Digital Commons @ George Fox University Doctor of Ministry Theses and Dissertations 2-1-2017 Revitalization of Assemblies of God Churches in Stagnation or Decline Mark L. Merrill [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 Merrill, Mark L., "Revitalization of Assemblies of God Churches in Stagnation or Decline" (2017). Doctor of Ministry. 223. http://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/dmin/223 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 REVITALIZATION OF ASSEMBLIES OF GOD CHURCHES IN STAGNATION OR DECLINE A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF GEORGE FOX EVANGELICAL SEMINARY IN CANDIDACY FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF MINISTRY BY: MARK L. MERRILL PORTLAND, OREGON FEBRUARY 2017 George Fox Evangelical Seminary George Fox University Portland, Oregon CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL ________________________________ DMin Dissertation ________________________________ This is to certify that the DMin Dissertation of Mark Merrill has been approved by the Dissertation Committee on February 16, 2017 for the degree of Doctor of Ministry in Semiotics and Future Studies. Dissertation Committee: Primary Advisor: David McDonald, DMin Secondary Advisor: Phil Newell, DMin Lead Mentor: Leonard I. Sweet, PhD Expert Advisor: Dan Lioy, PhD ii Copyright © 2017 by Mark Merrill. All rights reserved. iii CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................................ V ABSTRACT ..................................................................................................................... VII SECTION 1: THE PROBLEM ............................................................................................1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................1 Pentecostal Movement .....................................................................................................8 Formation of the Assemblies of God .............................................................................13 Theological Issues ..........................................................................................................17 SECTION 2: VARIOUS APPROACHES .........................................................................22 Church Growth Movement ............................................................................................23 Organic/Third Space Churches ......................................................................................26 Simple Church ...............................................................................................................29 The Purpose Driven Church ..........................................................................................31 SECTION 3: THE THESIS ...............................................................................................35 Biblical Theology of Revitalization ...............................................................................35 Semiotic: Church as a Body ...........................................................................................40 Heart: Great Commission and Great Commandments ..................................................44 Lungs: Work of the Holy Spirit through Preaching .......................................................49 Brain: Integration of Truth through Discipleship ..........................................................59 Spine: Governance and Accountability .........................................................................66 Hands: Servant Leadership ............................................................................................70 Feet: Evangelism ............................................................................................................76 Conclusion .....................................................................................................................80 SECTION 4: ARTIFACT DESCRIPTION .......................................................................82 SECTION 5: ARTIFACT SPECIFICATIONS .................................................................84 SECTION 6: POSTSCRIPT ..............................................................................................86 BIBLIOGRAPHY ..............................................................................................................88 APPENDIX: ARTIFACT ..................................................................................................97 iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS My educational process has been an act of simple obedience unto God. I want to praise and acknowledge the significant people who have stood by me in love, support, and encouragement. I owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to my wife, Gretchen. Without her patience and support, no single good thing that I have ever experienced in my adult life would be possible. I love you! My children have been the greatest teachers that I have had in life concerning the love of God and the mercy of the Father. They have been understanding and, at times, motivating to me to “cross the finish line.” Regan and Hayden, I love you, and your love has made me a better man. My sole prayer for you is that you would serve Jesus all the days of your life. This accomplishment would not have been possible without the support of the church I serve. I have been privileged every moment of every day since 2008 to serve as the Lead Pastor of The Assembly at Warner Robins in Warner Robins, GA. I serve with an impeccable team of leaders. Thank you for the freedom to take an extended break to work on this project, and for the previous investments into my Master’s program. I have also been privileged to travel this journey with a group of dedicated and brilliant people through the Semiotics and Future Studies 2012 cohort at Portland Seminary. These dedicated scholars and practitioners have helped me to see the kingdom of God in ways that I had never dreamed. Through our many travels and your various insights, I have come to embrace the work of God with an appreciation and perspective that is priceless. I am grateful. A special thanks is extended to our lead mentor, Dr. Leonard Sweet. Your brilliance is unequaled. Your passion for Jesus is unmistakable. Your love for your students is unmatched. You have added texture and nuance to my v theology, a sharpened edge to my preaching, and a broader discernment to my ministry. Dr. Cliff Berger and Dr. Loren Kerns, along with the rest of the faculty and staff of Portland Seminary, have demonstrated warmth, class, excellence, and an undying pastoral spirit of love and care in the matriculation of my studies. Thank you, Dr. David McDonald for your wisdom and expertise. Your insistence for excellent work, with creative flair, has stretched me as a leader and a scholar. Thank you to Dr. Dan Lioy in helping to position this resource for the benefit of others. Finally, thanks to my mother, Doris Merrill, for setting an example in all things: in her faith, in her own pursuit of education as an adult, and in her commitment to her family. My greatest hope is that this work will not merely serve as a documentary testament to my own pursuits, or merely an academic exercise, but as an instrument to make the Church of Jesus Christ on earth stronger, healthier, and more vibrant. vi ABSTRACT This dissertation examines church revitalization in Assemblies of God churches in the United States experiencing stagnation and decline. It examines a contextualized perspective of various factors, both practical and theological, as well as various approaches that are being utilized in the field. The result is the formulation of an approach to church health from the semiotic perspective of the human body that can be used to diagnose and overcome the pervasive problem of church decline. Section 1 delineates various problems associated with church decline. Statistics and data are used to define the current reality. The problem of church decline will be explored from a Pentecostal/Charismatic perspective, in particular from the perspective of the Assemblies of God through an understanding of their origin and history, particular influences, and distinct theology. Section 2 examines solutions similar to the problem. Church decline in America has been pervasive and sustained for more than forty years. A plethora of strategies have been created to stem the tide of decline on both a micro and macro level. Various models proposed as a solution for decline are examined. Section 3 provides a systematic, semiotic approach to address the growing issue of church decline in order to position churches to embrace revitalization through renewed church health. Sections 4 and 5 describe the creation of a non-fiction book that offers a fresh look at church health as well as prescriptive tools to lead churches into revitalization. vii SECTION 1: THE PROBLEM Introduction Since the mid-1960s, researchers and demographers, both outside and inside Christian circles, have noted a trend of decline in the local churches and major religious bodies of America. This downward trend first became noticeable among Mainline churches.1