Religion Commons^™

Developing Servant-Leaders At The Three Angels Fellowship Seventh-Day Adventist Church In The Michigan Conference, Frank Lugo

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

The former elders' use of stern domineering leadership behaviors at Three Angels Fellowship Church led to a schism that caused deleterious effects and lingering debility. This schismatic experience left the church body suspicious toward the remaining elders' leadership style. The church lost lay leaders, church members, financial support, and was losing ministry opportunities because the congregation dreaded authoritarian leadership. It was clear that the biblical model of servant leadership needed to be applied by the remaining elders. This study dealt with the ministry challenges at Three Angels Fellowship Seventh-day Adventist Church by equipping the board of elders to discover …

An Introduction To The Process Of Re-Purposing The Fort Worth First Seventh-Day Adventist Church From Maintenance To Mission, Tyler Bower

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem. In 2008 the Fort Worth First Seventh-day Adventist church had nearly 200 filled volunteer positions (according to the nominating committee report) as well as a wide range of ministries that served the needs of the members. The weekly attendance at that time averaged between 220 and 250 individuals (including children). In a self-administered survey only 20 members (less than 10% of weekly adult attendance) reported that they were engaged in direct evangelistic ministry aimed at recruiting new members (accessions). A similar survey was filled out by ministry leaders and 58% of these ministry leaders reported that their ministry had …

Teaching Self-Care To Pastors In The Western Nigeria Union Conference Of The Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Sunday David-Abiola Adelakin

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem and Purpose

The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Nigeria, as well as those in other parts of the world, have genuine concern for their pastors’ physical and spiritual well-being. One of the fundamental teachings of the church that applies both to the pastors and the laity as well is to be temperate in all that we do. There is still concern, however, for those pastors that are not observing and keeping the laws of health to keep healthy physically, emotionally, and spiritually. This project explored concepts of self-care practices as they relate to pastors in Nigeria and a teaching manual …

Empowering Volunteers For Community-Focused Ministry For Families Of Inmates: Selected Churches Of The Potomac Conference, Jorge A. Ramirez

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Nearly 70% of churches in the Potomac Conference do not have ministries that are geared at serving their communities. As a result of this problem, churches are not growing and are not making a significant impact in their communities. They have become internally focused congregations. Churches are missing opportunities to develop meaningful relationships with these communities through creative externally focused ministries. Externally focused churches believe God has called them to change communities for God’s kingdom. There is a need for churches in the Potomac Conference to become externally focused.

Methodology

The recruiting and training of church volunteers to serve …

Equipping Church Members For Contextualized Discipleship In Osaka-Central Seventh-Day Adventist Church, West Conference, Japan, Jong Hyun Ryu

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem. The Seventh-day Adventist church in Japan has been on a steady decline in recent decades, at best maintaining the status quo. Although several factors may be responsible for this condition, a major factor for this is the failure of the church and its message in connecting with the Japanese culture and people in a relevant, meaningful way. The church seems not to be listening and observing the trends as she continues to apply evangelistic models designed by and for the Western nations to the Japanese. Consequently, despite the enormous funds and good programs, the church in Japan is not …

Applying The Biblical Practice Of Meditation Among Adventist Frontier Mission Employees, Conrad Vine

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem. Personal feedback from AFM personnel indicated deep uncertainty as to the legitimate basis for, and practice of, meditation within the Bible in general and the counsels of White in particular. The ongoing debates within the SDA Church concerning meditation and the lack of formal denominational guidance on how to meditate exacerbated the uncertainty. As a consequence, primary devotional habits for many employees primarily revolved around to prayer, Bible study and corporate worship. Yet there remained a reported hunger on the part of many employees for a more meaningful sense of God’s presence in their lives. The problem therefore was …

Liberation And Engagement: Toward A U.S. Latino/A Diaspora Missiology, Angel Santiago-Vendrell

The Asbury Journal

Diaspora missiology is emerging in some evangelical circles as the new paradigm that would complement traditional missiology. In this article, I will describe and analyze the writings of three first generation Cuban-American theologians and their understanding of how to construct theology in diaspora. First, I will present the multiple origins of the Latino/a population. Second, the metaphor of the Promised Land will be described and assessed though the lens of the prosperity gospel. Third, the writings of Ada María Isasi-Díaz, Justo González, and Fernando Segovia on theology in the diaspora will be described and analyzed. Finally, a Latino/a missiology of …

“If Only They Knew”: Preparing Cross-Cultural Missionaries For Service In Latin America, Rachel L. Coleman

The Asbury Journal

Drawing on the perspective of Latin American church leaders, “If Only They Knew” details common cultural, linguistic and ministry errors made by U.S. missionaries in Latin America, offers preparation strategies for new missionaries to the region, and proposes action and reflection questions for mission-sending agencies and missionary candidates.

