5860 research outputs found
Sort by
Confronting The Lack of Racial Unity In the American Christian Church
Full text linkThis paper will focus on confronting the lack of racial unity in Sunday worship. Why is America’s weekly hour of Christian worship so divided among racial lines? Some may choose to ignore the reality of racial separation in our country, however a race problem is at hand and the Christian church is at the center of it.
Nonetheless, the Christian church contains the answer to the problem. It must gain, however self-awareness and consider a new way to respond in view of its historical narrative. The people of God must participate in racial and liturgical reconciliation, rather than reverting to unhealthy ecclesiological systems that have plagued the church for centuries. Although this project will draw from different voices speaking on behalf of race in America, a dive into missional ventures within a local ministry context will offer practical insight and solutions.
Furthermore, theological concepts from Scripture such as Christian identity, racial equality and Christ-like love are key to transforming Sunday worship. Moreover, through strategic goals of leadership development, spiritual formation and missional ventures, togetherness over time will overcome segregation. Racial unity in worship is evident through multi-ethnic leaders and churches. Therefore, it should be seriously pursued by every believer, church and denomination
COLLECTION 0033: Cadle Tabernacle Audio Collection
Full text linkThe Cadle Tabernacle Audio Collection consists of 16-inch electrical transcriptions and compact discs (CDs) with audio transfers of the Nations Family Prayer Period radio broadcasts. The original air dates range from c. 1939 - c.1942. Transfers to compact discs occured c. 2013.
Click here to listen to E. Howard Cadle\u27s radio program, The Nation\u27s Family Prayer Period
Word to Silence: Facilitating Contemplative Silence among Mandarin Speakers in the Malaysia Baptist Theological Seminary
Full text linkThe goal of this study is to explore how contemplative silence can be used to facilitate spiritual growth among Mandarin speakers at the Malaysia Baptist Theological Seminary. It is argued that these inward practices of spiritual disciplines are reproducible, and can lead to spiritual growth on personal and communal levels when introduced in a context sensitive and creative manner. The thesis is tested on student groups that have at least thirty-two hours of spiritual formation class time.
The ministry context is initially examined and includes the Baptist tradition and the worldview of Mandarin speakers. The importance of community in the believer’s journey to be more like Jesus is revealed in a theological reflection on the nature of God as Trinity. A biblical mandate from an examination of Scripture and the life of Christ establishes the use of silence in Christian formation. Similarly, the insights of both ancient and modern-day practitioners contribute to the project design.
To test this hypothesis, silence is introduced using disciplines such as Lectio Divina, solitude, contemplation in nature, spiritual autobiography, and spiritual journaling. To fulfill the goal of the project, students are supervised in spiritual direction sessions while surveys and personal interviews are carried out to gain feedback. On completion of the project, an analysis is done to ascertain impact of contemplative practices on students.
This study concludes practice of contemplative silence as individuals and as a group does bring about an increase in spiritual growth among Mandarin-speaking students. Moreover, these practices are reproducible and applicable in the student’s context. However, due to unpredictable size and heterogeneous profile of each group, these results require additional study before a definite conclusion can be made. While further research is needed, this project can still benefit Mandarin speakers in a seminary or a small group setting
Tanzanian Christians’ Perception of Muslims in the Context of the Nation’s Christian-Muslim Relations
Full text linkPlanting a Church Targeting the Brazilian Community in Houston, Focusing on Its Unique Culture
Full text linkThis project presents the peculiarities in Brazilian immigrants with very specific cultural characteristics. The first part of the work focuses on the process of acculturation and its peculiarities. The plurality of the Brazilian cultural fabric formed by European, African and Asian influences is treated, as a facilitating aspect of the process of acculturation of Brazilian immigrants in USA. Also, in this first part, the project deals with religious syncretism resulting from the accommodation of Roman Catholicism to the animism of the natives, and to the religions of African slaves. This religious background helps in understanding Brazilian religiosity. The project traces the profile of the target audience in three dimensions: place of residence, lifestyle, and spiritual, social and emotional conditions.
The second part of the project deals with the biblical and theological foundations: the theology of the foreigner and the ecclesiology to the immigrant church. It addresses conflicts by taking a biblical approach to how God has dealt with this theme throughout history. The project proposes to develop an ecclesiastical practice that meets the spiritual, social and emotional demands of its target audience.
Finally, the third part focuses on the strategies for the development of the project. The first challenge is to develop a strategy to reach a diffuse immigrant population, spread in a huge mass of Americans. Secondly, the project focuses in to develop an internal structure to the congregation. Finally, the conclusions address this stability of the congregation, developing a core group with the target audience
Life After Birth: Supporting Church Planters After Launch
Full text linkThis dissertation explores the importance of supporting church planters and church plants after they are started. Support is given and modeled by God, and it is vital for the maturing and survival of a church plant. This dissertation will outline possible ways for a church plant, church planter, network, denomination, or movement to identify and support key needs.
