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Dunaetz, David R.

Great Commission Research Journal 
Volume 17 Issue 1 Article 13 
4-1-2025 
2025 Vol 17(1) About the Great Commission Research Network 
David R. Dunaetz 
Azusa Pacific University, ddunaetz@apu.edu 
Follow this and additional works at: https://place.asburyseminary.edu/gcrj 
Recommended Citation 
Dunaetz, D. R. (2025). 2025 Vol 17(1) About the Great Commission Research Network. Great Commission 
Research Journal, 17(1), 98-103. Retrieved from https://place.asburyseminary.edu/gcrj/vol17/iss1/13 
This About the Great Commission Research Network is brought to you for free and open access by the Journals at 
ePLACE: preserving, learning, and creative exchange. It has been accepted for inclusion in Great Commission 
Research Journal by an authorized editor of ePLACE: preserving, learning, and creative exchange. 
 
GREAT COMMISSION RESEARCH NETWORK 
(formerly: The American Society for Church Growth) 
 
OFFICERS 
 
 
President: 
Billy McMahan 
Asbury Theological Seminary 
Email: billy.mcmahan@asburyseminary.edu 
 
  
First Vice President: 
Eddy Moody 
Executive Director 
National Association of Free Will Baptists 
 
 
 
  
Second Vice President: 
Tracee J. Swank 
Church Doctor Ministries 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Treasurer:  
Ben Penfold 
Chief Executive Officer 
Penfold & Company 
 
 
 
 
 
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Dunaetz: 2025 Vol 17(1) About the Great Commission Research Network
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GREAT COMMISSION RESEARCH NETWORK 
greatcommissionresearch.com 
 
MEMBERSHIP 
 
What is the Great Commission Research Network? 
The Great Commission Research Network (GCRN) is a worldwide and 
professional association of Christian leaders whose ministry activities 
have been influenced by the basic and key principles of church growth as 
originally developed by the late Donald McGavran. Founded by renowned 
missiologists George G. Hunter III and C. Peter Wagner, the GCRN has 
expanded into an affiliation of church leaders who share research, examine 
case studies, dialogue with cutting-edge leaders, and network with fellow 
church professionals who are committed to helping local churches expand 
the kingdom through disciple-making. 
 
Who Can Join the GCRN? 
GCRN membership is open to all who wish a professional affiliation with 
colleagues in the field. The membership includes theoreticians, such as 
professors of evangelism and missions, and practitioners, such as pastors, 
denominational executives, parachurch leaders, church planters, 
researchers, mission leaders, and consultants. Some members specialize 
in domestic or mono-cultural church growth, while others are cross-
culturally oriented. 
 
Why Join the GCRN? 
The GCRN provides a forum for maximum interaction among leaders, 
ministries, and resources on the cutting edge of Great Commission 
research. The annual conference of the GCRN (typically held in March 
each year) offers the opportunity for research updates and information on 
new resources and developments, as well as fellowship and encouragement 
from colleagues in the field of church growth. Membership in the GCRN 
includes a subscription to the Great Commission Research Journal and a 
discount for the annual conference. 
 
How Do I Join the GCRN? 
For further information on membership and the annual conference, please 
visit greatcommissionresearch.com.  
 
 
 
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Great Commission Research Journal, Vol. 17, Iss. 1 [2025], Art. 13
https://place.asburyseminary.edu/gcrj/vol17/iss1/13
 
Membership Fees 
• One-year regular membership (inside or outside USA) - $59 
• One-year student/senior adult membership (inside or outside 
USA) - $39  
• Three-year regular membership (inside or outside USA) - $177 
• Three-year senior membership (inside or outside USA) - $117 
• Membership includes a subscription to the Great Commission 
Research Journal which is in the process of transitioning to an 
electronic format. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Dunaetz: 2025 Vol 17(1) About the Great Commission Research Network
Published by ePLACE: preserving, learning, and creative exchange, 2025
 
GREAT COMMISSION RESEARCH NETWORK 
AWARDS 
 
Donald A. McGavran Award for Outstanding Leadership in Great 
Commission Research 
Normally once each year, the GCRN gives this award to an individual for exemplary 
scholarship, intellect, and leadership in the research and dissemination of the 
principles of effective disciple-making as described by Donald A. McGavran. The 
award recipients to date: 
Win Arn      1989  John Vaughan  2006 
C. Peter Wagner    1990  Waldo Werning  2006 
Carl F. George    1991  Bob Whitesel   2007 
Wilbert S. McKinley    1992  Bill Easum   2009 
Robert Logan    1993  Thom S. Rainer  2010 
Bill Sullivan     1994  Ed Stetzer   2012 
Elmer Towns     1994  Nelson Searcy  2013 
Flavil R. Yeakley Jr.   1995  J. D. Payne   2014 
George G. Hunter III   1996  Alan McMahan  2015 
Eddie Gibbs     1997  Steve Wilkes   2016 
Gary L. McIntosh    1998  Art McPhee   2016 
Kent R. Hunter    1999  Mike Morris   2017 
R. Daniel Reeves    2000  Bill Day    2019 
Ray Ellis      2002  Warren Bird   2022 
John Ellas     2003  Gordon Penfold  2023 
Rick Warren     2004  James Cho   2024 
Charles Arn     2005  W. Jay Moon   2025 
Win Arn Lifetime Achievement Award in Great Commission Research 
This award is given to a person who has excelled in the field of American church 
growth over a long period of time. The award recipients to date: 
Eddie Gibbs     2011  Carl George   2019 
Elmer Towns     2012  Charles Arn   2022 
George G. Hunter III   2013  Bob Whitesel   2023 
John Vaughan    2014  David R. Dunaetz  2024 
Gary McIntosh    2015  Alan McMahan  2025 
Kent R. Hunter     2017 
American Society for Church Growth/GCRN Past Presidents 
C. Peter Wagner    1986  Charles Van Engen 2001-02 
George G. Hunter III   1987  Charles Arn   2003-04 
Kent R. Hunter    1988  Alan McMahan  2005-06 
Elmer Towns     1989  Eric Baumgartner  2007-08 
Eddie Gibbs     1990  Bob Whitesel   2009-12 
Bill Sullivan     1991  Steve Wilkes   2013-14 
Carl F. George    1992  Mike Morris   2015-16 
Flavil Yeakley Jr.     1993  James Cho   2017-18 
John Vaughan    1994  Gordon Penfold  2019-20 
Gary L. McIntosh    1995-96  W. Jay Moon   2021-23 
R. Daniel Reeves    1997-98  Brad Ransom  2024-25 
Ray W. Ellis     1999-00     
  
