Arts and Humanities Commons^™

Expanding The Reach And Impact Of Hope For All Nations Ministries International In Zimbabwe Through A Women's Mentoring Initiative, Nhira Constance Ngoni

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Female leaders serving in strategic mentoring roles are critical to the work of equipping women to serve in local churches and para-churches. As demonstrated through scripture in Titus 2:3–5, women in positions of influential leadership have vast opportunities to prepare younger generations of women through strategic mentoring efforts. This study analyzes the significance of the mentoring process utilized by Hope for All Nations Ministries International (HFANMI) to equip women in their efforts to impact the nation of Zimbabwe. The goal for this project was to develop women leaders who were able to walk in freedom, experience God, grow in their …

A Study On The Family Worship Training For The Settlement Of The Family Worship: The Case Of Nonsan Central Church, Won Kew Ji

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This purpose of this study is to examine how the family worship training affects the settlement of family worship within Korean churches, and thereby, stress the necessity and importance family worship training in churches and suggest its specific methods. The Korean church in 21stcentury is experiencing slow down and stagnation in its growth. There can be various reasons for this but indifference in succession of faith due to the lack of education in faith at home is one of them. In this context, the researcher will emphasize the necessity of family worship by observing that education in faith should be …

Multigenerational Worship: Liturgical Dance And Mime Within The African American Baptist Church, Lydia Marie Toliver

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Historically, the African American Church has utilized movement to express personal faith. As attitudes towards movement changed, many churches limited or banned the use of dance in worship. Currently, many African American Baptist Churches have developed liturgical dance teams, providing a ministry for a variety of generations. These lyrical movements are danced to live or recorded music, usually contemporary Gospel music. Popularity of the liturgical dance teams has expanded to include mime, also known as Gospel mime. Many churches that worship in a multigenerational model provide relevant and transformational opportunities for all ages. Incorporating liturgical dance and mime as worship …

Discipleship As Understood And Practiced By Worship Leaders, Pastors, And Congregations Of Selected Southern Baptist Churches, Bridgette Lashawn Yancy

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite the growing interest in Christian faith development through Bible study, prayer groups, literature, and other media, there has been little to no research completed in the area of discipleship of worship leaders. This study will be an examination of discipleship activities that are offered within the Southern Baptist churches and the average duration of engagement of these activities by worship leaders. How the discipleship of the worship leader affects the ministry of the worship leader, participation in leadership-focused activities, and the personal and professional growth of the worship leader will be examined through questionnaires for both pastors and worship …

A Study On The Healthy Church Growth Through The Revitalization Of Small Group In Traditional Church, Min Yong Park

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The church is the body of Jesus Christ, which Christ has built and became the head of it. Therefore, the church is not a building or a social organization, but a family community of the laity who saved through Christ and united under him. Recently, however, the Korean church has lost its original nature planned by God. They achieved significant external growth that made churches around the world focus. But lost the true nature and obsessed with the outward buildings and numbers. As a result, the holy influence of the church on the world diminished.

This paper defines the term …

The Art Of Distancing: A Review Of How To Do Nothing, David J. Mulder, Leah A. Zuidema, Matt Drissell

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

In this symposium style review, Matt Drissell (Associate Professor of Art), Leah Zuidema (Vice President for Online & Graduate Education), and Dave Mulder (Associate Professor of Education) each bring perspectives from their area of expertise.

Posting about the book How to Do Nothing-Resisting the Attention Economy from In All Things - an online journal for critical reflection on faith, culture, art, and every ordinary-yet-graced square inch of God’s creation.

https://inallthings.org/the-art-of-distancing-a-review-of-how-to-do-nothing/

Blessed To Bless, Joseph Khabbaz

The Main Thing Devotional

God will often place people in our lives who are in need because He is aware of what we lack.

Now Joseph was the governor of the land, the one who sold grain to all its people. So when Joseph's brothers arrived, they bowed down to him with their faces to the ground. - Genesis 47:7

Building On Abilities: Developing A Growth Mindset, Valorie L. Zonnefeld

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"Experience has taught me that before we can conquer any mathematics, it is important that the students first believe that they can learn math."

Posting about ­­­­­­­­growth in learning from In All Things - an online journal for critical reflection on faith, culture, art, and every ordinary-yet-graced square inch of God’s creation.

https://inallthings.org/building-on-abilities-developing-a-growth-mindset/

Open Educational Resources For The Kingdom, Mike Janssen

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"OERs can reduce the financial burden for our students and promote Kingdom values in education."

