Practical Theology Commons^™

A Strategy For Revitalization And Growth Of The Seventh-Day Adventist Church In Iceland, Jorgen Eric Gudmundsson

Doctor of Ministry Projects

The Topic

This dissertation analyzes the growth pattern of the Adventist church in Iceland from its inception about a hundred years ago to the present and presents an objective portrayal of the future possibilities of church growth on the island and develops a practical strategy of revitalization of the church.

The Purpose

The proposed strategy presented in this project aims at increasing the quality of life of the Icelandic Adventist churches, raising their self-identity and sense of mission, and strengthening their ability to reach the community and to grow.

The Sources

A Biblical theological rationale for this program is set …

Developing A Strategy For Growth In The Seventh-Day Adventist Church In Finland Using The Natural Church Development Approach Based On A Case Study In The Turku Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Aimo Helminen

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

The growth of the Adventist Church in Finland stagnated in the mid 1980s and after that the membership of the church began to slowly decrease. There is a need to look at the past growth patterns of the church in Finland to discover the reasons for the present decline in membership and develop and implement a strategy for church growth.

Method

Current literature was reviewed, including books and articles on the principles and strategies of church growth. These were studied in the context of the Turku Church in order to determine if the principles in the Natural Church Development …

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 …

Desarrollo De Una Escuela De Discipulado En La Iglesia Del SéPtimo DíA De Chino, California, Misael De La Cruz

Doctor of Ministry Projects

The biblical concept of discipleship consists in training and equipping people so they can become responsible Christians. The idea of equipping church members for the ministry appears often in the New Testament. According to Paul, the work of equipping is a joint effort between the Deity and the Christian leader: “And his gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry” (Eph 4:11, 12, NIV). The word “equipping” comes from the Greek katartizo, which means to prepare, equip, or perfect, as translated in other Bible …

A Model For Reaching African American Males In Southeast Atlanta With Seventh-Day Adventism, Ralph P. Peay

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Churches in America are on average 60-70 percent female. Attracting and integrating African American males into church life is a grave challenge. This study focuses on African American males in Southeast Atlanta and seeks to design a model for addressing their sociological and spiritual needs in anticipation of their accession into church membership.

Method

The setting for this study is the Atlanta Boulevard Seventh-day Adventist Church in Southeast Atlanta. The method employed in this project is an exploratory research approach that is designed to identify the social, economic, and other needs of African American males. In order to ascertain …

Equipping The Seventh-Day Adventist Pastors In Zimbabwe For Grief Ministry: A Culturally Sensitive Approach, Simbarashe Nyasha Musvosvi

Doctor of Ministry Projects

The Problem

Zimbabwe faces a predicament in which the mortality rate is rising while support for grieving people is declining. At the same time the Zimbabwean culture is rapidly changing because o f the impact of Christianity, urbanization, Western influences, and HIV/AIDS. Church leaders are not always in agreement on what rites are appropriate for Christians. These factors often result in inadequate support from the extended family, the community, and the church.

Method

This dissertation discusses the challenges that confront the Seventh-day Adventist church in Zimbabwe in ministering to the bereaved. My purpose was to design a training program for …

Development Of An Evangelism Model For The Silver Springs Shores Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Creaton Leopold Francis

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

From 1994 to 2003, the Silver Springs Shores Seventh-day Adventist Church in Florida had difficulty attracting and retaining members despite yearly evangelistic crusades and other efforts at soul winning. The purpose of this project was to develop and introduce a plan designed in response to this challenge, one tailored toward the specific needs of the Silver Springs Shores Church.

Method

In order to develop a model that would specifically address the needs of Silver Springs Shores Seventh-day Adventist Church, a thorough demographic study of the local community was conducted. The project entailed a feasibility study of the community and …

A Discipleship Model For Evangelism In Northeast Brazil, Emilio Abdala Dutra

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Churches in Northeast Brazil (NB), including the Seventh-day Adventist Church, have been growing rapidly. Their numerical growth is phenomenal by any estimation. However, these churches are growing numerically and not in depth. We see a discipleship deficit among new believers in the form of a high rate of backdoor losses, unawareness of the meaning and duties of discipleship, spiritually undisciplined members, absence of intentional relationships to share faith, biblical illiteracy, and lack of church fellowship. How can churches in Northeast Brazil grow in quality, reproducing fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ?

