toward fostering and securing divine attachment in a way that leads to increased participation in vertical and horizontal discipleship relationships and activities. Specifically addressed are the significance of certain applications of theology and psychology to attachment processes, and how attachment styles and relationships influence faith development. Suggestions for fostering intergenerational ministry within the context of divine attachment relationships are made

Creating A Trauma-Informed Youth Ministry, Rodney Palmer

Journal of Adventist Youth and Young Adult Ministries

Trauma is an event or experience that surpasses an individual’s coping capacity, often manifesting in response to various situations such as abuse, neglect, violence, natural disasters, or loss. Trauma, especially during one’s formative years, can have long-lasting and far-reaching effects on an individual’s physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual well-being. Consequently, it is vital to provide a safe and supportive environment for youth who have experienced such trauma. This article provides a guide on creating a safe space, emphasizing key elements such as being welcoming and non-judgmental, using positive language, setting clear boundaries, promoting autonomy, addressing triggers, and fostering healthy relationships. …

The 180° Symposium 2024: Who Cares? Ministering To (And With) Young People In A Secular World. Summary, Steve Case

Journal of Adventist Youth and Young Adult Ministries

No abstract provided.

Overview, Steve Case

Journal of Adventist Youth and Young Adult Ministries

No abstract provided.

The New Orphan? Ministry In K-12 Public Schools, Nelson Silva

Journal of Adventist Youth and Young Adult Ministries

As churches struggle with identity and declining members in an increasingly hyper-individualistic and pluralistic society, mission must be carefully reconsidered to bring about adaptive change. Public schools position themselves as a natural place to mingle with the people of the community. However, many churches’ missiological posture of attraction rather than immersion, in addition to the misinterpretation of how church and state should relate, keeps ministry away from the heart of the community. The 180° Symposium in 2017 identified “The New Orphan” as Youth Sabbath School. This metaphor now applies to elementary and secondary public schools. The Seventh-day Adventist Church has …

Focus Groups

Journal of Adventist Youth and Young Adult Ministries

No abstract provided.

Who Cares? Ministering To (And With) Young People In A Secular World

Journal of Adventist Youth and Young Adult Ministries

No abstract provided.

The Making Of Disciples : Developing An Effective Discipleship Process For Current And Emerging Lay Leaders At Crossroads Community Cathedral, Ermias Feleke

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Embodying Biblical Hospitality : Threshold Moments For God's Welcome In Secular Workplaces, Sandra Lynn Blumanhourst

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Church Revitalization Through The Practice Of Spiritual Disciplines, Emmanuel Afful

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Evaluating The Effectiveness Of A Six-Week Missional Discipleship Training Program For Youth At Ipc Prayer Centre Thiruvalla, Jibbin Raju Poovakala

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

From Transactional To Transformational : A Relational Model Of Discipleship For The Local Church, Adam K. Thornton

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Select Independent Baptist Church Family Worship And The Impact Of The Church Family Ministry, Joshua Wayne Yancy

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A growing number of young adults leave the church once they reach the age of majority, leading many congregations to reevaluate the interplay between family worship, parent-equipping, and intergenerational ministry. Adopting a convergent parallel mixed methods approach, this study combined a nationwide quantitative survey of 125 parents with qualitative interviews of senior, youth, and children’s ministry leaders from four Independent Baptist churches. The survey explored how frequently parents engage in worship and discipleship practices within the home. At the same time, the interviews shed light on how church-led intergenerational worship and parent-equipping efforts influence families’ home practices. Findings reveal that …

Gen Mz Discipleship: Training A Generation To Live In The Postmodern Age, Christian E. Kolthoff

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The church exodus of Gen MZ is one of the most significant issues affecting the health of churches in the West. Recent research has indicated that many in Gen MZ have left the church not for lack of knowledge but because of a lack of understanding of the why. It has also indicated that Gen MZ has not been trained to respond to why they are holding on to the hope of the Gospel. So, when presented with opposing views, they struggle to maintain their faith in today’s postmodern society. It is an age in which a war on ideas …

Identity Restored: High School Students Overcoming Social Media’S Influence To Embrace Their Identity As Sons And Servants Of God, Daniel M. Christiaans

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The research question for this action research project relates to the impact of social media on the identity formation of believers through their high school years. As a youth pastor of 20 years and father of four teenagers, I’ve noticed that high school students maintain many of the social media habits and addictions seen in the secular world. This regular interaction with social media is detrimental to their identity formation; they are not adopting the identity provided for them in Christ as communicated by the Word of God. This project will discuss the roles and responsibilities of the believer's identity …

Ripples On The Bronx River: Exploring Gentrification And Indigenous Magical Realism Through Creative Storytelling, Olivia Griffin

FCRH Honors Program Theses

The Bronx River has been left largely unexamined in the realms of literature and art in the 21st century. Prior to colonization, the riverbanks served as a home and resource for Indigenous communities. However, by the Industrial Revolution, the river had become a dumping ground, starting with the first watermill in 1666 in West Farms. Of the twenty-three mile river, the lower five miles served as an informal sewer and was hidden from the public eye, "its few access points blocked by gigantic mounds of submerged cars, worn-out tires, less identifiable garbage, and rusting junk," (Jonnes, 463). Only in the …

