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Full-Text Articles in Practical Theology

Book Review: The Innovation Crisis: Creating Disruptive Influence In The Ministry You Lead By Ted Esler, W. Handley Jr. Mar 2022

Book Review: The Innovation Crisis: Creating Disruptive Influence In The Ministry You Lead By Ted Esler, W. Handley Jr.

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.


Book Review: Evangelism In A Skeptical World: How To Make The Unbelievable News About Jesus More Believable By Sam Chan, Cameron D. Armstrong Mar 2022

Book Review: Evangelism In A Skeptical World: How To Make The Unbelievable News About Jesus More Believable By Sam Chan, Cameron D. Armstrong

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.


Quick Responses To Community Needs In Two Churches During The Pandemic, Brad Ransom, Edward E. Moody Sep 2021

Quick Responses To Community Needs In Two Churches During The Pandemic, Brad Ransom, Edward E. Moody

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.


Innovations In A Nursing Home Ministry, H. L. Ward Jr. Sep 2021

Innovations In A Nursing Home Ministry, H. L. Ward Jr.

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.


Digital Monastic Communities At Sumter Chapel, Americus, Georgia, Drew Anderson Sep 2021

Digital Monastic Communities At Sumter Chapel, Americus, Georgia, Drew Anderson

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.


Book Review: Microchurches: A Smaller Way By Brian Sanders, Jason L. Lalonde Sep 2021

Book Review: Microchurches: A Smaller Way By Brian Sanders, Jason L. Lalonde

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.


Book Review: The Culture Map By Erin Meyer, Kenneth Nehrbass Sep 2021

Book Review: The Culture Map By Erin Meyer, Kenneth Nehrbass

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.


Complete Issue Fall 2021: Innovation In Churches, David R. Dunaetz Sep 2021

Complete Issue Fall 2021: Innovation In Churches, David R. Dunaetz

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.


Innovation In Churches: A Theoretical Framework, David R. Dunaetz Sep 2021

Innovation In Churches: A Theoretical Framework, David R. Dunaetz

Great Commission Research Journal

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the many changes in the present socio-cultural context point to the importance of innovation in churches. A theoretical framework for understanding innovation in churches is presented, featuring 6 key elements. These elements include the cultural context of the church and the church’s target audience, a culture of innovation within the church, innovations in church programs, processes, and personnel, social capital (social ties) which permits church members to navigate the changes associated with innovation, program loss (that which is lost when programs change), and progress toward the church’s goals. The church’s goals and the …


Identifying Current Gaps In Church Planting Movements Research: Integrating First- And Second-Order Perspectives, Warrick Farah Sep 2021

Identifying Current Gaps In Church Planting Movements Research: Integrating First- And Second-Order Perspectives, Warrick Farah

Great Commission Research Journal

The proliferation of church planting movements in least-reached peoples today provides an opportunity ripe for missiological research. Using the online application form for the Movements Research Symposium 2020 of the Motus Dei Network, this article identifies six gaps of understanding in the missiological discourse on movements: 1) Deepening Theological and Missiological Descriptions of Movements, 2) Identifying Best Practices and Effective Movement Strategies, 3) Clarifying Issues of Ecclesiology – Practical, Theological, and Spiritual, 4) Training Movement Catalysts and Practitioners, 5) Highlighting Contextual, Sociological, and Holistic Features of Movements, and 6) Documenting Movements with Respect to Verification, Metrics, and Administration. However, issues …


Sharing Jesus With Muslims: A Survey Of Church Leaders In Africa, Akimana Canisius, Gordon S. Bonham Sep 2021

Sharing Jesus With Muslims: A Survey Of Church Leaders In Africa, Akimana Canisius, Gordon S. Bonham

Great Commission Research Journal

A web survey of 34 pastors and other church leaders in 2020 who had met during graduate studies at Africa International University (AIU) was conducted to understand what is being done in Muslim evangelism in their home churches, primarily in East Africa. They generally characterized Muslims positively, as being made in the image of God, and as needing salvation through Jesus. They identified what they considered to be key differences between Muslims and Christians. Half of their churches made general evangelistic efforts, but most of these made no specific attempt to share the gospel with Muslims. Sharing the gospel with …


Innovativeness And Church Commitment: What Innovations Were Most Important During The Pandemic?, Anna Covarrubias, David R. Dunaetz, Wendi Dykes Mcgehee Sep 2021

Innovativeness And Church Commitment: What Innovations Were Most Important During The Pandemic?, Anna Covarrubias, David R. Dunaetz, Wendi Dykes Mcgehee

Great Commission Research Journal

The COVID-19 pandemic created an unprecedented need for innovations in churches around the world. Organizational innovativeness, a precursor of successful innovations in organizational contexts, is rarely studied in churches. This study of American church attenders (N = 244) found that perceived innovativeness of churches (conceived of as the elements of a church’s culture which promote innovation, specifically, creativity, organizational openness, future orientation, risk-taking, and proactiveness) was a very strong predictor of church commitment (conceived of as intentions to stay in the church, r = .60, p < .001). Of the moderators examined in this study (membership tenure, age of participant, church size, and gender), only gender moderated this relationship; the relationship between perceived innovativeness and church commitment was stronger for females than for males. This suggests that innovations that facilitated relationship development and relationship maintenance had the greatest impact on church commitment during the pandemic.


Introduction To Special Section: Innovations In Churches During The Covid-19 Pandemic, David R. Dunaetz Sep 2021

Introduction To Special Section: Innovations In Churches During The Covid-19 Pandemic, David R. Dunaetz

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.


The Quarantine Olympics Of Cultivate Church In Athens, Alabama, Joel Franks Sep 2021

The Quarantine Olympics Of Cultivate Church In Athens, Alabama, Joel Franks

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.