Method

Current literature related to the problem was reviewed, …

A Pilot Grief Ministry Program To Equip Grief Ministry Facilitators In The Local Adventist Churches, Joyce Marie Hatchett

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

There is a need for a visible and effective Seventh-day Adventist Grief Ministry Training Program that is theologically sound and culturally sensitive that will serve the bereavement needs of both the local Seventh-day Adventist congregation(s) and others in the community.

Method

For this study, I used formative evaluation, sometimes referred to as pilot testing. Formative Evaluation has two goals: (1) To gain understanding through observation and soliciting responses of participants concerning how the curriculum and instructional processes might be improved; and (2) to develop strategies for improving the curriculum and instructional process. This pilot training program was held September …

Developing A Deeper Understanding Of God: A Strategy For Revitalizing The Seventh-Day Adventist Church In Croatia, Miroslav Didara

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Adventism in Croatia will soon celebrate its one hundredth anniversary. The church is becoming increasingly traditional and formal. Baptisms have been in decline for the last ten years. Gradually the less important issues such as life style, worship style, music, and food have become a focus. It seems that many members have lost sight of what genuine Christianity is all about, not knowing the difference between form and meanings and unconsciously moving towards formalism and legalism. Therefore, there is a need for personal and corporate spiritual renewal which can only come through a deeper understanding of God and by …

Ministry To The Black Middle Class: Strategies For Churches In Transition, Dedrick L. Blue

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Between 1944 and 1997 over 1 million Black people in the United States rose from poverty to middle class status. Increased upward mobility has brought an increased social mobility. Middle class Blacks are moving into close proximity to predominantly White suburban Seventh-day Adventist churches. Simultaneously, the out-migration of the Black middle class from urban areas to suburbia has created not only an economic drain, but also has fostered class tensions within the Black urban church. If churches are to be successful in the recruitment and retention of the Black middle class, then ministry approaches must be developed to address …

The Development And Implementation Of Intensive Training For Planting And/Or Transitioning To Cell Church Models Within The Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Donald C. James

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

The priesthood of all believers is a theme I have heard sounded within the Seventh-day Adventist Church for many years, yet there are still many who are not really engaged in ministry who are on our church books. In our churches there seems to be a lack of close connections with one another in mutual support and in ministry to others. Equipping for every member is also lacking, an equipping that develops disciples and moves them into the paradigm of disciple-makers. As a church, we have good results with winning and baptizing individuals, but it seems there has been …

The Development And Implementation Of A Pilot Training Course In Pastoral Diagnosis For Six Pastors In The Lake Region Conference, Richard D.B. Sylvester

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

This study was an examination of the counseling style of six pastors and to determine if they have a clearly defined method of informing their interventions.

Method

The task of this dissertation was to design a curriculum to train a pilot group of six pastors in the Lake Region Conference to do spiritual diagnoses and assessments and to have a better psychological understanding of diagnosing in their pastoral ministry. They learned how to integrate spirituality and psychology into their counseling. They were also taught some DSM-IV concepts and how to use the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) Scale.

I …

Planting Adventist Communities Of Faith Among Muslims In Unentered Areas Of The Balkans, Milan Bajic

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

The purpose of this research was to develop and equip the church for the implementation of a workable strategy for reaching a large population of about eight million secular Muslims in the Balkans who have never been systematically confronted with the gospel.

Method

This study describes the history, culture, and religion of the Balkans, analyzes socioeconomic and political developments of its Muslim population, examines methods of evangelism and suggests a strategy based on sound biblical and missiological principles for work among the Balkan Muslims.

Results

The outcome of this project will be the development of a contextualized method for …

Increasing Pastoral Job Satisfaction And Efficiency In The Seventh-Day Adventist Church In Hungary, Andras Szilvasi

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

The number of pastors in the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Hungary increased significantly since 1989. In 2002, 70 percent of the pastors had less than fifteen years in ministry. The members’ expectations of their pastor have changed and become widely polarized. Since there is not an evaluation and affirmation system in place, many of the pastors struggle to find satisfaction in pastoral work. One of the major premises of this project is that pastors are central figures in the church and the success of God’s work is largely dependent on how effectively pastors function.

