Practical Theology Commons^™

Coping Strategies For Members Of The Zion Seventh-Day Adventist Church Who Experienced Multiple Losses And Complex Grief After A Major Crisis, Jean-Renaud Joseph

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

This dissertation explored the prevalence of trauma exposure, complicated grief, and related symptoms among survivors and members of Zion Seventh-day Adventist Church who had lost family members in the aftermath of the 2010 Haiti earthquake.

Method

The sample included participants who were members of Zion Seventh-day Adventist Church (n =39) who had either personally witnessed the 2010 Haiti earthquake and/or had lost family members in this traumatic event. Pearson correlation coefficients were used to explore the relations between the scale items of the IES (Impact of Event Scale) as well as between the subscales and other variables of interest. …

Teaching Disciples To Pray: Improving The Understanding And Practice Of Prayer At Calvary Baptist Church Of Floyd, Virginia, Randy Thomas Mcdaniel

Doctor of Ministry Projects

This project was undergirded by a theory that intentionality and discipline in prayer will yield valuable benefits. Growing more knowledgeable in prayer practice as well as learning to faithfully set aside time for prayer were two components of specific importance in this project. Such components can be engaged by the individual in private study. However, the position of this ministry experiment is that the greatest gains regarding knowledge and practice with prayer are to be found from intentional study with the additional element of a dialogical small group experience.

Cross-Cultural Servant-Leadership For The Seventh-Day Adventist Church In Papua New Guinea, Loren Kekes Poli

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Providing leadership for a diverse Papua New Guinea (PNG) remains a challenge for the Seventh-day Adventist church. There are more than 750 languages in current use and yet very little is being done to provide representation or give consideration to the cultural differences.

Method

A mixed-method research, both qualitative and quantitative, that included a review of literature, interviews, case studies, and a survey designed for use in PNG was used to conduct this research designed to explore and identify the knowledge of leadership from the context of PNG and how that understanding influences the support, perceptions, and practices of …

A Strategy Toward Healing And Reconciliation Through Forgiveness Training For The Members Of The Maranatha Seventh-Day Adventist Church In Fredericksburg, Virginia, Glenford Baxter

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

A focus group at the Maranatha Seventh-day Adventist Church, prior to the onset of this research, identified three key areas of conflict that must be addressed in order to improve its spiritual life and experience growth. One of the identified areas of conflict was the lack of forgiveness and a need for reconciliation among members. Unwillingness on the part of some members to both give and receive forgiveness has led to significant declines in attendance and loss of members over the past ten years.

Method

The project undertakes the development of a four-part biblical sermon series over two month …

Developing And Implementing A Domestic Violence Awareness And Educational Program In Dallas-Fort Worth Korean Church Of Seventh-Day Adventists, Jong Keun Han

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Research has established that Seventh-day Adventist families in the Korean community currently living in the United States of America are experiencing increasing levels of domestic violence. It has become increasingly clear that all is not well in the family unit, a core unit of any church and society. During numerous Korean ministerial association meetings, pastors have in the recent past been expressing their growing frustrations about family quarrels. Quarrels in the family have been seen to lead to violence in the homes of many congregation members. While domestic violence is well-known, yet not much talked about problem among Koreans …

Progama Para Evangelizar A Los Inmigrantes Hispanos De La Iglesia Adventista Del Septimo Dia De West Valley En Phoenix, Arizona, Enoc Marquez

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

The West Valley Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Phoenix, Arizona, has the challenge to serve, evangelize and retain immigrant visitors that arrive to the church in search of attention and a remedy for their needs. The truth is that there is no structured program to achieve this goal. Because of this, the church was searching for a way to find strategies to serve them in such a way they feel welcome in the church and they are prepared to receive Christ as their Lord and Savior, and become members of a church. With this background in mind, the West Valley …

A University Course's Influence On Students' Perpectives Regarding Sabbathkeeping As Spiritual Discipline, Ifeoma I. Kwesi

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Although most students who attend Oakwood University are self-identified Seventh-day Adventist Christians, from general observation of their activities, conversations, and attitudes displayed on any given Friday night and/or Saturday (i.e., Sabbath), it would be easy to conclude that many neither enter nor exit their collegiate experience with a holistic understanding or experience of Sabbath and Sabbathkeeping.

