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Full-Text Articles in Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion

Is The Modern Parachurch A Reflection Of Misguided Ecclesiology?, Joshua A. Haywood May 2011

Is The Modern Parachurch A Reflection Of Misguided Ecclesiology?, Joshua A. Haywood

Senior Honors Theses

In light of the present situation of Christianity, it has become necessary to examine the biblical basis for ministries outside the normal parameters of the Church. One of the biggest problems with addressing this issue is that of defining the parachurch. An accurate and sufficient definition for what constitutes a parachurch ministry requires an investigation into biblical ecclesiology. The relationship between parachurch ministries and the local and universal church must be established in a time when the lines between them are blurred. Some basic principles need to be established which describe what constitutes a biblical reason for the creation of …


Missional Churches In Secular Societies: Theology Consults Sociology, Thomas Hughson May 2011

Missional Churches In Secular Societies: Theology Consults Sociology, Thomas Hughson

Theology Faculty Research and Publications

The church is missionary by nature. But what about public church mission in secular societies? Furious religion mobilizing against rebarbative secularity? Withdrawal to seek exemplary perfection? To the contrary, theologically principled consultation with the sociology of J. Casanova on deprivatized religion leads to public witness in modern societies. Public theology can interpret deprivatized religion as an expression of prophetic and kingly elements in church mission. However, sociology leaves the priestly element as if private. What might ecclesiology, missiology, and public theology say about a public aspect of the priestly element in the church’s witness in modern societies?


Images Of The Missional Church : Leadership, Culture, And Practices In Context, Brian Vann Miller Jan 2011

Images Of The Missional Church : Leadership, Culture, And Practices In Context, Brian Vann Miller

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.


Urban Leadership : A Study In Contextual Ministry, Claude Solano Jan 2011

Urban Leadership : A Study In Contextual Ministry, Claude Solano

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.


The Picture Of Health : A Study Of Church Health In The Central New York District Of The Wesleyan Church, Matthew Daniel Pickering Jan 2011

The Picture Of Health : A Study Of Church Health In The Central New York District Of The Wesleyan Church, Matthew Daniel Pickering

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.


Wesleyan Discipleship Group : Wesleyan Discipleship As A Catalyst For Equipping Servants, Steven Kayne Pulliam Jan 2011

Wesleyan Discipleship Group : Wesleyan Discipleship As A Catalyst For Equipping Servants, Steven Kayne Pulliam

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.


Current Knowledge, Practies, And Desired Goals Of Small Group Ministry For Training Implications In The Churches Of The Trinity Annual Conference Of The Methodist Church In Malaysia, Andrew Kok-Khoon Tan Jan 2011

Current Knowledge, Practies, And Desired Goals Of Small Group Ministry For Training Implications In The Churches Of The Trinity Annual Conference Of The Methodist Church In Malaysia, Andrew Kok-Khoon Tan

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.


Coaching Pastors Of Faith Evangelical Church Of The Philippines Churches For Church Growth, Brent Hunter Burdick Jan 2011

Coaching Pastors Of Faith Evangelical Church Of The Philippines Churches For Church Growth, Brent Hunter Burdick

ATS Dissertations

Research has shown that one effective means of improving leader effectiveness in business and education is coaching. Coaching involves asking questions, exploring options, providing guidance, and training in skills. Ministry is enhanced by coaching. This research explored the impact coaching six pastors in the Faith Evangelical Church of the Philippines churches had on the numerical and spiritual growth of the churches they pastor. The study focused on the key leadership factors of preaching, personal spiritual maturity, and multiplication of small groups plus two survey-determined factors. The hypothesis was that as the pastor advanced in leadership skills and effectiveness in these …


Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Outreach And Retention Methods Of Six Congregations Of The Brunswick Baptist Association, Jeffrey Gibby Jan 2011

Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Outreach And Retention Methods Of Six Congregations Of The Brunswick Baptist Association, Jeffrey Gibby

Doctor of Ministry Projects

I chose two hypotheses to form a survey. The first hypothesis is that persons are reached by the style of building, existing relationships, or advertising. The second hypothesis is that persons maintain their membership based on the content of preaching, the quality of teaching programs, or fellowship.

I employed the Mann-Whitney Statistical Test to analyze the data.

The data revealed that good preaching, good worship, and good fellowship make a growing church. The data results also show the significance of the Pastor and revealed that age-graded Bible study groups are still valid in reaching and retaining members.


Mission Unfinished : Evaluating The Impact Of The Global Outreach Seminar In The Local Church, Michael Karl Hoppe Jan 2011

Mission Unfinished : Evaluating The Impact Of The Global Outreach Seminar In The Local Church, Michael Karl Hoppe

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.


Missional Spirituality : Invitation To Listen, David Mullens Jan 2011

Missional Spirituality : Invitation To Listen, David Mullens

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.


An Online Peer-Based Spiritual Mentoring Program For Field Missionaries, Thomas David Nichols Jan 2011

An Online Peer-Based Spiritual Mentoring Program For Field Missionaries, Thomas David Nichols

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.


Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Assimilation Strategies Of The Churches Of Christ In Christian Union : Closing The Back Door Of The Church, Earl Ralph Hux Jan 2011

Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Assimilation Strategies Of The Churches Of Christ In Christian Union : Closing The Back Door Of The Church, Earl Ralph Hux

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.


From Nominal To Radical Discipleship: One Church’S Approach To Disciple Making, Wayne Berk Walters Jan 2011

From Nominal To Radical Discipleship: One Church’S Approach To Disciple Making, Wayne Berk Walters

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

The majority of mainline denomination churches in America have experienced decline in membership, worship attendance, and vitality for over fifty years. As well, church members’ lifestyles, commitments, and habits tend to be not all that unlike Americans who do not attend church. Many church members live relatively nominal Christian lives when compared to the nature of the Christian life and discipleship described by Jesus in the gospels of the New Testament. This nominal understanding and adoption of the Christian life makes church membership and involvement unnecessary or secondary to the many other demands in modern life. Denominational officials, church pastors, …