Religion Commons^™

A House Mended: Hope For Christians Who Are Married To Or Cohabitate With Unsaved Spouses/Partners, Angela Marie Houchins

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Some Christians face unique challenges within the context of their marriages and cohabitating relationships because their spouses or partners are unsaved. This unequally yoked spiritual dynamic may negatively impact not only their marital/cohabitating relationships, but also their Christian spiritual growth and maturity. Many of these Christians are unsure about what the Bible advises about their situation. Unfortunately, many churches do not have programming to support this Christian demographic. This thesis project, through a qualitative, phenomenological research framework, will seek to understand, interpret, and describe the experiences these individuals contend with as a result of their unequally yoked marital/cohabitating way of …

The Utilization Of The Internet In The Advancement Of Discipleship In The Traditional Black Church, Marshall Williams

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Discipleship and technology are interrelated. Discipleship is the process of maturing in Christ through our actions, life, and words, as well as how we present ourselves to the world. This must become integral to the vitality and mission of the traditional Black Church. Technology is a resource that can assist the traditional Black Church to fulfill the Great Commission of Matthew 28:19-20. This thesis premise is supported by applied research (survey findings from pastoral leaders within the General Missionary Baptist Convention of Georgia), academic research (scholarly material from experts in the fields of theology, sociology, statistics, and church growth), and …

Effective Church Leadership Through Emotional Intelligence, Joshua T. Lancaster

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In On Leadership, John Gardner wrote, “Most of what leaders have that enables them to lead is learned.” Effective leadership skills can be learned and become habits. In Primal Leadership, Daniel Goleman wrote, “Not only can emotional intelligence be learned, but it also can be retained over the long term.” Southern Baptist congregants expect their pastors to be theologians, but also effective leaders. The emotional quotient barrier suggests that pastoral leadership is less effective because of behaviors such as inconsistent management of emotions, inability to genuinely connect with people, or leading without inspiration. This has led to stagnated or declining …

An Approach To Teaching Christian Apologetics To The Believers In The Local Church, Reba Renorder Gore

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This research project is an academic research on apologetics, which will be taught in the in the future in local church. Many people in the Christian community may be attending the local church and living in their community that may not clearly understand apologetics. As followers of Christ, in the Christian community and the local church, can everyone defend the Faith and feel comfortable? In the Old and New Testament, God has given His road map for man. He came, lived, was buried, and resurrected for all humankind that would accept Him as their personal Lord and Savior. As Christians, …

The Hmong Spiritual Formation From Animism To Christianity, Lang Yang

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The research project is on the Hmong religion. Hmong people believe in a faith called "Animism – the way of the spirit," which is a created religion that they practiced and passed down from generation to generation. The Hmong like to live in the past and do not want to change their customs, traditions, and cultural practices that their ancestors practiced for centuries. They put all their hope in their dead ancestors' spirits to guide them until a new religion appeared to them, and it is called "the Christian faith." The Christian faith brings new hope to the Hmong people, …

The Intergenerational Worship Model: Youth-Specific Benefits, James Alan Lott

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

King David declared that one generation should proclaim the goodness of the Lord to another, yet what David writes of cannot take place in an age-segregated setting. Multiple generations must be present. Much progress has been made regarding the church’s acknowledgment of the significance of an intergenerational worship (IGW) model. Though each generation is precious to God and created in His image, IGW holds considerable benefits for churched youth, as it is one of the few places in society where youth can intentionally connect with older generations. Despite the importance of youth engagement in IGW, there is a limited amount …

Catechesis: Returning To A Deeper Teaching That Produces Transformed Disciples For Christ, Jeremy T. Conn

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This Thesis Project addresses the lack of commitment found in many new and young believers today by providing a catechesis that engages individuals emotionally, mentally, spiritually, and experientially. After a thorough review of many biblical, historical and contemporary approaches to religious teaching, this study developed an intervention plan that merged five essential elements: (1) A culture that emphasizes the importance of baptism; (2) Adequate time to instill spiritual habits; (3) The utilization of multiple volunteers; (4) The incorporation of experiential learning; and (5) Content that encompasses both theology and discipleship. Qualitative research was conducted through the interviews of fourteen participants …