Methodology

1. As part of the research for this project I used a pre- and post-test methodology to determine the cognitive, behavioral and affective realms of Sabbath and Sabbathkeeping among students enrolled in RP131: Spiritual Formation for Ministry. The intervention was the aforementioned …

Building Authentic Biblical Community At The Pine Forge Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Gary I. Banks

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

A spirit of division at the Pine Forge Seventh-day Adventist Church is adversely affecting its ability to agree on mission and ministry focus.

Method

Over the course of 12 months, an investigation of the source of division was conducted through pastoral observation, surveys of the adult members, and a focus group of pastors of churches on boarding academy campuses. The data from the focus group and surveys was compared to that of the Pine Forge Seventh-day Adventist church. A Bible study series on building authentic biblical community was also conducted that taught biblical principles focusing on putting aside differences …

Discovering The Inventory Of Spiritual Gifts Of Bethel Baptist Church Of Rock Hill, Inc., Rock Hill, South Carolina, Robert Joseph Crawford

Doctor of Ministry Projects

The hypothesis of this ministry project is that Bethel Baptist Church does not lack any spiritual gifts that are needed for contemporary Christian ministry. The challenge is which church members possess which spiritual endowments. To discover the church's spiritual gifts inventory, we used Bugbee's spiritual gifts assessments and gave opportunities for the expression of the gifts that were uncovered. The ministry experiment revealed clusters of spiritual gifts in the Bethel faith community. They were the gifts of faith, helps, mercy, and teaching. Ministries formed were prayer team ministries, praise and worship leaders, and a teacher's preparedness team.

Industry-Based Ministry: A Pilot Project At The New Dimension S.D.A. Church, Sednak Kojo Duffu Yankson

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

The Seventh-day Adventist Church, from my pastoral observation here at the New Dimension Seventh-day Adventist congregation in Brooklyn, has not been as successful in retaining the unskilled and uneducated urban poor as other ministries (for example, the Nation of Islam). We preach evangelistic messages to change the lifestyles of the poor and in the process we either lose them or leave them on government assistance because we have no viable economic program to sustain them in our faith.

Purpose

The purpose of this project was to develop and implement a model of industry- based ministry by which members could …

An Evaluation Of The Effectiveness Of The Experiencing The Joy Program In Attracting And Connecting With Postmoderns In The Richmond Hill Seventh-Day Adventist Church, David H. Baker

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

The Richmond Hill Seventh-day Adventist Church has not been successful in attracting post-modern young adults. Pastoral observation suggests that a potential contributing factor is that doctrinal study guides are not effective for reaching young adults. Post-modems are very visually oriented and place an emphasis on the need for experiential learning. In order to be effective, Bible studies targeting post-modem young adults need to focus on a combination of experiential discussions, relationships and individuality. These three areas are the focus of a new video Bible study series that specifically targets post-modem young adults entitled, Experiencing the Joy.

Method

The method …

Development Of Seminars To Improve Family Relationships And Spiritual Experience Among Ghanaian Emigrant Families In Adventist Immigrant Churches In New England, John K. Amoah

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Family relational problems are on the rise, while family spiritual development is waning in the majority of immigrant Ghanaian churches in the Southern New England Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. It is apparent that the changing dynamics in migration and the acculturation process have a significant impact on family relationships and spiritual experience. While the observation may be anecdotal, it begs for systematic study and improvement. This dissertation project seeks to improve immigrant family relationships and family spiritual development through seminars.

