Practical Theology Commons^™

A Non-Pastor Dependent Model For Churches In The Greater New York Conference, Richard A. Marker

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Pastors tend to hover over the churches and many of the functions of ministry within the local church. Church members demonstrate little personal spiritual growth or activity in witnessing to their communities. A specific church in New York City will be selected as a laboratory for experimentation with the premise that a non-pastor dependent church can achieve better than average growth.

Method

A systematic study of the Bible, Spirit of Prophecy, commentaries, books, and articles concerning the development of church leadership and growth was reviewed. Once theological and historical data on non-pastor dependent churches and church growth was identified, …

A Model For Small Group Ministry In The North Zambia Field Of The Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Wellington Supuni Chapi

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Purpose

The purpose of this dissertation is to develop a contextualized model for small group ministry in the North Zambia Field to enhance the retention of new members.

Statement of Problem

While the numbers of members being baptized annually are encouraging indeed, the percentage of members dropping out of the church annually is a cause of great concern. Between 1996 and 2006, the North Zambia Field, through baptism or profession of faith, had 72,652 converts, an annual average of 7,265 converts. However, 17,303 or 23.82 percent of those added and 2.70 percent of the total membership dropped out of the …

Development Of A Premarital Counseling Seminar For Pastors And Church Workers In The Euro-Asia Division, Elena Zhigankova

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

According to the 1984 Annual Council policy, Seventh-day Adventist ministers are to provide premarital guidance to couples requesting marriage. Where possible, this preparation of the couple should consist of several counseling sessions conducted by the minister who is to perform the service or by another qualified individual. Despite its obvious importance, this policy has not been seriously considered or implemented in Russia.

Description

The process of designing a Premarital Counseling Seminar for pastors and other church workers in the Euro-Asia Division of Seventh-day Adventists is presented. The seminar content is intended to introduce pastors to their responsibilities as premarital …

The Impact Of Short-Term Missions On The Participants Of The Berkshire Mission Group, Garold Ray Wagner

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

The face of missions is changing. While regular mission service (long-term) is still very much needed and extant, it no longer dominates the missions landscape. Fewer people are being sent to third-world or developing countries from North America to serve long term for positive reasons. There has been, however, an explosion in the number of people traveling to other countries for short terms and very short terms. While focus has shown that teens and young adults are positively impacted, no study has shown the impact on people of all age groups who go for this type of service.

Method …

Reaching The Indian Communities In Zambia: A Biblical Model Of Evangelism, John Shumba

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Statistics show that there are a significant number of Asian-Indians who are Zambian nationals. But the church in Zambia has not come up with a program to reach them with the gospel. Therefore, it is important to develop a biblical model of evangelism to reach the Indian communities.

Method

Studies were conducted using available data to obtain information on the social, religious, cultural, and political milieu of the Indian communities in order to develop a modality for cross-cultural mission based on missiological principles and social science disciplines.

Results

Results indicate that there is need for a training program to …

A Friendship Evangelism Seminar For The Bladensburg Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Marcellus Tyrone Robinson

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Members of the Bladensburg Seventh-day Adventist Church expressed a desire establish closer bonds within the congregation and community. The lack of close friendships within the church fellowship led to several members transferring to other area churches. Later, an interest survey revealed the congregation wanted to participate in friendship evangelism. In response to the desire of members to form closer friendships and to engage in friendship evangelism, the purpose of this study is to develop a seminar of friendship evangelism for the Bladensburg Seventh-day Adventist Church that will enable members to identify, understand, and form friendships within the church fellowship …

Development, Evaluation, And Implementation Of An Interfaith Pastors' Peer Coaching Group In The Gentry, Arkansas Area, Raymond C. House

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

During my first ten years of ministry I discovered that I was in a lonely work with little peer-interaction or stimulation. Sporadic attempts to find peer- support and friendship among other pastors left me feeling only slightly encouraged. I was concerned that I was not being challenged by another peer or group of peers or held accountable to any particular goals personally or professionally.

Method

This research presents a model where pastors came together from various churches and denominations in a small town setting, and developed peer-coaching relationships for the purpose of improving their personal and ministry goals. Peer …

Los Medios De Comunicación Masiva En La Evangelización Adventista En Texas, Daniel Sosa

Doctor of Ministry Projects

The mission Jesus entrusted to the church, “Go and make disciples,” is not yet accomplished. To solve this problem, mass media communications can be used, especially in Hispanic churches. At all times, God has communicated with created beings. This communication has taken many shapes, culminating in the coming of God’s Son to earth. However, the Bible is the most accessible form to human beings in the twenty-first century.

