Arts and Humanities Commons^™

Three Mothers Who Prayed, James M. Taylor

Heritage Material

No abstract provided.

Touring South America With The Gospel, James M. Taylor

Heritage Material

No abstract provided.

Ammas, Abbas And Art: Theological Reflections On Divine Nurture, Kristen Harris, Emma Morgan, Kara Roberts

SPARK Symposium Presentations

Students in this session will present their final projects from a semester-long independent study on art, motherhood, and theology; drawing on written, visual, and musical texts from 2000 years of tradition, they reflect on the ways Christian practice and language have invited contemplation on the role of mothering.

Master Plan Of Evangelism (Daai Chin Version), Robert E. Coleman

GO InterNational Books

No abstract provided.

Pastors In Crisis: A Proactive Prayer Life As A Measure Against Pastoral Burnout, Seth W. Hinrichs

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This Doctor of Ministry project examines the relationship between a proactive prayer life and pastoral burnout among senior pastors in Converge North Central churches. Addressing the increasing prevalence of burnout in vocational ministry, the study reframes burnout as a fundamentally theological issue rather than merely a psychological or organizational problem. Drawing on the work of Ray Anderson and others, the project argues that burnout reflects a misalignment between a pastor’s lived theology—particularly in identity, calling, and dependence on God—and the realities of ministry practice. The research integrates biblical-theological reflection, a review of contemporary literature, and quantitative field research through a …

Master Plan Of Evangelism. – Romanian Version, Robert E. Coleman

GO InterNational Books

No abstract provided.

Master Plan Of Evangelism Korean Version, Robert E. Coleman

GO InterNational Books

No abstract provided.

Master Plan Of Evangelism- Mongolian Version, Robert E. Coleman

GO InterNational Books

No abstract provided.

Master Plan Of Evangelism – Sinhala Version, Robert E. Coleman

GO InterNational Books

No abstract provided.

No One Told Their Story: Acculturation, Faith Formation, And Belonging In Multicultural Congregations Led By African American Pastors, Alicia L. Partee

Doctor of Ministry

The search for meaning, identity coherence, and belonging often intensifies when individuals cross cultural boundaries. Faith communities can serve as sanctuaries for identity renegotiation, but congregations may also reproduce the social distance and exclusion found in the broader society. This dissertation addresses a scholarly and pastoral gap at the intersection of acculturation and Christian faith formation, and more specifically how identity, belonging, and spiritual formation are negotiated within multicultural congregations led by African American pastors in San Jose, California, and similar contexts.

Drawing on acculturation research in psychology, sociology, and anthropology, this study examines how culturally diverse newcomers experience culture …

Binding The Strongman: Understanding And Disarming Society's Anxious Systems, Jacob Eugene Osborne

Doctor of Ministry

Binding the Strongman seeks to address an underlying problem at the heart of western evangelicalism, an idolatry which contemporary Christianity has become enmeshed in as it relates to political figures, cultural influencers, and unhealthy spiritual leaders. The NPO examines how evangelicals engaged in politics are encountering barriers to spiritual growth largely due to systemic social and spiritual leadership issues caused by their position in a relational system that is experiencing chronic anxiety.

Binding the Strongman addresses underlying dynamics at the heart of every Christian, such as the unhealthy emotional systems they are prone to rely on as systems of truth, …

The New, New Song: Answering Decline In Mainline Communities Of Faith, Daniel Garrett Kuckuck

Doctor of Ministry

This project addresses the NPO Statement: “The practical theology of mainline congregations in decline is no longer speaking at all.” Research conducted across congregational contexts revealed that many communities of faith still believe deeply, but have lost the confidence and practice of articulating their faith story aloud. Decline is not only a matter of resources and worship size, but also of a congregation’s ability to name who they are, what God is doing among them, and why their story matters now.

