Religion Commons^™

Spiritually Guided And Bridging The Gap: An Inquisitive Analysis On The Correlation Of Pastoral Counseling And Mental Health, Cynthia E. Taylor

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This research study evaluates the outcomes of pastoral counseling on mental health within a predominantly African American congregation in the southeastern United States. The research study is intended to build a further understanding of the pastor’s role in counseling individuals with mental health conditions, given individuals seek counseling as a treatment option. To evaluate those perceptions, the researcher analyzed data collected from a survey. The outcomes from this qualitative data study suggest that pastoral counseling alone is ineffective given several factors such as individual failure to seek counseling, no suggested mental-health related issues within the sampled population, and ethnicity barriers. …

Who Is Leading Our Churches In Worship And Are They Ready? A Study On Worship Leading In The Free Will Baptist Denomination, James Anthony Cooper Sr

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Since the institution of Old Testament-Temple corporate worship, there has been someone assigned the task of leading congregational worship. The Chronicler records King David’s divisions of the sons of Asaph to be “set apart for service…under the direction of their father in the music in the house of the Lord.”1 Although for some churches, a full-time, salaried position is not feasible or there may not be enough existing duties to justify a paid position. In this case, the responsibility of leading worship falls to a person in the congregation who might have any type of background in music or an …

The New Digital Media: Opportunities For Church Sound Recording, Songwriting, And Music Publishing, Christopher Andrew Brown

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The new digital media, particularly streaming music, has made the original record industry model antiquated. Now it is possible for independent artists to be their own label and publisher and through streaming platforms, have a national or global reach. This new model also applies to churches with some church leaders considering beginning a songwriting ministry and producing original worship music, Church record labels are not new; in fact, there is precedent for this extending back to the Jesus Movement of the late sixties. Although research and literature covering changes in the old music paradigm and new opportunities are plentiful, there …

Sharing The Lord’S Supper: Finding Fellowship And Love In A Sacramental, Communal Meal, Joshua David Peterson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This thesis project identifies the biblical practice of celebrating the Lord’s Supper weekly in conjunction with a communal meal. At this project’s Ministry Context, Garden City Bible Fellowship, there is a lack of fellowship and love. This project investigates whether the implementation of the Lord’s Supper and a communal meal on a weekly basis will build fellowship and love in a biblical way. After being approved by the leadership of this church, the topic will be introduced to the congregation via a sermon on the subject, culminating in a question and answer session for anyone who has questions before participating. …

An Effective Strategy Of Family Ministry In Korean Church To Build A Biblical Family, Ikjae Jin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this project is to assist churches in building a biblical family and developing an effective strategy for family ministry programs. Additionally, it will address the problems and difficulties of Korean families. The study will be based on Korean churches in South Korea. A study of what churches are doing to assist these families will be conducted. This project will suggest how to build a biblical family in Korean churches. This research will survey at least 50 Korean pastors living in Korea and will conduct research on existing family ministry programs in Korean churches based on biblical and …

Intentional Discipleship: Effective Disciple-Making For Church Growth In Liberia, George L. Suah

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Pastors of extremely effective disciple-making churches are conscious of the degree of church efficiency, and they recognize the significance of intentional discipleship for church growth. The purpose of this study is to investigate intentional discipleship for church growth in Liberia. An anonymous research study of 12 pastors and church leaders (evangelists) from Unity Light Ministry Network (UCC) in Kakata, Liberia, West Africa, was conducted to explore why Unity Light Ministry Network (UCC) in Liberia is struggling to grow their church numerically and spiritually. The study found that the Ministry does not have adequate and systematic training on intentional discipleship for …

Refilling The Oilpots: Developing A Program To Reverse Stagnancy In African-American Churches, Mancil Carroll

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Many African American churches in America are experiencing a decline in attendance and participation. The typical church goes through a life-cycle that includes the church's birth, infancy, maturity, stagnation, and death. However, it is possible to create a rebirth process that will restart the life-cycle from the beginning. This thesis develops a strategic plan to initiate church rebirth and build momentum for the congregation. This project's research approach will include interviews with the leaders of a medium-size African American church in Dallas's suburbs. The project will also include survey questionnaires to congregants, former church members, and random subjects selected through …

Formulating A Communal Covenant For The Elders And Ministers Of South Fork Church Of Christ, Drew Baker

Doctor of Ministry Theses and Dissertations

This project addressed the lack of a communal covenant for the elders and ministers of South Fork Church of Christ. The purpose of the project was to formulate a covenant that would promote the spiritual discernment and leadership of the elders and ministers. For the theological framework, I relied upon Mark’s portrait of Jesus. I looked at Jesus’s lived example as well as his teachings to discern values and practices that defined his leadership and should therefore be normative for Christian leaders. These values and practices were analyzed according to three relational categories—relationship with God, with each other, and with …

Which Politics Of Nature?: A Response To Crawford, Carol W. White

Other Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

St. Dominic Deaf Center, December 2020

Saint Dominic Deaf Center

A newsletter published for Deaf Catholics in Houston, TX

Saint Dominic Deaf Center Finding Aid

Newsletter Catholic Deaf Of Detroit, December 2020

Newsletter Catholic Deaf of Detroit

A newsletter published for Deaf Catholics in Detroit, MI

Newsletter Catholic Deaf of Detroit Finding Aid

La Virgen María Y El Niño Fidencio: Un Análisis Literario Y Cultural De Figuras Veneradas, Emily Schahrer

