Religion Commons^™

Building Unity Between Coeur D’Alene Bible Church And Summit Christian Academy Communities Through Leadership Engagement Groups, Nathan T. Duncan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The Western church must model unity to its congregation and the local community as part of the battle against the growing cultural focus on individualism. The purpose of this action research project was to develop and build unity between Coeur d'Alene Bible Church (CBC) and Summit Christian Academy (SCA) by utilizing Leadership Engagement Groups (LEGs). LEGs consisted of individuals from the leadership team of each ministry, five from CBC and four from SCA. They met for five weeks to pray, examine biblical unity, and discuss how they can practically assist the other ministry in their ministry goals. Questionnaires, which measured …

Missions Upside Down, Aaron Baart

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"It was a missional epiphany for me—to realize that the effectiveness and stewardship of supporting indigenous leaders would be so much more effective than anything I could accomplish."

Posting about ­­­­­­­­re-igniting the church's passion for the Great Commission from In All Things, an online hub that offers insight into maintaining and faithful and orthodox Reformed Christian worldview while fearlessly engaging in every aspect of contemporary life – until all is made new.

Missions Upside Down

Evidence Of A Late Byzantine Period Earthquake And A Monastic Stable At ‘Avedat (Oboda) (With A Contribution By Yael Gorin-Rosen) (Pp. 153–197), Tali Erickson-Gini

'Atiqot

Three excavation areas were opened in ‘Avedat National Park, revealing important evidence regarding the effects of earthquakes on the Byzantine-period occupation at the site. In Area B, near the South Church, rooms were added on the exterior of an earlier building in the early fifth century CE, next to a heavy revetment wall. The exterior of a wall covered with red-painted (dipiniti) Christian motifs was uncovered in front of a cave, pointing to its use as a stable by a monastic community. It seems that this wall underwent structural damage, probably due to the early fifth-century CE earthquake. The site …

The Coins From The Monastery At Har Ḥoma (Pp. 297–300), Gabriela Bijovsky

'Atiqot

Eleven coins were discovered in the excavation of the monastery at Har Ḥoma, including a small hoard of three Byzantine gold solidi that was found hidden in the entrance of one of the monastery rooms. This hoard is of great value and would have equaled two months of food supply for all the monks who lived in the coenobium. The reasons for its concealment remain unknown; however, it may be linked to events related to the Persian invasion of 614 CE.

Mosaic Floors, Liturgical Vessels And Furniture, Andarchitectural Sculpture From The Byzantine Monasteryin Naḥal Qidron, Jerusalem (Pp. 83–100), Lihi Habas

'Atiqot

Salvage excavations in Naḥal Qidron, southof Jerusalem, revealed a monastery adornedwith mosaic floors. A composition of geometricinterlaces populated with animals decorated thefloor of the church hall, while geometric andvegetal carpets decorated the vestibule.Stylistic and technical analyses of the mosaicsindicatea datein the mid-sixth century CE.Liturgical furniture madeof imported marble, alongside local stoneimitations, as well as architectural sculpture,were also found at the site. Fragments of two liturgical vessels, a marblepanel, a fragment of a leg of an altar table and a limestonebracket were found.

Decorated Entablature And Liturgical Elements From Moshav Ha-Bonim (Pp. 101–106), Peter Gendelman

'Atiqot

Several fragments of decorated entablature and liturgical elements were uncovered within the ecclesiastical complex at Moshav Ha-Bonim. Most of the fragments were discarded into a cistern near the southern aisle of the church. Several limestone cornice fragments were found, as well as a marble spiral-fluted column, a limestone pinecone-shaped finial, a limestone chancel screen, a marble rectangular offering altar and a marble sigma table top. These were all probably originally part of the furnishings of the nearby church.

An Overview Of The Agricultural Landscape Of The ‘Zippor Compound’ In Modi‘In (Hebrew, Pp. 61–63; English Summary, P. 125), Mordechai Haiman

'Atiqot

Trial mapping was conducted at Ḥorbat Tittora with the aim of providing a spatial view of the dozens of agricultural installations excavated, and to examine them as part of a nearby settlement. The area yielded a dense cluster of farming terraces, water cisterns, building remains, a scattering of building stones and rock-hewn agricultural installations that become sparser as the distance increased from Ḥorbat Tittora.