The project emerges directly from my vocational context as a pastor and judicatory leader accompanying 130 worshipping communities across …

Cultivating Belonging In Church Communities: A Repeatable Model For Small Groups, Clancy Z. Kiener

Doctor of Ministry

NPO Statement for this project is as follows:

Many individuals experience a diminished sense of belonging within religious environments. This lack of belonging can lead to disengagement and limit opportunities for authentic spiritual and communal formation. Structured, repeatable, moderator-led small groups— guided by trained moderators—offer a practical approach for fostering connection and strengthening a sense of belonging within church communities.

A key insight from this project is that many people in church communities experience a persistent sense of not belonging, even when they attend, serve, and believe alongside others. The research shows that belonging is not automatically created by shared …

Silent Struggles: The Hidden Burden Of Depression Among Black Single Mothers In Ghana, Sonja Brown

Doctor of Ministry

Reflections Through the Single Mothers of the Bible examines depression among Black single mothers in Ghana as an overlooked yet urgent mental, physical, economic, social, and Spiritual concern, highlighting the need for integrated Faith-based and community-centered responses. While global attention to maternal mental health has increased, the lived experiences of Black single mothers, particularly within faith-shaped, patriarchal, and economically constrained Ghanaian contexts, remain underrepresented in scholarly research, theological discourse, and public policy. This gap presents a problem and an opportunity to develop holistic, culturally responsive, and faith-informed approaches to care and advocacy.

This dissertation argues that depression among Black single …

Digging Deep: Food Sovereignty, Belonging & Community- A Systemic Approach, Julie Lynn Gullett

Doctor of Ministry

Set in the rural, agrarian context of Lewis County, Washington, one of the poorest counties in Washington State, this project explores the following NPO: Addressing the concerns of marginalized populations by fostering care of Creation, offers an innovative path to meaningful reciprocal community connections, and a future filled with hope. Drawing on the wisdom and methodologies of Seedpod Farm, my vocational context, a key insight of the Project centered on three interrelated outcomes that my research identified as critical for success: Sovereignty through the development of food skills, belonging through mentoring and cohort relationships, and fostering community connections through service. …

Embracing God's Call: The Case For The Ordination Of Black Female Pastors Within The Church Of God In Christ, Luquanda Hawkins

Doctor of Ministry

This dissertation explores the intersection of social justice and the ministry journey of Black women within the Church of God in Christ (COGIC), the most prominent Black religious denomination in the United States. It examines the historical and theological foundations of COGIC, with a focus on the systemic devaluation of Black women, the suppression of their leadership roles, and the antiquated policies that confine them to subservient positions. This study argues that the denial of leadership opportunities to women constitutes unequal treatment and represents a critical social justice issue.

The research highlights how many Black religious organizations, including COGIC, have …

Flourishing In The Wilderness: Soul Care For The Disoriented, Disillusioned, And Deconstructing, Becky Frazier

Doctor of Ministry

Seasons of disorientation, disillusionment, and deconstruction are normal parts of the Christian spiritual life. This can be seen throughout church history and is even an integral theme of scripture. Yet many churches do not prepare Christians for this possibility, leaving many to struggle more than is necessary through the loneliness, doubt, and confusion of these seasons. This experience of being “unmoored” and alone was a key insight that emerged throughout my research. It is my belief that churches should equip and support members who find themselves in a wilderness season of their faith. To that end, the NPO that this …

Stefan Tsankov And Orthodox Ecumenical Theology: Foundations, Grammar And Reception, Ioannis Kaminis, Nikos Kouremenos

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This paper examines the life, theology, and ecumenical legacy of Protopresbyter Dr. Stefan Tsankov (1881-1965), a leading Bulgarian Orthodox theologian and one of the earliest Orthodox pioneers of the modern ecumenical movement. Situating Tsankov within the broader trajectory of twentieth-century Orthodoxy, the study traces his biographical formation, academic career, and active participation in key inter-Christian and inter-Orthodox forums, including the Faith and Order and Life and Work movements. Particular attention is given to his theological “grammar” of ecumenism: a vision grounded in the catholicity of the Church, the inseparability of unity and doctrinal truth, and an irenic ethos marked by …