Adventist pioneers used the secular press as well as the publication of their own books and periodicals, both before and after the disappointment of October 22, 1844. The Adventist Church has taken …

The Transitional Process: From Traditional Church To A Cell-Based Church, William E. Hughes

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

The concept of Cell Church is a growing phenomenon that has become a movement within Christendom. Its philosophical foundation is biblical and supported in the writings of Ellen G. White. The future of the Adventist Church will face a growing interest in Cell Church structure and transition. An experiential understanding of the transitional process will be vital to those who will seek to embrace the Cell Church model. Seventh-day Adventists believe that all are equal in Christ, who, by one Spirit, are bonded into one fellowship with the triune God and with one another. Yet, there are many Adventists …

Implementing A Spiritual Formation Program In The North Miami Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Grigore Leordean

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

From 1986 to 2005, the North Miami Beach Seventh-day Adventist Church has never been exposed to spiritual formation. The poor inadequate knowledge of church members as to how to practice the presence of God on a daily basis and the lack of numerical and spiritual growth, along with the unfulfilled goals of the founding members of the church, called for special and immediate action. The purpose of this project was to develop and implement a spiritual formation program in the church and address this deep spiritual need that had not been met over the years.

Method

A nine-month process …

"Our Families For God": A Family Worship Seminar For The Hamilton Mountain Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Wesley Rocha Torres

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Family worship is highly esteemed by the members of the Hamilton Mountain Seventh-day Adventist Church, yet the quality and practice of this spiritual activity could still be improved among the church families. It was the researcher’s presupposition that the design of a practical, creative, and attractive family worship seminar, incorporating new ideas and suggestions, could motivate and assist the church members to enhance their spiritual experience and fellowship with God, as well as within their family circles.

Method

The topic of family worship was brought to the church through a series of sermons and also the children’s story segment …

A Curriculum To Prepare Pastors For Tribal Ministry In India, Calvin N. Joshua

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

The dissertation project establishes the existence of nearly one hundred million tribal people who are forgotten but continue to live in human isolation from the main stream of Indian society. They have their own culture and history. How can the Adventist Church make a difference in reaching them? There is a need for trained pastors in tribal ministry who are culture sensitive and knowledgeable in missiological perspectives.

Method

Through historical, cultural, religious, and political analysis, tribal peoples and their challenges are identified. The contribution of Christianity to India, particularly, the impact of the Adventist Church among tribals is reviewed. …

A Comparative Study Of The Seventh-Day Adventist Church And The United Methodist Church With A Strategy For Enhanced Adventist Membership Growth In Cote D'Ivoire, Elie Weick-Dido

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Seventh-day Adventists first reached the French colony of Cote d’Ivoire around 1920. In 1946 the Church was organized with only 17 members. By 1985, the membership was 2,057 and in 2000, there were 7,215 members. By comparison, the Methodist Church of Cote d’Ivoire was established in 1924 and in 2000 had 1,350,000 members. Both Seventh-day Adventists and Methodists have conducted with mission in the same context where 20.8 percent of the population was Roman Catholic in 2000, Muslims represented 38.7 percent, and the French cultural influence was strong. Yet, Seventh-day Adventists have experienced a much slower church growth than …

Desarrollo De Un Seminario De Comunicación Matrimonial Para La Iglesia De Paterson Eastside De La Asociación De New Jersey, Jorge Isaac Aguero

Doctor of Ministry Projects

The purpose of this project has been to develop and implement a marital communication seminar to improve the communication abilities of the married couples of the Hispanic Adventist Church in Paterson, New Jersey. Effective communication is a fundamental instrument needed to establish a healthy marital relationship. A healthy marital relationship has a very positive impact on family life, church fellowship, and society. Studies have demonstrated that spouses with good communication skills enjoy healthier and happier marriages and resolve their conflicts better. Therefore, it should be a primary objective to improve marital communication. Hence arises the reason for implementing a marital …

Developing Jewish Awareness Seminars: A Model Implemented In Adventist Churches In Michigan, Robert Clyde Quillin

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Many Jewish people are finding Jesus as their Messiah, but few are uniting with the Seventh-day Adventist Church. In its Global Missions emphasis, the Adventist Church has not prepared church members to effectively witness to the Jewish people. Michigan Conference has about 0.29 percent (16,000) of the nation’s Jewish population, but no organized plan is in place to train members for Jewish soul-winning. Approximately 22 of Michigan’s 83 counties have one or more synagogues, which is sufficient Jewish presence to warrant an interfaith outreach. A lay-training program is needed.

