Liberty University John W. Rawlings School of Divinity The Impact of People of the Dream Applied to Kingdom Authority Christian Center Lay Workers Church Plant: A Mixed Methods Approach A Thesis Project Submitted to the Faculty of the Liberty University School of Divinity in Candidacy for the Degree of Doctor of Ministry by Kenneth Kief Davis Lynchburg, Virginia March 2021 Copyright © 2020 by Ken Davis All Rights Reserved ii Liberty University John W. Rawlings School of Divinity Thesis Project Approval Sheet ______________________________ Daniel Russell, Ph.D. Associate Professor Liberty University School of Divinity ______________________________ H. Clay Anthony, Ed.D. Instructor of Practical Theology Liberty University School of Divinity iii THE DOCTOR OF MINISTRY THESIS PROJECT ABSTRACT Kenneth K Davis Liberty University, John W. Rawlings School of Divinity, 2021 Mentor: Dr. Daniel Russell Kingdom Authority Christian Center (KACC) is growing more attentive to the changing demographics in the world. It seeks to understand that as other countries and nations continue to diversify by race and ethnicity, change is needed. The problem is that KACC has no training curriculum designed to impact and employ change. A mixed-method approach will be applied to fix KACC’s problem and the proposal of correspondence from People of the Dream. This thesis project will provide research from individual interviews, a population group, and an inside viewpoint from one of the people in the dream. This project will also add to the already training analysis provided by the many scholarly articles, peer reviews, and dissertations. Keywords: impact, mixed-method approach, multiracial, multiracial church, and training curriculum Abstract Length: 125 words iv Dedication This journey in my life has been incredible. The Father has blessed me to become the first in my generation to accomplish this educational goal. Words cannot articulate how blessed I feel to become the first in my generation. Please, let that sink in. I dedicate this milestone to my entire family. Importantly, I thank my wife, who waited and watched tirelessly for the last day of school to come. Honey, it is finished. For this cause, I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Of Whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named. That He would grant me, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in my inner man. That Christ may dwell in my heart by faith. That I, being rooted and grounded in His love. May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height, and to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that I might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto Him, that has done exceedingly abundantly above all that I have asked or thought, according to the power that worketh in me. Unto Him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. v Contents Chapter 1: Introduction.......................................................................................................... 1 Personal Background................................................................................................. 1 The Ministry Context................................................................................................. 5 The Presenting Problem............................................................................................ 9 The Purpose Statement.............................................................................................. 9 Researcher’s Basic Assumptions............................................................................... 10 Working Definitions.................................................................................................. 11 Limitations and Delimitations.................................................................................... 12 Thesis Statement........................................................................................................ 14 Preview of Chapters................................................................................................... 14 Chapter 2: Literature Review................................................................................................. 15 Theological Foundations............................................................................................ 15 Theoretical Foundation.............................................................................................. 26 In Summary............................................................................................................... 49 Chapter 3: The Research Methodology................................................................................. 50 Intervention Design.................................................................................................... 50 Implementation of the Intervention Design.............................................................. 55 In Summary................................................................................................................ 80 Chapter 4: The Results and Reflections of the Intervention Plan.......................................... 83 Reliability and Validity of Findings.......................................................................... 83 Results of Recruitment.............................................................................................. 85 Impact of the Training Curriculum............................................................................ 88 Reflections Before and After..................................................................................... 102 vi In Summary................................................................................................................ 105 Chapter 5: Conclusion............................................................................................................ 106 Review of the Chapters.............................................................................................. 106 Lessons from the Research........................................................................................ 108 Comparison with Current Research........................................................................... 111 Suggestions for Future Research............................................................................... 113 Final considerations................................................................................................... 115 In Summary................................................................................................................ 116 Bibliography.......................................................................................................................... 118 Appendix A: IRB Approval Letter........................................................................................ 121 Appendix B: Sample Email Letter to Online Population Group........................................... 122 Appendix C: Approved Consent Form.................................................................................. 123 Appendix D: Pre-test Anonymous Questionnaire.................................................................. 125 Appendix E: Week 1 - Participants Interview Questions...................................................... 127 Appendix F: Week 2 - Participants Interview Questions....................................................... 128 Appendix G: Week 3 - Participants Interview Questions...................................................... 129 Appendix H: Week 4 - Participants Interview Questions...................................................... 130 Appendix I: Week 1 Zoom Online Population Group Questions.......................................... 131 Appendix J: Week 2 Zoom Online Population Group Questions.......................................... 132 Appendix K: Week 3 Zoom Online Population Group Questions.........................................133 Appendix L: Week 4 Zoom Online Population Group Questions......................................... 134 Appendix M: Post-Test Anonymous Questionnaire.............................................................. 135 Appendix N: Interview with Dr. Jonathan Williams............................................................. 136 vii Tables Table 4:1 Recruiting Analysis............................................................................................... 85 Table 4:2 Participants Demographics and Characteristics.................................................... 87 Table 4:3 Individual Virtual Interview Timelog................................................................... 88 Table 4:4 Responses to Multicultural Church Attendance.................................................... 90 viii Figures Figure 3:1 Participants’ Time Zones...................................................................................... 82 Figure 3:2 Weekly Steps........................................................................................................ 82 Figure 4:1 Definition of Multiracial Church.......................................................................... 92 Figure 4:2 Which View of the Bible Reflects Your View?................................................... 94 Figure 4:3 Should a Multiracial Church Have a Diverse Board?.......................................... 97 ix Abbreviations BCMS Baptist Christian Missionary Society DMIN Doctor of Ministry CDC Center for Disease Control