History of Christianity Commons^™

A Tender Turning Point, Debra Rienstra

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

Last Sunday, my congregation voted overwhelmingly to disaffiliate from the Christian Reformed Church. We had already gone through a long process of discernment to get to this point, so there was a little tension in the room. We knew what was going to happen. We were ready.

Following The Mission Leader: The Value Of Imitational Learning In The Training Of Apostolic Church Planting Teams At Memorial Lutheran Church In Katy, Texas, John F. Davis Jr

Doctor of Ministry Major Applied Project

Davis, Jr., John F. “Following the Mission Leader: The Value of Imitational Learning in the Training of Apostolic Church Planting Teams at Memorial Lutheran Church in Katy, TX.” Doctor of Ministry. Major Applied Project, Concordia Seminary, 2025. pp. 272

Reaching the unchurched and unbaptized in our communities with the Gospel of Jesus Christ is a huge challenge for most of our churches. In The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, the number of adults being baptized in the churches (a measure of our effectiveness in carrying out the Missio Dei) is less than one per year. To reach people who have no …

Creating A Cultural Liturgy Of Intentional Prayer: Leading Grace Lutheran Church Into Greater Understanding And Engagement With The Surrounding Community, Keith Aschenbeck

Doctor of Ministry Major Applied Project

Aschenbeck, Keith D. “Creating a Cultural Liturgy of Intentional Prayer: Leading Grace Lutheran Church into Greater Understanding and Engagement with the Surrounding Community.” Doctor of Ministry. Major Applied Project, Concordia Seminary, 2025. pp. 166

Grace Lutheran Church, like many churches, has historically approached mission and ministry with the consumer-driven approach model of attraction. The result has often had them looking at how to shape and form how the world sees them so that they would be appealing as a place to worship. This way of approaching ministry has become a cultural liturgy that forms many decisions about what ministry programs …

How Pentecostals Living In The United States Experience, Interpret, And Respond To Depression, Robert Mcbain

College of Theology and Ministry Dissertations, Projects, & Theses

The prevalence of depression in society underscores the need for awareness and support, particularly within Pentecostal communities, where depression remains underexplored. While studies suggest how the Christian context shapes depression, the literature lacks depth about the relationship between Pentecostalism and depression. This gap risks fostering misconceptions, marginalizing sufferers, and allowing dominant voices to impose stigmatizing interpretations that discourage external help and reinforce unrealistic norms. These repercussions emphasize the need to research the relationship between Pentecostalism and depression to address stigma, create supportive environments, and ensure that sufferers retain ownership of their mental health narratives. This dissertation contributes to this need …

The Fear Of God: The Foundation Of The Divine Covenants Through The Blood Sacrifice And Meal Of Exodus 24:4–11 And 1 Corinthians 11:23–32., Matthew Taylor Propst

College of Theology and Ministry Dissertations, Projects, & Theses

The Fear of God and its relevance to establishing the Old Covenant and the New Covenant is vital in understanding the nature of the role of sacrificial blood and meal in Exodus and 1 Corinthians. The Fear of God acts to establish and maintain proper covenantal relations with God and a covenant community’s cohesion. There is also an element where those that participate in covenants are required to live under its commandments by self-sacrificial behavior.

Chapter 1 introduces the issue of this thesis within certain parameters and boundaries alongside the purpose and objectives this issue wishes to address. Chapter 2 …

Restoration Quarterly: Vol. 67, No. 1

Restoration Quarterly

PDF of the cover of Restoration Quarterly: Vol. 67, No. 1.

This repository hosts selected Restoration Quarterly articles in downloadable PDF format. For the benefit of users who would like to browse the contents of RQ, we have included all issue covers even when full-text articles from that issue are unavailable. All Restoration Quarterly articles are available in full text in the ATLA Religion Database, available through most university and theological libraries or through your local library’s inter-library loan service.

Samuel Štefan Osuský’S Critique Of Church And Society In The Face Of Totalitarianism, Michal Valčo, Katarína Valčová

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This paper provides a systematic review analysis of the relevant works of Slovak philosopher and theologian Samuel Štefan Osuský (1888-1975), focusing on his critical perspective concerning the responses of the Church (mainly the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Augsburg Confession in Slovakia) and society to the ideological and political dangers of fascism and Nazism in 20th-century Central Europe. Drawing on his major writings, including his prophetic 1937 lecture "Filozofia boľševizmu, fašizmu a hitlerizmu" [The Philosophy of Bolshevism, Fascism, and Hitlerism] and the courageous 1942 "Pastiersky list k židovskej otázke" [Pastoral Letter on the Jewish Question], we explore Osuský’s diagnosis of institutional …

