Arts and Humanities Commons^™

Planting Rapidly Reproducing Churches, Curtis Sergeant

Journal of Adventist Mission Studies

The principles in this article are ones gleaned from experience in planting rapidly reproducing churches in China. They were then tested through training, coaching, and mentoring church planters serving in over one hundred nations, mostly working among unreached people groups. Over the years I have come to the conclusion that it is difficult to make generalizations about evangelism, but it is more appropriate to make generalizations about discipleship and church planting. Evangelism is quite context-specific because half of the process is determined by what an individual believes and understands truth to be. Once someone has given themselves fully to the …

How Should The Adventist Denomination Deal With The House Church Trend?, Monte Sahlin

Journal of Adventist Mission Studies

Millions of Americans have abandoned the conventional structure of religion— the congregation or parish and denomination—for small, informal groups that meet for prayer, Bible study, and fellowship in homes or other temporary locations. A similar pattern is underway in Europe, and there is evidence that it is beginning in urban areas in Latin America and Africa. In fact, it has been a primary form of Christian faith in China, India, and the Middle East for some time and this includes Adventist missions.

The Challenges Faced By Seventh-Day Adventists In Communicating The Gospel During The Last 50 Years Of British India, Koberson Langhu

Journal of Adventist Mission Studies

No abstract provided.

Seventh-Day Adventist Mission To Immigrants From 1920-1965: An Exploration Of Immigration Trends, Laws, And The Church’S Missional Response, William Wells

Journal of Adventist Mission Studies

No abstract provided.

How A Novel Research Framework Resulted In Fruitful Evangelism And Discovery: Introducing Ethnoscopy And Spiritual Patronage, L. Lynn Thigpen

Great Commission Research Journal

Faced with an unusual question from a Cambodian friend who had heard stories from God’s Word, I embarked on a quest for an answer. He worshipped an unusual and unfamiliar object and wondered whether he must abandon it to serve Christ. I knew he did, but I needed to explore the meanings ascribed to that object of worship to communicate the gospel more clearly, just as Paul did in Acts 17 while in Athens. According to Jesus’ parable of the soils in Matthew 13, fruitful evangelism involves understanding. How might individual missionaries and evangelists aid in that crucial need? With …

Book Review: Multiplying Leaders In Intercultural Contexts: Recognizing And Developing Grassroots Potential By Evelyn And Richard Hibbert, Mark D. Wood

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Book Review: Church Plantology: The Art And Science Of Planting By Peyton Jones, David Thiessen

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Book Review: New Funding Models In Global Mission: Learning From The Majority World By Tim Welch, John Cheong

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Book Review: Christian Martyrdom: A Brief History With Reflections For Today By Edward L. Smither, Francis Kyle

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Hand In Hand, Autumn 2023

Hand in Hand

A newsletter published for Deaf Catholics in Milwaukee, WI

Hand in Hand Finding Aid

Disciple Making Starts At A Different Point Today, Brad Ransom

Great Commission Research Journal

Disciple-making starts at a different place today than it did forty years ago. Knocking on a stranger’s door today is unlikely to be effective for people distant from the gospel as is characteristic of today's generations. We must now view evangelism as a process and we must have a non-judgmental acceptance of all people. We must be willing to change to communicate the gospel in a way persuasive way.

After 15 Years Of Planting Simple House Churches Around The World, What Have I Learned?, Milton Adams

Journal of Adventist Mission Studies

This article will highlight five areas of learning: (1) the conventional church attendance crisis, (2) church history, (3) Simple House Church planting, (4) the future of “church,” and (5) the rise of Disciple-Making Movements. It is intended to be descriptive. It is my story. In many ways, thanks to the input of many Simple Church planters, it is our collective Simple Church story of the past 15 years.

"The Opium Of The People" - The Effects Of Soviet State Atheism On The Muslims Of Central Asia, Joshua Hughes

Senior Theses

This thesis explores the Soviet Union’s approach to Islam in the Central Asian republics of Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan and the effects that these policies have had on believers following the collapse of the Soviet Union. As the first nation to adopt atheism as official policy, the Soviet Party-state employed many tactics to suppress Islam in the region through violence, propaganda, and strict control. Relying on existing literature written on the topic, I begin by offering a historical analysis of the attacks on Islam in the 1920s and 1930s. In an attempt to expand the scope of English-language …

Survey And Questionnaire Design For Church-Based Research, David R. Dunaetz

Great Commission Research Journal

To better understand behaviors, beliefs, and attitudes in churches, survey research can be very useful, especially to test a hypothesis that we believe to be true. Before creating a survey or questionnaire, the phenomena being examined need to be well understood and appropriate measures chosen. The items included in the survey need to measure the concepts desired and should be clear and unambiguous. The survey should be laid out to motivate maximum participation and minimize biased responses. This article provides many principles for how to accomplish these goals and to ensure that the research undertaken is credible.

Need-Oriented Evangelism: Encountering, Embracing, And Experiencing God, Petr Činčala, Allison Sauceda

Great Commission Research Journal

This article provides a fresh perspective on evangelism by reflecting a belief in the Triune God--the source of saving truth and loving community. Mission is part of God’s nature; he is the ultimate Missionary. Mission happens naturally whenever children of God intentionally invite and facilitate God’s presence. Over time, the word “evangelism" has become contaminated by myths, a false understanding of God, and unpleasant religious experiences and practices. Genuine evangelism addresses the most burning issues of people’s lives and should be treated as such. True evangelism involves caring about, praying for, and sharing with people. The practical part of this …

Book Review: Smart Church Finances: A Pastor’S Guide To Budgets, Spreadsheets, And Other Things You Didn’T Learn In Seminary By George Hillman, Jr., And John Reece, Walter Castro

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Book Review: Portraits Of Global Christianity: Research And Reflections In Honor Of Todd M. Johnson Edited By J. Gina Zurlo, Joe Handley

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.

