Arts and Humanities Commons^™

The Doctrine Of The Holy Spirit (N-S), Harold Willmington

The Third Person File

No abstract provided.

El, The Basic Hebrew Name For God, Harold Willmington

The Three-in-One File

No abstract provided.

Spiritual Warfare: A Strategic Guide, Lance T. Beauchamp

Faculty Publications and Presentations

¹⁰ Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the tacticsof the Devil. ¹² For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens (Eph 6:10–12).[1]

This is a passage most of us are familiar with and perhaps we have heard a message or two on the armor of God from the following verses in Ephesians 6 but do we …

Music Therapy Techniques For Memory Stabilization In Diverse Dementias, Amanda Shotts

Senior Honors Theses

Music contains certain unmistakable healing properties pertaining specifically to the matured body and soul affected by various types of dementia. Music therapy aids in memory retention or the retarding of the loss of mental function as a result of Alzheimer's disease, Dementia with Lewy bodies, and Senile Dementia. Music can help subjects access lost memories through interaction with a music therapist. Certain music therapy techniques have been shown to yield additional physical, communicative, and psychological benefits. The disease progress of Alzheimer's disease, Dementia with Lewy bodies, and Senile Dementia may be further delayed by music therapy when paired with pharmaceutical …

The Effect Of Post-Production On Storytelling In Narrative And Documentary Filmmaking, Natalie Pace

Senior Honors Theses

Documentaries and narrative films both tell stories in different ways. A common saying states that narrative filmmakers write one movie, shoot another, and edit a third. In postproduction, timelines are rearranged, montages are created, new dialog and voiceovers are written, and the score can alter the mood and meaning entirely. Documentaries can change even more over the course of their creation. Usually, the script of the documentary is not written until the edit, after most of the interviews and B roll have been shot. This paper examines whether documentary post-production makes more or less use of storytelling techniques than does …

“One Thing That Matters”: An Exploration Of Commercial Music Techniques For The Benefit Of The Local Church, Garrett Thomas

Senior Honors Theses

In this study, I explored the potential benefits of applying commercial music techniques to writing, arranging, and recording church music by interacting with literature as well as performing a full creative project in writing, arranging, and recording a new worship song. Research was focused in two areas: the nature and importance of Scriptural worship music, and commercial music techniques in songwriting, arranging, and recording. The project was written in collaboration with a fellow songwriting student, and then arranged for two church contexts, and recorded at a professional recording studio in Lynchburg, Virginia. By interacting with the research, the process of …

Preparing The Student For High School Band Leadership: A Praxial And Flipped-Classroom Method Based On Kolb's Learning Theory, Brandon Dennis Woods

Masters Theses

Today's educational climate is rapidly shifting. High stakes testing, both from the federal and state governments, have drastically altered the landscape of public education in America. Although all subjects are feeling the impact of these new educational initiatives, music education is suffering uniquely during this time. With music education so drastically different in modern education compared to what is was before the year 2001, because of the implementation of sweeping federal changes, it is important that we take a new and fresh look at band director education. Students are entering the job field as first year band directors with very …

A Message From Antioch And Moravia To The West, Barry Hudspeth

Masters Theses

This qualitative thesis study, “A Message From Antioch and Moravia to the West,” explores the North American Church’s role in the global missions arena and seeks to develop a streamlined strategy for engaging in cross-cultural evangelism in the twenty-first century. A qualitative case study of the first-century Christian church and Moravian church of the eighteenth century provides data on actions conducted to spread Christianity from a central geographical location outward to the known world in their respective eras of Christian history. These two case study analyses looked at how the Gospel was spread during each point in history followed by …

Reframing Identity In The Age Of Authenticity, Daphne Edmonston

Masters Theses

Many in American culture have either actively or passively adopted the idea that authenticity is one of the highest virtues, if not the highest. The cultural ideal of authenticity states that personal identity and meaning are found within oneself. Being true to ‘the real you’ is the path to meaning, pleasure, and flourishing. This way of framing personal identity proves to be insecure, unstable, and leads to a lack of flourishing. In contrast, a Christian view of authenticity provides stability and security and leads to the possibility of flourishing in this life as well as for eternity. There is a …