Method

After researching literature, a questionnaire was devised, and a …

Principios Y Estrategias Para El Crecimiento De La Iglesia Adventista Del Séptimo Día Hispana De Baltimore, Maryland, Ronald Lizeth Costa Estades

Doctor of Ministry Projects

The objective of the Great Commission (Matt 28:18-20) includes growth. Throughout Christian history, the church has grown. At the same time, qualitative growth enhances quantitative growth. Both are needed in response to the Great Commission. The Seventh-day Adventist Church would benefit from adopting a philosophy that promotes a wholistic growth of the church. This thesis studied such growth and elaborated a strategy for the Spanish Seventh-day Adventist Church in Baltimore to reach well-rounded growth.

The first step was to study church growth in the Bible. A careful study of the Great Commission throws light on discipleship, a key to church …

Strengthening Young Adult Chinese Adventists In Malaysia In Christian Living, Yat Yau Ang

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Progress of the gospel work among the Chinese in Malaysia has been slow. Church growth is insignificant. An important asset of the church—the young people— could be a driving force for church growth. Church leaders need to start a pilot training program catered to the needs of young people, especially helping them to grow in various aspects of their lives, and equipping them to do God’s work.

Method

An ethnographic approach will be used to review current literature including books, articles, interviews, and questionnaires. For the benefit of the Project Director, the Malaysian culture and the needs of young …

Secularism In The Seventh-Day Adventist Church In Korea: A Program Of Church Revival And Community Involvement, Kyu-Young John Jeong

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

The evidence of secularism, such as ethical relativism, spiritual alienation, and materialism, are appearing among Korean Seventh-day Adventists. Consequently, they are removing God from the center of their lives. Seventh-day Adventist church leaders must develop and conduct a program of church revival through community involvement to ignite the original passion for Jesus and His soon return in the hearts of the Seventh- day Adventists in Korea and train them to witness in their communities.

Method

Library research, a personal and theological analysis, a contextual analysis of South Korea and the Korean Adventist members and churches, development of a Logical …

Equipping And Mobilizing The Laity In The New York Luso-Brazilian Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Gerson P. Santos

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

The New York Luso-Brazilian congregation was organized on October 23, 1971, with approximately ten members. By December 2005, its membership was 329, including two new congregations formed recently. In spite of the growth during the first two or three decades, this church has not experienced much growth in the last ten years. Many members are not committed to the Great Commission. Only ten percent participate in some kind of outreach. Analyzing the profile of this church, it was verified that the growth came mainly through immigration. One of the main challenges, therefore, is to involve the laity in missionary …

Ellen White's Counsel To Leaders: Identification And Synthesis Of Principles, Experiential Application, And Comparison With Current Leadership Literature, Cynthia Ann Tutsch

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Ellen G. White’s counsel to leaders on both spiritual and practical themes, as well as her personal application of that counsel, has on-going relevance in the twenty-first century.

The author researched secondary literature, and Ellen G. White’s published and unpublished works. She surveyed current leadership literature to compare and contrast with Ellen G. White’s leadership principles and constructed a theological foundation for Ellen White’s unique leadership world view.

Ellen White’s leadership principles relating to knowing God, authority, visioning, and human relations may still inspire compassionate action and a deepening commitment to Jesus Christ in today’s Christian leader.

A Koinonia Model For Building Better Marriage Relationships, Hee Man Park

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Modem Korea is experiencing family crises. Marriages are ending in separation and divorce. The purpose o f this study was to develop a program based on biblical principles o f koinonia, one that could be used to improve communication for Christian couples and enhance their communion with God.

Method

A theoretical framework for this study was established based on the literature review. The biblical overview was presented using the koinonia perspective. The principles o f koinonia are found in the creation story, the covenant between God and His people, in the life and teaching o f Christ, and the …

La Perfilación Como Método Para Identificar Las Necesidades De Los Inmigrantes, Ruben Ramos Rivera

Doctor of Ministry Projects

The Hispanic community is currently the largest minority group in the United States and its annual rate of growth continues to be significant. Hispanic immigrants, in particular, face very unique problems and challenges, Seventh-day Adventist pastors and churches need to develop effective strategies that may help them to fill the needs of this group as well as to obey the divine commission of bringing them to Christ. This dissertation seeks to contribute to the wealth of resources and strategies available to pastors by providing them with a valuable tool that may help them to effectively plan their outreach ministries to …

A Preaching Program To Instill Social Consciousness In African-American Churches In Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, Willie Edward Hucks Ii

