Religion Commons^™

Spiritual And Theological Foundations For Ministry Among Secret Followers Of Christ, Shari Colins

Journal of Adventist Mission Studies

This article provides a spiritual and theological foundation for mentoring and discipling young women who are secret followers of Christ in a restricted access country. The objective of this article is to encourage effective mentoring and discipling that can contribute to shaping an individual’s spiritual growth in Christ. By nurturing these relationships, I seek to establish a supportive community that empowers young women in their spiritual journeys.

Biblical And Theological Principles For A Chaplaincy Ministry, Shelby Davidson

Journal of Adventist Mission Studies

The term chaplaincy does not directly appear in the Bible. However, the principles of chaplaincy are very much present in the Scriptures. Jesus, the greatest chaplain, was present in the Garden of Eden. Later, he incarnated as a human to this fallen world to be with humanity, to go through what human beings go through. A chaplain primarily is present with the people; therefore, a ministry of presence, empathy, giving wise counsel, and many other qualities describe what a chaplain is. This article looks at biblical and theological principles to guide a chaplaincy ministry from Scripture as well as from …

Mechanics And Dimensions Of Divine Forgiveness, Ransford Danson, Kenneth Appiah Kubi

Journal of Adventist Mission Studies

Central to Christianity is the doctrine of forgiveness, yet no unified understanding or coherent concept of forgiveness exists in Christian discourse. Understandings of the process of forgiveness invariably depend on denominational traditions, beliefs, values, and practices (Worthington et al. 2019). A point of convergence is the view that forgiveness relates to the physical or psychological harm or wrongdoing inflicted by one person on another (Słowikowski 2020:56). There is also agreement that forgiveness is of different types: interpersonal, intrapersonal, and God-to-human (Fincham 2022; Maranges and Fincham 2024; Shah et al. 2024). The first two types constitute human (earthly) forgiveness, and the …

Capacitación Para Padres Y Maestros Hispanos Del Ministerio Infantil En La Conferencia De Potomac De Los Adventistas Del Séptimo Día Respecto A La Transmisión De Creencias Y Valores, Ana Maria Benzaquen

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

The author of this project perceived, during the more than 30 years she served in Children’s Ministry in various locations around the world, that Adventist parents (as well as Children’s Ministry teachers) generally want to pass on to their children and students the beliefs and values they themselves hold so dear. Even outside the church setting, the transmission of values has been touted as the hallmark of successful socialization (Danioni, 2024). However, the results are not always as desired in society, and even in the church. One study revealed in 2006 that 61 percent of young people around twenty …

Implementación De Un Seminario De Educación Sexual Para Matrimonios En La Iglesia Adventista Del Séptimo Día De Satélite, México, Josué Omar Martínez Grimaldo

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

The Satellite District is composed of four churches belonging to the Seventh-day Adventist Association the Central Mexican Union, which maintains a limited and reduced teaching on the topic of marital sex education, despite the availability of governmental information, denominational publications, and other resources which indicates that it has been omitted from church programming for the last ten years. Within this context, the following research question was formulated: How does the lack of guidance and information on sexual education impact the marriages of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Satelite District in the second semester of 2023?

Methodology

The researcher …

Ethics Of The Other Through Theodicy: A Study Of Emmanuel Levinas, Sunghun Choi

Master's Theses

The Problem

Drawing upon Emmanuel Levinas’s Judaic, philosophical, and experiential influences, Levinas formulates an “ethics of the Other” as a response to the quandary of suffering and evil, presenting it as an alternative to theodicy.

The Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore Levinas’s philosophy by examining his response to the criticisms levied against theodicy, while also investigating the potential coexistence of his philosophy with theodicy and the warrant for such a critique, as well as the claim that an “ethics of the Other” can function as a legitimate replacement for theodicy.

Conclusions

This thesis argues that while …

The Polyvalent Stone Laid Before Joshua In Zechariah 3:9: An Exegetical And Intertextual Study, Sergey Panfilov

Master's Theses

The Problem

The imagery of “the one stone” laid before Joshua and the meaning of the related symbols and dynamics surrounding this object in Zech 3 remains an issue of scholarly debate. Although there are Hebrew Bible references and archaeological backgrounds to elucidate the object, they are found to be mutually conflicting or incomplete, suggesting the need for a methodological contribution to aid the investigation.

Methodology

The current study uses three independent methodological processes: (1) mining of data, (2) attribute-based theological evaluations of potential backgrounds, and (3) exegetical synthesis. These three processes can be viewed as independent or interdependent. As …

Pardoned And Perfect: A Comparative Study Of The Soteriology Of John Wesley And Ellen White, Esther Louw

Master's Theses

Problem

Since the 1970s, there has been an ongoing discussion about the extent to which Ellen White’s soteriology reflected or was influenced by John Wesley’s soteriology. The result has been a general lack of consensus. This study attempted to clearly delineate Wesley’s and White’s soteriological systems and distinguish them from various theological phenomena within American Methodism.

