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Articles 1 - 30 of 1606
Full-Text Articles in Practical Theology
Church-Based Qualitative Research, David R. Dunaetz
Church-Based Qualitative Research, David R. Dunaetz
Great Commission Research Journal
Qualitative research is collecting, analyzing, and interpreting subjective data to answer an important research question. It can be contrasted with quantitative research, which focuses on collecting numerical (relatively objective) data to test specific hypotheses. It is an attractive form of research in church contexts because it does not require training in statistics and can be conducted in almost all ministry settings. It is especially appropriate for topics that are under-researched, poorly understood, or involve concepts that are difficult to measure. Common problems associated with church-based qualitative research include overly broad research questions, weak descriptions of what has been observed, shallow …
Maximizing The Use Of Interpreters In Shortterm Medical Missions, Barbara L. Loach
Maximizing The Use Of Interpreters In Shortterm Medical Missions, Barbara L. Loach
Great Commission Research Journal
In the debate over the effectiveness of short-term medical missions (STMM), the role of interpreters has received cursory attention. However, the perceived quality of care and the actual care that patients receive, and therefore their receptivity to the organization and the presentation of the gospel by faith-based STMMs, hinges greatly on employing trained interpreters who can reliably communicate on behalf of all parties involved. Each barrier to cross-cultural communication —verbal, non-verbal, and cultural—can and should be addressed to have a successful mission outreach; providing adequate training for all participants in STMM, especially for interpreters, is critical to mediate the communication …
When Everything Moves Faster Than The Soul: Spirituality In A Fast-Paced World, Pablo Marzilli
When Everything Moves Faster Than The Soul: Spirituality In A Fast-Paced World, Pablo Marzilli
Great Commission Research Journal
This article analyzes one of the main characteristics of the hypermodern era in which we live: social acceleration. We live in an extremely individualistic era that forces us to be highly efficient and productive in everything we do. This social phenomenon leads to a sense of being overwhelmed; our culture demands that we maximize the use of our time, to the point where we feel that we are less productive than we actually are, even though this is objectively impossible. This culture of acceleration, which makes us live at a dizzying pace, also influences the church and reshapes our daily …
Understanding Evangelism: Biblical Foundations, Historical Developments, And Contemporary Issues By J.D. Payne, D. A. Horton
Understanding Evangelism: Biblical Foundations, Historical Developments, And Contemporary Issues By J.D. Payne, D. A. Horton
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
Using Demographics And Psychographics To Advance The Great Commission: Lessons From The National Association Of Free Will Baptists, Edward E. Moody Jr.
Using Demographics And Psychographics To Advance The Great Commission: Lessons From The National Association Of Free Will Baptists, Edward E. Moody Jr.
Great Commission Research Journal
For decades, marketers have used demographics and psychographics to engage different segments of the population. Psychographics refers to the study of people’s activities, interests, opinions, values, attitudes, and lifestyles to better understand and predict behavior beyond what can be learned from demographic characteristics alone (Demby, 1974; Wells & Tigert, 1971). This paper examines whether these strategies can be effectively adapted to advance the Great Commission. The practices of the early church, particularly those of the Apostle Paul, reflect principles that are consistent with contemporary demographic and psychographic analysis. In this paper, the process of using an approach to help churches …
My Pilgrimage In The Growth Of The Church, Charles Van Engen
My Pilgrimage In The Growth Of The Church, Charles Van Engen
Great Commission Research Journal
I have lived a life invested in the growth of the church and forming leaders who would mobilize the church toward growth. I have sought to pay forward what others did for me. Born of missionary parents, I was raised in the state of Chiapas, in southern Mexico. From 1973 to 1985, my wife, Jean, and I served the National Presbyterian Church of Mexico in Chiapas, Mexico, in leadership formation, training evangelists, pastors, and teachers of rapidly growing churches. In 1981, I received a Ph.D. in missiology under Johannes Verkuyl at the Free University of Amsterdam. I taught Mission Theology …
Outside The Church Walls: An Empirical Exploration Of Organizational Culture And Pastoral Leadership In Two Urban Churches, Althea P. Gordon-Scott, Joshua D. Henson, Bethany D. Peters, Katrina Hutchins
Outside The Church Walls: An Empirical Exploration Of Organizational Culture And Pastoral Leadership In Two Urban Churches, Althea P. Gordon-Scott, Joshua D. Henson, Bethany D. Peters, Katrina Hutchins
Great Commission Research Journal
A mini-ethnographic case study explored the interconnections of organizational culture and pastoral leadership with sustainable outreach in two very different churches that focus on ministry to people with life-controlling issues and economic need: a small, primarily Black church in the Great Lakes region and a large, primarily White and Hispanic church in the western United States. Despite their differences, the churches shared similar espoused values and leadership characteristics that facilitated their outreach initiatives. Themes derived from the data include altruistic foundations, the value of relationships, exemplary pastoral leadership, organizational challenges, agile organizational systems, and the centrality of God.
