LIBERTY BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY ESTABLISHING A REVITALIZING STRATEGY FOR CHURCH PLANTERS: AN ANALYSIS OF CHURCH PLANTING TRENDS OF THE 21ST CENTURY WITHIN THE PUBLISHED WORKS DURING THE PAST THIRTEEN YEARS (2001-2013) IN AMERICA A Thesis Project Submitted to Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree DOCTOR OF MINISTRY By Ji Woon Choi Lynchburg, Virginia April, 2014 Copyright © 2014 by Ji Woon Choi All Rights Reserved ii LIBERTY BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY THESIS PROJECT APPROVAL SHEET A+ GRADE Frank J. Schmitt MENTOR, Dr. Frank J. Schmitt David H. Chung READER, Dr. David H. Chung iii ABSTRACT ESTABLISHING A REVITALIZING STRATEGY FOR CHURCH PLANTERS: AN ANALYSIS OF CHURCH PLANTING TRENDS OF THE 21ST CENTURY WITHIN THE PUBLISHED WORKS DURING THE PAST THIRTEEN YEARS (2001-2013) IN AMERICA Ji Woon Choi Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary, 2014 Mentor: Dr. Frank Schmitt Church planting is the most valuable method to spread the Gospel, and God wants to see His churches everywhere. Nevertheless, many church planters have produced strikingly different results; depression or growth. The purpose of this thesis is to analyze and research about current church planting trends within the published works during the past thirteen years (2001-2013) in the United States and to suggest a healthy church planting and growth model for local church planters in America and the World. After the analysis of the current trends in the 21st century, the particular statistical evidences and theological views about this study will lead a suitable guidance for church planters who want to build and spread new churches. The surveys from current church planters, members, and scholars will be also reflected in this significant process for reconciling theory and practice of church planting. Abstract length: 141 words iv DEDICATION To my beloved wife Jiyoung, for your dedicated endurance, prayers, and love during the long but priceless theological research process in America; To my two adorable little daughters Yunseo and Yuna, for your lovable smiles and hugs; To my respectful mother and parents-in-law, for your steadfast prayers, love, and supports; To my great mentor Dr. Schmitt, for your delicate guidance and accurate suggestions with warm and cheerful encouragements for this thesis project; To my thoughtful reader Dr. Chung and professors of LBTS, for your insightful teachings; To all church planters and celebrated scholars who participated to this research process, for your self-abnegating church planting processes and researches in Christ and kindeness to me; And most importantly, To my Redeemer Jesus Christ the Lord, for your endless love and grace in my life and in all churches of the world. J.W.C. v TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT …………………………………………………………………………………..iv DEDICATION ………………………………...………………………………………………. v TABLE OF CONTENTS ………………………………………………………………………vi ILLUSTRATIONS ……………………………………………………………………………xi List of Tables …………..……………….………………………………………………… xi List of Figures …………………………………………………………………………... xiv LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS …………….…………………………………………………… xix CHAPTER Ⅰ INTRODUCTION ……………………………………………………………. 1 Statement of Importance and Purpose of This Research ………………………………… 2 Statement of the Problems ……………………………………………………………… 3 Statement of Limitations ………………………………………………………………….. 8 Theoretical Bases ………………………………………………………………………… 10 Biblical Basis ……………………………………………………………………… 10 Theological Basis ………………………………………………………………….. 16 Historical Basis ……………………………………………………………………. 19 Statement of Methodology ………………………………………………………………. 23 The Research Questions for This Study …………………………………………… 24 The Classification of the Books Selected in the Chapter Two …………………... 27 The Classification of the Groups Surveyed in Chapter Three …………………….. 30 The Ten Trends of the Current Church Planting by the Author’s Pre-analysis ……. 32 vi Review of Literature ……….…………………………………………………………….. 34 Chapter Summary ……………………………………………………………………… 44 CHAPTER Ⅱ THE FIRST RESEARCH AND RESULTS: WHAT THE BOOKS ON CHURCH PLANTING SAY………………………………………….………. 46 The Results from the Investigation of the Books ………………………………………... 46 The Abbreviated List of the One Hundred Books ………………………………… 47 Main Authors of the One Hundred Books ………………………………………… 49 Main Publishers of the One Hundred Books …………………………………….... 50 Publication Dates of the One Hundred Books …………………………………….. 51 The Ten Main Movements or Trends of the Seventy-Six Main Authors ………….. 53 Denominations of the Seventy-Six Authors ……………………………………….. 65 Institutions of the Seventy-Six Authors …………………………………………… 68 Seminaries and Degrees of the Seventy-Six Authors ……………………………… 71 Ages or Generations of the Seventy-Six Authors …………………………………. 