Prolepsis Through Poe's Narrators: The Prophetic Demise Of The Obsessive Protagonist, Bailey Jarnagin

Masters Theses

Edgar Allan Poe was a pioneer of psychological fiction. His stories center around characters whose reliability is questionable and who are mentally troubled in some way. Poe crafted stories that invoke terror because their subject is the horror of the mind. While readers of other types of horror fiction can finish a story and step away from the monsters with little to no fear of being followed by them, readers of Poe cannot forget the tales they read so readily because the horror of the mind is ever present. Poe crafted such horrific stories because of the haunted palace of …

The Importance Of Language In Cross-Cultural Interaction, Lacy Norton

Senior Honors Theses

Language and culture are connected. Because of this connection, people have a preferred language with which they have an emotional or cultural connection. In Latin American cultures, it is beneficial to speak to a person in their preferred language. Using a person’s preferred language as opposed to any other language will facilitate a deeper connection with that person, cross cultural barriers that may separate them, and be more effective when attempting to share the gospel.

Lewis In The Rye: An Approach To Controversial Literature, Abigail Griffiths

Senior Honors Theses

This thesis aims to coalesce literary criticism with Christian theology to provide a guideline for how Christians, who uphold a certain moral logic, should interact with literature that sparks controversy among readers. An analysis of J.D. Salinger’s novel Catcher in the Rye (1951) will be considered through the lens of C.S. Lewis’ commentary on good reading, good critique, and good art. Catcher in the Rye, an American novel, contains elements of derogatory language, promiscuous scenes, and insinuations of nihilism. How would C.S. Lewis, a British novelist and a prominent figure in Christian thought, read Salinger’s work: would he find …

Find Him In The Valley: A Missionary's Burden, Susannah Martin

Senior Honors Theses

The main portion of this thesis includes a presentation of the short film script, Find Him in the Valley: A Missionary’s Burden. The script follows a young missionary, his older mentor, and their guide on a journey to a village where they will be witnessing to people who have never heard the Gospel. Unfortunately, the village is mostly destroyed by a mudslide before they can arrive. I also explain my creative choices as an author, discuss how transmedia can be used to further engage viewers of the film, and explain my future plans for the script, including marketing.

A Director Acts: My Experience Directing And Acting In A Short Film, Benjamin Grist

Senior Honors Theses

The purpose of this creative thesis was to test the difficulties of both directing and acting in a short film at the same time. I began my research by completing three honors petitions that covered this subject and used the information I gained while writing and performing them to inform my decisions while completing the thesis. During pre-production, I prepared for my roles in the film and began to discover the challenges involved. In the production phase, I directed and acted in a short film over the course of five days. This experiment has led me to believe that one …

Emotional Re-Engagement After Deployments: Using Attachment Principles With Relationship Resources For Post-Deployment Relational Enhancement, Rob Fasnacht

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The understanding of attachment theory helps one to overcome personal and relational problems that are exacerbated by past traumas. This thesis project focused on how long durations of separations, especially in a military setting, may trigger symptoms from past traumas, which may impede relational secure attachments to friends and family. A survey was crafted and answered by over 100 adults, including military members, military dependents, and non-military civilians. The results were analyzed to discover how often people were separated from loved ones, the length that perhaps caused problems, and the feelings that developed. A literary review of books and scholastic …

7 Essential Keys To Success: Developing The Spiritual Discipline In The Leader, Bernard Winchester

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

To deny that some leaders have problems, and others do not, is to deny Scripture, history, and experience. All leaders may not have as many problems as some, but all leaders do have problems. These problems are not always produced by the grass-roots membership. Leaders are often the cause of the very problems they see and deplore in the church. It is apparent that this is true when a leader has dishonored the moral standards or departed from sound doctrine. It is more often true when the leader has been indolent, failed to plan his work or work the plan, …

An Investigation Of Assessment, Equal Opportunity, And Educational Equity In Conservative Evangelical Schools, Joseph Scifo