World Languages and Cultures Student Papers and Posters

Famous historical and literary figures who display characteristics of empathy, wisdom and compassion inspire a great sense of faith in humanity and hope for the future. There are two exemplary figures explored in this study that embody these characteristics. The first is the Virgin Mary, a saint widely known and recognized by the Catholic Church since the 4th century. The other is Niño Fidencio: a famous healer, man of God, nicknamed a “saint of the people” from Espinazo, Mexico who lived in the 20th century. Although Niño Fidencio is not officially recognized by the Catholic Church, he names the source …

Journal Review: Illuminatio/Svjetionik/Almanar, Vol. 2, Year 1 (Fall 2020), Paul B. Mojzes

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

Excerpt: "Under the enlightened leadership of its editor-in-chief, retired Grand Mufti of the Bosniak Muslim community, Dr. Mustafa Cerić, the journal Illuminatio splendidly succeeds to implement its espoused aims to be “a journal of new ideas that enlighten the human spirit and mind about the condition of the human past, present, and future.” The journal aims to be a “cultural broker” of universal values with new ideas. Its sources are the most progressive ideas of Islam in its European context, while aiming to explore and, if suitable, to utilize other religious and secular insights. To those who might hold the …

Reformed Worship (Rw) 138 - Lent / Easter (December 2020), Reformed Worship Editors

Reformed Worship Magazine

Features

Worship Series: The Way of the Cross by Nicole Ensing....3

Children's Pages for the Christian Year by Lindsey Goetz....10

Paschal Lamb by Karla Bowe, Beth Disselkoen, and Faye Dykema....20

Articles

Editorial: I'm Angry by Joyce Borger....2

For Pastors: Slain Victory by Scott Hoezee....2

Q&A: The Psalms of Anger by John D. Witvliet....35

Worship as a Cultural Expression of Latino People by Harold Caicedo....43

Resources

Repentance and Renewal by Brian Turnbow....12

Bring Light to Our Lives by Emily Hoffman....15

The Lamb of God by Dianne Van Rooyen....26

The Dead Christ …

Boesak's "Dare We Speak Of Hope? Searching For A Language Of Life In Faith And Politics" (Critical Book Review), Andrew C. Stout

The Christian Librarian

No abstract provided.

Smith's "Awaiting The King: Reforming Public Theology" (Critical Book Review), Andrew C. Stout

The Christian Librarian

No abstract provided.

Kreider's "A Practical Primer On Theological Method: Table Manners For Discussing God, His Works, And His Ways" (Book Review), Kyle D. Diroberts

The Christian Librarian

No abstract provided.

Holmes' "Mother To Son: Letters To A Black Boy On Identity And Hope" (Book Review), Kyle D. Diroberts

The Christian Librarian

No abstract provided.

Howard's "Showing: What Pregnancy Tells Us About Being Human" (Book Review), Kyle D. Diroberts

The Christian Librarian

No abstract provided.

Strauss's "Four Portraits, One Jesus: A Survey Of Jesus And The Gospels" (Book Review), Samuel S. Richardson

The Christian Librarian

No abstract provided.

Hinn And Wood's "Defining Deception: Freeing The Church From The Mystical-Miracle Movement" (Book Review), Armand Ternak

The Christian Librarian

No abstract provided.

Craig's "On Guard: Defending Your Faith With Reason And Precision" (Book Review), Charles B. Jacobi

The Christian Librarian

No abstract provided.

Karkkainen's "Doing The Work Of Comparative Theology" (Book Review), Jaclyn Lee Parrott

The Christian Librarian

No abstract provided.

Heath-Dupre's "Be Thou My Guide: A Bible Study On Trusting God" (Book Review), Shannon Hawkins

The Christian Librarian

No abstract provided.

Koukl's "Tactics: A Game Plan For Discussing Your Christian Convictions" (Book Review), Noelle C. Keller

The Christian Librarian

No abstract provided.

Mayfield's "Unto Us A Child Is Born: Isaiah, Advent, And Our Jewish Neighbors" (Book Review), Craighton Hippenhammer

The Christian Librarian

No abstract provided.

Larson And Keeleys' "Bridging Theory And Practice In Children's Spirituality" (Book Review), Kyle D. Diroberts

The Christian Librarian

No abstract provided.

Ford, Ford, And Randall's "A Kind Of Upside-Downness: Learning Disabilities And Transformational Community" (Book Review), Chip Wiley

The Christian Librarian

No abstract provided.

Leveraging Machine Learning To Identify Quality Issues In The Medicaid Claim Adjudication Process, Cyrus Hoseini

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Medicaid is the largest health insurance in the U.S. It provides health coverage to over 68 million individuals, costs the nation over $600 billion a year, and subject to improper payments (fraud, waste, and abuse) or inaccurate payments (claim processed erroneously). Medicaid programs partially use Fee-For-Services (FFS) to provide coverage to beneficiaries by adjudicating claims and leveraging traditional inferential statistics to verify the quality of adjudicated claims. These quality methods only provide an interval estimate of the quality errors and are incapable of detecting most claim adjudication errors, potentially millions of dollar opportunity costs. This dissertation studied a method of …

Unhealthy Leadership In The Christian Church: A Study Of The Divorce Rate, Curtis William Carter

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this project is to bring healing and direction to a particular area of the Christian church that is destroying marriages and greatly emotionally damaging children and families. This specific research will look at both the divorce rate in the secular community and the divorce rate in the Christian church, thus comparing and contrasting the two. While at the same time, showing how unhealthy leadership in the Christian church continues this damage. Furthermore, this research will also illustrate which gender is most likely filing for the divorces here in the 21st century and answer the questions why, where, …