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Articles 991 - 1020 of 1703
Full-Text Articles in Religion
Discipleship And Mentoring In Youth Retention At Crosspointe Church, Gregory Clement Bedner
Discipleship And Mentoring In Youth Retention At Crosspointe Church, Gregory Clement Bedner
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Leaders at Crosspointe Church in Monroe Michigan have identified a need to develop a more effective discipleship program to keep emerging adults involved in church after high school. Research shows that there is a growing trend of emerging adults leaving the church and the leaders of Crosspointe Church in Monroe Michigan have noticed this trend of emerging adults leaving the church after high school. It is hypothesized that a more effective discipleship program along with more parental involvement will positively correlate with Crosspointe Churches youths making the decision to stay in church after high school. This research utilized a discipleship …
Utilizing Relevant Bible Centric Studies As A Means Of Retaining Young Adults In Active Church Membership And Ministry In An Older Puerto Rican American Baptist Church, Jessica Lugo-Melendez
Utilizing Relevant Bible Centric Studies As A Means Of Retaining Young Adults In Active Church Membership And Ministry In An Older Puerto Rican American Baptist Church, Jessica Lugo-Melendez
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This project will explore how the integration of young adults’ everyday life issues and struggles into Bible Studies content can become more attractive for this demographic. With the intention of adding relevancy as a means of retention of young adults within a local American Baptist Church in Puerto Rico. Several recent studies provide a concrete picture of the lack of local church involvement among young adults’ lives, translating into attrition in many cases. In terms of church attendance, a study maintains that only 30.9% of young adults attend religious services "regularly," meaning at least twice a month, 35.4% report never …
Fidelity In Institutional Structure: Divine Family Formation And The Variance Of Church Amid Dysfunctional Behavior, Terrence Lyne Toliver
Fidelity In Institutional Structure: Divine Family Formation And The Variance Of Church Amid Dysfunctional Behavior, Terrence Lyne Toliver
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
There has been a rift in the providential establishment of our Lord. Humanity is indulgent unto sin and the family is suffering. Disobedience and selfishness have blinded humankind into a false sense of reality. The fallacy has taken the place of divine order in the chosen avenues into humanism depicted as science, technology, philosophy, cultism, and any other route devoid of Christ. Therefore, this in-depth study seeks to dispel or to bring to light a revelation of where humanity rests in the grand scheme of contemporary life. Two notions of preponderance present themselves, to forgo selfishness and to embrace righteousness. …
A Self-Check Model To Build Resiliency And Balance In Ministry Leaders, Mark R. Williams
A Self-Check Model To Build Resiliency And Balance In Ministry Leaders, Mark R. Williams
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
There is a significant problem with stress and burnout in ministry leaders. The purpose of this study was to develop a self-check model for ministry leaders to help them with life-balance and resiliency. To have and know peace in one’s life is to draw close to God and live by His design. Loving God with all one’s heart, mind, soul, strength and loving one’s neighbor as one’s self is critical for a healthy, well-balanced life and ministry. The researcher introduced a simple self-check model to enable ministry leaders to develop balance and resilience in their lives called the Star Model. …
Lead Pastor Support In Balancing Marriage, Family, And Ministry As It Related To Stress And Depression, Yolanda K. Mcbride
Lead Pastor Support In Balancing Marriage, Family, And Ministry As It Related To Stress And Depression, Yolanda K. Mcbride
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The role of a pastor encompasses many duties and responsibilities within the church as well as in the home. In particular, associate pastors are akin to lead pastors in dealing with issues that arise in their personal marriages, family, and ministry. Balancing the three can be daunting and arduous tasks without proper guidance and leadership. Lead pastors have a responsibility to assist associate pastors in balancing those three areas of concern to ensure the ability to serve in ministry with a strong state of mind necessary for a full and thriving career in leading others to Christ. Without the assistance …
The Effectiveness Of Servanthood Training, Shirley Godard Peele
The Effectiveness Of Servanthood Training, Shirley Godard Peele
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This thesis project researched the leaders at Divine Praise Ministries to determine the effectiveness of servanthood training. The leaders at Divine Praise Ministries were interviewed, trained, and equipped to serve a local homeless shelter in Washington, North Carolina. The leaders were informed of the biblical reason to serve based on Matt. 25:35-40. They were also informed of the physical reason to serve based on the needs of the homeless population. In addition, the need for this thesis project was fueled by the desire of the pastor to find out why the leaders at Divine Praise Ministries lack a desire to …
Impacts Of Network Training On Church Revitalization, Timothy Alan Houston