Method

This dissertation involves the development of a six-session seminar based on the areas of reported concern: family relationships, …

Implicit Leadership Theory And Bass And Riggio's (2006) Transformational Leadership Model As A Means Of Leader-Renewal At The Napa Community Seventh-Day Adventist Church, John Walter Grys

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

The Napa Community Seventh-day Adventist Church did not have an active, engaged, and participating leadership core throughout the previous ten years of church life. Current leaders, while demonstrating faithfulness and desire, were not actively being engaged and challenged to grow in their own leadership understanding and practice. The absence of such an ongoing process contributed to the lack of leader and leadership renewal within our faith community.

Methodology

The combined introduction of Implicit Leadership Theory (ILT) and Transformational Leadership (Bass & Riggio 2006) through an eight-week process would provide a means to inject into our community an external theory …

Discipleship Master Plan: A Disciple-Making Strategy For The South Flint Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Melvin S. Santos

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

The lack of a disciple-making plan and irregular leadership training for members in the South Flint Seventh-day Adventist Church resulted in undeveloped and ill-equipped members operating in a reactive and survival mode leading to frustration and leader “burn outs.”

Method

The Discipleship Master Plan was developed and implemented in the South Flint Seventh-day Adventist Church in Burton, Michigan, which consisted of two major formats: (1) Four Levels of Discipleship Training, and (2) a Discipleship Master Plan Infrastructure. The four levels of discipleship focus on the development of all members. This training took place primarily during Sabbath afternoons and worship …

Loving Conversations: A Seminar To Assist Hispanic Families In Advance Planning For Their End-Of-Life Care At El Divino Salvador Presbyterian Church And Monrovia Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Edgar Enrique Urbina

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Advanced technology is currently available to prolong life, but often there is a lack of preparation or documentation of the family and family wish for end-of-life care. It has been estimated that between 18 percent and 30 percent of Americans have completed an advance directive. The percentage drops even further among Hispanics. Advance planning on end-of-life care is a process people can use to prepare themselves and their loved ones for dying. The purpose of the project was to develop and evaluate the participants’ response to a seminar to encourage family conversations among members of Hispanic churches on practical …

Development And Implementation Of A Small Group Program To Foster Numeric Growth At The Fresno Spanish Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Antonio Huerta

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem The Fresno Spanish Seventh-day Adventist Church has a 65 year history in the city of Fresno. From the year of 1995 until the year of 2005 when I became the pastor for this church, I realized that the numeric growth rate in this congregation had dropped significantly. I soon became aware of the urgent need for a comprehensive analysis that would enable the Fresno Spanish Church to regain its growth momentum. Method The solution and the vision to solve the problem was the development and the implementation of a small group program that would help train, equip, and mobilize …

The Ministerial Leadership Development Program At Lakeview Adventist College In Malawi, Earnest Samuel Harry Khonje

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

The Ministerial Leadership Training program at Lakeview Adventist College has operated for over 28 years. Since the late 1990s, there has been little in the curriculum that prepared leadership to meet challenges in the field, especially in management and administration. The period 1997-2006 has seen the exit of more ministers than during the years 1980-1996.

Method

This study used surveys, interviews and questionnaires. Survey questions were formed to be answered by pastors in training as well as by those who have already completed training. Therefore, focus groups were organized for those at the College and for those serving as …

Formation And Implementation Of A Leadership Development Program For The South Malawi Field Of The Adventist Church In Africa, Elphes Luwani

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

The South Malawi Field membership for 2005 was characterized by an annual growth rate of just 3 percent, which was quite low compared to other parts of the Malawi Union. Furthermore, 74 pastors and their laity baptized only 164 members total on average while apostasies claimed as high as 26 persons per year. Therefore, this research aims at discovering the effect that equipping pastors and church leaders with effective leadership skills might have on addressing the challenges that seem to inhibit growth in the South Malawi Field.