Revolutionizing The Immaculate Conception: The Limitations Of Medieval Theology And The Advancements Of John Duns Scotus, Emily G. Knoppe

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Although in the modern era, the Immaculate Conception is a controversial doctrine that prompts conflict primarily between Catholic and non-Catholic groups, during the medieval period Roman Catholics were greatly divided on the topic. Opposition to the belief hinges not only on its lack of scriptural basis and complicated theology, which some deem as placing Mary outside of the need for Christ’s redemption, but also on the fact that it was not declared dogma until 1854 by Pope Pius IX. In this thesis, I first consider how Augustine of Hippo’s original sin theology laid the foundation for avid rejection of the …

Preparing Spiritually Resilient Warriors In The Canadian Special Operations Forces Command, Vic Morris

Doctor of Ministry Major Applied Project

Morris, Victor E. “Preparing Spiritually Resilient Warriors in the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command.” Doctor of Ministry. Major Applied Project, Concordia Seminary, 2024. 285 pp.

The Canadian Armed Forces has outcomes and expectations for warriors to be spiritually resilient but does not have a training program that has been researched, tested, and validated to achieve this. This study investigates how chaplains can prepare spiritually resilient warriors in CANSOFCOM. A chaplain-led spiritual resilience course was created and delivered to CANSOFCOM members. The course was aligned with the holistic wellness strategy of OPF2, and designed as an inductive, experiential learning experience. An …

Haciéndole El Amor A Dios: Una Lectura De Madame Guyon A Través De Los Lentes De Las Teologías Latinoamericanas Cuir Y Ecofeminista, Kathleen Griffin

Conexión Queer: Revista Latinoamericana y Caribeña de Teologías Queer

Through Pentecostal and Holiness missionaries, Madame Guyon’s ideas influenced Christians around the world —including in Latin America— prompting the need for a reevaluation of her works. This article interprets «pure love» in A Short and Easy Method of Prayer and Guyon’s autobiography, drawing on Marcella Althaus Reid’s Indecent Theology and the ecofeminist insights of Ivone Gebara. The goal is to revive the erotic dimension in Guyon’s relationship with God and her «spiritual children,» showing how she teaches the possibility of developing a healing and resilient relationship with the Divine through painful physical and emotional human experiences, in order to find …

The Meanings Of The Hospital De San Lázaro In Seventeenth-Century Manila, Francis Galasi

Journal of Global Catholicism

The Hospital de San Lázaro was a specialized health facility in the early modern Philippines, dedicated to the care of lepers and sufferers of other contagious diseases. While it was established for this specific purpose, its role in colonial society varied. This versatility reflected the distinct priorities and commitments of the groups pulled into its orbit, as each charged San Lázaro with a unique meaning. This article explores how and why these groups—the indigenous Filipinos, the Spanish residents and the Discalced Franciscans—understood San Lázaro in their own way. It highlights the ability of fixed institutions, such as a hospital, to …

Editor's Introduction, Mathew Schmalz

Journal of Global Catholicism

No abstract provided.

How To Make A Theologian: Theological Education And The Life Of Discipleship, Andrew C. Stout

The Christian Librarian

No abstract provided.

Editorial: Most Likely You Go Your Way…, Jeffrey S. Lamp

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

This issue of Spiritus is a special one indeed. Almost three years ago I received a message from Martin Mittelstadt of Evangel University concerning the dialogue underway between representatives of the Pentecostal and Charismatic Churches of North America (PCCNA) and the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). This dialogue would take place over a three-year period (2021–2003), with papers and responses addressing three topics from the perspectives of Pentecostals and Roman Catholics. The participants expressed an interest in having the presentations from this dialogue published in journals representing both traditions.

Review Of Soon And Very Soon: A Biblical And Theological Study Of The Events Surrounding Jesus Christ’S Second Coming. By David K. Hebert., Cletus L. Hull Iii

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

Review of Soon and Very Soon: A Biblical and Theological Study of the Events Surrounding Jesus Christ’s Second Coming. By David K. Hebert. Tulsa: Word and Spirit Press, 2019. 193 pp.

Review Of The Kaleidoscopic City: Hong Kong, Mission, And The Evolution Of Global Pentecostalism. By Alex R. Mayfield., Van Hnuai Kim

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

Review of The Kaleidoscopic City: Hong Kong, Mission, and the Evolution of Global Pentecostalism. By Alex R. Mayfield. Waco, TX: Baylor University Press, 2023. 269 pp.

Review Of Follow The Healer: Biblical Foundations For Healing Ministry. By Stephen Seamands., Sam Barsoum

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

Review of Follow the Healer: Biblical Foundations for Healing Ministry. By Stephen Seamands. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2023. 176 pp.