Method

The research for this thesis was predominantly drawn from primary source material which was organized chronologically in order to allow for the natural development of thought and ideas over time. The theological contexts of Wesley and White were explored and connected by an …

The Nature And Role Of Health Laws In The Writings Of Ellen G. White, Lehel Somogyi

Master's Theses

The Topic

Since the founding of their denomination, Seventh-day Adventists have advocated a particular concept of health based on the visions and writings of denominational co-founder Ellen G. White (1827–1915). According to her writings, certain natural laws are crucial for maintaining health. These laws are often called “the laws of health” or “the eight laws of health” and include principles such as diet, exercise, water, temperance, and hygiene. In Seventh-day Adventist circles, Ellen G. White is usually perceived as the originator of these health principles. Some scholars suggest that she simply borrowed her health principles from other contemporary health reformers. …

Odd Fellows: The Intersection Of Arminianism And Calvinism In The Writings Of Desmond Ford And F.F. Bruce, Samuel Pagán De Jesus

Dissertations

The Topic

In the 1970s, the Seventh-day Adventist church’s theological struggles over righteousness by faith and perfectionism revealed that Adventists were confused about their Protestant identity and what it meant to have the assurance of salvation. That struggle is exemplified in Desmond Ford’s writings. His doctoral studies under evangelical scholar F. F. Bruce prompted the Historic Adventists to wonder whether Ford had abandoned the Arminian synergistic soteriology for Calvinism’s monergism.

The Purpose

The purpose of this study was to explore to what extent Frederick F. Bruce’s Reformed views, theological assumptions, and commitments were shared by and reflected in Desmond Ford’s …

The Purpose And Importance Of Words Of Knowledge When Praying For The Sick, Bruce L. Bauer

Journal of Adventist Mission Studies

Seventh-day Adventists are not usually known for taking authority over sickness or taking a person by the hand and saying, “In the Name of Jesus of Nazareth, arise and walk.” And rightly so, for Adventists have been counseled that when praying for the sick “our prayers must take the form, not of command, but of intercession” (White 1942:230, 1915:218). Why, because only God knows what is right and best (White 1948:148, 149). In addition, Ellen White warns against prayers that insist on God doing what people think needs to happen (1948:148) and suggests that God’s people should only pray for …

Evil, Ontology, And Scripture: A Diachronic Analysis Of Augustine Of Hippo's Privatio Boni Concept, Jamie G. Boucher

Dissertations

Augustine of Hippo’s Privatio Boni concept—the idea that evil is not a substance, but the privation of good in a substance—is the most influential early systematic theodical attempt within Christianity to exculpate a good God from responsibility for evil. By approaching Privatio Boni as the intricate interplay of Augustine’s views on evil, ontology, and Scripture, this dissertation aims to clarify misunderstandings surrounding the concept and determine if there is biblical warrant for it. Chapter 1 addresses issues of background, problem, purpose, and justification before introducing a delimited three-staged methodology of establishing context, engaging in diachronic analysis, and conducting a comparative …

How To Deal With Theological Conflicts, Part 1, Timothy Blaze, S. Joseph Kidder

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

The Lord Will Provide: What Will You Do?, Steve Case

Journal of Adventist Youth and Young Adult Ministries

Youth ministry often rises or falls based on its leadership. However, recruiting, training, and retaining youth leaders remains problematic. Making youth leadership development the modus operandi of youth ministry turns it into an ongoing process rather than an annual tug-of-war. It includes the youth as leaders, as well as a variety of other ages. It goes beyond completing a task, although it includes many tasks. And the expectation is to engage and explore one’s own development as well as that of the group. Resources exist to foster this, but the buy-in has been limited. Following these recommendations could result in …

The Existential Turn: An Adventist Response, Stephen Yeagley

Journal of Adventist Youth and Young Adult Ministries

Youth ministry has taken several “turns” in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, culminating in the current existential turn. This latest shift acknowledges a more diverse youth demographic (Gen Z) concerned with identity, significance, purpose, belonging, and survival. Numerous existential threats have contributed to this generation’s unprecedented mental health crisis. Nevertheless, members of Gen Z are determined to meet these threats and create the conditions for all to flourish. This paper seeks to articulate a supportive and uniquely Adventist response to the existential turn in the form of Sabbath rest.