Method

A body of up-to-date literature focusing on leadership and management skills …

Toward An Integrated Youth Ministry: A Case Study Of The Application Of Principles From Ephesians Among Teens And Their Families Of The Collegedale Church Of Seventh-Day Adventists, Timothy Allen Cross

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

According to recent research on young adults in the Collegedale Church of Seventh-day Adventists, there has been an approximate 68% attrition rate (Rainer, 2009, pp. 5-6). This research revealed that 84% of the young people growing up in the Collegedale Church drop out and only 38% of those who drop out engage in another church. Consequently, of the young people who grow up in the Collegedale Church, this leaves a net result of 68% who drop out from church entirely. DeVries’ seminal work (2004), combined with Rainer and Rainer’s research (2008), demonstrate the potential of a significant increase in …

Reaching African American Males In Hartford, Ct, Through The Use Of Black Heritage Bible Studies, Stephen L. Williams Sr.

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

For the past ten years, the Faith Seventh-day Adventist Church in Hartford, Connecticut has not been very successful at winning African American males. It appears that this is because a significant number of African American males hold the Bible as “the white man’s book” and a tool of enslavement that has no relevance today. This makes our traditional evangelistic approach and materials ineffective.

Method

The project was to (1) raise the level of awareness about the dilemma of the African American male, (2) examine the factors that have led to the negative stereotype and their unwillingness to attend church, …

Toward An Eco-Stewardship Ministry: Communicating Environmental Values In The Seventh-Day Adventist Churches In Korea, Young Seok Cha

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Purpose

The purpose of this project is to develop a theoretical and practical framework for implementing a ministry of ecological stewardship for Seventh-day Adventist churches in Korea and ultimately to cultivate an environmental consciousness among Adventists. In order to identify the dynamic relationships of factors involved in eco-stewardship ministry, the study first examined the environmental consciousness and practice of the pastors and members of the Seventh-day Adventist church in Korea. Then it focused on investigating the factors that would possibly affect one’s responsible environmental behavior and the implementation effectiveness of eco-stewardship ministry.

Method

This study used a survey design with …

An Investigation Of Why The Christian Servant Leadership Model Is A Factor In Effective Evangelism And Retention Of Members At The Nakonde Mission District In Zambia, Frank M. Sikazwe

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Baptismal percentages are not marching with retention levels. The desire to meet baptism goals has slowly caused a shift in emphasis with more attention on winning souls than in keeping them. Comparing baptisms to losses for the Zambia Union Conference for the period 2001 to 2005 reveals that the annual retention rate drastically dropped while evangelistic initiatives and funding increased. This trend has caused an imbalance in evangelism. The current project will investigate this trend in order to determine its possible cause before providing solutions.

Method

I used ten focus groups with ten members each. After training, the researcher …

A Strategy To Evangelize The Members Of Siu San Wan Social Center For The Elderly In Hong Kong, Linda Muoi Tsui

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

The number of senior citizens in Hong Kong is increasing. By 2036, approximately one-fourth of the population of Hong Kong will fall into the elderly category, representing a challenge to the government as well as to the church. However, there is a scarcity of research done on elderly evangelism and an accompanying dearth of literature on the topic, therefore there is a need for a research study on how to evangelize the elderly, to make a significant contribution to an increasingly important ministry of the church.

Method

A “Four-stage Elderly Evangelism Model” was developed and implemented to reach the …

A Leadership Model For Initiating Change In The Seventh-Day Adventist Church In Zambia, Edwin Shimunzhila

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Topic

The task of this project dissertation is to develop a leadership model for initiating and effecting change in the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Zambia.

Purpose

The purpose of this project dissertation is to develop a leadership model for the successful initiation and effecting of change in the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Zambia. Strategies will be developed that will help pastors and lay leaders facilitate the successful initiation of change.

