An Enlivening and Concrete Life-Together: Discovering a Fresh
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Digital Commons @ George Fox University Doctor of Ministry Theses and Dissertations 2-23-2016 An Enlivening and Concrete Life-Together: Discovering A Fresh Rootedness in the Gospel for Local Organizations and Families in a Global Economic and Postmodern Consumerist Culture Charles Estanol George Fox University, [email protected] This research is a product of the Doctor of Ministry (DMin) program at George Fox University. Find out more about the program. Recommended Citation Estanol, Charles, "An Enlivening and Concrete Life-Together: Discovering A Fresh Rootedness in the Gospel for Local Organizations and Families in a Global Economic and Postmodern Consumerist Culture" (2016). Doctor of Ministry. Paper 128. http://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/dmin/128 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses and Dissertations at Digital Commons @ George Fox University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Doctor of Ministry by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ George Fox University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. GEORGE FOX UNIVERSITY AN ENLIVENING AND CONCRETE LIFE-TOGETHER: DISCOVERING A FRESH ROOTEDNESS IN THE GOSPEL FOR LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS AND FAMILIES IN A GLOBAL ECONOMIC AND POSTMODERN CONSUMERIST CULTURE A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF GEORGE FOX EVANGELICAL SEMINARY IN CANDIDACY FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF MINISTRY BY CHARLES ESTANOL PORTLAND, OREGON FEBRUARY 2016 George Fox Evangelical Seminary George Fox University Portland, Oregon CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL _______________________________ DMin Dissertation _______________________________ This is to certify that the DMin Dissertation of Charles Estanol is approved by the Dissertation Committee on February 23, 2016 for the degree of Doctor of Ministry in Leadership and Spiritual Formation. Dissertation Committee: Primary Advisor: John D. Hannah, PhD Secondary Advisor: Kevin Bates, DMin Expert Advisor: Kevin Bates, DMin Copyright © 2016 by Charles Estanol All rights reserved. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New American Standard Bible: 1995 Updated. LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995. ii To my wife, Jennifer iii CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................... v ABSTRACT ..................................................................................................................... vi SECTION 1: THE PROBLEM .......................................................................................... 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 1 The Industrial Revolution and Global Economy .......................................................... 3 Digital Technology ...................................................................................................... 10 Sense of Place .............................................................................................................. 12 Postmodern Consumerism ........................................................................................... 15 Summary ..................................................................................................................... 17 SECTION 2: OTHER PROPOSED SOLUTIONS ......................................................... 19 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 19 Polarized ...................................................................................................................... 21 Absorbed ..................................................................................................................... 26 Isolated ........................................................................................................................ 35 Summary ..................................................................................................................... 40 SECTION 3: THE THESIS ............................................................................................. 42 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 42 The Foundation ............................................................................................................ 43 The Gospel of the Kingdom ................................................................................. 45 The Scope of the Kingdom .................................................................................. 46 The Marvel of the Kingdom ................................................................................ 47 The Beauty of the Kingdom ................................................................................. 49 Pilgrims ....................................................................................................................... 54 Sustainable Living ....................................................................................................... 59 The Social ............................................................................................................ 60 The Environment ................................................................................................. 61 The Economy ....................................................................................................... 63 Summary ..................................................................................................................... 64 SECTION 4: TRACK 02 ARTIFACT DESCRIPTION ................................................. 67 SECTION 5: TRACK 02 ARTIFACT SPECIFICATION .............................................. 73 SECTION 6: POSTSCRIPT ............................................................................................ 78 APPENDIX 1: CULTURE AND VALUES .................................................................... 80 APPENDIX 2: FAMILY SYNERGY ............................................................................. 82 iv APPENDIX 3: NINE BUILDING BLOCKS FOR A STARTUP .................................. 90 APPENDIX 4: LEAN CANVAS .................................................................................... 96 APPENDIX 5: ELEOS WAY WEBSITE ....................................................................... 98 APPENDIX 6: BROCHURE AND BUSINESS CARD DESIGN ............................... 107 APPENDIX 7: STARTUP COSTS ............................................................................... 109 APPENDIX 8: MOBILE OFFICE ................................................................................ 110 APPENDIX 9: KEY CONSIDERATIONS ................................................................... 111 BIBLIOGRAPHY .......................................................................................................... 115 v ACKNOWLEDGMENTS There are a number of people who came along side me these last three years of my doctoral work. I owe deep gratitude to my loving and beautiful wife, Jennifer, for the significant role she’s had throughout this journey. If not for her encouragement and prodding I would not have entered the program or be where we are today. I praise also my three boys, Micah, Jedidiah, and Elisha. They are a bright joy. I wish to personally recognize Dr. John D. Hannah, my primary advisor, for the many years he has invested in me personally, as a mentor and friend. He is one of the most caring and wise men I have known. The depth of his love for the Savior and his theological insights has left a mark on my life. I have been blessed to be part of the Leadership and Spiritual Formation track and cohort. I entered at a time of significant transition for my family and me. This program played a vital role in reawakening a depth and focus on Christ after ten years of military service and five deployments. Through numerous moves and careers changes it provided consistency and focus that helped guide us to a settled place where we hope to establish a home and meaningful livelihood. Thank you to the faculty and staff of George Fox Evangelical Seminary and my cohort friends. It has been a privilege to learn from you all. A hearty thanks also to my primary editor, Janice Davis, whose carful eye and attention made my work much clearer, Kevin Bates who helped me with the artifact, and all the others who contributed throughout this journey. May Christ richly bless you! vi ABSTRACT This dissertation claims that the transmission of the gospel falls short in postmodern rural life because the message has not meaningfully integrated with community life as a whole and asserts that the witness of the church must employ a greater connectedness to local culture to affirm a rootedness in the gospel. Section 1 describes the abstract nature and influence of the global economy and postmodern consumerism, highlighting the growing negative effects on rural communities, families, and ultimately the witness of the gospel. Section 2 surveys a range of Christian organizations in today’s society analyzing how they can become polarized, absorbed, or isolated. Section 3 presents how a grounding in the gospel is foundational, offering answers to the issues left unaddressed by the other proposed methods of ministry covered in the previous section. The methodology for this ministry structure is captured through the pilgrim metaphor and is framed within an approach of sustainability.