A Late Byzantine Industrial Quarter And Early Islamic-Period Finds At Ḥorbat Be’Er Shema‘ (Pp. 209–248), Tali Erickson-Gini, Benjamin J. Dolinka, Larissa Shilov

'Atiqot

No abstract provided.

New Archaeological Finds From Kursi-Gergesa (With A Contribution By Gabriela Bijovsky) (Pp. 175–197), Vassilios Tzaferis

'Atiqot

Two areas were opened (Areas C, D), exposing a stepped tunnel, a bathhouse and a cemetery. The stepped tunnel, which was unearthed in the 1970–1971 season of excavations, was found to end in a narrow leveled space, above which was a vaulted entrance leading to a spacious underground room. A compact Roman–Byzantine bathhouse was exposed, comprising five distinct units: a water-supply unit, a heating installation (praefurnium), heated-water pools, a hot room (caldarium) and a cool room (frigidarium). It is evident that the bathhouse was connected to the hostel building excavated in 1970–1971. The pottery from the bathhouse was similar to …

A Bread Stamp From Ḥorbat Ma‘On (Pp. 31–36), Leah Di Segni

'Atiqot

A pottery bread stamp was discovered in Stratum IV at Ḥorbat Ma‘on, dated to the end of the Byzantine period. The bread stamp has a disk-shaped base and a round knob handle. The handle top is decorated with a cross and the base of the stamp bears a Greek inscription that reads: “Blessing of (Saint?) Stephen”. The inscription indicates that the stamp was used for preparing buns that were handed out at a church as a memento of a visit to that church. It is proposed that the excavated complex at Ḥorbat Ma‘on included a church of St. Stephen and …

Marble Items From The Late Byzantine Buildings Along The Eastern Fringes Of Tel Shiqmona (Hebrew, Pp. 135–142; English Summary, P. 96*), Ira Barash

'Atiqot

Marble items found in the excavation at Tel Shiqmona include fragments of chancel screens, one of them decorated with the head of an animal—a ram or sheep; Corinthian capitals, characteristic of the fifth–sixth centuries CE; a column; carved items; and pavers and wall liners. Most of the marble items were found in a building that was probably a church, located in Area D/E.

The Mosaic From The Building (Church?) On The Eastern Fringes Of Tel Shiqmona (Hebrew, Pp. 143–145; English Summary, P. 97*), Ira Barash

'Atiqot

The mosaic was discovered in a building identified as a church, which was uncovered in Area D/E at Tel Shiqmona. The tesserae, of limestone, occur in shades of white, black, turquoise, red and yellow. The pattern of the central carpet is one of intertwined circles that form a motif of adjacent Maltese crosses. Based on the ceramic finds that were recovered from the bedding and the fill below it, the mosaic should be dated to the beginning of the seventh century CE.

Honorable Intentions With An Unreliable Methodology: Lucas’S Response Underscores The Problems, Jeff Lindsay

Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship

James Lucas has made a passionate response to the negative review I offered for his and Jonathan Neville’s book By Means of Urim & Thummim. Though we agree on many important issues, there are some troubling gaps that readers of their book need to understand. Some of these issues may be illustrated in the methodology of Lucas’s response. In general, the unreliable methodology and its often extreme, unnuanced approach to dealing with complex, unclear issues must be challenged, as painful as that has been. The complaints in my review remain intact if not further underscored by Lucas’s response. The …

Small Hinges, Great Doorways: How Some Descendants Of An Enslaved Youth Unexpectedly Became Prominent Utah Citizens, Jeffrey M. Bradshaw

Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship

A vivid illustration of how “the doorways of history turn on small hinges” is found in the Howell family tradition about Wilford Woodruff’s short stay at the home of slaveholders in the South, where it appears he may have taught a 14-year-old enslaved boy named Jackson Howell. Decades later, Jackson’s son Paul C. Howell would migrate to Utah and become a prominent citizen of Salt Lake City. Later, Paul’s son, Abner, would serve a unique mission and would continue to speak and serve in the Church. Several Church leaders played a key role in the story of the Howell family …

Church Attendance, Gender Roles, And Human Sexuality, Derek D. Goodrich

2025 Fall Honors Capstones Projects - Archive

This research examines how the frequency of religious attendance impacts views on gender roles and sexuality in Christian subgroups in the United States. Prior research on the varying worldviews of American Christians has revealed a diverse group of opinions that cannot be explained solely by denominational affiliation. Based on social identity theory, this study explores whether the frequency of attendance at religious services influences congregants’ beliefs on six issues: legalization of gay marriage, the acceptance of homosexuality in society, the acceptance of transgender people, whether a parent should stay home with the children, which parent should stay home, and women …