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose for this ex post facto, causal comparative study was to use a three-tiered investigation; each tier was related to the investigation of equity and student achievement. Based on the literature, there is little to no research about the relationship between equity in conservative Evangelical Christian schools and student achievement. The data used in this study was drawn from conservative Evangelical schools. The research focus was on schools which are members of the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) in the Mid-America/Ohio River Valley Region. The participant schools were divided into different tiers and categories, in accordance with the …

An Examination Of Children’S Ministry Volunteer Development From Pastors And Laity In The Local Church, Kenneth Warren

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Developing children’s ministry volunteers in the local church is crucial to the sustenance of the body of Christ. Children’s ministry volunteers should be viewed as capable partners with both parents and church leaders in fulfilling the Great Commission. All volunteer ministries of the church matter, but those serving in children’s ministry have the unique opportunity to shape the lives of individuals who could serve the kingdom for a lifetime. Children’s ministry volunteer development is valuable because kingdom advancement hinges on lay ministry development as described in Ephesians 4:11–16. For this project, the researcher surveyed children’s ministry volunteers and pastors in …

Moving From Performance To Missional Worship: Five Biblical Principles And Practices To Infuse Discipleship Into Worship, Ossie Xzabia Mckinney

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In striving for authentic worship, many worship leaders focus on the sound of the choir and the individual’s relationship with God without considering discipleship. God’s first directive to humanity in Gen. 1:28 supplied God’s instruction for authentic worship, which emphasized discipleship and not music. Training choir members to worship without including discipleship results in the shaping of performers rather than worshipers. Worship must reflect the Trinity and not the skills and ability of the worshiper. When worshipers show God's love through discipleship, they reveal the Godhead. To shape singers holistically, worship leaders must teach their choir members to disciple. This …

A Phenomenological Study: The Quest For God In An Epoch Of Distraction, Todd Marcy

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Distraction happens to everyone at some point in time. Diverted attention while driving can have serious consequences, and being sidetracked while talking on the cellphone can cause one to forget where the car keys were laid down at home. Distraction at church during a worship service can affect one’s relationship with God and others. Personal motivations, pre-existing conditions, and duration of time contribute to how a person will interact with a disturbance of attention; likewise, factors of biology, technology, values, and mores can influence the power of partial attention. The purpose of this phenomenological study is to examine the lived …

House Church: Planting Seventh-Day Adventist House Churches Among Rwandese Refugees In Columbus Ohio, Kwesi Gyimah

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Traditional Church attendance is declining among the Rwandese Seventh-day Adventists refugees living in Columbus Ohio. Many of the Rwandese families reside in the same apartment complex carpooling with the few that drive to work and church services where possible. This project is in response to the unique opportunity of the proximity of these families to each other. The goal is to train leaders and plant Seventh-day Adventist house churches in the homes of some of these families so that they may walk to a neighbor's house for worship and fellowship. This project surveyed twenty-five Rwandese refugee adults living on the …

Relational Reading For Biblical Discourses: A New Strategy For Preparing Biblical Preaching, Sung-Shin Park

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this thesis project is to propose a new strategy for preparing Biblical Preaching by demonstrating the value of using Relational Reading (RR). Since preaching is communication between God and His people, preachers must properly handle God’s message, His Word, written for His people. RR is a powerful interpretive tool that can help maintain the integrity of Scripture and assist pastors in their biblical preaching ministry. Theoretical and biblical research was conducted in relevant literature and articles on hermeneutics, homiletics and linguistics. Based on surveys sent to current pastors, the present situation of biblical interpreting and preaching was …

A Causal-Comparative Analysis Of Performance-Based Music Classes And Act Scores, Russell Courson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Educational leaders at the state and district level are struggling to provide adequate funding for schools due to the uncertainty of the economic outlook throughout the country. Although several states have requested and received waivers for the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB), many school systems still find themselves in the difficult position of providing enough instructional time dedicated to the four primary core content areas (language arts, math, science, and social studies) to allow students to be successful in high stakes standardized testing. While NCLB stated the fine arts, including performance-based music classes, such as band, choir, …

Pastoral Self-Care: Developing A Burnout-Resistant Approach To Life And Ministry, James Mcclanahan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