Impacts Of Network Training On Church Revitalization, Timothy Alan Houston
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Does the impact of executive team training in church networks enhance problem-solving at the local church level and develop theologically informed theoretical practices? The action research project addressed the question that if the staff at Harvest Network received instruction in biblical principles of church revitalization, the expected result might be that the network team may become better equipped to serve the churches of the network. Four primary themes emerged from the literature research: barriers to church revitalization; detrimental pastoral leadership; church revitalization culture; and organizational team training. The designed intervention included interviews, focus groups, participant observations, reports, surveys, instruction, and …
A Study On The Small Groups For The Vitalization Of Young Adult: With A Focus On Dang-Il Church, Jongkil Park
A Study On The Small Groups For The Vitalization Of Young Adult: With A Focus On Dang-Il Church, Jongkil Park
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This thesis is a study on the revitalization plan for youth ministry in the church. The purpose of this study is to study the effect of small group ministry on faith growth and youth revitalization as a way to promote youth ministry based on the understanding of youth. Today, while the growth of Korean churches is slowing and the number of members decreases, the youth group has also stopped growing, facing a crisis of spiritual growth and a crisis of existence itself. The decline of the young generation is not a problem only today, but at a time when the …
A Biblical Understanding Of Making Disciples, Gregory Douglas Brown
A Biblical Understanding Of Making Disciples, Gregory Douglas Brown
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
One of the many functions of the local church is to make disciples. Unfortunately, thoughtful and consistent efforts have not always proven to yield the results that accompany transformational living. This thesis project seeks to address and remove some of the barriers around discipleship and disciple-making in the local setting. This study provided a discipleship training course targeted toward spiritually mature male leaders. Individuals were invited to attend a six-session training course where they were equipped with a biblical understanding of discipleship, and training in spiritual disciplines, to aid in their personal growth and ability to teach others. Data was …
Disaster Preparedness Plan For Cascade Hills Church, Columbus, Georgia, Kenneth Durell Dawson
Disaster Preparedness Plan For Cascade Hills Church, Columbus, Georgia, Kenneth Durell Dawson
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
While churches, especially large churches, may consider themselves well-prepared for a disruption in normal activities, the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated churches’ lack of preparedness on multiple levels. This disaster as well as other natural or manmade disasters could disrupt normal functions of a church and seriously impede a church’s outreach to the community. This project defines the problem and delineates a plan for Cascade Hills Church in Columbus, Georgia. This study designs and implements an intervention by interviewing church staff members and by seeking the input of an expert in the field of disaster recovery. Results are measured by a tabletop …
Promoting Health Literacy To Aging Christians To Combat The Scourge Of Euthanasia Through The Church, Willie Mae Corley
Promoting Health Literacy To Aging Christians To Combat The Scourge Of Euthanasia Through The Church, Willie Mae Corley
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The many dilemmas that occur in the medical care of chronically ill seniors raise the question of whether senior populations have become the new black. The research seeks to provide an evidence-based review of limited health literacy among elderly African American Christians regarding diagnoses and medical treatments, which has resulted in unethical Christian practices becoming a norm. The researcher adapted the health literacy framework of Paasche Orlow and Wolf’s view of three distinct causes that influence health literacy: the access and utilization of health care, the patient-provider relationship, and self-care. The problem is that Victory Church members may not understand …
Lived Experiences Of Assemblies Of God Pastors With Regards To Leadership Style, Demands, Stressors, And Ministry Burnout, Barbara Christina Chavez
Lived Experiences Of Assemblies Of God Pastors With Regards To Leadership Style, Demands, Stressors, And Ministry Burnout, Barbara Christina Chavez
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to discover the perception of 15 small church Assemblies of God pastors in San Antonio with regards to leadership style, leadership demands, leadership stressors, and ministry burnout. The researcher used the interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) approach due to the openness of collecting the data through semi-structured interviews that allowed participants to respond to open-ended questions. The additional interview instrument was the WLAB scale and the burnout inventory instrument from Iverson, Olekalns, and Erwin (1998). The researcher coded and evaluated data using NVIVO12 software. Through the association of common themes, the researcher unearthed …
Collaborating Mentors In The Discipleship Process, Tyson Wahl
Collaborating Mentors In The Discipleship Process, Tyson Wahl
