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The Development and Implementation of a Community-Based Evangelism Model in the Word of Life Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Memphis, TN

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The Development and Implementation of a Community-Based Evangelism Model in the Word of Life Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Memphis, TN Andrews University Digital Commons @ Andrews University Dissertation Projects DMin Graduate Research 2015 The Development and Implementation of a Community-Based Evangelism Model in the Word of Life Seventh-day Adventist Church in Memphis, TN Fred Batten Jr. Andrews University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dmin Part of the Practical Theology Commons Recommended Citation Batten, Fred Jr., "The Development and Implementation of a Community-Based Evangelism Model in the Word of Life Seventh-day Adventist Church in Memphis, TN" (2015). Dissertation Projects DMin. 289. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dmin/289 This Project Report is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Research at Digital Commons @ Andrews University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertation Projects DMin by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Andrews University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Thank you for your interest in the Andrews University Digital Library of Dissertations and Theses. Please honor the copyright of this document by not duplicating or distributing additional copies in any form without the author’s express written permission. Thanks for your cooperation. ABSTRACT THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A COMMUNITY-BASED EVANGELISM MODEL IN THE WORD OF LIFE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH IN MEMPHIS, TN by Fred Batten, Jr. Adviser: Trevor O’Reggio ABSTRACT OF GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH Project Document Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary Title: THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENATION OF A COMMUNITY- BASED EVANGELISM MODEL AT THE WORD OF LIFE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH IN MEMPHIS, TN Name of researcher: Fred Batten, Jr. Name and degree of faculty adviser: Trevor O’Reggio, DMin, PhD Date completed: June 2015 Problem Studies (Arn, 1988) reported that over 80% of churches in America are in a period of stagnation or decline relative to growth. Despite the mega-church trend in America, most churches will not add one person to the membership rolls in a given year (Sylvia, 2004). A safe conclusion is that attendance is also on a downward trend. Research (Burrill, 2007) suggests that from historical bases the Seventh-day Adventist church does a good job in the area of evangelism. In 2006 the statistical report of the world Adventist church highlighted that over 3,000 people joined the church through baptism on a daily bases (Bediako, 2010). The average attendance in the Adventist church in America is approximately 50 people each week. The annual baptisms at Word of Life Seventh-day Adventist Church in Memphis, TN are around six with the attendance around 85 people. The specific problem is the low evangelism that impacts the low growth in baptisms and attendance at Word of Life. Method The purpose of this project was to, (a) examine the reasons or barriers for low growth; (b) establish biblical and spirit of prophecy foundations for relational strategies to reach the community; (c) develop and implement an evangelism model that activates the members of Word of Life Seventh-day Adventist Church in a blessing approach of evangelism, increase baptism and attendance. In order to arrive at the development and implementation of the project, I made several steps of progression. I examined the church’s history of evangelism and outreach. I collected data relative to church attendance and baptisms. I ordered an independent assessment of the church and examined the results. I administered and examined the Styles Questionnaire to 75 members of the church. I developed the model and training seminar pertaining to evangelism. Results The church did increase its outreach into the community of Frayser. This increase revealed more outreach ministry activities in and for the community as well. Eight people joined the church through baptism as a result of the iBlessMemphis model of friendship evangelism. Conclusion This research document represents the development and implementation of the iBlessMemphis evangelistic model at the Word of Life Seventh-day Adventist Church. This model successfully utilized the small group, friendship, community outreach and proclamation approaches in evangelism by increasing the church baptisms, attendance and community presence. Other churches can adapt and use this model or approach for positive outcomes. Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A COMMUNITY-BASED EVANGELISM MODEL IN THE WORD OF LIFE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH IN MEMPHIS, TN A Project Document Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Ministry by Fred Batten, Jr. June 2015 © Copyright by Fred Batten, Jr. 2015 All Rights Reserved THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A COMMUNITY-BASED EVANGELISM MODEL IN THE WORD OF LIFE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH IN MEMPHIS, TN A project document presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Ministry by Fred Batten, Jr. APPROVAL BY THE COMMITTEE: _______________________________ ______________________________ Adviser, Director, DMin Program Trevor O’Reggio Skip Bell _______________________________ ______________________________ Dean, SDA Theological Seminary Jiří Moskala _______________________________ ______________________________ Date approved TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- vi Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 Statement of the Problem -------------------------------------------------------- 2 Purpose of the Project ------------------------------------------------------------ 3 Justification for the Project ------------------------------------------------------ 4 Expectations From MinistryProject ------------------------------------------- 5 Limitations of the Project -------------------------------------------------------- 6 Definition of Terms --------------------------------------------------------------- 6 Description of the Ministry Project -------------------------------------------- 7 2. BIBLICAL, THEOLOGICAL, AND SPIRIT OF PROPHECY FOUNDATIONS FOR EVANGELISM AND CHURCH GROWTH ------- 11 God Calls a People ---------------------------------------------------------------- 12 Abraham ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 13 Israel --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16 Spirit of Prophecy on Evangelism --------------------------------------------- 16 God Calls the Church ------------------------------------------------------------- 19 Ecclesia-Called out Ones -------------------------------------------------- 19 Ecclesia-Called to Worship ------------------------------------------------ 19 Ecclesia-Called to Fellowship -------------------------------------------- 21 Ecclesia-Called to Receive the Word ------------------------------------ 23 Ecclesia-Called to Serve Humanity -------------------------------------- 24 Ecclesia-Called to Proclaim the Gospel --------------------------------- 25 Mission-Minded Members ------------------------------------------------------ 26 Healthy Churches Grow Disciples --------------------------------------------- 29 Growing Churches Connect With Their Community ---------------------- 30 Growing Churches Have Equipping Pastors --------------------------------- 31 Summary ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 33 3. LITERATURE REVIEW ------------------------------------------------------------- 34 Evangelism in Early Church Culture ------------------------------------------ 35 iii Evangelism in Cultural Contexts ----------------------------------------------- 37 Word of Life Memphis Context ------------------------------------------ 37 African American Context ------------------------------------------------- 38 Post-modern Context -------------------------------------------------- 40 American Culture Challenges to Church Growth --------------------------- 43 Barriers to Evangelism ----------------------------------------------------- 43 Self-inflicted Barriers ------------------------------------------------------- 46 Developing a Culture of Evangelism in the Local Church ---------------- 47 Community Outreach as a Bridge to Church Growth ---------------------- 51 Summary ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 55 4. DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING EVANGELISM MODEL -------- 57 Introduction ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 57 Survey of Evangelism at Word of Life --------------------------------------- 57 Evangelism 1987-2010 ----------------------------------------------------- 57 Beginning to Grow ---------------------------------------------------- 57 Stable Growth ---------------------------------------------------------- 59 Evangelism Renewal -------------------------------------------------- 60 Analysis of Evangelism at Word of Life 2011-2013 ----------------- 61 Developing a Community Evangelism Model ------------------- 63 Initial Development 2011 -------------------------------------------------- 63 Initial Implementation 2011 ----------------------------------------------- 65 Word of Life Evangelism Model on Pause 2012-2013 -------------------- 67 2012 Evangelism ------------------------------------------------------------ 67 2013 Evangelism ------------------------------------------------------------ 68 Convert
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