Copyright (c) 2009 Liberty University All rights reserved. http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral Recent documents in Doctoral Dissertations and Projects en-us Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:24:24 PST 3600 http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/260 http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/260 Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:16:36 PST The purpose of this project is to analyze the Friend Day evangelistic program, developed by Elmer Towns and published by Church Growth Institute, Lynchburg, Virginia. Through interviews, it traces the program's development. Through analysis of the program and research of literature in the areas of church growth and evangelism, it examines the theological presuppositions of friendship evangelism and discovers the principles of outreach employed in Friend Day. Based on questionnaires mailed to purchasers of the program, the project studies the strengths and weaknesses of Friend Day, and establishes that it is an exceptionally effective tool for local church evangelism. Rick L. Rasberry Education, Religious Religion, Clergy Religion, General http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/259 http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/259 Thu, 19 Nov 2009 06:07:02 PST A number of churches today are utilizing the vehicle of a local church theological institute to equip lay people. The purpose of this project is to evaluate one such institute that operates in conjunction with the Campbell Baptist Church in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. The project first examines other lay institute programs as well as current literature that can aid in developing a school of this nature. This helps provide a standard for comparison. After delineating seven essential ingredients for lay institutes the evaluation is made. This study can serve to help other churches develop a quality lay institute program. Donald Bruce McKay Education, Religious Religion, Clergy Religion, General Theology http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/258 http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/258 Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:42:50 PST The purpose of this project is to research and develop an equipping ministry based on the doctrine of the priesthood of the believer emphasizing spiritual gifts. A 27-item Lay Ministry Survey was completed by 99 men and women at four North Carolina churches. Findings indicate that 43 percent of the respondents believe ministry should be performed by professional pastors. Research reveals that the professional pastor and laity have received a call to serve God by spiritual gifts. The church's responsibility is to affirm the call of believers to serve God through their spiritual gifts. Mark Alan Harris Religion, Clergy Religion, General http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/257 http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/257 Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:28:00 PST The purpose of this study was to determine which, if any, specific factors are deterring male teachers from pursuing elementary education. The number of male elementary teachers in America's public school systems had continued to decline, and this survey sought to discover what specific factors had contributed to this. This study surveyed 231 male public school teachers from six different school districts in Tennessee, Georgia, and Missouri. Male participants recorded their viewpoints regarding male elementary teachers while at the same time they provided personal information concerning factors which contributed to their own personal grade level selection. Participants were surveyed to determine if colleges and universities were adequately encouraging male teachers to pursue elementary education. Several factors contributed to the male teachers' preference for and selection of secondary education over elementary education, including subject matter, coaching opportunities, and job opportunities. Two major themes were discovered during the study: the age of students was the number one factor deterring male teachers from considering a career in elementary education, and financial incentives was the number one persuading factor that made men more likely to consider teaching in elementary education. Michael David Patrick Education, Administration Education, Early Childhood Education, Elementary http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/256 http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/256 Mon, 16 Nov 2009 08:38:34 PST William L. Simmer Religion, Clergy Religion, General http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/255 http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/255 Fri, 13 Nov 2009 07:31:31 PST The purpose of this study was to examine whether a Title II Mathematics and Partnership grant positively affected student achievement levels for 3rd grade students in a public school system. The primary participant populations for this study were third grade students enrolled in 4 elementary schools in north Georgia from 2005-2008. Over 4,500 student assessments were used to conduct the statistical research and variables such as gender, race, and socio-economic levels were not disaggregated in the data collection. The data sources included the first quarter, second quarter, and third quarter post formative assessments which were administered every nine-week grading period in the school system. Findings indicate that there is a significant change in the scores between quarters in all three years of the study. The data indicates that in the final year of the study, student achievement slipped to below baseline results in mathematics and equal to baseline results in science. Michael R. Schlabra Education, Curriculum and Instruction http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/254 http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/254 Fri, 13 Nov 2009 07:28:17 PST A review of current literature demonstrates that very little material is available to assist pastors and church leaders in transitioning their churches from a rural to suburban context. This project will serve as a tool to assist pastors in leading their churches to transition from a rural to suburban context. Based on demographic studies, an historical analysis, the development of a plan to move the church forward, analyzing potential disruptions, and seeing the end result of the rural to suburban transition, the goal of the project will be fulfilled. Jeremy Paul Roberts Religion, Clergy Religion, General Religion, Philosophy of http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/253 http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/253 Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:14:00 PST This thesis project examines the discipleship classes of Sungkyul University in Seoul, South Korea, which are disciple-making classes to convert unbelieving students to Christianity. Non-Christian students are not just a concern there, but to other Christian universities. Therefore, these universities may profit from a study of this approach. This thesis uses the four phases of disciple making presented by Bill Hull in Jesus Christ, Disciplemaker as a standard for comparison. A study, by means of a survey, was conducted of the leadership and the discipleship classes and the results were compared with Hull's phases. Finally, recommendations for improvement are given. Kwang Sun Kim Education, Higher Education, Religious Religion, Clergy Religion, General http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/252 http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/252 Tue, 10 Nov 2009 06:41:47 PST This project focuses on using a discipleship program for new church plants in Thailand. This is one way to help accomplish world evangelization. This author's experience in Thailand has been under the ministry of Global Partners (GP) and his ministry includes both church planting and campus ministry.The author develops an indigenous discipleship model for missionaries and the Thai church leaders to use based on the surveys and interviews. A successful mission program depends on training faithful and powerful native leaders.Discipleship Training through effective and Biblical methods is the best way to shift the Thai Christian's paradigm which is so strongly affected by Buddhism. Discipleship programs from Western countries should be contextualized to the Thai situation, without losing the focus of a changed life. Nurturing and evangelization should go side by side. Yong Woong Lee Religion, Clergy Religion, General Sociology, Ethnic and Racial Studies http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/251 http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/251 Tue, 10 Nov 2009 05:17:15 PST The purpose of this project is to acknowledge the value and role of the smaller church in Eastern Kentucky as it relates to reaching people for Christ. According to Gary England, Richland Southern Baptist Church in Peoria, Illinois, the average size of a Southern Baptist Church is around one hundred active members. This means that the majority of Southern Baptists are being reached for the kingdom of God by the smaller church. Almost all of the churches in Eastern Kentucky fall into this small church classification. Therefore, this project will attempt to deal with the smaller work, and will seek to gain insights from pastors and leaders from these small churches as to what represents effective evangelism. It should also be noted that, this project does not focus on church growth, but rather evangelistic growth. Paul R. Badgett Religion, General