Date
5-16-2024
Department
Rawlings School of Divinity
Degree
Doctor of Ministry (DMin)
Chair
Jeffrey L. Dowdy
Keywords
Church Revitalization, Member Engagement, Volunteerism, Organizational Change, Discipleship, Consumerism, Church Health, Kingdom Living, Biblical Church
Disciplines
Arts and Humanities
Recommended Citation
Thompson, John A. II, "Challenging the Cancer of Consumerism Ravaging the American Protestant Church" (2024). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 5536.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/5536
Abstract
The American Protestant church is sick and, in some cases, dying. The primary factors adversely influencing the church contribute to church members’ warped view of Christianity. The American church is suffering from individualism, consumerism, and uncommitted Christianity. The church may be described as critically ill, and in the I.C.U. The purpose of this study was to address the effects of this cultural illness as it has impacted the people and ministry of Kingdom Life Community Church. This topic is chosen because of the researcher’s experience serving as the church’s lead pastor, observing members approach the church with a consumer bias. This study aimed to help members commit to the church’s biblical mission through a five-session intensive intervention designed to increase member engagement. The researcher recruited ten church members and interviewed each to determine the participant’s initial views and values. Each volunteer also completed an initial religiosity survey developed by the researcher for this study. The leadership team and seven non-participant members also completed the survey to establish a baseline. The ten participants completed a five-session course held virtually over six weeks. Participants revisited the survey and sat for an exit interview after the course. Three focus groups were convened to ascertain the church’s health and viability of this thesis’ claims. The study profoundly impacted participants. Immediate observable qualitative and measurable quantitative results confirmed positive results toward church revitalization. Further research on church organizational change, enhanced member spiritual formation, and effective leader development strategies may be engaged.
