Practical Theology Commons^™

From Rural To Urban: Critical Differentiations In Ministry Contexts Within Rural And Urban Environments, Conrad A. R. Vine

Journal of Adventist Mission Studies

"This article seeks to delineate three critical dimensions of ministry that impact ministry strategies in predominantly rural and in predominantly urban contexts for AFM Front Line Workers (FLWs). First, the community contexts within rural and urban environments. Second, the ministry strategy considerations for FLWs in rural and urban environments. Third, personal factors impacting FLWs in rural and in urban environments. The article provides in summary form the three key critical dimensions of ministry that are shared with AFM FLWs during initial training and that are utilized post-launch by AFM FLWs with their supervisors when prayerfully demonstrating urban ministry strategies within …

The Rise Of The Digital Neighbor: A Theoretical Concept For Mission Renewal In The Digital Age, Paulo C. Oliveira

Journal of Adventist Mission Studies

"This paper deals with shifts in the concept of neighborhoods and communities. I propose that the field of social network studies is useful to aid missiological considerations in contemporary global societies. Furthermore, I argue for the thesis that current social shifts require mission studies to move from notions of homogeneous or quasi-homogenous geographically bounded groups, neighborhoods, and communities towards giving attention to the networks of networked individuals—the digital neighbor. The underlying question addressed is, How does this redefinition of community foster mission renewal in the digital age? Answering this question supplies rudimentary material to build a theoretical concept of mission …

Short Term Travel To The Holy Land: Questions Of Potency, Pilgrimage, And Potential, Sherene Hattingh, Phil Fitzsimmons, Paul Hattingh

Journal of Adventist Mission Studies

"There has been a significant impact on the two participants who took part in this research project. There is no doubt that this short-term travel to the Holy Land has resulted in transformative learning where both individuals experienced contextualizing through a visual perspective, which has enhanced and contributed to a deeper meaningful understanding of their personal and spiritual journey. The results show that the impact has been positive and that planning, group membership, and active engagement through reading and journaling have made this trip unlike any other. This study although limited to two related individuals from the same faith does …

Towards A Theology Of Bi-Vocational Mission With Missiological Applications To Creative Access Cities, Abner Perez Dizon

Journal of Adventist Mission Studies

"Bi-vocational mission is not only an innovative and useful model to use in creative access cities. Even though this approach may not be for everyone, and even though Paul himself saw the need for church-supported mission, this chapter has shown that the model itself is biblical. In order for this approach to be effective, however, it needs to be grounded on a strong belief in the mission of God, an understanding of the Great Controversy, willingness to obey the Great Commission, an implementation of the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers, and a sound theology of work."

Cuba Mission Trip Offers Valuable Lessons To Andrews Academy Group, Steven Atkins

Lake Union Herald

No abstract provided.

Urban Church Planting: Three Functional Shifts From The New Testament, Anthony Wagenersmith

Journal of Adventist Mission Studies

"Indeed, the very pulse of Adventist ministry beats strongest through apostolic mission. A basic consideration of the practical and exegetical link between the second advent of Christ and the apostolic witness for Christ must generate significant shifts in thinking and practice. Describing these as functional shifts rather than paradigm shifts—to emphasize the connection between theology and practice—what better framework to reflect upon urban church planting than that of the New Testament Church. Looking through a disciple-making and church planting lens, one can be challenged by three functional shifts for urban mission today: from places to people, from performers to equippers, …

Toward A Post-Religious Urban Theology: The Missionary Movement Ethos In Secularized Contexts, Marcelo E. C. Dias

Journal of Adventist Mission Studies

"An urban theology should be the center of conversation with the current post-religious context that takes into serious consideration people’s search for meaning and the new spirituality in this age. Perhaps popular culture can give clues about contemporary meaning-making as well (Shannahan 2014:207-217). On the one side, history assures that an urban setting does not need to feel like a threat to the Christian faith. “Early Christianity was primarily an urban movement. The original meaning of the word pagan (paganus) was ‘rural person,’ or more colloquially ‘country hick.’ It came to have religious meaning because after Christianity had triumphed in …

A Theological Framework For Adventist Urban Ministry, Kelvin Okey Onongha

Journal of Adventist Mission Studies

"Early Adventism typically advocated the need to flee the cities for simple rural living because cities were regarded as Babylon (Jer 50:1-3; Rev 18:2-3). Consequently, in those regions of the world where the church’s presence has the longest history with sometimes larger congregations, many church properties are located in the countryside or rural areas. A major reason why the Adventist Church is only so lately coming to terms with the exigency of urban ministries is the deficiency of a theological framework for engagement in missions to the cities. Stone (2015) agrees that the failure to develop a theology for the …

Multicultural Urban Ministry In The Post-Apartheid Era:A Search For Identity And Unity In Diversity, Diói Cruz

Journal of Adventist Mission Studies

"This article explores the cultural-ethnic diversity of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in South Africa and its development in urban centers since the end of Apartheid. It examines challenges and opportunities for the transition to multicultural churches, and concludes by arguing that the culture of racial prejudice and suspicion can only be eradicated with the weapons of trust, faith, hope, and love."

Missional Apologetics: Keys To The Hearts And Minds Of Urban Young Professionals?, Sven Östring

Journal of Adventist Mission Studies

"research study in Australia indicated that one of the top spiritual repellents for non-Christian people is a focus on philosophical discussions and debating ideas. In spite of this, a significant percentage of Australian young professionals are still willing to consider changing their worldview if presented with the right circumstances and evidence. This article explores how apologetic material can missionally connect with the hearts and minds of urban young professionals. The Greater Sydney Conference and the South Pacific Division Adventist Media Center developed this approach based on a preliminary qualitative research study of an evangelistic series."