Exploring The Perceived Impact Of Retired Senior Pastors On The Ministry Of Evangelical Churches Of America, Frank France Delange

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of retired senior pastors’ (RSPs) involvement in ministry following retirement. The study sought to understanding the perceived impact of RSPs on the ministry of American evangelical Protestant church of RSPs after retirement. The rationale behind the research was the phenomenon that a significant portion of the cohort of retired senior pastors continue to serve in ministry after they have retired. The study heard and analyzed first-hand data from RSPs who had lived experience in ministry after leaving the local church they led and RSPs who had lived experience …

The Impact Of A Lectio Divina Bible Reading Methodology In The Lives Of A Sample Of Congregants At Crestview Baptist Church, Robert Milton Stephens

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Consistent Bible engagement is an indispensable spiritual discipline in the life of growing Christians. Many who profess they are Christian will also unashamedly state that they are too busy or have no time to read the Bible at all. Pastors who take upon the mantle of leadership within the local church must seek ways to be intentional about mobilizing their congregations to engage with Scripture in order to address this alarming trend. This thesis project desires to offer the local church a practical suggestion for getting their congregation to engage with the Bible in addition to times of corporate gathering. …

Minecrafting Bar Mitzvah: Two Rabbis Negotiating And Cultivating Learner-Driven Inclusion Through New Media., Owen Gottlieb

Articles

In 2013, a boy with special needs used the video game Minecraft to deliver the sermon at his bar mitzvah at a Reform synagogue, an apparently unique ritual phenomenon to this day. Using a narrative inquiry approach, this article examines two rabbis’ negotiations with new media, leading up to, during, and upon reflection after the event. The article explores acceptance, innovation, and validation of new media in religious practice, drawing on Campbell’s (2010) framework for negotiation of new media in religious communities. Clergy biography, philosophy, and institutional context all impact the negotiations with new media. By providing context of a …

Our Silent News, October-November-December 2020

Our Silent News

A newsletter published for Deaf Catholics in Fort Worth, TX

Our Silent News Finding Aid

A Crisis Of Mistaken Identity: The Ethical Insufficiency Of The Corporate University Model, Conor M. Kelly

Theology Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

Lessons From “Fratelli Tutti” For The Contemporary United States, Vincent J. Millwer, Kate Ward, Drew Christiansen, Kevin Ahern, C. Vanessa White

Theology Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

Editorial, Bruce L. Bauer

Journal of Adventist Mission Studies

No abstract provided.

Henri Monnier And The Establishment Of The Adventist Church In Rwanda, Russell L. Staples

Journal of Adventist Mission Studies

No abstract provided.

Evangelism And Social Action: The Legacy Of Ana And Ferdinand Stahl, Michelet William

Journal of Adventist Mission Studies

No abstract provided.

George James: Pioneer Seventh-Day Adventist Missionary To Malawi, 1893–1894, Yonah Hisbon Matemba

Journal of Adventist Mission Studies

No abstract provided.

Returnee Immigrants And The Founding Of The Seventh-Day Adventism In Europe, Chigemezi Nnadozie Wogu

Journal of Adventist Mission Studies

No abstract provided.

Towards The Effectiveness Of The Missionary Activity Of The Seventh-Day Adventist Church In Moscow: A Comparative Study Of Church And Society, Pavel Zubkov

Journal of Adventist Mission Studies

No abstract provided.

A Reflection On Religion And Churches In Slovakia 30 Years After The Fall Of Communism, Ján Juran, Lubomir Martin Ondrasek

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

Thirty years after the fall of the communist regime in Slovakia presents an opportune time to reflect on various issues related to the broad subjects of religion and society, state-church relations, and the public ministry of the church. The aim of our paper is to offer such reflections with an emphasis on understanding the historical context and religious developments that affect Slovakia’s current reality and must be taken into account when considering present and future challenges and opportunities. The paper consists of two main parts.1 In the first, we present a brief history of Christianity in Slovakia, elucidate developments with …