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

In Adventist African-American churches in the Dallas/Fort Worth (D/FW), Texas, Metroplex, there has been a dearth of preaching to issues pertaining to social consciousness. This dearth is due to the utilization of preaching models that are incapable of addressing all the needs of African-Americans who are constantly buffeted by the stresses of life. The primary focus of preaching has traditionally been upon longterm salvation and spiritual formation, as opposed to community concerns—especially as they relate to preaching in the African-American communities of the D/FW Metroplex. As a result, many Blacks in this region are not being reached as effectively …

Developing A Curriculum To Train The Lay Leaders In Ghana, Isaac Bimpeh Boateng

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Ghana is growing at a very fast rate. The rate of growth far exceeds the rate at which ministers are trained. There were over 300,000 baptized members at the end of 2005 and fewer than 200 pastors. The pastor to laity ratio is therefore very high. Some of the elders who are assisting the pastors do not have the needed skills to work effectively as leaders. As a result of this there is an increase in apostasies especially among new converts.

Method

In an attempt to train the laity in Ghana to assist the …

A Biblically Based Strategy For Disciple-Making In The Seventh-Day Adventist Churches Of Malawi, Wenson Lyson Masoka

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

The current rapid growth of the church in Malawi lacks an on-going strategy to foster the membership increase and its spirituality. The failure to systematically train the laity as disciple makers has resulted in their under utilization. By default, the church has become clergy-dependent and the majority of the members warm the pews as mere spectators. Meanwhile, their conversions seem to be equated with disciple-making. There is need for a paradigm shift which will produce active lay persons who can adequately rise to the challenge of the Gospel Commission, making disciples of all nations. Although this research has a …

A Strategy To Reach Animistic People In Madagascar, Jacques Ratsimbason

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

The majority of the Malagasy people who live in Madagascar are unreached with the gospel message. A preliminary investigation of current literature indicated that 50 percent of the Malagasy are followers of traditional religions. This present study was to develop a strategy to reach the animistic people with the gospel message.

Method

This study presents Malagasy people, their social characteristics, population, worldviews, and lifestyles. A study;and evaluation of Malagasy beliefs and practices were developed using Hiebert's model of critical contextualization.

Results

The study reveals that the Seventh-day Adventist Church must update its evangelistic methods to reach animistic people and …

A Strategy For Strengthening Romanian Seventh-Day Adventist Families Dealing With Couple Separation Due To Economic Reasons, Mihail Baciu

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Financial challenges in Romania have prompted many Seventh-day Adventist people to leave their spouses and country to seek employment abroad. The impact of this phenomenon upon families has been significant. This situation occurred primarily between 1991 and 2000. Before 1990, generally speaking, the number of Seventh-day Adventist family separations or divorces was very low (around 30-40 families) in Romania. After 1991, this number increased dramatically to estimated 10-12,000 families. Temporary separation of spouses for economic reasons does not necessarily lead to a divorce. However, due to the complex implications of temporary separation on families, children and faith communities, this …

Presenting The Gospel Message In Thailand, Khamsay Phetchareun

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

There are over 62,000,000 Buddhists in Thailand. Current Christian approaches to presenting the gospel message to Buddhist people in Thailand have not yielded satisfactory results. The Seventh-day Adventist Church has had negative growth during the past ten years. In addition to approaches currently utilized by Christians there is a need to develop more effective approaches to present the gospel in Thailand.

Method

Buddhist students at Mission College were chosen as a case study. A survey of Buddhist attitudes and a cultural analysis of Thailand form the basis for this strategy. Library research, questionnaires, interviews, and observations were all used …

Leadership Development In Albania: Equipping Young Pastors For Apostolic Leadership, Leigh Rice

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Albania opened to Christian missions in 1992. The church is new and the pastors are young and with limited experience. Initial rapid growth has been followed by slow decline. Leadership and leadership development is in the hands of foreign missionaries with limited experience in Albania. There is a need to develop culturally-appropriate, apostolic leadership for a country with a predominately Muslim population.

Method

Library research, questionnaires, interviews, and observations were conducted to develop an understanding of the Project Director, the Albanian culture, a theology of leadership and church, and methods in leadership development. An appreciative inquiry approach was used …

A Contextual Analysis Of The Seventh-Day Adventist Church In Norway, With Suggestions For Renewal And Growth, Kjell Aune

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Since 1979, when the membership of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Norway peaked, the membership has declined. There are underlying, complex reasons. This project seeks the underlying causes for the decline, and suggests possible solutions.

Method

The study begins by establishing a theological basis for ministry. Norwegian society is then analyzed demographically followed by an analysis of the Adventist Church in Norway, that includes a historical and organizational analysis, a review of the database material for the Adventist Church in Norway, and by four questionnaires designed for (1) Active members, (2) Pastors, (3) Former members, and (4) Young non-Adventists …