Country Versus City Tension: Historical And Socio-Religious Context Of The Development Of Adventist Understanding Of Urban Mission, Allan Novaes, Wendel Lima

Journal of Adventist Mission Studies

"The Adventist engagement in the evangelization of cities has been timid and, for many decades, even discouraged by an anti-urban attitude. This mentality of criticism and resistance to the cities was largely sustained through an incomplete and/or misreading of Ellen White’s writings (Jones 2013:716). This article seeks to describe Adventist rural/urban tension, the historical and social context of its origin, and how it has been softened by a contrasting broader view of Adventist urban mission."

Discipleship In Urban Contexts, Boubakar Sanou

Journal of Adventist Mission Studies

"With the current state of discipleship, congregations can no longer afford to rely on their church-centered programs as their main means of growing disciples. Programs do not disciple people; people disciple people. Becoming authentic communities who create intentional spaces where believers of all ages and stages in their faith journey can effectively and meaningfully connect with one another and with God, grow spiritually, and reach out to the world around them is of vital importance in urban discipleship. With the imperative to share the gospel in the cities, urban congregations need to objectively do their own discipleship reality assessment in …

In These Cities Are Jewels: Lessons From Adventist City Missions—1880–1915, David J. B. Trim

Journal of Adventist Mission Studies

"As Ellen White’s words of 1909 imply, urban-focused mission has a long history in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. It goes beyond the work of Dr. John Harvey Kellogg in Chicago, the one exemplar which is reasonably well known but which comes with proverbial baggage, given what happened with Kellogg. I will touch on the Chicago mission, but it was not unique; in fact, our pioneers established many city missions. And while they stressed practical experience they also valued analytical approaches. For example, in 1910, the first two days of the annual council were given over to what was essentially a …

"The Challenge Of Urban Mission", Bruce L. Bauer

Journal of Adventist Mission Studies

"Many Adventists struggle with an anti-city bias for a number of reasons. High on the list of reasons is the book, Country Living, published in 1946 in which a very unbalance a view of what Ellen White had to say about cities was presented as the ideal. In the article “Country Versus City Tension: Historical and Socio-religious Context of the Development of Adventist Understanding of Urban Mission” Allan Novaes and Wendel Lima provide excellent background material that should help Adventists better understand the basis of that anti-city bias."

Seminary Colloquium: David R. Williams, Esther Green

Andrews Agenda: Campus News

No abstract provided.

Knowing The Answer, Petr Cincala

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

No abstract provided.

Complete Issue

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

No abstract provided.

Crucibles Of Christian Leadership: An Exploration Of Bennis's And Thomas's "Crucible" Concept As It Relates To Christian Leaders, Alan Wilson

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

Among terms used to describe the events and experiences that contribute to the shaping of leaders is Warren Bennis’s and Robert Thomas’s “crucibles.” Their use of the term emerged from a series of interviews with leaders who referred to a transformative experience that had contributed to their leadership. This paper describes a research project whose aim was to explore the significance of such experiences in the development of Christian leaders. The experiences of fourteen leaders were examined, and analysis of the experiences demonstrated how they had a part to play in shaping both the character and calling of a leader; …

An Ecological Approach For Developing Authentic Leaders In The Church: A Literature Review, Don Sanders Jr.

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

The repercussions of the leadership crises in the last quarter-century have spurred new approaches to leadership and its development. This article argues for the use of Uri Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological development theory as a framework for developing authentic leaders in the church. The first section overviews the components of authentic leadership. The next section examines four facets of the bioecological theory that directly influence leadership development. In the final section, four action steps are proposed to enhance leadership development in the church.

Biblical And Historical Criteria For Evaluating A Ministry Organization, Peter J. Smith

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

No abstract provided.

Review Of Dear Client: This Book Will Teach You How To Get What You Want From Creative People, By Bonnie Siegler, Larry Bailey

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

No abstract provided.

Review Of Sticky Leaders: The Secrets To Lasting Change And Innovation, By Larry Osborne, Shawna Campbell

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

No abstract provided.

Review Of Small Church Essentials: Field-Tested Principles For Leading A Healthy Congregation Of Under 250, By Karl Vaters, R. David Morgan

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

No abstract provided.

Review Of The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More & Change The Way You Lead Forever, By Michael Bungay Stanier, Samuel Riemersma

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

No abstract provided.

Review Of God Dreams: 12 Vision Templates For Finding And Focusing Your Church's Future, By Will Mancini And Warren Bird, Ryan Rogers

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

No abstract provided.

Dissertation Notices, G. Anderson, O. Garza, K. A. S. Jessie, S. Posey, A. G. Satyputra, D. R. Williams

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

No abstract provided.

O Altar Da Familia, S. Joseph Kidder

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

"Whosoever Will": Embracing Everyone, David K. Penno

Faculty Publications

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The Bible clearly calls Christians to minister to, and to invite to discipleship, all persons in the world (Matt. 28:19, 20; Rev. 14:6). This includes persons who have sexual attractions that are outside the biblical design, whether they act on those desires or not. We do not have the option to ignore, reject, or marginalize them (nor should we do this to anyone else; all people are important to God). So the question becomes, how do we make room for everyone?

There are at least three levels of relationship that the church has with persons …

What’S Down In Mdiv Town ...:Summer Time In The Springs!, Fernando Ortiz

MDiv Update

Newsletter of the Masters of Divinity program at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, Andrews University

What If Every Church Became A House Of Prayer?, Don Jacobsen

Lake Union Herald

No abstract provided.