A Contextual Proposal Toward Ministerial Competency: The Theological Education Of Pastors In The African American Baptist Churches Of Central Mississippi, Kevin Thomas

Doctor of Ministry

There is a critical issue affecting some African American Baptist churches in Central Mississippi: the absence of formal theological training among a significant number of pastors. While these ministers are spiritually mature and deeply committed to their congregations, the gap in theological preparedness tends to pose challenges to doctrinal accuracy, exegetical soundness, and the long-term effectiveness of their ministries. This study aims to address the following question: How can a contextually informed and practically accessible theological education model equip African American Baptist pastors in Central Mississippi for faithful ministry? The argument presented asserts that theological education is not a luxury …

That's A Great Question! A Practical Guide To Engage Teens In Honest Conversations, Linda Van Voorst

Doctor of Ministry

This Doctoral Project addresses a significant and persistent challenge within evangelical churches: 70% of Evangelical teens disengage from church upon high school graduation. While often attributed to rebellion or declining belief, this project investigates deeper formative dynamics contributing to this disengagement.

Research revealed that many adolescents do not disengage because they reject faith, but because they lack safe, relational spaces within the church to voice meaningful questions about God, suffering, identity, and belief. When questioning is met with discomfort, defensiveness, or premature answers, adolescents often internalize the message that doubt is incompatible with faith. The research also surfaced that many …

Spiritual Friendship: Addressing Clergy Loneliness And Isolation, Tyler Tankersley

Doctor of Ministry

The Need, Problem, or Opportunity (NPO) that grounds this Project Portfolio is the widespread experience of personal loneliness and social isolation among pastors. While pastoral ministry is inherently relational, many clergy serve in emotionally demanding roles that limit their capacity to cultivate mutual, non-instrumental friendships, leaving them vulnerable to exhaustion, isolation, and diminished vocational sustainability.

Research conducted through collaborative design workshops, one-on-one interviews, surveys, and engagement with biblical, theological, and contemporary social research revealed that loneliness among pastors is not merely a social deficit but a spiritual and formational concern. Key insights include the distinction between loneliness and social isolation, …

Faith That Lasts: How Local Churches Can Support Families In Passing On Their Faith To Their Children, Andrew Corbyn Thompson

Doctor of Ministry

NPO Statement

More than ever, children raised in Christian homes leave their faith by adulthood.

A major contributing factor to this tragic exodus is the North American ministry model that outsourced discipleship from the home to age-segregated church programs and professionals. This project responds to the urgent need to equip and empower parents in their foundational role as their children's first disciplers.

Key Benefit or Insights that Emerged from the Research Overall

The research for this project, grounded in biblical and theological foundations and sociological observation, highlights that lasting, authentic faith is fostered in a holistic home environment where parents, …

The Political Posturing Of The American Church And Its Influence On American Government Policymaking, Kathleen Maria Shaw

Doctor of Ministry

This dissertation explores the intersection of theology, politics, leadership, and iteration to the present political situation of the American Church. This author argues that crises in governance and church identity stem from the theological disunity of separation between divine authority and moral responsibility. The opening chapter, America’s Theological Roots, will bring out the influence which the Biblical ideas of the Covenant and of Justice have had on the foundation of the American Nation. The second chapter, The American Pulpit and Political Power: A Historical and Contemporary Analysis, explores how preaching has acted as a moral force for reformation …

Rhythms: Realigning To The Peaceable Kingdom, Todd A. Richards

Doctor of Ministry

American Individualism is antithetical to the Gospel of Jesus. It is rooted in individual exceptionalism and meritocracy; one succeeds or fails by one’s own strength and will. The need for community and mutuality is minimized or non-existent. The I does not need the we. I pull myself up by my own bootstraps. I am the captain of my ship. I create my own destiny.