Posting about ­­­­­­­­the educational value of open source software from In All Things - an online journal for critical reflection on faith, culture, art, and every ordinary-yet-graced square inch of God’s creation.

https://inallthings.org/open-educational-resources-for-the-kingdom/

Megachurches Can Have Mega Problems - Insights From Toxic Leadership In Modern Megachurches, Brandon Billings

Honors Scholars Collaborative Projects

The Christian megachurch is a relatively recent phenomenon, championing new ideals and theological practices for faith communities around the world. Megachurches, by definition, are Christian churches that consist of over a thousand attendees. Most megachurches are independent from a denomination – a characteristic that brings a multitude of advantages as well as challenges. One specific challenge for megachurches is the problem of potential abuse by pastors that are characterized by toxic and destructive leadership. In recent years, many Christians, as well as non-Christians, have been shocked by the number of megachurch pastors revealed as bullies, narcissists, or sexual assailants. Although …

Old Testament Election: God’S Exclusive Means Of Bringing About Global Redemption, Parker Williams

Senior Honors Theses

This thesis will seek to explore the doctrine of election as it appears in the Old Testament. It will attempt to provide a robust, biblical conception of the doctrine, shedding light on its nature and purpose, viewing the Bible as a singular story of God’s redemptive work. It will consider and assess election as God’s act of divine prerogative—being at times individual but primarily corporate. While inherently partial, effort will be taken to defend the doctrine against common objections this partiality draws. Rather, it will be shown that as the means by which He initiated His gracious plan of salvation, …

Book Reviews, Larry Hart, Mark E Roberts, Sally Shelton, Jeffrey Voth, Monte Lee Rice, Robert D. Mcbain, Joji Mathew

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

C. Douglas Weaver. Baptists and the Holy Spirit: The Contested History with Holiness- Pentecostal-Charismatic Movements

Larry Hart ................................................................................................................151

Wolfgang Vondey. Pentecostal Theology: Living the Full Gospel Joji Mathew..............................................................................................................153

Lalsangkima Pachuau. World Christianity: A Historical and Theological Introduction Robert D. McBain....................................................................................................156

David Perry. Spirit Baptism: The Pentecostal Experience in Theological Focus Monte Lee Rice ........................................................................................................159

Craig S. Keener. Galatians and Galatians: A Commentary Mark E. Roberts and Philip R. Feist .........................................................................164

Vinson Synan. Where He Leads Me: The Vinson Synan Story Sally Jo Shelton.........................................................................................................168

Paul L. King. Is It of God? A Biblical Guidebook for Spiritual Discernment Jeffrey Voth ..............................................................................................................171

Creation Care As Caring For Human Beings: An Environmental Justice Case Study, Jeffrey S. Lamp, Kathryn J. Moder, Megan R. Munhoffen, Cade A. Rich, Nathan B. Von Atzigen

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

A special ORU Student study directed by Dr. Jeff Lamp.

Caring for God’s creation is a burgeoning area of interest among Christians in recent decades. In many Christian circles, however, caring for creation is not given high priority in rankings of the duties of Christian disciples in the world. This article will argue that caring for creation is a biblically mandated call for God’s people in the world and derives from the role of human beings as caretakers of creation, creation’s status as a recipient of God’s salvation in Christ, and the connection between human beings and the other-than-human creation. …

Pentecostalism And Social, Political, And Economic Development, Allan H. Anderson

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

This article traces the global impact of Pentecostalism with reference to its definition, varieties, and statistics. It also discusses the subject of development from a theological perspective, considering how development applies to Pentecostalism. The first part considers the ambivalence involved in Pentecostal sociopolitical engagement, and then in the second part, discusses how Pentecostalism and development relate to each other. It gives examples throughout the article of how Pentecostals are involved in development projects and sociopolitical activities worldwide.

Fundamentalism, Marginalization, And Eschatology: Historical, Socio-Economic, And Theological Factors Influencing Early Pentecostal Theological Education, Daniel Topf

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

Pentecostalism is recognized and appreciated, for instance, for its fervent evangelism and vibrant worship but generally not well-known for its contributions to scholarship and formal theological education. Why is that the case? Rather than simply pointing to an anti-intellectual attitude within Pentecostalism, this article emphasizes there are complex historical, socioeconomic, and theological factors to be considered when describing the development of early Pentecostal theological education in the United States. From a historical perspective, early Pentecostalism had to come to terms with its nineteenth-century roots, which included the fundamentalist movement. Regarding socio-economic factors, many early Pentecostal leaders came from the margins …

The Holy Spirit And The Nineteenth-Century Mission To Hawaii, Paul Miller

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

This article explores the missionary successes and failures of nineteenth- century Hawaii. It then explores the Holy Spirit connection to these successes and the lack of such a connection regarding the failures. It suggests missionary failures in the area of supernaturalism and Holy Spirit listening, failures to which the missionaries were particularly prone given their almost mono-focus on “civilization” and “education.” It then suggests native Hawaiian failures in, first, addressing their depopulation problem and, second, in attaining their aspirations of economic progress. Finally, facing these failures, it probes certain Holy Spirit perspectives as their potential solution.

Pentecostal Collaboration: A Pragmatic Necessity Or A Spiritual Principle?, Arto Hamalainen

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

No abstract provided.

"We Have Seen His Glory": Pentecostal Spirit Christology In Conversation With Cyril Of Alexandria, Chris E. W. Green

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

This article proposes a constructive Pentecostal Spirit christology, primarily in conversation with a feature of Cyril of Alexandria’s thought. After considering key features of kenotic Pentecostal Spirit christologies, and showing their limitations, the article takes up the task of constructing an alternative account of kenosis via a re-reading of the Christ hymn in Philippians 2.