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Great Commission Research Journal, Vol. 17, Iss. 1 [2025], Art. 13
https://place.asburyseminary.edu/gcrj/vol17/iss1/13
 
GREAT COMMISSION RESEARCH NETWORK 
SUBMISSIONS 
 
The Great Commission Research Journal publishes both peer-reviewed 
articles reporting original research and reviews of recent books relevant to 
evangelism and disciple making. 
 
The scope of the journal includes research focusing on evangelism, church 
planting, church growth, spiritual formation, church renewal, worship, or 
missions. Articles come from both members and non-members of the 
Great Commission Research Network and are generally unsolicited 
submissions, which are welcomed and will be considered for peer-review. 
There is no charge for submission or publication. 
 
ARTICLES  
 
All submissions should be emailed to the editor, David R. Dunaetz at 
ddunaetz@apu.edu. 
 
Peer Review Process 
Only the highest quality submissions presenting original research within 
the scope of the journal will be chosen for publication. To ensure this, all 
articles will go through a peer review process. Articles deemed by the 
editor to have potential for publication will be sent to reviewers (members 
of the editorial board or other reviewers with the needed expertise) for 
their recommendation. Upon receiving the reviewers’ recommendations, 
the author will be notified that the submission was either rejected, that the 
submission has potential but needs to be significantly revised and 
resubmitted, that the submission is conditionally accepted if the noted 
issues are addressed, or that the submission is accepted unconditionally. 
 
Format 
Papers should be APA formatted according to the 7th edition of the 
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. 
Submissions should include a cover page, be double-spaced in Times New 
Roman, and be between 3,000 and 7,000 words (approximately 10-22 
pages) in .docx format. Contact the editor for exceptions to this word count. 
 
In-text references should be in the form (Smith, 2020) or (Smith, 2020, 
p.100). At the end of the article should be a References section. No 
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Dunaetz: 2025 Vol 17(1) About the Great Commission Research Network
Published by ePLACE: preserving, learning, and creative exchange, 2025
 
footnotes should be used. Minimize the use of endnotes. If endnotes are 
necessary, more than two or three are strongly discouraged; rather than 
using Microsoft Word’s endnote tool, place them manually before the 
References section. 
 
Include an abstract of approximately 100-150 words at the beginning of 
your text. 
 
After the References section, include a short biography (approximately 30 
words) for each author. 
 
BOOK REVIEWS 
 
The purpose of our book reviews is to direct the reader to books that 
contribute to the broader disciple making endeavors of the church. The 
review (500-2000 words) is to help potential readers understand how the 
book will contribute to their ministry, especially those in North America 
or which have a large cross-cultural base. The review should consist of a 
summary of the contents, an evaluation of the book, and a description of 
how the book is applicable to practitioners. 
 
Before submitting a book review, please contact the book review editor 
Ken Nehrbass (krnehrbass@liberty.edu) to either propose a book to be 
reviewed or to ask if there is a book that needs to be reviewed.  
COPYRIGHT 
 
Copyrights on articles are held by the Great Commission Research 
Network with permission to republish given to the authors. Requests for 
permission to reproduce material from the journal, except for brief 
quotations in scholarly reviews and publications, should be directed to the 
general editor of the journal. 
CONTACT INFORMATION 
 
To submit an article or for general questions, contact: 
Dr. David Dunaetz, ddunaetz@apu.edu  
 
For questions about book reviews, contact: 
Ken Nehrbass, knehrbass@calbaptist.edu 
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Great Commission Research Journal, Vol. 17, Iss. 1 [2025], Art. 13
https://place.asburyseminary.edu/gcrj/vol17/iss1/13


English

2025 Vol 17(1) About the Great Commission Research Network

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ATS Special Collections and Archives

Records of the Institute on Religion and Democracy (IRD)

Gordon, Noah

God\u27s Problem of Cut-and-Paste

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Sneed, J. A.

The Church of God

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Killam, Mark E.

The Gospel According to Matthew: Emphasizing Jesus’ Character in Us & His Mission Through Us

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