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The researcher presents an action thesis conducted at Crossroads Family Ministries, studying multiple mentors’ effects in the discipleship process. Single mentor discipleship systems where one mentor disciples one mentee are common in many churches. However, placing one mentee with multiple mentors should produce better-discipled individuals with a greater experience and spiritual gift base from which to grow. This study aims to measure the effect collaborative mentoring has on a mentee during the discipleship process. The researcher has recruited five mentees and fifteen mentors to participate in this study. Four mentees are unfamiliar with the discipleship material and will each be …
Apostolic And Prophetic Leadership In The Contemporary Church: Applied Study Of The Early Church Model, Jordanna Marie Taffel
Apostolic And Prophetic Leadership In The Contemporary Church: Applied Study Of The Early Church Model, Jordanna Marie Taffel
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The research addresses the application of apostolic and prophetic governance in church plants. Research methods include surveying and interviewing pastors from Every Nation, the researcher’s local church senior and senior associate pastors, and church plant lead pastors. Every Nation is a “global movement dedicated to church-planting churches, reaching the next generation on the campus, and preaching the gospel to every nation.” The sample size is thirteen pastors. The setting was in person and/or via video call. The research includes current, historical, and scholarly literary resources, the Bible, and the local church’s planting materials. The idea of what it means to …
Overcoming The Lack Of Expressive Worship In The Haitian Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Yoner Valmyr
Overcoming The Lack Of Expressive Worship In The Haitian Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Yoner Valmyr
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Many Haitian Seventh-day Adventist members are not pleased with the Haitian Seventh-day Adventist Church’s lack of expressive worship. According to research, Haitian church members are unable to freely express themselves in corporate worship due to rationalistic, as oppose to kinesthetic worship practices. During worship services, Haitian Seventh-day Adventist members, young and old, are afraid to have an authentic demonstrative worship experience because of “soma phobia,” the fear of letting themselves or their bodies get out of control. Because of a traditional European cultural ethos that still exists, there is a fear that others may look upon them as ungodly. When …
New Believers: Committing To Faith To Sustain The Life Of The Christian Church, Allen Scott
New Believers: Committing To Faith To Sustain The Life Of The Christian Church, Allen Scott
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This thesis's objective was to implement a more robust integrated program that would result in fewer people joining Cedar Crest Church and then leaving. Jesus mandates in Matthew 28:18-20 that man is given the authority to make disciples throughout the world by baptizing in the name of the Trinity, teaching them to observe everything that he had commanded while believing that he would be with them at all times. One way of validating this mandate's fulfillment is found in Hebrews 10:25 by not abandoning the opportunity to assemble with other believers through encouragement until the day of Jesus' return. To …
A Plan To Unify Generational Worship Divisions Through The Development And Implementation Of A Biblical Philosophy Of Generational Worship, Leonard L. Tomlin
A Plan To Unify Generational Worship Divisions Through The Development And Implementation Of A Biblical Philosophy Of Generational Worship, Leonard L. Tomlin
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Westside Baptist Church is a multigenerational Southern Baptist Church with an established culture of dynamic musical worship. Throughout the last four decades, this congregation has flourished in its weekly engagement of musical worship. Westside's musical worship styles are generally comprised of traditional hymns, southern gospel, and praise and worship music. While the church has maintained a reputation of first-rate worship music, the last decade has revealed a growing division among the congregation's generational worship style preferences. One generation of the church longs to worship with the songs that they grew up with, while another generation prefers to grow up with …
The Impact Of Short-Term Mission Trips On Religiosity And Motivations For Helping In College Students, Patricia Minerva Cepeda-Russell
The Impact Of Short-Term Mission Trips On Religiosity And Motivations For Helping In College Students, Patricia Minerva Cepeda-Russell
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
There is an abundant amount of research on the negative aspects of short-term mission trips; however, there is a lack of literature that reflects the religiosity of college students and studies using religious assessments for the specific age range of 18-25. The current research intends to answer the following three questions: Does going on short-term mission trips make a difference in religiosity in the lives of college students who participate? What is the mean difference in religiosity practices between college students that participated in short-term mission trips compared to those that did not? What are the motivating factors that lead …
