Arts and Humanities Commons^™

A Study Of The Religious Attitudes And Behaviors Of Seventh-Day Adventist Adolescents In North America Related To Their Family, Educational, And Church Backgrounds, Janet Leigh Kangas

Dissertations

Problem. Why are Seventh-day Adventist youth leaving the church in North America? This study, the first report of a 10-year longitudinal research project, sought to identify attitudes and behaviors of Adventist adolescents and examine possible correlations with the religious backgrounds and influences of their homes, churches, and schools.

Method. One church was randomly chosen for every 1,000 members within each local conference of the Seventh-day Adventist church in North America which totaled 695 congregations. Eventually 659 of the 695 church clerks responded, producing the names of 2,429 eligible baptized 15- and 16-year old youth. A questionnaire designed to report their …

Reaping The Harvest, P. Gerard Damsteegt

Faculty Publications

The reaping of the harvest through baptism is a highlight in the life of God's church. When the new Christian confirms his spiritual marriage to the Lord in baptism, we witness the outcome of a long, painstaking process wherein humans, as coworkers with God, have unselfishly worked to gain the victory over the devil. At the moment of reaping, we rejoice, exclaiming, "It was worth all the effort!"

Divine Judgments Warn Of The End, Samuele Bacchiocchi

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Is Christ's Coming Near?, Samuele Bacchiocchi

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Hesban 05: Archaeological Survey Of The Hesban Region, Robert D. Ibach Jr.

All Books

This volume offers systematic descriptions, including numerous maps and photographs, of the 148 archaeological sites visited by the expedition's regional survey team within a 10-km radius of Tell Hesban.

Correlations Between Old Aramaic Inscriptions And The Aramaic Section Of Daniel, Zdravko Stefanovic

Dissertations

Problem. In scholarly debates on the origin of DA, the corpus of OA texts has not received full attention. Thus, there is a lack of comparative studies between DA and OA. This type of study serves a twofold purpose: It contributes to providing an answer to the questions of origin of DA, and it provides fresh insights into both OA and DA.

Method. This study of OA texts has been organized into seven sections which pertain to the literary and linguistic character of every one of the inscriptions: Description, Nature, Structure, Vocabulary, Orthography and Phonology, Morphology, and Syntax. The discussion …

Applying Marketing Concepts To Seventh-Day Adventist Secondary Education, David Stephen Penner

Dissertations

Problem

Seventh-day Adventist academies face financial problems due to declining enrollments and inadequate funding. Higher education has looked to marketing as a possible means of reversing these trends. While much has been written about marketing in higher education, little has been written concerning the marketing of secondary education.

Method

In order to accomplish the purpose of this study, it was necessary to review the current ideas on marketing higher education and examine those ideas that might apply to secondary education. An outline for marketing SDA secondary education was then developed. In order to validate the outline, a panel of judges, …

Comparison Of International And American Doctoral Graduates' Expectations, Satisfaction, And Appropriateness Of Their Programs In Education At Andrews University, Libin Kutup Rampasan

Dissertations

Problem

The proportion of international students in the doctoral programs, School of Education at Andrews University, raises concerns over (a) the ability of the programs to meet the varied expectations and needs of the international and American students and (b) the relevance of the students' academic preparations to their careers. Possible differences between the international and American doctoral graduates' appraisals of their programs were investigated.

Method

This ex-post facto study obtained data from two sources: All's records and the graduates' responses to survey questionnaires sent to 143 of the 151 doctoral graduates with known addresses. A 72.7% return rate was …

The Empirical Development Of A Curriculum To Train Sda Professional Youth Leaders, Steve Case

Dissertations

Problem. The purpose of this study was to meet the need for SDA youth ministry training by empirically developing a curriculum to train church youth leaders.

Method. The instructional product development of Baker and Schutz (1971) was utilized for this research. After the need for the product was established, instructional specifications were established by means of behavioral objectives. Criteria for these objectives were rooted in current youth ministry literature. Strategies to promote affect were included.

