Arts and Humanities Commons^™

A Friendship Evangelism Seminar For The Bladensburg Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Marcellus Tyrone Robinson

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Members of the Bladensburg Seventh-day Adventist Church expressed a desire establish closer bonds within the congregation and community. The lack of close friendships within the church fellowship led to several members transferring to other area churches. Later, an interest survey revealed the congregation wanted to participate in friendship evangelism. In response to the desire of members to form closer friendships and to engage in friendship evangelism, the purpose of this study is to develop a seminar of friendship evangelism for the Bladensburg Seventh-day Adventist Church that will enable members to identify, understand, and form friendships within the church fellowship …

Development, Evaluation, And Implementation Of An Interfaith Pastors' Peer Coaching Group In The Gentry, Arkansas Area, Raymond C. House

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

During my first ten years of ministry I discovered that I was in a lonely work with little peer-interaction or stimulation. Sporadic attempts to find peer- support and friendship among other pastors left me feeling only slightly encouraged. I was concerned that I was not being challenged by another peer or group of peers or held accountable to any particular goals personally or professionally.

Method

This research presents a model where pastors came together from various churches and denominations in a small town setting, and developed peer-coaching relationships for the purpose of improving their personal and ministry goals. Peer …

The Impact Of Short-Term Missions On The Participants Of The Berkshire Mission Group, Garold Ray Wagner

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

The face of missions is changing. While regular mission service (long-term) is still very much needed and extant, it no longer dominates the missions landscape. Fewer people are being sent to third-world or developing countries from North America to serve long term for positive reasons. There has been, however, an explosion in the number of people traveling to other countries for short terms and very short terms. While focus has shown that teens and young adults are positively impacted, no study has shown the impact on people of all age groups who go for this type of service.

Method …

Reaching The Indian Communities In Zambia: A Biblical Model Of Evangelism, John Shumba

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Statistics show that there are a significant number of Asian-Indians who are Zambian nationals. But the church in Zambia has not come up with a program to reach them with the gospel. Therefore, it is important to develop a biblical model of evangelism to reach the Indian communities.

Method

Studies were conducted using available data to obtain information on the social, religious, cultural, and political milieu of the Indian communities in order to develop a modality for cross-cultural mission based on missiological principles and social science disciplines.

Results

Results indicate that there is need for a training program to …

Los Medios De Comunicación Masiva En La Evangelización Adventista En Texas, Daniel Sosa

Doctor of Ministry Projects

The mission Jesus entrusted to the church, “Go and make disciples,” is not yet accomplished. To solve this problem, mass media communications can be used, especially in Hispanic churches. At all times, God has communicated with created beings. This communication has taken many shapes, culminating in the coming of God’s Son to earth. However, the Bible is the most accessible form to human beings in the twenty-first century.

Adventist pioneers used the secular press as well as the publication of their own books and periodicals, both before and after the disappointment of October 22, 1844. The Adventist Church has taken …

Proyecto Para La Construccion De Un Templo Para La Iglesia Adventista Central Hispana De Kansas City En Missouri, Manuel Moral

Doctor of Ministry Projects

The purpose of this project is to meet the need of a temple for the Kansas City Adventist Central Hispanic Church in Missouri. Financing the construction of that temple presents a difficulty. That is why fundamentals, principles, strategies, and methods will be studied that will make the construction possible.

The theoretical part will consist of studying the proceedings required for the building of temples in the Bible, and that are still applied today. Consequently, actual books and manuals will be researched regarding the construction of a temple. The process mentioned includes different implications that will also be researched in this …

Holistic Approach To Preaching: A Training Program For Lay Speakers Of Manhattan Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Victor V. Dyman

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Many congregations that are part of multi-church districts are presented with the challenge of motivating and equipping lay people with the skills they need for effective preaching in the postmodern world. This project sought to develop a compact and user-friendly preaching workshop, and preaching laboratory to train lay preachers to preach effectively.

Method

A Scripture and literature search was conducted on preaching. Principles were used to develop Holistic Preaching Workshop and Preaching Laboratory which were given to lay preachers of Manhattan Seventh-day Adventist Church in Manhattan, New York City. After the six-hour weekend workshop lay preachers delivered public presentations …

An Adventist Missiological Response To Traditional Beliefs In Kenya, Festus Felix Gumbo

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Seventh-day Adventist Christians in Kenya struggle to practice pure biblical teaching because many still practice African traditional beliefs. Many traditional beliefs are inconsistent with biblical teachings. This problem has contributed to syncretism that has weakened the Adventist message in Kenya. Many of the church members follow traditional beliefs because they fear to be condemned by members in society. The traditional belief that says a dead person continues to live and can communicate with the family is still strongly supported by many people in Kenya. This traditional belief contradicts biblical teaching concerning the dead. Other traditional issues church members struggle …