The Call Of Nathanael: A New Recruit For The Jesus Movement (John 1:45–51), J. Lyle Story

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

The call of Nathanael narrated in John 1:45–51 not only depicts the call of this disciple of Jesus, but also functions paradigmatically as an invitation for future generations of disciples to personal relationship with Jesus and participation in his messianic mission. The article argues that the horticultural metaphors of the fig tree in the Nathanael narrative and the vine in Jesus’ discourse in John 15 illustrate complementary aspects of discipleship, with the former emphasizing personal relationship with Jesus and the latter a relationship of abiding. It is through the work of the Holy Spirit that disciples, both original and future, …

"I Tried Poverty": Exploring The Psychological Impact Of Poverty And Prosperity In The Life Of Oral Roberts, Daniel D. Isgrigg

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

The origin of the prosperity gospel is most often linked to the influence of American Pentecostal Christianity, particularly to Oral Roberts and his concept of “seed faith.” In light of this, this study seeks to understand Oral Roberts’ concepts of poverty and prosperity by exploring the psychology of his own experience of poverty. It will suggest that the biology of inequality he experienced as a child shaped the development of his prosperity theology.

Editorial: Earthly Minded And Heavenly Good?, Jeffrey S. Lamp

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

Spiritus 5.1 (Spring 2020)

Front Matter, Spiritus Editors

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

Spiritus 5.1 (Spring, 2020)

Full Issue: Volume 5, Number 1 (2020), Spiritus Editors

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

No abstract provided.

The Spiritual Faith Journey Of Hope College, Reed Hanson

19th Annual Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2020)

Over 150 years ago, Hope College was founded with a vision to become a “school of the prophets.” Philip Phelps and Albertus Van Raalte established an institution that would train ministers, pastors, missionaries, and inspirational men and women to carry the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth and to advance His kingdom revolution worldwide. Over the course of the past 150 years, Hope has endured seismic structural and spiritual changes that at times caused the school to wander away from its true goal and in turn become a lost, nearly secularized college, unfaithful to its original …

An Analysis Of The Debate Over Creation, Evolution, And The Timeline Of The Universe At An Ecumenical Christian University, Mason Pohlman

Honors Scholars Collaborative Projects

Throughout a significant portion of history and within modern culture, the fields of science and religion appear to be competing for the same holds in a person’s belief system. Universities are where academics and the sciences are the prevailing held truth, while in churches, the Bible reigns as supreme authority. However, in a Christian academic setting, the predominate school of thought in belief systems might turn into a little more of a melting pot. By analyzing gathered personal data (via surveys and interviews), one can begin to piece together the predominate thoughts on the apparent conflict between religion and science …

Networked Religion: Metaphysical Redemption Or Eternal Regret?, Peter Mclaren

Education Faculty Articles and Research

"I’d like to set the tone of this commentary commenting upon the above quotation by Reagan: Can we doubt that war criminals in your administration, under the tutelage of your ‘Reagan Doctrine,’ transformed the country into a harrowing neoliberal horror show starring the nomenklatura of corporate America? They achieved this world-historical assault on the working-class through foreign and domestic policies and acts of clandestine military outlawry that can only provoke a rational mind to contemptuously scoff at your use of the word ‘refuge’ and ‘freedom’ to describe the USA."

Seven Stanzas At Easter, David Schelhaas

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"Updike’s task in this poem is to convince readers in our scientific age that, unnatural though it be, resurrection has happened."

Posting about ­­­­­­­­the poem Seven Stanzas at Easter from In All Things - an online journal for critical reflection on faith, culture, art, and every ordinary-yet-graced square inch of God’s creation.

https://inallthings.org/seven-stanzas-at-easter/

Discovering The Good In Good Friday, Allison Wordes

Student Work

"As we come to Good Friday, the end of Lent and a recounting of Jesus’ sufferings, I have to ask the question of 'What is Good?'"

Posting about ­­­­­­­­Easter reflections from In All Things - an online journal for critical reflection on faith, culture, art, and every ordinary-yet-graced square inch of God’s creation.

https://inallthings.org/discovering-the-good-in-good-friday/

The Necessity Of Divine Hiddenness, Daniel Riggins

Showcase of Osprey Advancements in Research and Scholarship (SOARS)

Divine silence – or how many perceive it, divine hiddenness – is the source of one of the most important and broadly discussed objections for belief in God. Dr. Michael Rea, philosophy of religion professor at the University of Notre Dame, made the claim that divine silence is one of the most important sources of doubt and spiritual distress not solely for those contemplating belief, but also for those who already believe in the existence of God. For some believers, the silence of God can be reconciled while for others it is only evidence of either a God who lacks …

The Early Childhood Years: Building Blocks For Life, Gwen R. Marra

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"In the early childhood years, so much growth and development occurs. It truly is the foundation for the formal learning that happens later in life."

Posting about ­­­­­­­­education in the formative years from In All Things - an online journal for critical reflection on faith, culture, art, and every ordinary-yet-graced square inch of God’s creation.

https://inallthings.org/the-early-childhood-years-building-blocks-for-life/