The Limits Of The Ethnographic Turn, Bharat Ranganathan

Religion Faculty Publications

This article reflects on the ethnographic turn in recent comparative religious ethics (CRE). Comparative religious ethicists should be lauded because they privilege engagement with non-Western intellectual sources. Such engagement is important since it undermines the erroneous view that non-Western sources are either soft or are part of someone else's commitments and therefore irrelevant. Yet some recent comparative work stops at merely describing these non-Western sources, moving ethics away from its normative tasks. If CRE is to remain relevant to broader conversations in moral and political theory, comparative religious ethicists should perform two tasks: they should evaluate the object under consideration …

Does Christian Faith Impact Loneliness?, Jeffrey M. Kelly

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Loneliness is on the rise within the United States, particularly within younger adults ages 18-37 (Bruce et al 2019). Although much is known about the negative dimensions of loneliness, and some about protective factors to help ease loneliness, the potential impact of religious and spiritual beliefs and behaviors on loneliness remains largely unexplored. This study focused on the relationship between a committed religious faith and perceived feelings of loneliness among university students. Participants include 1,182 undergraduate students from George Fox University who participated in the National College Health Assessment (NCHA). Religious commitment was evaluated using a supplemental 6-item self-report measure …

Evaluation Of Church Plant Training Methods Within The Assemblies Of God, Bethlehem Backes

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

The steady decline of churches in America is a cause of great concern among spiritual leaders (Stetzer & Im, 2016). Missiologists agree that church planting is vital to presenting the gospel to unreached people groups. If church planting is the vehicle to deliver the life-giving message of Jesus to the world, church planters are the drivers who actively accomplish the purpose of healthy multiplication. Recent data on the health of church planters indicates many of them are not adequately prepared and desire long-term support to be successful. The Assemblies of God denomination has tasked the Church Multiplication Network with leading …

Clark Memorandum: Fall 2020, J. Reuben Clark Law School, Byu Law School Alumni Association, J. Reuben Clark Law Society

The Clark Memorandum

• A Feast of Fat Things
• And When He Came to Himself
• No Other Gods Before Me
• The Economics of Goodness

Read on Issuu

Alternative Financial Models For Churches And Church Plants: When Tithes And Offerings Are Not Enough, W. Jay Moon

Great Commission Research Journal

Many churches face financial strains, forcing some to close every year. Similarly, potential church plants may be delayed or disbanded due to a lack of finances. Instead of relying solely on tithes and offerings, this article provides six nontraditional financial approaches that churches can implement to promote financial viability and missional impact. The interaction of the church’s financial liquidity (low or high) and relational networks (closed or open) provides a starting point to determine which approach may be best in the church’s context. Practical applications are provided through examples of contemporary churches using these approaches.

Romans 12: A Leader's Guide To Transformation, Steven Ruggerio

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

No abstract provided.

Leadership Modeling: Christian Leadership Development Through Mentoring As Informed By Social Learning Theory, Kevin S. Hall

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

Leadership development is essential to training up healthy, effective leaders. Christian leaders should be intentionally influencing others to acquire, reinforce, and translate proper leadership character and behaviors into effective Christian leadership. Albert Bandura’s social learning theory serves as a guide for leaders to effectively develop others; this learning occurs by observation through modeling. Modeling leadership in relationship with others is a key approach towards developing leaders. This article presents a leadership development strategy that is both biblically situated and scientifically informed.

Well-Being And Digital Media Usage To Strengthen The Faith Of Seventh-Day Adventists During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Arndt Büssing, Lorethy Starck, Klaus Van Treeck

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the emotional, spiritual, and social well-being of 1,036 German Seventh-day Adventists were analyzed; usage of the Church’s digital media resources was also analyzed. This study found that older peoples’ well-being was particularly high, and this group also benefited from digital media resources. The findings presented in this article may encourage Christian and non-Christian communities alike to further expand their digital media resources to provide helpful resources during the successive waves of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Predictors Of Sustainability And Well-Being In Ministry, Rob Parkman, René Erwich, Joke Vansanne

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

No abstract provided.

Aspects Of Leadership And Their Effects On The Growth And Vitality Of North American Churches, Kimon Nicolaides Iii

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

No abstract provided.