About The Great Commission Research Network, David R. Dunaetz Azusa Pacific University

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Book Review: No Shortcut To Success: A Manifesto For Modern Missions By Matt Rhodes, Kenneth Nehrbass

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Great Commission Research Journal Fall 2023, David R. Dunaetz Azusa Pacific University

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.

The Bereaved Songwriters' Project, Laura A. Figueroa

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

The purpose of this quantitative, quasi-experimental study was to evaluate bereaved individuals’ responses to a reflective songwriting program intervention (RSPI). The purposive and convenient sample included 30 bereaved adults who were members of the teaching staff at a private, Christian, K-12 school in the southeastern United States and/or past or present members of the church with which the school was affiliated. The researcher developed a simple and succinct RSPI in which study participants were prompted to create an original musical piece using personal reflections, memories, and descriptions in song form to commemorate a deceased loved one. The Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being …

Book Review: Administry: The Nuts And Bolts Of Church Administration By Thomas F. Tumblin, Timothy Clothier

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Theology In Service Of An Ideology: A Polemic Against Peniel Rajkumar’S Dalit Theology And Dalit Liberation, Vivek K. Rallabandi

Student Publications

This paper examines Dalit (a marginalized group in India) Christian theology as articulated through Peniel Rajkumar's 2010 book, Dalit Theology and Dalit Liberation: Problems, Paradigms, and Possibilities. The paper criticizes Rajkumar's book, arguing that he errs in offering Christianity as the sole panacea to Dalits' spiritual ailments.

Christ As Dialogue With Culture: Reimaging The Church For Incarnational Discipleship And Ministry, Sean Sloan

Doctor of Ministry (DMin)

God spoke, and Logos created. Increased polarization and divisiveness in USAmerican society and the resulting social pain and even violence inspired this project to pursue a healthier and restorative dialogue. If God’s spoken and incarnate Word originated human life and was and is the means of redeeming humans to life with God and one another, how might such a dialogical Christology impact a theology of dialogue capable of addressing brokenness in a culture? As action research, this project tested the potential for a theology of dialogue to impact perceptions as a precursor to altering behaviors through a presentation at Calvary …

Faithful Is The Word: Forging A Pastoral Mentality Based On An Analysis Of The Phrase “Pistos Ho Logos” And Its Effectiveness When Applied To Pastoral Succession, Israel Sotolongo

Doctor of Ministry (DMin)

The aim of this thesis is to develop a biblically grounded resource that will prepare incoming pastors who will succeed retiring pastors of local churches. Studies show that most church succession attempts are not deemed successful, which is concerning since, over the next ten to twenty years, the American church will experience the largest wave of retiring pastors it has ever seen. This work addressed two learning gaps, as little exists in the form of resources directed primarily at incoming pastors and research on the clause Pistos ho Logos. Therefore, the primary research questions were “What are the meaning and …

Mental Health In The African American Church: Dismantling The Stigma Of Treatment And Services, Sonya R. Mccurdy

Doctor of Ministry (DMin)

The purpose of this study is to identify the prevailing mental health perspectives of African American spiritual leaders and to analyze how their views on this subject are communicated to their congregations. Historically, research has demonstrated that African American clergy have admonished congregants for seeking mental health care from mental health professionals instead of seeking God. Twelve African American and Caucasian American spiritual leaders were interviewed. According to the interview results, spiritual leaders' personal beliefs about mental health impact their perspectives on mental health services, which determines their receptiveness and support––or lack thereof––of mental health services. The research concluded that …

Toward A Eucharistic Gathering: The Efficacy And Implications Of The Recovery Of The Great Tradition At Faith, Hope, And Charity Worship Center, Ernest J. Crocker

Doctor of Ministry (DMin)

While humankind not only has to eat to survive but also enjoys eating, the church, which shares this same need to survive, has, in some cases, found itself in a forced fast. This forced fasting, often justified by 'biblical' reasons, can significantly hinder the church's spiritual formation, leaving worshippers deficient in their spiritual journey. Promoting a more balanced approach to spiritual discipline is crucial, as using Scripture to justify this fast is counter to the words of Christ, the teachings of the apostles, and the church's mind for over two millennia. It's important to note that from Pentecost to the …

House Churches In The New Testament: Contextual, Theological, And Missiological Perspectives, Boubakar Sanou

Journal of Adventist Mission Studies

For most of the first century, private dwellings shaped the Christians’ community life. Evidence to this phenomenon is found in the Acts of the Apostles and the letters of Paul. According to Acts 2:41, the Early Church numbered more than three thousand members after Pentecost. When the synagogues became off limits to them, meeting in private homes became a practical necessity for worship, fellowship, service, and mission (Acts 2:46; 5:42). In four of Paul’s epistles, he explicitly references private homes as the gathering places for early Christians (1 Cor 16:19; Rom 16:3-5; Col 4:15; Phil 2). The epistles are better …

An Appeal To Medical Missionaries To Pray Or Not To Pray For Healing, Amy Whitsett

Journal of Adventist Mission Studies

No abstract provided.

Sharing Christ With Young Urban Nones In Metro Manila, Reylourd Reyes

Journal of Adventist Mission Studies

No abstract provided.