The curriculum was prepared in the form of a weekend seminar. Mastery was set at 80% of the participants scoring at least 80% on each …

A Study Of The Attitudes Of The Adventist Church Members In Taiwan Toward The Support Of Seventh-Day Adventist Christian Education, Paul Fu-Sheng Cho

Dissertations

Problem. The Seventh-day Adventist denomination has developed a school system to serve theindividual needs of its members and general needs of the church. From 1972 to 1986, the educational work of the Adventist church in Taiwan has declined steadily. This study was to investigate the attitudes of church members toward the support of Adventist education on relation to demographic and personal variables.

Method. The Adventist Christian Education Attitude Scale measured (1) demographic characteristics; (2) 59 attitude statements, arranged in five scales, identified by factor analysis; and (3) the 13 reasons why church members did not attend or send their youth …

A Sequential Study Of Revelation 1-14 Emphasizing The Judgment Motif : With Implications For Seventh-Day Adventist Apocalyptic Pedagogy, Richard Fredericks

Dissertations

Problem and purpose. Though Seventh-day Adventist theology is apocalyptically oriented, recent denominational studies indicate a lack of personal hope or assurance with respect to an imminent eschaton and the simultaneous revelation of divine judgment. Because existing studies focus specifically on judgment inRevelation to help Adventist teachers, this dissertation first offers a contextual study of judgment emphasizingits Christological/soteriological dimensions.

A second concern is with historicism as an exclusive interpretive model for apocalyptic. Though offering a sense of denominational uniqueness and mission, historicism leaves major portions of the Apocalypse with little relevance for and limited application to current issues confronting contemporary Adventists. …

James White And The Development Of Seventh-Day Adventist Organization, 1844-1881, Andrew Gordon Mustard

Dissertations

The Seventh-day Adventist Church emerged from the Millerite movement of the 1840s. After the Disappointment of 1844 the unique features of Sabbatarian Adventism emerged--in particular, the seventh-day Sabbath and the ministry of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary--and were consolidated among scattered groups of believers by the end of1848.

This study describes the development of Seventh-day Adventist organization between 1844 and 1881, examines its theological and biblical foundations, and evaluates the influence of James White, the leading figure in promoting church order.

Chapter I presents the aims and purposes of the work, the methodology followed, the sources considered, and a biographical …

The Vision Of Daniel 8 : Interpretations From 1700 To 1900, Samuel Núñez

Dissertations

This study attempts to trace the history of the interpretation of the vision of Dan 8, particularly its five animal symbols, the temporal phrase of the 2300 "evening-mornings," and three cultic expressions, from about 1700 to 1900. The main objective is to discover different interpretations, the exegetical and/or historical arguments that were offered, and the approaches that were used.

In the period 1700 to 1800, interpreters of the preterist and historicist schools were more involved in the interpretation of Dan 8 than any other school of interpretation. It was in this century that the traditional historicist view of the little …

Allusions, Exegetical Method, And The Interpretation Of Revelation 8:7-12, Jon Paulien

Dissertations

This dissertation attempts to overcome a significant obstacle to the development of a comprehensive exegetical method that can enable an interpreter to unlock the meaning of such difficult apocalyptic passages as Rev 8:7-12.

The first chapter utilizes a survey of previous research to explore four issues whose resolution is vital to the interpretation of the book of Revelation: (1) the sources of the Apocalypse, (2) how the Revelator used them, (3) the language and text tradition of the Old Testament that he used, and (4) the nature and location of his allusions to earlier literature. The literature survey indicates that …

Issues In Biblical Inspiration: Sanday And Warfield, Peter M. Van Bemmelen

Dissertations

This study attempts to clarify the issues involved informulating a doctrine of Biblical inspiration. It does so through a careful analysis and comparative evaluation of two contrasting concepts or models of inspiration. William Sanday and Benjamin Warfield were selected as prominent representatives of a liberal and a conservative approach to the problem.