Storytelling The Gospel In Hungary: Zooming In On An Ancient Mode Of Communication, Keith Sellers Sep 2021

Storytelling The Gospel In Hungary: Zooming In On An Ancient Mode Of Communication, Keith Sellers

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.


Making Online Children’S Ministry Interactive In Wheaton, Illinois, Eric Norregaard, Ping Ng Sep 2021

Making Online Children’S Ministry Interactive In Wheaton, Illinois, Eric Norregaard, Ping Ng

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.


Announcements, David R. Dunaetz Sep 2021

Announcements, David R. Dunaetz

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.


Book Review: The Learning Cycle: Insights For Faithful Teaching From Neuroscience And The Social Sciences, Nathaniel Veltman Apr 2021

Book Review: The Learning Cycle: Insights For Faithful Teaching From Neuroscience And The Social Sciences, Nathaniel Veltman

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.


Book Review: Misreading Scripture With Individualist Eyes: Patronage, Honor, And Shame In The Biblical World By E. Randolph Richards And Richard James, Brent H. Burdick Apr 2021

Book Review: Misreading Scripture With Individualist Eyes: Patronage, Honor, And Shame In The Biblical World By E. Randolph Richards And Richard James, Brent H. Burdick

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.


Book Review: Undivided Witness: Followers Of Jesus, Community Development, And Least Reached Communities Edited By David Greenlee, Mark Galpin, And Paul Bendor-Samuel, David Bahena Apr 2021

Book Review: Undivided Witness: Followers Of Jesus, Community Development, And Least Reached Communities Edited By David Greenlee, Mark Galpin, And Paul Bendor-Samuel, David Bahena

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.


My Pilgrimage In Church Growth, Charles Arn Apr 2021

My Pilgrimage In Church Growth, Charles Arn

Great Commission Research Journal

As a key leader in the church growth movement, Chip Arn was invited by the journal to share his story.


Book Review: A Testimony To All Peoples: Kingdom Movements Around The World Edited By Dave Coles And Stan Parks, Gene Wilson Apr 2021

Book Review: A Testimony To All Peoples: Kingdom Movements Around The World Edited By Dave Coles And Stan Parks, Gene Wilson

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.


China’S Belt And Road Initiative: Mission Opportunities And Challenges, Paul Lee Apr 2021

China’S Belt And Road Initiative: Mission Opportunities And Challenges, Paul Lee

Great Commission Research Journal

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is an infrastructure project proposed by China to improve transportation in Eurasia. This will bring both mission opportunities and challenges in the regions affected. God is perhaps giving Christians a unique opportunity for evangelism through this project which facilitates the movement of not just humans and products, but also the gospel.


The Importance Of Hypotheses In Church-Based Research, David R. Dunaetz Editor Apr 2021

The Importance Of Hypotheses In Church-Based Research, David R. Dunaetz Editor

Great Commission Research Journal

The role of hypotheses is central both in church-related research and in Christian ministry. Hypotheses guide the collection of data to determine what is true in research and provide tentative guidelines for action in ministry, even when they are not yet confirmed. Well-constructed hypotheses are based on previous research and provide clear potential solutions to research problems. They succinctly posit a testable relationship between two or more variables. Such hypotheses can be tested through appropriately designed research. Statistical techniques can indicate to what degree the evidence collected supports the hypotheses. In church-based research, hypotheses to be examined can come from …


Complete Issue, David R. Dunaetz Editor Apr 2021

Complete Issue, David R. Dunaetz Editor

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.


How Research On Young Adults Informs Evangelism, Gary Comer Apr 2021

How Research On Young Adults Informs Evangelism, Gary Comer

Great Commission Research Journal

In a time when the church is missing members of the younger generations, it is important to look to generational research and listen to compelling voices regarding currents in the culture, with the aim of informing evangelism among these generations. This treatise provides an analysis of two missiological-relevant aspects of these generations: profile and receptivity. Based on this analysis, the author proposes correctives to increase the effectiveness of evangelistic efforts.


Book Review: Honor, Shame, And Gospel: Reframing Our Message And Ministry Edited By Flanders, C., And Mischke, W., Cameron D. Armstrong Apr 2021

Book Review: Honor, Shame, And Gospel: Reframing Our Message And Ministry Edited By Flanders, C., And Mischke, W., Cameron D. Armstrong

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.


Alternative Financial Models For Churches And Church Plants: When Tithes And Offerings Are Not Enough, W. Jay Moon Oct 2020

Alternative Financial Models For Churches And Church Plants: When Tithes And Offerings Are Not Enough, W. Jay Moon

Great Commission Research Journal

Many churches face financial strains, forcing some to close every year. Similarly, potential church plants may be delayed or disbanded due to a lack of finances. Instead of relying solely on tithes and offerings, this article provides six nontraditional financial approaches that churches can implement to promote financial viability and missional impact. The interaction of the church’s financial liquidity (low or high) and relational networks (closed or open) provides a starting point to determine which approach may be best in the church’s context. Practical applications are provided through examples of contemporary churches using these approaches.


Book Review: Church Planting In The Secular West: Learning From The European Experience By Stefan Paas, Keith R. Sellers Oct 2020

Book Review: Church Planting In The Secular West: Learning From The European Experience By Stefan Paas, Keith R. Sellers

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.


Book Review: Donald A. Mcgavran: A Biography Of The Twentieth Century's Premier Missiologist By Gary Mcintosh, Keith R. Sellers Oct 2020

Book Review: Donald A. Mcgavran: A Biography Of The Twentieth Century's Premier Missiologist By Gary Mcintosh, Keith R. Sellers

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.