The Great Dechurching: Who’S Leaving, Why Are They Going, And What Will It Take To Bring Them Back? By Jim Davis And Michael Graham, David Thiessen
The Great Dechurching: Who’S Leaving, Why Are They Going, And What Will It Take To Bring Them Back? By Jim Davis And Michael Graham, David Thiessen
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
Disability & Evangelism: The Good News Of The Fullness Of God’S Kingdom By Rochelle Scheuermann, Kenneth Nehrbass
Disability & Evangelism: The Good News Of The Fullness Of God’S Kingdom By Rochelle Scheuermann, Kenneth Nehrbass
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
Repairing The Missional Breach: Why The Church Isn’T Making Disciples And How We Can Fix It By Kevin Blackwell, Henry E. Walker
Repairing The Missional Breach: Why The Church Isn’T Making Disciples And How We Can Fix It By Kevin Blackwell, Henry E. Walker
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
How Did We Get Here? Examining 70 Years Of The Church Growth Movement By Todd Wilson, Mike Morris
How Did We Get Here? Examining 70 Years Of The Church Growth Movement By Todd Wilson, Mike Morris
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
Reviving Mission: Awakening To The Everyday Movement Of God By Linson Daniel, Jon Hietbrink, And Eric Rafferty, John Husted
Reviving Mission: Awakening To The Everyday Movement Of God By Linson Daniel, Jon Hietbrink, And Eric Rafferty, John Husted
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
Review Of Effective Intercultural Evangelism: Good News In A Diverse World, Authored By Moon And Simon, Terri Champion
Review Of Effective Intercultural Evangelism: Good News In A Diverse World, Authored By Moon And Simon, Terri Champion
Witness
No abstract provided.
Review Of Evangelism: Learning From The Past, Authored By Green, Jeffrey Stevenson
Review Of Evangelism: Learning From The Past, Authored By Green, Jeffrey Stevenson
Witness
No abstract provided.
Recapturing Evangelism: A Biblical-Theological Approach, Bruce Gregory Gale
Recapturing Evangelism: A Biblical-Theological Approach, Bruce Gregory Gale
Witness
No abstract provided.
Service As Spiritual Formation : A Foundational Discipleship Framework For Service, Mak Zhe Hao
Service As Spiritual Formation : A Foundational Discipleship Framework For Service, Mak Zhe Hao
ATS Dissertations
No abstract provided.
Clergywomen, Cliftonstrengths, And Spiritual Formation : A Leadership Development Study In The Kentucky Annual Conference, Tamara H. Coleman
Clergywomen, Cliftonstrengths, And Spiritual Formation : A Leadership Development Study In The Kentucky Annual Conference, Tamara H. Coleman
ATS Dissertations
No abstract provided.
Evaluating The Impact Of The Rejuvenation Project In Local Church Communities, Caleb Stayton
Evaluating The Impact Of The Rejuvenation Project In Local Church Communities, Caleb Stayton
ATS Dissertations
No abstract provided.
Conversations That Matter : Discerning And Responding To Prevenient Grace In Evangelistic Practice Among Australian Nazarenes, Richard H. Giesken
Conversations That Matter : Discerning And Responding To Prevenient Grace In Evangelistic Practice Among Australian Nazarenes, Richard H. Giesken
ATS Dissertations
No abstract provided.
The Neo-Monastic Invitation : A Rule For Church Multiplication In South Georgia, Andrew Robert Anderson
The Neo-Monastic Invitation : A Rule For Church Multiplication In South Georgia, Andrew Robert Anderson
ATS Dissertations
No abstract provided.
Chaplains In Khaki: Methodist Soldiers In Camp, On The Field, And On The March, H. K.
Chaplains In Khaki: Methodist Soldiers In Camp, On The Field, And On The March, H. K.
Heritage Material
No abstract provided.