A brief introductory chapter, delineating the aims, method and limitations of the study, is followed by a survey of the history of the doctrine of Biblical inspiration from the sixteenth century onwards. This survey focuses chiefly on the English-speaking world and especially the Anglican and Presbyterian traditions to …

An Experiment In Ministering To Felt Needs Of A Small Church Through Contemporary Sabbath Services, Dwayne Toppenberg

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Jesus came to give fullness of life and yet people leave the church because of unsatisfying interpersonal relationships. It was the task of this project to measure the effects of Sabbath services upon the interpersonal relationships between church members.

Method

Ten Sabbath services were specifically designed to improve the interpersonal behaviors of inclusion, control, and openness, and to stimulate the interpersonal feelings of significance, competence, and love. The Schutz Measures instrument was administered before and after the ten services to determine whether these behaviors and feelings had improved.

Results

The scores on the Schutz instrument revealed that improvements were …

Nurturing The Pastor's Spiritual Discipline Of Prayer Through The Dynamic Of Spiritual Direction, Derek John Morris

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Current research demonstrates that we cannot assume that seminarians have received sufficient guidance in spiritual formation prior to the completion of their Seminary training. Therefore, there is a great need to explore ways of nurturing spiritual formation for those involved in pastoral ministry. It was the purpose of this present study to explore the potential of spiritual direction as a dynamic for nurturing the pastor's spiritual discipline of prayer.

Method

A spiritual friend, who had received training in spiritual direction, was selected with guidance from Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation. A twelve-month case study was established with the author …

A Study Of Creative Conflict Management And Christian Reconciliation With A Proposed Seminar For Seventh-Day Adventist Ministers In The Caribbean And West Indies Unions, Winston Anthony Richards

Doctor of Ministry Projects

An important field of expanding interest is the management of differences in the church. Changes have taken place which challenge the very existence and fibre of organizational structure and relationship growth in the church setting. There are several reasons for the increasing need for efficiency in the field of conflict management. One basic reason is the potential for dysfunctional and functional effects that conflict can have on any congregation. Adequate conflict management can prove to be a critical skill for the healthy management of differences. Consequently, potential and practicing ministers need special and continuing training in this field. It was …

Preaching To An Institutional Congregation: An Analysis Of The Needs And Expectations For Preaching In The Newbury Park Adventist Church, Daniel G. Smith

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Purpose

The impetus for the research was a transfer from a rural parish to the Newbury Park Seventh-day Adventist Church on the campus of Newbury Park Adventist Academy. Because a majority of the congregation are employed by denominational institutions, it was presumed that the institutional character of the congregation would influence their needs and expectations for preaching. Therefore the research was designed to ascertain those needs and expectations, and to find any difference between institutional and noninstitutional members.

The Case for a Congregational Analysis

The study presents a case for congregational analysis. The first line of argument is based upon …

A History In Missiological Perspective Of The Seventh-Day Adventist Church In Japan From 1945 To 1985, Tadaomi Shinmyo

Doctor of Ministry Projects

The purpose of this project is to study missiologically the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church history in Japan after World War II, because it has been often said that the Japanese church membership has not grown so fast as other countries in the Far Eastern Division. Why is the SDA mission so difficult in the country? In order to solve the problem, I surveyed, analyzed, and interpreted descriptively the work of the church.

After dealing with an overview of the prewar and postwar political, geographical, economic, social, and religious conditions of the country, the postwar church history was divided into four …

A Program For Training In Personal Christian Witnessing To The Muslim Of Indonesia, Dumas Tambunan

Doctor of Ministry Projects

This project was designed to develop a program of instruction for training layman in their personal Christian witnessing to the Muslims of Indonesia. The lay people involvement is very important at this time. Sharing Christian witnessing is a challenge to the lay people of Indonesia. They need to give their countrymen the good news of Jesus Christ. They need instruction to equip them for this great and rewarding service. The first chapter reviews passages from Scripture and from the writings of Ellen G. White about the functions of lay people in the church. The participation of the laity in the …

Rationale And Suggested Program For Workshop On Congregational Singing For Use In Local Church Or District, Christopher Ederesinghe

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Congregational singing represents the part of corporate worship in which the entire group of worshipers present participates. It is therefore a vital and integral part of public worship. However, despite the availability of broad general guidelines at denominational level, these have not always been implemented in an effective manner at the level of the local church or pastoral district.