76 Ecclesiology of the Seventy-Six Authors …………………………………………. 79 Regions of the Seventy-Six Authors ………………………………………………. 82 Attitudes of Role of Pastors of the Seventy-Six Authors ………………………….. 85 Attitudes of Church Size of the Seventy-Six Authors …………………………….. 88 Chapter Summary ………………………………………………………………………. 93 vii CHAPTER Ⅲ THE SECOND RESEARCH AND RESULTS: WHAT CHURCH PLANTERS SAY ……...……………………………………………………… 96 Results from the Church Planter Survey ………………………………………………… 96 An Overview of the Data Collection and Analysis Process ………………………. 96 Survey Analysis and Findings …………………………………………………… 100 Results from the Author Survey ……………………………………………………….. 121 An Overview of the Data Collection and Analysis Process ……………………... 121 Survey Analysis and Findings …………………………………………………… 124 Results from the Lay-leader Survey ……………………………………………………. 137 An Overview of the Data Collection and Analysis Process ……………………… 137 Survey Analysis and Findings ……………………………………………………. 139 Chapter Summary ………………………………………………………………………. 146 CHAPTER Ⅳ COMBINING THE TWO RESULTS TO ANALYZE THE TREND: BOOKS AND PLANTERS …………………………………………………. 150 Analysis of Theories and Methodologies about the Ten Trends from the Books and the Church Planters ………………………………………………………………………… 152 Analysis of HOC within the Books and the Planters …… ………………………. 153 Analysis of IDC within the Books and the Planters …………………………….. 157 Analysis of IBC within the Books and the Planters ……………………………... 161 Analysis of MDC within the Books and the Planters ……………………….…… 163 Analysis of MGC within the Books and the Planters ……………………………. 167 Analysis of MIC within the Books and the Planters …………………………….. 170 viii Analysis of MSC within the Books and the Planters ……………………………. 174 Analysis of NPC within the Books and the Planters …………………………….. 177 Analysis of OGC within the Books and the Planters …………………………….. 181 Analysis of PTC within the Books and the Planters …………………………... 183 Chapter Summary ………………………………………………………………………. 186 CHAPTER Ⅴ ESTABLISHING A REVITALIZING STRATEGY FOR CHURCH PLANTERS …………………………………………………………………. 189 Prediction of Church Planting Trends from Now On …………………………………... 190 Based On the Ten Movements …………………………………………………… 192 Possibility of Unification of Ecclesiology within Evangelical Protestant Churches …………………………………………………………………………. 202 Actualization of Healthy Church Planting Models Based on the Studied Ten Evangelical Protestant Ecclesiological Trends …………………………………………. 207 The Ten Elements of the New Testament Church Planting with the Ten Movements ……………………………………………………………………….. 207 The Three Models Related to the Current Ecclesiological Positions for Church Planters …………………………………………………………………………… 221 The Ten Success Factors of Church Planting: Give Up Prejudices of Other Trends …………………………………………………………………………………….. 227 Chapter Summary ………………………………………………………………………. 239 ix CHAPTER Ⅵ CONCLUSION ……………………………………………………………... 242 Final Summary …………………………………………………………………………. 242 Final Suggestions for Church Planters ……………………………………………….. 248 Proposals for Additional Innovations after This Study ………………………………… 250 APPENDIX A. The Initial Questionnaire Form of the Church Planters ………………………………….. 252 B. The Online Questionnaire Results of the Church Planters ………………………………. 261 C. The Initial Questionnaire Form of the Authors …………………………………………... 318 D. The Online Questionnaire Results of the Authors: Individual Responses ……………….. 323 E. The Initial Questionnaire Form of the Lay-leaders ……………………………………… 351 F. The Online Questionnaire Results of the Lay-leaders …………………………………… 356 G. The Consent Forms for the Three Surveys ………………………………………………. 369 H. The Web Sites of the Seventy-Six Main Authors ………………………………………... 375 I. The Contact Information of the Seventy-Six Main Authors …………………………….. 380 J. The PowerPoint Presentation for the Oral Defense ……………..………………………. 382 BIBLIOGRAPHY …………………………………………………………………………….. 426 VITA ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 437 THE IRB APPROVAL/WAIVER PAGE ……………………………………………………... 438 x ILLUSTRATIONS List of Tables Table Page 1. The Summary of the Research Questions for the Process of This Thesis ………………… 26 2. The Bases of the Selecting the One Hundred Books ……………………………………… 28 3. The Classification Entry of the Books by the Researcher ………………………………… 29 4. The Current Church Planting Movements or Trends Classified by the Author …………… 33 5. The Abbreviations of the Ten Main Movements or Trends ……………………………….. 53 6. The Tendency of the Ten Main Movements or Trends of the 76 Lead and Single Authors . 56 7. The Nine Denominations Related to the Seventy-Six Authors ……………………………. 65 8. The Denominational Backgrounds of the Seventy-Six Authors of the 100 Books ……….. 66 9. The Six Types of the Institutions Related to the Church Planting of the Authors ………… 68 10. The Institutions of the Seventy-Six Authors of the 100