Conserjería: Una Expresión Del Ministerio De La Iglesia, Javier Sierra

The Asbury Journal

Este artículo de introducción está diseñado para introducir los conceptos de consejería pastoral a la comunidad Hispana, la cual con frequencia no tiene un ministerio desarrollado de conserjería pastoral en sus iglesias. Este artículo discute las bases bíblicas para este ministerio y ayuda a definirlo a la luz de la fuerte naturaleza relacional y la práctica existente de dar consejos que se encuentra dentro de las culturas Hispanas. Ver a la consejería pastoral como una extensión del cuidado de la comunidad y como más estrechamente relacionada a la práctica informal de dar consejos, ayuda a que el ministerio de consejería …

Lessons Of The Jerusalem Council For The Church’S Debate Over Sexuality, Bill T. Arnold

The Asbury Journal

The Jerusalem Council (Acts 15) gets widespread attention today as a model for decision-making in the church, especially with regard to the changing cultural mores related to same-sex practices. This study investigates hermeneutical assumptions in two scholarly treatments of Acts 15 in light of the literary and historical context of the Jerusalem Council, including a few exegetical details. The study focuses especially on the specifics of the Apostolic Decree in verses 28-29. The aim of the investigation is to evaluate the chapter’s use in current debates over sexual ethics, and to propose appropriate lessons of the Jerusalem Council based on …

New Testament Considerations On Unity And “Amicable Separation” In The United Methodist Church, Christopher T. Bounds

The Asbury Journal

This paper explores the proposal of “Amicable Separation” in The United Methodist Church through the lens of New Testament teaching on Church unity and schism. First, the concept of ecclesial oneness is examined closely in the Gospel of John, Ephesians, and other related passages. Second, every instance of schism or threat of schism is studied in Acts, I Corinthians, Galatians, Colossians, I Timothy, and I and II John to see how separation is understood and addressed. After a summary of the study is given, application is made finally to the “Amicable Separation” proposal.

From The Archives: Sunday School Cards- An Innovation In Christian Education

The Asbury Journal

No abstract provided.

An Exploration Of Catholic High School Religious Studies Teachers' Perceptions And Experiences Of Their Role And Practice, Laura Witter Ramey

Doctoral Dissertations

Research literature has demonstrated that Catholic high school religion teachers face a number of possible challenges or tensions as they go about the preparation and practice of teaching religion. One challenge that emanates from the literature is that religious studies teachers are expected to be as professional as their counterparts in other disciplines, yet they lack the structural resources for developing that teaching professionalism (Cook, 2001; Cook & Hudson, 2006; Sacred Congregation for Catholic Education, SCCE, 1988; United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, USCCB, 2005). A second challenge is the expectation that religious studies teachers must meet the needs of …

Dīpaṅkara Buddha And The Patan Samyak Mahādāna In Nepal: Performing The Sacred In Newar Buddhist Art, Kerry Lucinda Brown

Theses and Dissertations

Every four years, in the middle of a cold winter night, devotees bearing images of 126 Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and other important deities assemble in the Nepalese city of Patan for an elaborate gift giving festival known as Samyak Mahādāna (“The Perfect Great Gift”). Celebrated by Nepal’s Newar Buddhist community, Samyak honors one of the Buddhas of the historical past called Dīpaṅkara. Dīpaṅkara’s importance in Buddhism is rooted in ancient textual and visual narratives that promote the cultivation of generosity through religious acts of giving (Skt. dāna). During Samyak, large images of Dīpaṅkara Buddha ceremoniously walk in procession to the …

Patient Preference For Physician Prayer In Medical Situations, Blaine Mahlon Schlawin

Honors Program Theses

As medical issues present themselves in an individual’s life, some may resort to religion and spirituality. Because health care providers care for the individual, these practitioners need to be aware of the connections that occur within the realm of spirituality and medicine. The overall purpose of this study was to examine the attitudes of physician use of prayer during medical visits in a sample of adults. Specifically, four research questions were examined: Overall, do patients want their physicians praying for them? Overall, do patients prefer a certain type of physician prayer (i.e., active, silent or physician distant intercessory prayer)? Does …

Reaching The World’S 500 Largest Cities: A Demographic And Statistical Analysis, Rick Mcedward, D. J. B. Trim

Journal of Adventist Mission Studies

No abstract provided.

A Review Of Quaker Themes And Interpretations In Following Jesus: The Heart Of Faith And Practice By Paul Anderson, Carole Spencer

Quaker Religious Thought

No abstract provided.

A Review Of Paul Anderson's Following Jesus: The Heart Of Faith And Practice, Michael Willet-Newhart

Quaker Religious Thought

No abstract provided.

Following Jesus The Faith-Rooted Organizer: A Review Of Paul Anderson’S Following Jesus, Peter G. Heltzel

Quaker Religious Thought

No abstract provided.

Review Of Anderson, Following Jesus: The Heart Of Faith And Practice, Ruth Pitman

Quaker Religious Thought

No abstract provided.

Response To The Reviews Of Following Jesus, Paul N. Anderson

Quaker Religious Thought

No abstract provided.

Review Of The Oxford Handbook Of Quaker Studies, Paul N. Anderson

Quaker Religious Thought

No abstract provided.

Friends In Ireland And Europe, Johan Maurer

Quaker Religious Thought

No abstract provided.

Friends In Asia-West Pacific, Gerard Guiton

Quaker Religious Thought

No abstract provided.

Friends United Meeting, Sylvia Graves

Quaker Religious Thought

No abstract provided.

Friends In Eastern Africa, Ann K. Riggs

Quaker Religious Thought

No abstract provided.

Friends In South America, Harold Thomas

Quaker Religious Thought

No abstract provided.

Friends In Central America, D. Gene Pickard

Quaker Religious Thought

No abstract provided.

The Future Of Quakers In Central America, Alvin Anderson, Lucy Anderson

Quaker Religious Thought

No abstract provided.

Review Of Paul Buckley, The Essential Elias Hicks, T. Vail Palmer

Quaker Religious Thought

No abstract provided.