Faith Deconstruction: The Challenge Of Answering The Questions Affecting The Faith Of Young People, Rogelio Paquini

Journal of Adventist Youth and Young Adult Ministries

A significant trend, faith deconstruction, has recently been popularized among young believers affecting youth ministry. This occurrence has gained noteworthy attention as many young Christians, including Adventist and non-Adventist individuals, have begun questioning and deconstructing their faith. Pastors across various denominations have responded by preaching sermon series dedicated to faith deconstruction. As the sources of information on religious beliefs become more diverse, faith deconstruction challenges traditional conceptions of faith formation and spiritual development. Many young Christians, influenced by countless factors, including access to information, changing societal values, and exposure to diverse perspectives, are grappling with doubt and seeking to reconcile …

Guys & Dolls: A Musical Fable Of Broadway, Damon Runyon, Jo Swerling, Abe Burrows

Taylor Theatre Playbills

The playbill for Taylor University's performance of Guys & Dolls: A Musical Fable of Broadway based on a story amd characters of Damon Runyan and a book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser.

Performed April 25, 2025 at 8:00pm, April 26 & May 2-3, 2025 at 7:30pm and April 27 & May 4, 2025 at 2:00pm in the Mitchell Theatre at Taylor University.

Set in the colorful, fictional world of Damon Runyon's New York City, Guys and Dolls is a musical comedy that intertwines two distinct love stories among the city's gamblers and …

Converting Membership Into Discipleship: A Spiritual Formation Program In Discipleship For Rural African American Churches, Ernest L. Williams Sr.

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This thesis project addresses the need for rural African American churches to focus on spiritual formation and discipleship for their parishioners. Churches that emphasize the importance of the gospel and believers’ daily commitment to it represent progress toward discipleship. Discipleship creates a connection between worship and lifestyle. Churchgoers, particularly African American Christians in rural settings, may struggle to understand and practice discipleship. Historically, church worship and attendance have been prioritized in this faith community. However, Sunday worship that fails to provide a plan for daily spiritual formation may contribute to the issue. If the gospel is not the church’s primary …

Direct And Mediating Relationships Between Divine Grace, Legalism, And Mental Health, Branwyn H. Mccormick

Senior Honors Theses

Positive psychology has popularized the integration of religious ideas into psychological treatment. According to the literature, the experience of divine grace is correlated with favorable mental health outcomes, whereas legalistic attitudes are correlated with adverse mental health outcomes. It has also been found that the experience of divine grace is a mediator between legalism and mental health. However, the constructs of divine grace and legalism have both been relatively unexplored aside from a few studies using Latter-day Saints (LDS) populations. The current study seeks to analyze relationships between divine grace, legalism, and mental health using a conservative evangelical Christian population. …

The Beacon, April 11, 2025, Beacon Staff

The Beacon, 2024-2025

Smooth start for NEXT students; Ann Minnick: a bittersweet goodbye; Mumford & Sons does nothing memorable; "Death of a Unicorn" is exactly what it seems; Senior Spotlight on Liam Nibbelink; How Iowa legislation may affect NW students; An organization for future teachers; NEXT orientation mentorship; "An Enemy of the People" takes the stage; Spiritual and social growth; "Shark Tale": an over-hated gem; Little Caesar's - the best pizza chain; Coach Korver transitioning leadership; A deeper look at the Athletic Training Clinic; A spotlight on NW tennis; Beacon's future: new Beacon-ings; Stranded astronauts return home;

From Inherited Belief To Owned Faith: Mentoring Emerging Adults Through Fowler’S Faith Stages, Elijah Gutierrez

Christian Ministries Student Projects (All)

This paper explores how James Fowler’s theory of faith development and Richard Dunn’s model of mentoring through pacing can be used together to support the spiritual growth of emerging adults. Focusing on the transition from Stage 3 (Synthetic-Conventional Faith) to Stage 4 (Individuative-Reflective Faith), the paper highlights the challenges young adults face as they move from inherited to owned belief. Practical strategies are offered for ministry leaders and mentors who want to walk with emerging adults through this process of spiritual formation with empathy, patience, and intentional guidance.

Analyzing The Methods And Effects Of Implementing Multiple Service Styles In The Church, Chloe E. Dillman

Selected Honors Theses

This thesis explores the motivations and methodologies behind offering different styles of worship services in churches in Lakeland, Florida. The study is inspired by the ongoing debate over modern worship, which has intensified over the past fifty years. As contemporary worship grew in popularity, many churches adapted by incorporating various worship styles into their services. In response to the controversy surrounding these changes, some churches implemented multiple service options—one reflecting a contemporary/modern style and another adhering to a more traditional approach. As this practice became more widespread, it sparked further discussion among church leaders regarding its impact on congregational unity, …