American individualism has created a church ill-equipped to encounter the Peaceable Kingdom in daily life. Faith is private. Christian community is relegated to weekly gathered worship. Spiritual friendships have been replaced with personal quiet …

Leadership Pathways Foundations: Developing Women In Alliance Missions, Melissa Lynne Singfiel

Doctor of Ministry

The project was developed to address the NPO: Women in Alliance Missions have unmet developmental needs, are often overlooked in the first decade of service, and underutilized for leadership opportunities.

A key insight of the research was a twofold obstacle facing women in ministry. First, the fundamental theological disagreement over women’s participation in leadership results in pervasive patriarchal preference and predominance of male leadership voices in the organizational culture. Second, a general lack of preparation and mentoring for women in the areas of leadership and formation results in an absence of women in the leadership pipeline and an additional layer …

"Let The Little Children Come To Me:" Examining The Importance Of At-Home Discipleship And Spiritual Formation For Children Ages Zero To Three Years Old, Kamilah Kay Edwards

Doctor of Ministry

The narratives of children in the Bible links the Old and New Testaments, continually shaping our understanding from past to present. Likewise, children hold a significant place in Christian churches and homes as the legacy of the lived Christian experience. Considering 21st century research findings highlighting the perceptions of children in the American Christian church, American Christianity is seeing a departure of youth. This departure is more than an exodus, it is an identity crisis that calls into question contemporary discipleship and spiritual formation practices at home and in the faith community. The importance of discipling children from the earliest …

The Flow Of Holiness: A Theology Of Grace And Differentiation For Congregational Formation, Paul David Bravard

Doctor of Ministry

This dissertation addresses a problem in contemporary Christianity, particularly among Evangelical Friends: many hold an incomplete and fragmented understanding of holiness. Holiness has become either a private glow, a legalistic burden, or a vague aspiration. In a culture marked by relativism, anxiety, and institutional fatigue, many believers lack a clear, communal way of speaking about and living out holiness as “the good life through Christ,” shared within a meeting rather than confined to individual hearts.

This dissertation proposes that holiness can be recovered as a distinctive Friends’ witness when it is reframed as a grace-shaped, communal, faithful presence. By bringing …

Near & Now: Everyday Encounters With God, Caleb Christian Cox

Doctor of Ministry

People of Redeemer Lutheran Church often experience a disconnect between Sunday worship and their ordinary lives, leaving them inattentive to everyday encounters with God.

Research and feedback from individuals and households revealed several key insights. First, participants reported that a clear, repeatable structure made spiritual attentiveness more sustainable in daily life. Second, integrating theology with design and usability proved essential for engagement across generations. Finally, stakeholder interaction with the resource affirmed that attentiveness to God would not bear fruit by adding more tasks, but by recognizing the everyday as holy ground.

The project was implemented in the ministry context of …

Body Wonder: Helping Women Discover The Wonder Of God In Their Female Forms, Kristin Marie Antil

Doctor of Ministry

This project works to address the following need/problem/opportunity (NPO): Christian women in my contexts are hindered from having a positive relationship with their bodies which undermines potential and diminishes self-worth. I observed this problem in the students I counsel in my work as a mental health therapist at Bethel University, but I also noticed a tendency for women in my church and community settings to disregard, disdain, or despise their bodies as well. The research over these three years has helped me see the complexities of the factors that contribute to the negative postures that women hold towards their bodies …

S.T.A.R. Methodology: Semiotic Tracing, Attunement And Reframing, Debbie Jacobsen

Doctor of Ministry

This Project Portfolio responds to the following Need–Problem–Opportunity (NPO): Fathers shaped by incarceration and broken paternal roots need a reorienting tool to reclaim fatherhood, see beauty in chaos, and encounter Jesus’ presence. While many ministry and reentry initiatives appropriately prioritize immediate stabilization and support, this project addresses a complementary and often underdeveloped need: cultivating meaning, dignity, and spiritual attentiveness through sustained presence, where chaos may be perceived not only as disruption but also as a site of possible beauty and presence.

A key insight emerging from the research is that meaning is neither created nor imposed, but recognized through sustained, …