Book Review: The Unwavering Pastor: Leading The Church With Grace In Divisive Times By Jonathan Dodson, Jordan Ickes
Book Review: The Unwavering Pastor: Leading The Church With Grace In Divisive Times By Jonathan Dodson, Jordan Ickes
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
Ethics In Church-Based Research, David R. Dunaetz
Ethics In Church-Based Research, David R. Dunaetz
Great Commission Research Journal
Both biblical principles and the standards used in the social sciences help researchers understand how to ensure their research is ethical and how to avoid the temptations associated with conducting research. Using a framework derived from Ephesians 4:25-28, these principles include truthfulness, avoidance of harm, and integrity through hard work. Ethical violations include data fabrication and falsification, questionable research practices, inaccurate references, duplicate publication, coercion of participants, and plagiarism. Special care must be taken to prevent harm to participants, either directly or indirectly. Researchers studying church-based phenomena also need to be aware of the heuristics and biases that can weaken …
Book Review: Churches, Cultures And Leadership: A Practical Theology Of Congregations & Ethnicities, 2nd Ed. By Mark Branson And Juan Martinez, Kenneth Nehrbass
Book Review: Churches, Cultures And Leadership: A Practical Theology Of Congregations & Ethnicities, 2nd Ed. By Mark Branson And Juan Martinez, Kenneth Nehrbass
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
Clergy Prayer Life And Vocational Satisfaction, Zoraida C. Kelly
Clergy Prayer Life And Vocational Satisfaction, Zoraida C. Kelly
Great Commission Research Journal
This qualitative phenomenological study explored the lived experience of clergy concerning their prayer life as part of their spiritual renewal and vocational satisfaction. The central research question is “How do clergy describe the relationship between their prayer life, vocational satisfaction, and spiritual renewal?” This study used Michael Gemignani’s (2002) Spiritual Renewal Theory and Super’s (1953) Theory of Vocational Development as lenses. The research design consisted of semi-formal interviews with open-ended questions. The investigation shed light on the lived experience of prayer as part of spiritual renewal and its potential positive effect on vocational satisfaction. This study included five participants who …
Cultural Landscaping Of North Korea: Preparing For Mission Engagement Through Large-Scale Defector Insights On Economy And Society, Soo Min James Park
Cultural Landscaping Of North Korea: Preparing For Mission Engagement Through Large-Scale Defector Insights On Economy And Society, Soo Min James Park
Great Commission Research Journal
North Korea is one of the world’s most closed societies, yet history shows that closed systems can shift rapidly. A sudden opening through political change, humanitarian crisis, or expanded cross-border engagement could expose millions to unprecedented cultural, social, and spiritual influences. While earlier mission research relied primarily on anecdotal testimonies or small-sample studies, this study draws on the most comprehensive resource available to date, in-depth surveys of 6,351 North Korean defectors released in 2025 by South Korea’s Ministry of Unification. Through thematic analysis, the study conducts cultural deductions across nine categories, including five of Hofstede’s cultural dimensions, cultural tightness/looseness, communication …
Book Review: Remissioning Church: A Field Guide To Bringing A Congregation Back To Life By Josh Hayden, Keith A. Darlington
Book Review: Remissioning Church: A Field Guide To Bringing A Congregation Back To Life By Josh Hayden, Keith A. Darlington
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
Book Review: Lead: 12 Gospel Principles For Leadership In The Church, 2nd Ed. By Paul David Tripp, Ryan Gause
Book Review: Lead: 12 Gospel Principles For Leadership In The Church, 2nd Ed. By Paul David Tripp, Ryan Gause
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.
The State Of Youth Ministry In Asian American Churches Today, Eunice Hong, Jinna Si Lo Jin
The State Of Youth Ministry In Asian American Churches Today, Eunice Hong, Jinna Si Lo Jin
Great Commission Research Journal
Despite growing concern about youth disengagement from Christianity and the Christian church (Pew Research Center, 2025), strategies specifically tailored to engage Asian American youth remain under-researched. Drawing from interviews with 16 senior pastors and youth leaders across North America, this paper presents key findings on current ministry practices, with implications of emerging approaches to foster deeper youth engagement in Asian American church contexts.
Book Review: Emplacing Globalisation: Contextualising Mission In Settings Of People, Places And Processes By John Cheong And Jonathan Ro, David H. Campbell
Book Review: Emplacing Globalisation: Contextualising Mission In Settings Of People, Places And Processes By John Cheong And Jonathan Ro, David H. Campbell
Great Commission Research Journal
No abstract provided.