Date

10-14-2026

Department

Rawlings School of Divinity

Degree

Doctor of Education in Christian Leadership (EdD)

Chair

Charis Rooks

Keywords

nurture, demographic, retention, communication, life groups, Elvanto

Disciplines

Education

Abstract

Faith Baptist Church is a ministry and religious organization in Sydney, Australia, that has operated for more than forty-seven years with a mission to nurture people in their relationship with Jesus Christ and others. The purpose of this Dissertation-in-Praxis project was to examine a structured process of education, connection, and ministry service designed to strengthen engagement and retention within the church community. The project included a leadership training workshop with 10 ministry leaders and implementation of a nine-step flow process with 11 participants from EPIC Youth and Elevate Young Adults during May and June 2026. Quantitative findings showed a 21.2% increase in EPIC Youth attendance, a 7.9% increase in Elevate Young Adults attendance, and a 40% increase in discipleship completions compared with the selected baseline period. Ministry-service participation could not be assessed because the relevant data were not yet available. Qualitative observations documented participant engagement in education, connection, and follow-up activities. The findings provide preliminary support for continued refinement and longer-term evaluation of the process, but the shortened implementation period did not establish long-term retention or causation.

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