Method

A Myers-Briggs Type Indicator …

Manos A La Obra: Un Seminario Para Fomentar El Trabajo En Equipo En La Iglesia Adventista Maranatha De Grand Rapids, Michigan, Basado En El Modelo De Liderazgo De Nehemías, Antonio M. Rosario

Doctor of Ministry Projects

The purpose of this dissertation was to promote the use of work teams in the Maranatha Seventh-day Adventist Church, Grand Rapids, Michigan. A team is defined as a group of individuals who keep a reciprocal relationship and coordinate their tasks regularly in order to achieve a common goal. Unilateral decision-making and unidirectional communication are incompatible with the basic nature of the church.

This project develops a training program for team leaders at the local church, based on the leadership principles derived from the life and ministry of Nehemiah. In the study of the literature, Nehemiah stands out as a model …

Building A Place Of Worship: The Journey Of The Downsview Seventh-Day Adventist Church In Toronto, Kenneth Roy Campbell

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Purpose

The purpose of this dissertation is to outline the process of constructing a new place of worship for the Downsview Seventh-day Adventist Church in Toronto, Canada. It can also serve to help other church congregations design and build appropriate places of worship.

Problem

The Downsview Church had been renting worship space for more than sixteen years. The use of rented space made fulfilling the mission of the church difficult for a variety of reasons. A new physical place of worship for the church was essential.

Method

In this dissertation, I examine biblical and theological principles for building places of …

A Strategy For The Motivation Of The Uninvolved Church Member: A Pilot Project In The Gloucester Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Michael G. Hamilton

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

In the average Seventh-day Adventist church in the South England Conference the pastor is often not equipped with the time and the resources to conduct an adequate training and education program for the uninvolved member. Spiritual Gifts seminars, outreach, and witnessing seminars are often conducted away from the local church and are largely supported only by those who are already deeply committed, but the shy, introverted, and uninformed member is increasingly uninvolved in the work of soul winning and the local ministries, and is not involved in the training activities of the church.

Method

A church involvement survey was …

A Strategy For Developing Holistic Churches In London: A Case Study Of North Wembley Seventh-Day Adventist Community Church, Steve A. Thomas

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

The lack of space for growing membership and to house ministries had allowed the members and officers to live with no clear picture of what they were supposed to be doing and where they were going as a church. The concept of developing a strategic plan and planning for progress was almost foreign to many. Because of these learned habits it was increasingly difficult to gain support for an increase in planned activities. Scheduled programs and activities were not supported. The laity was lacking in motivation for gospel work and had not been adequately trained for mission work. Members …

Diseño De Una Estrategia Para El Evangelismo En Delmas, Puerto Princípe, Haití, Robert Jean-Marie Charles

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

At present more than half of the world's population lives in cities. These cities present the greatest challenge to world evangelization. The evangelization of Delmas is a great' responsibility for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The purpose of this dissertation was to design a strategy for urban evangelism in Delmas.

Methodology

The topic of urban evangelism was researched in the Bible, the writings of Ellen G. White, and other contemporary- authors. A survey of pastors and lay people in Port-au-Prince was done, together with in-depth interviews with key church pastors.

Results

Jesus greatly emphasized urban evangelism. Early …

Toward A Paradigm Of Servant Leadership For Seventh-Day Adventist Ministers In Korea, Youngsoo Chung

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Korean society retains a strong Confucian tradition, manifested by a strong devotion to family and an emphasis on hierarchy and vertical relationships. The Buddhist and Shamanist traditions provide a model of authoritarian leadership. These traditions have been modified to adapt to modem leadership concerns, but the hierarchal practice of power and authority-based leadership still prevails. The challenge facing Christianity is the prevalence of this existing leadership style. It is a barrier to the acceptance of the biblical model of servant-leadership. Effective leadership that is both biblically sound and culturally suitable is needed for the Seventh-day Adventist church in Korea. …

Preventive Steps For Pastoral Sexual Misconduct: A Seminar For Brazilian Pastors In The North American Division, Samuel Ramos