Project Portfolio: Strengthening Marital Bonding In Indonesian Christian Spouses Through A Contextually Designed Marriage Enrichment Retreat Curriculum, Dinka Nehemia Utomo

Doctor of Leadership

Numerous couples in our local church struggle to maintain their marital commitment and longing helps to overcome marriage hurdles. Regrettably, the denominations in our context, have not developed a coherent plan or roadmap for empowering and enriching married couples. While serving as a pastor, I witnessed countless couples in many congregations dealing with marital troubles in solitude without the required support from the church. I started developing a curriculum to satisfy this requirement in response to this circumstance. This project seeks to strengthen marital commitment, increase intimacy, and promote harmonious and loving relationships by applying biblical principles. A Marriage Enrichment …

The Prophetic Role Of The Church In The Associations Of Nagaland Baptist Churches Council (Nbcc) To Address The State Of Morality And Spiritual Transformation In The Land, Imti Lithrongla

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Church Ministers' Perceptions On Burnout And How It Shapes Their Leadership Practices., Jason Young

Dissertations

This qualitative phenomenological study explored how large church ministry leaders experienced burnout and how that burnout shaped their leadership practices. The study was motivated by a research gap concerning the lived experiences of ministers in large churches. Framed by the job demands-resources theory and the conservation of resources theory, the study sought to understand how the demands of ministry leadership and the availability of personal and organizational resources influenced the experience of burnout. The research employed a qualitative phenomenological design, utilizing semi-structured interviews. A purposive and snowball sampling approach was used to recruit 13 large US church ministry leaders. The …

The Interplay Of Covid 19, Organized Religion, And Social Media: “How Can I Be The Person I Feel I Need To Be?”, White Dove Bryant Beethoven Keith Short

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Young adults are disaffiliating themselves from organized religion (Hout & Fischer, 2014). This study investigates the impact of social media use on religious identity, teaching, and learning. Social media use is changing young adults as individuals in worldview and perspective, spirituality, religion, and personal lifestyle (Schaeffer, 2019). Messages devised for young adults by Christian ministers for discipleship in teaching and instruction are inharmonious with young adults and their personal views of the world, how to live, and religion (Pew Research Center, 2019). The continued existence of religious teaching, congregant replenishment, and practice of the organized institutional Christian church within society …

A Biblically Faithful Participation In The Lord’S Supper Following The Model Of Justin Martyr, Joshua Michael Wallnofer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This action research thesis project examines a historical, biblical approach to the Lord’s Supper, focusing on chapters 65-67 of the First Apology of the second-century church father, Justin Martyr. The research investigated five themes emphasized by Justin. These crucial subjects include defining those who are the rightful participants in the Lord’s Supper, what spiritual nourishment is found at the communion table, the importance of the regular receiving of the Lord’s Table, the communal nature of the communion meal, and how the church can provide ministry to those absent from worship with the ordinance. The project implemented a six-week small group …

Worship In Life, Worship In Death: Elements Of Worship In A Believer’S Final Days, James William Lawrence

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In Isaiah 43:21 (English Standard Version), God declares through his prophet that he created humankind for himself, for them to declare his praises. God created humanity to worship. In the last phase of a believer's life, there is a possibility of not being able to join the rest of the church in corporate worship. This text addresses the question: How does assisting shut-in Protestant Christians with end-of-life worship impact the patient, family, and the concept of dying well? Pastors, chaplains, and ministers from many walks of life have recorded and underlined the importance of worshipful pastoral care in the latter …

Using Statistics In Church-Based Research, David R. Dunaetz

Great Commission Research Journal

Although the proper use of statistics is challenging for most people, including researchers, aggregated numeric data is often the strongest evidence that a researcher can present to support an idea. This is because statistics is such a powerful tool for detecting trends that can be observed in complex contexts such as churches. Church researchers need to understand two classes of statistics: descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. Descriptive statistics describe the different variables that are measured in a study and include the mean, the standard deviation, and confidence intervals. They also include correlations showing how these variables are related to each …

A Training Model For Strategic Planning In Large Evangelical Churches, Ginger Ann Beady

Doctor of Ministry (DMin)