Review Of Christ Centered: The Evangelical Nature Of Pentecostal Theology. By Robert Menzies., Michael D. Young

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

Review of Christ Centered: The Evangelical Nature of Pentecostal Theology. By Robert Menzies. Eugene, OR: Cascade, 2020. 190 pp.

Review Of Phenomenal Phenomena: Biblical And Multicultural Accounts Of Spirits And Exorcism. By Joy L. Vaughan, Daniel D. Isgrigg

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

A Review of Phenomenal Phenomena: Biblical and Multicultural Accounts of Spirits and Exorcism. By Joy L. Vaughan. Waco, TX: Baylor University Press, 2023. 265 pp.

Review Of Pentecostal Prophets: Experience In Old Testament Perspective. By Stephen D. Barkley, Wonsuk Ma

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

Review of Pentecostal Prophets: Experience in Old Testament Perspective. By Stephen D. Barkley. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock. 157 + xii pp.

Response To Walter Kedjierski And Leonardo Gajardo, Martin W. Mittelstadt

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

No abstract provided.

Response To Martin Mittelstadt, Leonardo J. Gajardo

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

No abstract provided.

Called: A Pentecostal Theology Of Vocation, Martin W. Mittelstadt

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

In this essay, I propose a Pentecostal theology of vocation that extends out of the Full Gospel and prophethood of all believers. Though Pentecostals devote considerable attention to church-related/religious vocations, Pentecostals must reimagine vocational implications for fullness of the Spirit on all believers. All Pentecostals are called to embody the dual impulses of the Fivefold Gospel. They are being saved, sanctified, baptized in the Spirit, healed, and living in eager anticipation of Jesus’ return. At the same time, all Pentecostals become saving agents with Christ; they perform holy love; they engage in Spirit-inspired witness; they offer healing balm for a …

Lex Orandi, Lex Serviendi: Roman Catholic Theology Of Ordained Ministry In Select Texts From The Rites Of Ordination, Leonardo J. Gajardo

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

This article will explore the understanding of ordained ministry within the Roman Catholic Church. The article proceeds by examining the prayer and homily from the rites of ordination for Bishops, Priests, and Deacons in order to observe the biblical foundations of ordained ministry, the role of ordained ministry within salvation history, the functional and ontological dimensions of ordained ministry, the living out of the Sacrament of Holy Orders, and the role of the Holy Spirit in ordained ministry.

A Brief Consideration Of The Sacrament Of Marriage: From A Catholic Perspective For Pentecostal Christians, Walter F. Kedjierski

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

In this article Kedjierski attempts to highlight areas of convergence between Pentecostal and Catholic understandings of the covenant of marriage while at the same time explicating the divergences of their respective theologies of marriage. He begins with a personal testimony as to why it is important, particularly for Pentecostals and other Christians, to understand why the ritual associated with marriage is important to Catholics. Then he proceeds to explain the Catholic view of marriage as a sacrament that could be intelligible to Pentecostal audiences, including the place of the Holy Spirit in the ritual and living out of marriage. Subsequent …

A Pentecostal Appreciation Of Andrew Prevot’S “Varieties Of Healing: A Catholic Perspective”, Harold D. Hunter

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

A Pentecostal Appreciation of Andrew Prevot’s “Varieties of Healing: A Catholic Perspective”

Response To David Han’S “Healing In The Pentecostal Tradition”, Andrew Prevot

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

No abstract provided.

Healing In The Pentecostal Tradition, David Han

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

This essay provides a historical and theological overview of the Pentecostal experience of divine healing. The essay argues that, for Pentecostals, the experience of divine healing carries a paramount significance to the “heart” of their spirituality and theology. Like the experience of Spirit-baptism and speaking in tongues, Pentecostals experience healing as a foretaste of God’s eschatological reign. The essay traces the development of healing practices among early and modern Pentecostals historically and theologically. Pentecostal practices of divine healing emerged out of various healing movements rooted in the earlier Holiness traditions, but they were later firmly developed into a doctrinal understanding …

Varieties Of Healing: A Catholic Perspective, Andrew Prevot

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

This article contributes to Catholic-Pentecostal ecumenical dialogue by offering a particular Catholic perspective on the shared Christian belief in Christ is the Healer. More specifically, it distinguishes several ways in which humans are called to participate in the healing work of Christ. It considers Catholic approaches to sacramental, charismatic, miraculous, biomedical, psychotherapeutic, social, and ecological healing. It reflects on the historical background, contemporary significance, and interconnections of these diverse areas of healing, while distinguishing such a holistic understanding of healing from the narrower concept of a cure. Acknowledging the problem of unhealed sufferers, it argues against blaming such persons for …

Response To Kimberly Hope Belcher, Frederick L. Ware

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

No abstract provided.