Divine Attachment As A Context For Discipleship Transformation In Youth, Kristina Freed

Journal of Adventist Youth and Young Adult Ministries

O ne of the most profound human lifespan needs, especially among youth, is to have a worthy purpose for living. A growing body of research has identified a serious discrepancy between a Christian’s doctrinal and experiential knowledge of God, leading to disengagement from the practice of discipleship. This may be related, in part, to an unfortunate null curriculum rooted in the assumption that believers understand God in such a way that predisposes them to a discipleship lifestyle. This paper suggests that the missing relational context and the discrepancy between doctrinal and experiential knowledge of God may be remedied by an …

History, Theology, And Implementation Of A Volunteer Lay Pastor Ministry In The Territory Of The North American Division Of Seventh-Day Adventists, José Cortés Jr.

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

This study examines the strategic necessity and implementation of a Divisionwide Volunteer Lay Pastor Ministry (VLPM) within the North American Division (NAD) of the Seventh-day Adventist Church (SDA Church). The NAD oversees the church’s work in the United States, Canada, Bermuda, Guam, and Micronesia, serving over 1.2 million members across 6,300 congregations. Despite its strong presence, the NAD faces challenges reaching a diverse population of approximately 370 million. With 69 percent of its congregations either plateauing or declining, the church is at a critical point that requires proactive measures to maintain its mission.

Method

Our study begins with an …

Estrategia Para Formar Discipulos Na Uniao Sudeste Brasileria Da Igreja Adventista Do Setimo Dia, Eber Soares Nunes

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

The work of district pastors of the Southeastern Brazilian Union Conference is typically coordinated by a team of eight to twelve administrators and departmental leaders. This structure, in practice, entails the responsibility of implementing an annual average of 48 official church programs with their respective materials, which takes up almost all of their weekends, the period in which has the most access to members. As a result, local church pastors do not have time to make disciples according to Jesus’ mandate in Matthew in the Great Commission (Mat 28:19-20). This study aims to create a discipleship program that answers …

Programa De Capacitacion Sobre Predicacion Expositiva Para Ancianos Y Otros Lideres De Las Iglesias Adventistas Del Septimo Dia En El Distrito De Silver Spring, Maryland, Willy A. Benzaquen

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Most Adventist pulpits are served by people who are not pastors. By 2023, the Seventh-day Adventist Church had 175,144 congregations, and only 21,903 active ordained pastors. This indicates that, even if all pastors preached every week in some Adventist church, still 87.5% of Adventist pulpits around the world would be in the hands of someone who is not a pastor (Office of Archives, 2024). The author of this project serves as pastor in a three-church district, and it is simply impossible for him to preach in every one of them every weekly worship service. For that reason, at least …

Developing And Implementing An Evangelistic Vision: A Study Of Four Different Cohorts In The Birmingham, Alabama Area, Albert Eugene Frazier

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

The foundation of the Seventh-day Adventist church is based on principles of Holy Spirit-inspired vision and execution, established on the example of Jesus who directly implemented spiritual graces in ministry. Within Birmingham First Seventh-day Adventist church, pastoral observation revealed a disconnect in developing and implementing vision and the spiritual graces to achieve evangelistic activity within church leadership and laity. This divide has resulted in a decrease in effective evangelism.

Method

A program focusing on vision development/implementation and teaching/implementation of the spiritual graces was developed utilizing a combination of presentations and practical applications. The project lasted from May 2022 through …

The Priesthood Of Christ From An Eschatological Perspective: A Systematic Theological Reflection On Hebrews, Adriani Rodrigues

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Unbinding Genesis 3:16: A Theocentric Critique Of Sex-Based Power, Arlyn S. Drew

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Pastoral Burnout: Causes, Consequences And Closure, Hyveth A. Williams

Faculty Publications

Pastoral burnout is a growing concern among religious leaders in North America, with significant consequences for both individuals and congregations. No denomination is unaffected by its debilitating presence; even Seventh-day Adventist clergy are not immune to this increasing stress-related twenty-first century health malady. Several factors contribute to pastoral burnout, including excessive workload, unrealistic expectations, lack of support, and boundary violations. These aspects often lead to emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, reduced personal accomplishment, and though rare, suicide. This presentation will explore the causes, consequences, and suggested conclusion with potential strategies for intervention and prevention of pastoral burnout.

Wholistic Healing: Challenges And Opportunities For The Church, Anna Galeniece

All Books

Edited by Anna M. Galeniece

Who Has The Most Influence On Your Spirituality?, S. Joseph Kidder, Natalie M. Darisme

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Introduction: Market Dynamics And Worship Technology, Nicholas Zork

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Under Siege: Battling The Foes Of Emotional And Cognitive Distress, Ronald Coffen

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Help! One Of My Church Members Is Doubting The Trinity!, S. Jsoeph Kidder, Timothy Baze

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Who Are You? Adventist Identity And The Presence Of God, John C. Peckham

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Identity In Christ: Who We Become When We Are With Christ, Felix Cortez

Faculty Publications

I am in Christ when the only way in which others can understand me is by understanding my relationship with Him.