Sources

The research method I chose to use in this dissertation is theoretical. Extracting information from what other scholars have written on change and the change process will be presented …

Implementing A Training Manual For Adventist Local Church Leaders In The Gauteng Region Of South Africa, Eugene L. Fransch

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

The youth department of the Southern Affican-Indian Ocean Division of the Seventh-day Adventist church (SID) has noticed a growing trend of frustration and ineffectiveness among local church youth leaders in their yearly church planning. This has lead to a high turnover rate among them due to a lack of adequate materials, poor program planning, and a clear knowledge of the department’s objectives to guide them in their planning.

Methodology

The purpose of the research was to implement a Youth Leadership Training Manual for church youth leaders that would help them overcome their current frustrations and assist them in planning …

A Strategy For Church Planting In Northern Nigeria Beginning In Zangon-Kataf, Francis F. Daria

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

The first Adventist missionaries came to Northern Nigeria in 1930. Their intent to establish medical and evangelistic work in Southern Kaduna was restricted by three opposing factions. These were Sudan Interior Mission (SIM), Islam and African Traditional Religion (ATR). They frustrated the indigenous people from understanding the concept of the missionaries. Eighty years later there is still no Adventist presence in this area, which is part of the 10/40 Window that encompasses all of Northern Nigeria. During these 80 years no Adventist Church has been established in this region. There is, therefore, a need to develop a church planting …

Developing A Model For Spiritual Guidance And Peer Mentoring For Youth And Young Adults In The New Life Seventh-Day Adventist Fellowship In Berrien Springs, Michigan, Hollis H. Mceachrane

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Research has pointed out a factor essential to the spiritual guidance of youth and young adults in the Seventh-day Adventist Church: How teenagers think is dependent (Fields & Robbins, 2007) on how they are spoken to and how effective the messages are delivered; however, a majority of youth from New Life SDA Fellowship do not receive adequate mentoring that would pair them up as a support for each other or that would build good interpersonal relationships with their peers. While the Fellowship offers a designated staff for church services, there is no provision for youth to mentor each other …

A Training Program To Equip Local Churches For Small Group Evangelism In The East Ghana Conference Of Seventh-Day Adventists, Kwasi Ansah-Adu

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Many Adventists in the East Ghana Conference like others in the global church erroneously perceive ministry as limited to activities at the church premises on the Sabbath or specific programs or events like a three-week evangelistic series, rather than a lifestyle. Even so few participate in ministry leaving the bulk of the membership in the pew as spectators.

Method

My research was based on the study of the Bible, E. G. White counsels, literature on church growth, statistics on growth trends of the East Ghana Conference, and the church in Ghana, as well as my personal journey as a …

A Model For Enhanced Nurture Of New Believers In The Reang Tribe In India, Lalmuansanga Chawngthu

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

The Reang tribal people live in Tripura State, Northeast India. The Reang are largely illiterate and most live in poverty. Sicknesses and starvation are common among this tribal group. Although Adventists and other Christian groups have had reasonable success evangelizing the Reang, many converts appear to become Christians in search of the material aid they need. The Seventh-day Adventist Church needs a systematic and comprehensive plan of spiritual nurture for its Reang converts that will lead them into mature discipleship.

Method

This study begins by developing a theological foundation for spiritual nurture based on selected biblical passages and the …

Utilizing H.M.S. Richards' Sermons And Writings In The Development Of Sermons That Focus On The Unique Aspects Of Seventh-Day Adventist Preaching As Implemented At The Kress Memorial Church In Winter Park, Florida, Eric M. Doran

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

H. M. S. Richards maintains that Seventh-day Adventist preaching should be distinct from the preaching of others. What guidelines does Richards provide for determining what should be included in Adventist preaching, and how can those guidelines be integrated into the preaching at the Kress Memorial Seventh-day Adventist Church?

Method

The books, articles, and sermons of H. M. S. Richards were researched for guidance on what Seventh-day Adventist preaching should include. On the basis of the principles developed from Richards, twelve sermons preached prior to the research were evaluated. Twelve new sermons following Richards’ principles were then written and preached …