The Transitional Process: From Traditional Church To A Cell-Based Church, William E. Hughes

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

The concept of Cell Church is a growing phenomenon that has become a movement within Christendom. Its philosophical foundation is biblical and supported in the writings of Ellen G. White. The future of the Adventist Church will face a growing interest in Cell Church structure and transition. An experiential understanding of the transitional process will be vital to those who will seek to embrace the Cell Church model. Seventh-day Adventists believe that all are equal in Christ, who, by one Spirit, are bonded into one fellowship with the triune God and with one another. Yet, there are many Adventists …

Desarrollo, Implementación Y Evaluación De Un Seminario De Encuentro Matrimonial Para La Solución De Conflictos, Edison B. Gonzalez

Doctor of Ministry Projects

The purpose of this project is to develop, implement, and evaluate a marriage encounter seminar for conflict resolutions, which was presented during a weekend to 48 couples of the Atlanta Metropolitan Hispanic Seventh-day Adventist Church. This project presents biblical fundamentals of marriage, as well as the most common marriage conflicts and their solutions. According to the Bible, God not only created man and woman in his “image,” but also united them in the state of matrimony in order for them to live peacefully and harmoniously in the Garden of Eden. Unfortunately, the entrance of sin to this world ruined God’s …

A Strategy To Strengthen The Role And Function Of The District Pastor For Effective Leadership And Guidance Of Local Churches In Ghana, Paul Adu Sampah

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Ever since the General Conference introduced Union and Conferences to run local churches, progress of the gospel work in Ghana has been slow. Before their introduction, churches were grouped into districts and run by district pastors. Due to their high administrative expenditure, local churches have become poor with no proper pastoral care. When church administration is given back to the districts and district pastor’s role is strengthened, conference expenditure will be reduced, more pastors will be sent to the churches, and local churches will be saved from financial collapse.

Method

Studies were carried out by reviewing current literature on …

Implementing A Spiritual Formation Program In The North Miami Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Grigore Leordean

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

From 1986 to 2005, the North Miami Beach Seventh-day Adventist Church has never been exposed to spiritual formation. The poor inadequate knowledge of church members as to how to practice the presence of God on a daily basis and the lack of numerical and spiritual growth, along with the unfulfilled goals of the founding members of the church, called for special and immediate action. The purpose of this project was to develop and implement a spiritual formation program in the church and address this deep spiritual need that had not been met over the years.

Method

A nine-month process …

A Non-Pastor Dependent Model For Churches In The Greater New York Conference, Richard A. Marker

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Pastors tend to hover over the churches and many of the functions of ministry within the local church. Church members demonstrate little personal spiritual growth or activity in witnessing to their communities. A specific church in New York City will be selected as a laboratory for experimentation with the premise that a non-pastor dependent church can achieve better than average growth.

Method

A systematic study of the Bible, Spirit of Prophecy, commentaries, books, and articles concerning the development of church leadership and growth was reviewed. Once theological and historical data on non-pastor dependent churches and church growth was identified, …

Estudio Descriptivo Y Retrospectivo De La Depresión En Una Muestra De Esposas De Pastores Hispanos, Roberto Juan Rothermel

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

This exploratory and descriptive study addresses depression as experienced by a sample of Hispanic pastors' wives Studies on Seventh-day Adventist ministers have shown they are vulnerable to depression and Hispanic ministers’ wives are not exempt from this reality. Women tend to be more prone than men to depression, because of biological, social, and cultural factors. In addition, ministers’ wives experience other church-related pressures that increase depression.

Method

The method known as handpicked sampling was used for this investigation. It consisted of the selection of a sample of Hispanic pastors’ wives that had experience in pastoral work, with the purpose …

A Model For Small Group Ministry In The North Zambia Field Of The Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Wellington Supuni Chapi

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Purpose

The purpose of this dissertation is to develop a contextualized model for small group ministry in the North Zambia Field to enhance the retention of new members.

Statement of Problem

While the numbers of members being baptized annually are encouraging indeed, the percentage of members dropping out of the church annually is a cause of great concern. Between 1996 and 2006, the North Zambia Field, through baptism or profession of faith, had 72,652 converts, an annual average of 7,265 converts. However, 17,303 or 23.82 percent of those added and 2.70 percent of the total membership dropped out of the …

Review: Creola’S Moonbeam, Sarah Trowbridge

Georgia Library Quarterly

Review of the novel "Creola’s Moonbeam," by Milam McGraw Propst.

Review: The Meat And Spirit Plan, Teresa Pacheco

Georgia Library Quarterly

Review of the novel "The Meat and Spirit Plan," by Selah Saterstrom.