A Correlational Study Of Emotional Competence And Christian Practices Among Millennials, Nancy Watkins Flanagan
A Correlational Study Of Emotional Competence And Christian Practices Among Millennials, Nancy Watkins Flanagan
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
While emotions management is critical to effective leadership, literature describes present and emerging leaders in the millennial generation as not being proficient at managing their emotions. If this is true, how could the Christian community promote leadership development for millennials? Toward determining if a connection exists between emotions management and faith, this non-experimental quantitative correlational study explored the relationship, if any, between millennials’ emotional competence and Christian practices. Survey instrumentation was employed. The survey included two validated instruments, one for emotional competence and the other for spiritual growth. Study invitations were emailed to 395 millennials at a church in VA’s …
Students' Evangelical Worldview In Public High School Content Areas: A Phenomenological Analysis, Russell Allen
Students' Evangelical Worldview In Public High School Content Areas: A Phenomenological Analysis, Russell Allen
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Although much research has been conducted regarding Christian worldview in private high schools and Christian colleges, very little information exists regarding Christian worldview at public high schools. The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study is to describe how 10 evangelical students in public high schools interpret content areas through their worldview. The study answered the following critical question: How do evangelical students in public high schools interpret content areas through their worldviews? Participants were found using criterion sampling in central Pennsylvania and document analysis, interviews, and focus groups were used to collect data. Moustakas’s (1994) approach was used for data …
You Think You're Called... Now What? Intervention For Discerning And Confirming A Call To Ministry: A Study To Identify Interventions For Gaining Confirmation On The Call To God, Jacquelyn Elaine Powell
You Think You're Called... Now What? Intervention For Discerning And Confirming A Call To Ministry: A Study To Identify Interventions For Gaining Confirmation On The Call To God, Jacquelyn Elaine Powell
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
You think you are called… Now What? The purpose of this research project is to guide those who feel they have been called to ministry into action—from the point where they sense a call to ministry, to gaining confirmation and moving them forward by answering the call. Selected participants have expressed a range of experiences, while still struggling with the confidence to embrace and walk in their calls. This research will assist leaders to encourage and nurture others to walk in their purpose—fulfilling the “Great Commission The intervention will consist of: (1) an initial two-day conference designed to clarify and …
Training Lay Preachers To Preach Expository Sermons In The Wesleyan Church In The Amazon District Of Brazil, Grace Ury Ensz
Training Lay Preachers To Preach Expository Sermons In The Wesleyan Church In The Amazon District Of Brazil, Grace Ury Ensz
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
There is an urgent need for lay preachers to know how to divide the Word of God and preach biblical sermons. This project addresses lay preachers’ needs in the Wesleyan Church in the Amazon district who carry out their significant ministry without any training. The purpose of this project is to supply practical training and to offer a viable preaching model to continue to preach expositional sermons. Action research methods will be used. There will be surveys, interviews, and evaluations done to help and understand the lay preacher. Triangulation will be used by comparing information from the researcher, the research …
Discipleship: A Parental Responsibility, Ranny George Lewis
Discipleship: A Parental Responsibility, Ranny George Lewis
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The primary disciple-makers of children are the parents, which is mandated by God. Throughout the Scriptures, God empowered the family to lead their children into spiritual growth. God charged the family in maintaining a spiritual atmosphere where their children can learn and become His disciples. God makes it clear to parents that their responsibility toward their children while at home is a continuous process of teaching His Word to them. Even though the family unit is one, the primary spiritual responsibility resides with the father in maintaining the integrity of the family discipleship endeavors in Christ. The purpose of this …
Faith Development Study On Parents As Primary Faith Influencers, Caarne L. White
Faith Development Study On Parents As Primary Faith Influencers, Caarne L. White
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This research study intends to address a problem parents face as the assumptive primary faith influencers in their children's discipleship and spiritual development. The goal is to discover the support parents receive as World Changers Church International members while growing in the Christian faith as a family. The problem manifests when youth pastors and workers struggle to help student ministries make real-life connections through discipleship and mission. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the physical church closure is considered in exploring the study and further augment parents' struggles. In the discovery process, the study will assess how guidance through the Christian …