Method

This project report is presented in two parts. Part 1 comprises a position paper which which serves as the theo retical component of the project. This includes a biblical/ theological rationale for congregational singing, a denominational perspective, an historical …

Designing And Implementing A Curriculum For Developing The Prayer Life Of The Piedmont Park Church Congregation, Frank Albert Tochterman

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

While prayer is vital to every aspect of the Christian life, both laity and clergy fail in its practice. This may be due, in part, to a lack of understanding its importance, potential, and meaning. A study of the nature of prayer reveals that its primary intent is communion with God, not merely the means of registering requests. The task of this project was to lead the members of the Piedmont Park Church into developing stronger habits of personal prayer. To achieve this objective, a curriculum was designed and implemented to communicate four aspects of prayer: importance, meaning, potential, …

A Program For "Caring Church Ministry" In The Eugene, Oregon, Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Robert L. Heisler

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Caring Church Ministry is a strategy for church growth which was developed by the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists. How that strategy might be implemented in the Eugene Seventh-day Adventist Church was the basic concern of this research project. How theology and management philosophy inform a caring church membership, how to implement a program involving the church membership, and dynamics of that church which favored or inhibited church growth were questions that had to be addressed.

Method

A theological investigation and an examination of contemporary concepts of caring in management literature form a basis for the study. Two …

The Madaba Plains Project: A Preliminary Report On The First Season At Tell El-'Umeiri And Vicinity, Lawrence T. Geraty, Larry G. Herr, Oystein S. Labianca

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Book Review Of Deliverance In The Psalms: Messages Of Hope For Today, By Hans K. Larondelle, Richard M. Davidson

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Book Review Of Who Said Life Is Fair?: Job And The Problem Of Evil, By Jerry A. Gladson, Jacques R. Doukhan

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

The Melodic Structure And Form Of Norwegian Lullabies (Bansuller) From The Valleys Of Valdres, Gudbrandsdalen, And Osterdalen, Elbjorg Keyn Lundstrom

Master's Theses

Problem

This study analyzes a significant group of lullabies collected from three of the principal valleys in Norway. A detailed analysis may show the extent of centonization within the lullabies and may reveal aspects of the tonal inflection of these melodies.

Method

This study gives a general description of the lullaby. It also presents an annotated listing of collections and a summary of previous studies done in this area. With the help of traditional techniques and computer technology, the motives from 154 melodies were analyzed.

Results

The analysis resulted in the discovery that the lullabies consist to a large degree …

Lesser Gods Of The Ancient Near East And Some Comparisons With Heavenly Beings Of The Old Testament, K. Merling Alomia

Dissertations

This study examines the concept and imagery of heavenly beings as they appear described and depicted in the texts and iconography of the Ancient Near East, and compares the variegated concept and imagery with the angelic realm in the Old Testament.

Utilizing motifs commonly repeated in the mytho-epic literature of the Fertile Crescent--such as the divine assembly and its diverse constituency, the protector gods, the messenger gods, the sons of the gods, the warrior gods, the demonic gods, etc.--the study exposes the diversity among heavenly beings and their place within the divine realm or the hierarchical pantheon. The study abounds …

A Biblical Preaching Strategy For The Ministers Of The Seventh-Day Adventist Central Dominican Conference, Ramon Araujo C.

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

The problem of preaching in the Central Dominican Conference seems to be one of sermon content. Weaknesses in hermeneutical principles as well as rules applied to the biblical sermon can be detected. Even when preachers quote the Bible and try to explain the message, the biblical text is not properly discussed or explained. This situation results in poor sermon content. To correct this anomaly, this study provides a guide on Biblical Preaching to help the minister produce a better sermon to feed the church.

Method

In order to investigate the content of sermons and the principles applied to preaching …