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

In recent years sexual misconduct among clergyman has received an unprecedented public profile as victims have become increasingly willing to speak up and the media has disseminated the stories of clergy abuse. An increasing number of people have been willing to risk their personal reputation and go public with their stories. Effective ministry occurs only within a climate of trust and credibility; however, the ministry is increasingly losing its credibility in society. The goal of this study was to prepare, present, and evaluate a seminar for Brazilian pastors in the North American Division, discussing the main reasons for a …

Promoting Financial And Spiritual Growth In The Seventh-Day Adventist Churches In The South Ghana Conference Through Stewardship Workshops, Alfred K. Adonu

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

The task of this dissertation was to discover the reasons for the poor financial strength and to develop stewardship workshops to promote spiritual growth and sound financial performance in the churches of the South Ghana Conference. Since its organization in 1988, the South Ghana Conference has not experienced consistent growth in giving. By year-end 2001 it had a baptized membership of 41,747 with 101 organized churches and 235 companies. During the same period, the annual tithe was US$479,674 with a tithe per capita of US$12.18. However, there is wide spread suspicion that many return a partial tithe. In spite …

The Creation And Implementation Of A Spiritual Mentoring Program For Deployed Sailors And Marines On Board The Uss Oak Hill, Santiago Rodriguez

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Purpose

The purpose of this dissertation was to create, implement, and evaluate a Mentoring for Spirituality program for deployed sailors and marines on board the amphibious warship USS Oak Hill. This program endeavors to help military personnel grow in their relationship with God and, thus, help them overcome many of the emotional and behavioral problems they experience being away from home.

Problem

The spiritual lives of many United States Navy/Marine personnel under my chaplaincy direction are affected by long periods away from home. While away from their families and friends, many young sailors and marines often run the risk of …

Programa De Discipulado Para La Iglesia Adventista Del Séptimo Día De Rio Grande, Albuquerque, Nuevo Mexico, Joel Soto

Doctor of Ministry Projects

A discipleship program is the key to maintaining a healthy church in constant growth. It also provides the opportunity to consolidate the believers in church philosophy, exercising faith through practice of spiritual life. The purpose of this dissertation was to elaborate a program that would retain new believers in the church, leading them to action in their spiritual life, and in the practice of lay activities.

The investigation revealed the causes for lack of participation in spiritual activities, in the practice and discovery of spiritual gifts, and intervention in missionary work. This program is expected to better-equip members so they …

Programa De Crescimento Da Igreja Para O Território Da União Sul-Brasileira, Jose Santos Filho

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

The Seventh-day Adventist Church in the South Brazil Union territory (SBU) has become known for its quantitative growth. However, as one analyzes the population size of that region, the conclusion is that much more still needs to be done. Studies made by Christian Schwarz in several countries indicate that the number and quality of members may increase provided that certain biblical principles of church growth are implemented.

Method

The research was done through extensive analysis of previous studies regarding church growth. Biblical perspectives, as well as existent literature on the development of churches, lay ministry, pastoral leadership, training, and …

The Development And Implementation Of A Grief Support Program At Florida Hospital, Michael R. Lombardo

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

With little or no formal grief support provided at Florida Hospital, an intentional bereavement facilitation program was needed. Many of the problems individuals face can be traced back to unresolved loss. The grief support program at Florida Hospital provides numerous avenues for the grief process to take place. This study describes the development and implementation of a comprehensive grief support program at Florida Hospital designed to enhance the bereavement process for those in grief and to provide assistance to care-givers involved in bereavement facilitation.

Method

There were various methods used to evaluate the effectiveness of this program. All 219 …

A Spiritual Master Plan For Spicer Memorial College, Mohanraj W. Israel

Doctor of Ministry Projects

In the face of required expenditures for competitive higher education and the growing challenges of quality Christian training, the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church is concerned about accountability in spiritual development and outcomes assessment. The General Conference Annual Council of 1996 voted the “Total Commitment to God” document. This document focuses on developing at each tertiary institution a comprehensive Spiritual Master Plan, proposed by the faculty and approved by the board, that identifies the spiritual truths and values, both cognitive and relational, which the institution is committed to share with its students, and to comprehensively identify the opportunities through which those …