Biblical Parenting, Mehret Kahsai
Biblical Parenting, Mehret Kahsai
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The goal of this Doctor of Ministry thesis project, Biblical Parenting, is to equip parents with tools that will enable them to conduct Bible study and family worship in an age-appropriate manner, so that their children will grow up understanding the Word of God and have a biblical worldview that will direct their daily decisions. Some of the parents at Calvary Baptist Church and Covenant Christian Academy appear not to be accomplishing their God given task of evangelizing and discipling their children at home. Instead they have relegated that responsibility to the church. However, according to the Bible, parents are …
The Way We See Matters: Developing A New Theological Vision For Effective Cross-Generational Evangelism, Michelle Naomi Jeremie
The Way We See Matters: Developing A New Theological Vision For Effective Cross-Generational Evangelism, Michelle Naomi Jeremie
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Today, North American churches have great opportunities and face unique challenges in fulfilling their mandate to make disciples. This DMIN thesis discusses the issue of how to more effectively evangelize the Millennial generation and Generation Z in a postmodern context. The purpose of this thesis is to address the need for church leaders to utilize a specialized evangelism training program to equip Christians to evangelize to non-believers across generational lines. The focus of this project is to implement the Cross-generational Evangelism Training (C-GET) Program at a ministry that has a low representation of Millennials and Generation Z. This Program will …
Resolving The Shortage Of Youth At Mount Moriah Baptist Church, Sharion Dianne Otey
Resolving The Shortage Of Youth At Mount Moriah Baptist Church, Sharion Dianne Otey
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this project is to examine the lack of youth at Mouth Moriah Baptist Church. The participants’ perspective is crucial to understanding why youth are not returning to the church after graduating from high school. The following chapters show the need for youth in the church and the why youth are leaving the church after graduating high school. In this project, the data will demonstrate the causes for the lack of youth. Furthermore, it will present changes that are needed to increase the number of youth in the church. Current literature provides insight into what others have done …
Pastoral Leadership Strategies For A Multisite Church In A Small Church Setting In The African American Community, Lionel Reynard Catchings
Pastoral Leadership Strategies For A Multisite Church In A Small Church Setting In The African American Community, Lionel Reynard Catchings
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
There are many mega churches that are moving to multisite facilities. This project focuses on the small church that wishes to establish multisite facilities to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. The project will provide a guide for small churches who may desire to embrace multi worship sites for their congregations. It will identify strengths of small churches and the challenges they face when they seek to found multisite churches, and ultimately demonstrate that small church multisite facilities are possible and feasible. This project will also validate the importance of teamwork in recruiting, enlisting and training volunteers for multisite responsibilities. …
An Exploration Of The Attitudes And Expectations Of African American Congregants Regarding A Proposed Mental Health Ministry, Faith Clarisa Brown
An Exploration Of The Attitudes And Expectations Of African American Congregants Regarding A Proposed Mental Health Ministry, Faith Clarisa Brown
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This mixed methods research project explored the attitudes and expectations of African American congregants regarding a proposed mental health ministry in a large urban church in Miami Gardens, Florida. The scale component assessed the mental health literacy levels of congregants. The semi-structured interview revealed congregant needs and ways to address them, as identified by leaders of other ministries based on their interactions with congregants. Relevant themes were stigma surrounding mental health, the desire for spirituality in counseling, and Christ’s concern for humanity’s physical, mental and spiritual well-being. This project collected digital scale surveys from 51 individuals and conducted nine semi-structured …
Semeiotic And The Problem Of Panentheism For Christian Natural Theology, Nathan G. Wheeler
Semeiotic And The Problem Of Panentheism For Christian Natural Theology, Nathan G. Wheeler
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This dissertation considers the theological suitability of Charles S. Peirce’s philosophy of signs (semeiotic) for use in theories respecting the great Christian tradition. As a case-study, this dissertation examines panentheism as a problem for a Christian approach to natural theology utilizing semeiotic, as proposed by Alister McGrath. Leading interpreters of Peirce’s philosophy of religion, Michael Raposa and Robert Corrington, hold that Peirce’s semeiotic entails a panentheist ontology. If that is the case, then a fully developed use of semeiotic by McGrath may inad-vertently risk the coherence of his theory. The present study takes a systematic theology approach combined with an …