Review: A Gentle Rain, Carolann Lee Curry

Georgia Library Quarterly

Review of the novel "A Gentle Rain," by Deborah Smith."

Review: Civil War Weather In Virginia, James Taylor

Georgia Library Quarterly

Review of the non-fiction book "Civil War Weather in Virginia," by Robert K. Krick.

Review: Georgia Quilts: Piecing Together A History, Tamika Maddox Strong

Georgia Library Quarterly

Review of the non-fiction book "Georgia Quilts: Piecing Together a History," edited by Anita Zaleski Weinraub.

Review: The New Encyclopedia Of Southern Culture, Volume 3: History, Vanessa Cowie

Georgia Library Quarterly

Review of the non-fiction book "The New Encyclopedia of Southern Culture, Volume 3: History," edited by Charles Reagan Wilson.

Review: The Unexpected Exodus: How The Cold War Displaced One Southern Town, Diane Fulkerson

Georgia Library Quarterly

Review of the non-fiction book "The Unexpected Exodus: How the Cold War Displaced One Southern Town," by Louise Cassels.

Review: The Schoolhouse Door: Segregation’S Last Stand At The University Of Alabama, Ravonne Green

Georgia Library Quarterly

Review of the non-fiction book "The Schoolhouse Door: Segregation’s Last Stand at the University of Alabama," by E. Culpepper Clark.

Review: Abc Safari, Lindy Moore

Georgia Library Quarterly

Review of the children's book "ABC Safari," by Karen Lee.

Review: Bucking The Sarge, Cheryl A. Carter

Georgia Library Quarterly

Review of the young adult novel "Bucking the Sarge," by Christopher Paul Curtis.

Towards A Theology Of Liberation, Angus Brook

Theology Papers and Journal Articles

In 1971 Gustavo Gutierrez was the first theologian to pronounce the advent of the theology of liberation. This book received both praise and criticism for its ‘radical new’ approach to theological endeavour. This paper will attempt to provide a broad overview of the complex processes or possibilities which led to the publishing of this book. In doing so, I will focus my discussion upon what has made liberation theology possible; the cultural environment, the intellectual inspiration, and the events that have played an important role in its development. Of course, I cannot hope to give depth to the breadth of …

The Characterisation Of God In Lamentations, Elizabeth Boase

Theology Papers and Journal Articles

One of the dominant characters within the book of Lamentations is God. God is spoken about and spoken to, although the voice of God is never heard. Various voices within the text speak of God, describing both God’s actions and God’s attributes. These descriptions give rise to various, and at times conflicting images: God is the violent destroyer of the city and her inhabitants; God is an absent God, whose presence is longed for; God is a God of steadfast love and mercy; God is the one in whom future hope lies. This paper analyses the multifaceted portrayal of the …

Humanism, Education And Spirituality: Approaching Psychosis With Levinas, Glenn J. Morrison

Theology Papers and Journal Articles

The article investigates the recent turn towards Emmanuel Levinas’ writings in the philosophy of Education. Engaging this turn, the article sets out to develop an ethical, personal and contemplative approach towards understanding and responding to psychosis. By imagining a Levinasian horizon for understanding the experience of psychosis in the Teaching-Learning environment, Levinas’ thought gives hope to take on the work of justice and offer a gift of friendship especially when faced with students experiencing psychosis. The approach towards people suffering the moods and difficulties of psychosis, the article argues, parallels the very spiritual practice of contemplation.

Constructing Meaning In The Face Of Suffering: Theodicy In Lamentations, Elizabeth Boase

Theology Papers and Journal Articles

This article explores the existence of theodic elements within the book of Lamentations. Drawing on the typology outlined by A. Laato and J. C. de Moor (Th eodicy in the World of the Bible [Leiden, 2003]) it is identified that Lamentations explores both retributive and educative theodicy within its poems. Other theodic solutions are not, however, present. Although these theodic solutions are present, it cannot be argued that Lamentations constitutes a theodicy as such. Rather, the poems raise and in turn subvert a range of possible theodic assertions in response to the existential crisis which emerged in the wake of …

To Imprecate Or Not: Psalm 137 And Its Appropriation In Music, Elizabeth Boase

Theology Papers and Journal Articles

Psalm 137 opens with lament and closes with one of the most strident imprecations in the Psalter. Read against the backdrop of the Babylonian exile, the imprecation incorporates both Edom and Babylon, concluding with the words “Happy shall they be who take your little ones and dash them against the rock.”

The closing verses have proven to be problematic for commentators. The tension is well expressed by R. Clifford, who states “Psalm 137 has the distinction of having one of the most beloved opening lines and the most horrifying closing line of any psalm. If the psalm ended at verse …