This dissertation explores strategic planning for churches in the post-Christendom era, where the cultural influence of Christianity has significantly diminished. The study aims to create a resource to help church leaders develop and implement strategic plans focused on long-term church health and sustainability. The first objective is to define what strategic planning entails and emphasize its necessity for fulfilling God's mission. Drawing on the Old Testament case study of Nehemiah and a New Testament survey, the research emphasizes the importance of effective planning within a biblical context. The second focus of this research question is to identify what to plan …

Constructing A Transformative Methodology Of Discipleship: A Qualitative Case Study Of The African Strategic Discipleship Movement (Asdm), Anne Sylvia Meredith Frey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to discover how discipleship can be transformative for the learners within the African Strategic Discipleship Movement (ASDM) training program currently being offered to Christian denominations located in 33 countries throughout Africa. The educational theory that guided this study was Bruner’s constructivism methodology of learning as it suggested a theoretical framework that could be integrated into the field of discipleship. The Central Research Question asked how the specific instructional methods and practices of discipleship presented by the African Strategic Discipleship Movement (ASDM) provide or not provide the participants with transformational results. Sub-research questions asked about …

Unity In The Church Across Traditions: How Abraham Kuyper's Ecclesiology Helps Further Contemporary Ecumenical Engagement Between Protestants And Catholics, Vincent Keane

Pro Rege

No abstract provided.

Persecution Of Christian Confessions In Ukrainian Podilia During The 1930s, Anatoliy Voynarovskiy, Natalka Zhmud, Valentyna Hrebenova

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

In this article, attention is focused on the characteristics of Bolshevik rule in the Podilia region, particularly its efforts to eradicate Protestantism. In the legal framework of contemporary Ukraine, the separation of religion from the state is declared, and the right to freedom of conscience and religion is guaranteed. This is a crucial and fundamental position for building a rule-of-law state and civil society. Harmonious relations between society, religion, and the state are an extremely complex process that requires a thorough understanding of historical context. The role of religion has gained particular relevance at the current stage, as Ukraine defends …

The Importance Of Bridging The Generation Gap Within Grace City Church: A Plan For An Intergenerational Discipleship Program, Keila A. Boychak

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The generation gap exists within the local church. The purpose of this praxis problem was to address the lack of intergenerational ministry in the church and create an intergenerational discipleship program to start the process of bridging the generation gap. The researcher intended to study the generations that are involved within Grace City Church and better understand how to reach them. In following Paul Hersey and Ken Blanchard’s Situational Leadership Theory (1969), the researcher planned to create a practical program that assisted in gaining participants, who are among various generations and are currently members of the congregation. Through the implementation …

Church Adoption: Three-Pronged Elements That Support The Revitalization Of Coastal Church Battery Park Location In Virginia, Michael Christopher Bard

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The church is God’s plan for delivering the good news of Jesus Christ’s finished work on the Cross. This finished work is evidenced through the bodily resurrection of Christ (1 Cor. 15). In the US a steady decline in church attendance has been prevalent over the past three decades and church buildings are either near empty or closing. This research explores the concept of church adoption merger in hopes of one avenue that would promote revitalization of local fellowships. Though multiple elements are supportive in revitalization this research explore three elements that should lead towards centralizing the church on Christ. …

Messaging The Mission: Developing And Implementing A Messaging Strategy For The Mission Statement Of Monticello Christian Church, Tanetta S. Dawson-Snyder

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This DMIN thesis project focuses on the inherent need to strategically message the mission statement of the Monticello Christian Church to its leaders, thus preparing them to relay it to the congregation for greater unity in fulfilling the misso Dei. With a focus on the educational training model, the study examines how the application of acquired knowledge empowers a church body to embrace a singular missional purpose. The training sessions were designed to help leaders utilize their cognitive and spiritual gifts to comprehend the depth and width of the missional message statement and adeptly communicate it to others. The research …

Disciple-Making At St. Louis Baptist Church, Vasquez R. Granberry

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In careful reflection, the members at St. Louis Baptist Church need a more structured way to train on disciples making disciples. The purpose of this DMIN action research project is to develop and deliver a structured small group training process for making disciples who will become St. Louis Baptist Church disciple-makers. The current thesis for a Doctor of Ministry degree focuses on disciple-making. The objective is to learn and teach the membership how to become disciple-makers within the St. Louis Baptist Church in Tyler, Texas. Allowing these matters to address disciple-makers will also enable the researcher to discover the topics …