Professional Dissertations DMin
Date of Award
2010
Document Type
Project Report
Degree Name
Doctor of Ministry
College
Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary
Program
Doctor of Ministry DMin
First Advisor
R. Clifford Jones
Second Advisor
Trevor O'Reggio
Third Advisor
Martin Klingbeil
Abstract
Problem
Between 1992 and 2007, the attendance of the Hill Portuguese Seventh-day Adventist Church has declined from 200 to 60 members and the church completely lost its sense of mission. This downturn requires investigation and study in order to reverse the situation. The project is an implementation of a program to revive the church in fellowship with God, and in action within the community. Further, Portuguese immigrant members display a tendency towards liberalism when removed from their native culture.
Method
An informal survey was created and administered to the church members in order to discover why membership had been declining through the years. Sermons, pastoral visitation, and training seminars were administrated to the members in order update their knowledge concerning spirituality and mission.
Results
The church developed a spiritual environment for Christian workers to be equipped to fulfill their mission. The tools presented in this project gave the opportunity for practical learning and outreach. As a result of spiritual affirmation, the church accomplished both objectives: to grow spirituality and equip the laity to be involved in mission. House churches became the channel to reach the community.
Conclusions
The project opens the door for a profound commitment of each member. As they renew their faith the focus in every area of the church becomes evangelism: pastors, leaders, and members working together to connect the church with the community. Members have affirmed they are spending more time in personal prayer and studying the Bible, and as a result participate in outreach activities. Worship service and small groups became a tool to connect the community with the church.
Subject Area
Spiritual formation--Seventh-day Adventists; Mission of the church
Recommended Citation
Bezerra, Dilson M., "Developing Spiritual Formation and Mission Awareness in the Hill Portuguese Seventh-day Adventist Church, Johannesburg, South Africa" (2010). Professional Dissertations DMin. 518.
https://dx.doi.org/10.32597/dmin/518
https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dmin/518
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
DOI
https://dx.doi.org/10.32597/dmin/518
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