Date
4-2017
Department
School of Divinity
Degree
Doctor of Ministry (DMin)
Chair
Charlie Davidson
Keywords
Commmunity, Small Churches
Disciplines
Christianity | Other Religion | Practical Theology | Religion
Recommended Citation
Parks, John, "Churches Working Together: Four Keys in Serving One Community" (2017). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 1377.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/1377
Abstract
The growth of many small churches tends to be stunted as they lack necessary resources that encourage growth. Church elders are responsible to God for the growth of the local church. Recent conversations among local ministers in Greenbrier County have revealed that, in addition to prayer, they want to know what needs done – and what they themselves can do – in order to reach their community. Their intent is to discover the resources within their churches that can address their community’s needs while also reaching and helping the unchurched. The potential value in personal ministry is their desire to see the community positively affected through promoting the gospel. This same potential must seek to connect churches in the same community regardless of theological stance. The approach is to first interview local pastors, then ask board members and church adherents to fill out an informal assessment on determining their communities’ needs. This approach relies upon the ability to work together. Discovering the four keys will allow pastors to develop the necessity and functional aspect to collaborate in reaching the community as one collective body.
