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Leaders That Finish Well

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Leaders That Finish Well ABSTRACT LEADERS THAT FINISH WELL CHARACTERISTICS AND PRACTICES OF SUCCESSFUL MINISTRY by Lucian-George Rotaru The purpose of this study was to identify characteristics and best practices of effective and long-term Christian leaders in the Romanian Community of Constanta by looking at leaders who have served effectively for at least ten years. There were more than one hundred leaders invited to participate out of which forty-six completed the survey, and fifteen were later interviewed. After comparing the theory in the literature with the analysis of the survey and interviews, the findings listed the characteristics, practices, and challenges that Christian leaders have to face. The most important characteristic is spiritual maturity; the most important practices are the observation of spiritual disciplines and discipleship; the most pressing challenges would be the exhaustion and the financial shortages. The Christian leaders are motivated to continue as leaders and would not change their direction in life if they were to make that choice again. Their effectiveness is defined as a true love for God, springing faithfulness in every circumstance. The level of academic achievement and continuous formation positively influences their effectiveness. However, the perception that the Christian leaders today have of their colleagues in ministry shows that more than half are in danger of not finishing well. Something needs to be done so that this percentage will rise and create more effective leaders. When a young leader thinks about the future, he imagines himself being effective in the ministry, remaining faithful to God and to his calling no matter what challenges he will have to face, and finishing life’s journey well. For some of the young leaders, this beautiful dream becomes a beautiful reality. In the meantime, for other leaders, it seems impossible to continue in the ministry. The challenges seem too difficult, the awaited support does not come, and the dream of a great, effective ministry dissipates before a sad reality and a painful anticipation of the future. The study invites the reader to discover the principles in the life of Christian leaders that are victorious over temptations and prepare to finish well, thus increasing the personal chances of finishing well along with other contemporary spiritual leaders. DISSERTATION APPROVAL This is to certify that the dissertation entitled LEADERS THAT FINISH WELL Characteristics and practices of successful ministry Presented by Lucian-George Rotaru has been accepted towards fulfillment of the requirements for the DOCTOR OF MINISTRY degree at Asbury Theological Seminary Dissertation Coach Date Representative, Doctor of Ministry Program Date Dean of the Beeson Center Date LEADERS THAT FINISH WELL CHARACTERISTICS AND PRACTICES OF SUCCESSFUL MINISTRY A Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of Asbury Theological Seminary In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Ministry by Lucian-George Rotaru May 2019 Rotaru Lucian George All rights reserved © 2019 iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................. ix LIST OF FIGURES .............................................................................................................x ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................... xi CHAPTER 1 NATURE OF THE PROJECT .....................................................................1 Overview of the Chapter .........................................................................................1 Autobiographical Introduction .................................................................................2 Statement of the Problem ........................................................................................4 Purpose of the Project … .........................................................................................6 Research Questions ..................................................................................................6 Research Question #1 ..................................................................................6 Research Question #2 ..................................................................................6 Research Question #3 ..................................................................................6 Rationale for the Project ..........................................................................................7 Definition of Key Terms ..........................................................................................9 Delimitations ..........................................................................................................10 Review of Relevant Literature ...............................................................................10 Research Methodology ..........................................................................................12 Type of Research ......................................................................................13 Participants ................................................................................................14 Data Collection .........................................................................................14 Data Analysis ............................................................................................15 iv Generalizability .........................................................................................15 Project Overview ...................................................................................................16 CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW FOR THE PROJECT .........................................17 Overview of the Chapter ........................................................................................17 Biblical Foundations ..............................................................................................17 The Ministry of Jesus ................................................................................17 The Prominent Leaders of the Bible .........................................................19 The Standard of Apostle Paul ...................................................................20 Theological Foundations ........................................................................................29 Holiness of God and His expectation of the same Standard from Us .......29 God as Shepherd of His People ...............................................................30 Jesus as the Good Shepherd and the Disciples as Shepherds ...................31 The Church as a Holy Priesthood .............................................................32 The Theology of Service in Leadership ....................................................33 Characteristics, Practices, and Challenges in ministry… ......................................33 Best Characteristics for effective Leadership ..........................................34 From best Character to best Practices… ....................................................47 The Challenges of effective Leaders…......................................................78 Finishing well ..........................................................................................102 Developing a Rule of Life .......................................................................103 Research design……. ..........................................................................................105 Summary of Literature .........................................................................................105 v CHAPTER 3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY FOR THE PROJECT ...........................108 Overview of the Chapter ......................................................................................108 Nature and Purpose of the Project .......................................................................108 Research Questions ..............................................................................................109 Research Question #1 ..............................................................................109 Research Question #2 ..............................................................................110 Research Question #3 ..............................................................................111 Ministry Context(s) for Observing the Phenomenon ..........................................111 Participants to Be Sampled About the Phenomenon ..........................................113 Criteria for Selection ...............................................................................113 Description of Participants ......................................................................113 Ethical Considerations ............................................................................114 Pilot Test or Expert Review .................................................................................114 Procedure for Collecting Evidence from Participants ........................................115 Procedure for Analyzing the Evidence Collected ...............................................115 Reliability & Validity of Project Design ............................................................116 CHAPTER 4 EVIDENCE FOR THE PROJECT ............................................................117 Overview of the Chapter .....................................................................................117 Participants ..........................................................................................................117
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