According to a recent Lifeway survey of 1500 Southern Baptist pastors, over half surveyed struggled with discouragement. Many pastors struggle to maintain emotional health while facing the challenges of their ministry. This project will reveal how practicing a balanced Christian life, developing intimate relationships, and implementing a theology of self-care can minimize the likelihood of burnout. The project will develop a theology for resisting burnout that can be used as a tool for a pastor’s personal edification, as a study between two pastors, or as a discussion in a pastor’s fellowship. Through a review of applicable biblical passages, current scholarly …

Increasing The Involvement Of African American Men At Contending For The Faith Church In Wilson, North Carolina, Dameion Royal

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Contending for the Faith Church Ministries was founded in 2004. It is a predominantly African American congregation located in the eastern North Carolina city of Wilson. Since the church’s founding, the gender gap in involvement has been obvious. It is quite clear that men’s involvement is significantly lower than the than that of women within this congregation. This project will suggest a model to increase involvement of African American men at Contending for the Faith Church. Taking into consideration the challenges faced by African American men in America as well as specifically in the community surrounding the church, this study …

The Decline Of Church Attendance In Black America: A Biblical Mandate For Black Males To Godly Leadership., Elder E.Q. Truss

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The church was established as a place where sinners could come and find refuge for their souls. Getting people to feel secure in their relationship with Christ, many churchgoers have decided to stay away from church. Studies show for the past several decades’ church attendance declined in many Baptist churches across America by 61 percent. The roles of black males lack the leadership ability to lead in the home, as a husband, and in the family. Research has uncovered several issues which have shown because of this decline. Black Baptist churches in Florida are suffering from male leadership. Leadership must …

Deacons, The Biblical System Of Church Leadership?, Michael Harbuck

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This project will examine the deacon-led model of church leadership that is employed in many churches today, in order to ascertain whether this model of leadership is consistent with both the New Testament and the witness of the early church. With more than 3,700 churches failing yearly, it is imperative that churches be organized and led in a biblical manner so that they might be positioned for ministry successes in their local contexts. Without a biblical framework and reference for polity, it is highly unlikely that the church will yield results of any lasting nature. This analysis will be done …

A Strategic Spiritual Formation Study Based On The Book Of Malachi, Rand Muender

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A review of current literature on spiritual disciplines demonstrates the need for a pastor to successfully implement an exegetical preaching methodology toward spiritual formation. The goal of this project is to answer: “What impact would a strategic spiritual formation study based upon the Book of Malachi implemented by a pastor have on a local church that is below 200 in attendance?” Incorporating the results of surveys sent to pastors within The Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia having below 200 in attendance, this project will review theological, historical, and exegetical, perspectives and principles for a biblical methodology for spiritual formation.

Connecting The Church Beyond Prison Ministry: Transitioning The Discipled Prisoner Into A Discipleship Community, Joyce Weathers

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The prison population in the United States surpasses all other countries on a per capita basis. The number of released inmates, who return to prison (recidivism) is staggering. In-prison Christian discipleship programs have successfully transitioned parolees into the free world, but little research has been done to confirm a standard practice for the transition process. Theories abound from clergy and laity alike; yet apathy and fear remain persistent deterrents. The church is confronted with a biblical mandate to assist the incarcerated (Matt. 25:36) and to make disciples (Matt. 28:19). By addressing the current concerns of church and prison ministry leaders, …

Ministry And Nonprofit Finance: A Guide To Promote Awareness, Stewardship, And Compliance, Larry Brown

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Scripture addresses few topics more frequently than that of finances (e.g., Prov 3:9, Matt 6:21, Ecc 5:10). Given this, and the legal aspects of ministry and nonprofit finances, it is imperative that such organizations ensure awareness of, and compliance with, financial requirements and best practices; this encompasses not only leaders, but also board members and staff/congregation of the organization. All these aspects are fused together under the term “stewardship”–properly and conscientiously managing the assets of another (or of others). This thesis reviews current literature, scriptural guidance, and established best practices to outline optimal practices for ministries/nonprofits. Additionally, this thesis uses …