Church planters are seeking support. Like newborn children, church plants need a lot of attention and support after birth. They also need to be cared for when they are young (four to ten years old). Church planters serve as spiritual parents, nurturing and caring for the new church so that it will grow and mature to the point of supporting itself, its leaders, and future planting endeavors. More support is needed for church planters and plants after they are launched than what is typically given. This support is best when it is personal, organizational, and systematic, and when it addresses the specific needs of the planter and the church plant.
This dissertation will be based on a large-scale case study. Over seventy interviews were conducted with church planters, church planting directors, and denominational leaders in the Evangelical Covenant Church.
Part One highlights the need for greater support to be given to church planters, especially after the birth of the church plant, with five main needs identified. Part Two develops a theology of support, exploring the challenges planters face and how support helps planters overcome; God himself provides support and a model for supporting others. The goal is for the Sent to become the Senders. Part Three offers suggestions on how the five needs can be met by the planter, the church plant, and the denomination/network, and how support responsibilities can change as the church matures
Ethnic Diversity and Reconciliation: A Missional Model for the Church in Myanmar
Full text linkMyanmar has long struggled with its ethnic diversity and the need for reconciliation. Since gaining independence from British domination, Myanmar has been plagued by ethnic conflict between the majority Bamar and the ethnic minorities, and to a lesser extent among the minorities themselves. These divisions are also apparent between the various church denominations. Not only is Christianity considered a foreign religion, but it is also fractured along ethnic lines, further complicating its image in the eyes of the Buddhist majority. This division creates additional obstacles when Bamar converts want to join a local church consisting primarily of one ethnic minority.
Part two of this paper examines the theological foundations for a biblical understanding of the church as a diverse but unified body of redeemed people. Key Bible passages focusing on the implications of this reality will be explored. This understanding is essential for the church in Myanmar to fulfill its mandate as a missional body, demonstrating God’s love in a fractured multi-ethnic society. Challenges to fulfilling this role will be examined, as well as initiatives that may lead toward reconciliation and diversity both within the church and in society.
Part three presents theological implications of an inclusive model of missional church in Myanmar. This model promotes reconciliation and embraces multi-ethnic diversity, creating a welcoming environment towards building a transformational community. To this end, students at the Myanmar Evangelical Graduate School of Theology will learn what constitutes a missional church in the Myanmar context. They will be encouraged to introduce this model among the churches they serve. The process for introducing the missional church paradigm to seminary students through a mission course and relevant assignments will be presented in chapter six, followed by implementation steps and desired outcomes
Serving in the Holy Spirit at Iglesia Ministerial Cristiana
Full text linkIglesia Ministerial Cristiana (in English, Ministerial Christian Church) is going through a ministry challenge. Its congregants are not serving efficiently within the local church as part of being the Church as the Body of Christ. Each member possesses talents and spiritual gifts, but they do not apply them for the benefit of their brothers and sisters as written in 1 Corinthians 12:7 which states, “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.”
This project is divided into several parts. Part One explains the background of the church and its community. Part Two addresses the theological challenge that the church has in serving each other and its neighbors. Part Three contains an action plan for the church to adopt a spirit of service. The implementation process chapter concentrates on the pilot project focus group. Members will be assigned duties and encouraged to put their natural talents and spiritual gifts into practice in the church.
The purpose of this project is for the church to learn and to be encouraged to take on a position or tasks in order to practice applying their natural talents and spiritual gifts in the church. The goal is for the congregation to experience a spirit of service and to apply its natural talents and spiritual gifts for the benefit of the church and its wider community
Charisma Life Church: An Integrative Approach Towards Being a Multiethnic Church
Full text linkMultiethnic ministry in the North American context is often a binary issue between black and white congregations. In the parlance of Asian-American multiethnic ecclesiology, Filipino-American ministry is hardly mentioned. This study is about this lacuna and uses Charisma Life Church, a Filipino-American congregation as a case study of multiethnic ministry. An existential crisis has occurred the last two years as it is losing its members, but also an opportunity has opened, as new attendees are coming from different ethnicities.
The senior pastor, staff and core leaders have all approved that the church needs to transition to become a multiethnic church. The transition is in its earlier phase and responses have been wide-ranging from reluctance, eagerness, and to some sheer unfamiliarity of the direction it is pursuing. Research on Filipino-American churches becoming multi-ethnic churches is nonexistent. In lieu of this, a comparative approach with other races, cultures and ethnicities that went through this transition were used in order to achieve the purpose of establishing a multiethnic congregation. This research hopes to produce a training course for the church leaders teaching them the process of transitioning to a multiethnic church through sociology, theology, ecclesiology and qualitative survey.
The paper will cover three important sections. The first part is assessing the ministry context of the church from its historical, cultural, and social setting and how this is connected to the church’s hesitancy towards transition. The second part of the paper covers theological reflection from scriptures and literary sources that are engaged in transitioning towards multi-ethnic churches. A distinctive literature review is focused on research from other multiethnic churches, leaders, and research engaging in this specific area of ministry. The last part of the paper provides theological, practical steps and principles which are designed to equip leaders towards this ecclesiastical shift