Professional Dissertations DMin

Date of Award

1998

Document Type

Project Report

Degree Name

Doctor of Ministry

College

Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary

Program

Doctor of Ministry DMin

First Advisor

Randall W. Younker

Second Advisor

Kenneth B. Stout

Third Advisor

Russell L. Staples

Abstract

Problem

Evolution is the only accepted theory taught in the public educational systems and by the scientific community in general. The results of the promotion of this theory have had a negative impact on the church and Scripture in general and is in direct conflict with the message of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. However, the scientific data used to support evolutionary theory are highly suspect. There are credible scientific data that call into question the long-held theory of evolution and in fact support the biblical account of the creation and the flood. The purpose of this project was to write a seminar on origins for the church and community that will build faith in the biblical account of the Genesis creation account, and that can be incorporated into a larger evangelistic series of meetings.

Method

A series of six lectures, entitled “By Accident or Design,” was developed and held at the Nampa, Idaho, Seventh-day Adventist Church- Personal evaluation and a participant survey were used to determine the overall effectiveness of this method.

Results

The seminar was well attended by members of the Nampa Seventh-day Adventist Church and other Adventist churches in the Treasure Valley (the greater Boise, Idaho, area). Several members of other Christian churches were also in attendance. The seminar drew from all socioeconomic as well as educational levels in society. It did not draw people from the unchurched population. The seminar was well received by those who attended.

Conclusions

Evidence from the presentation of this series suggests that the topic of origins attracts people. There are issues and questions which many in the church want answers to. These questions are fundamental to Christian faith and personal existence. There is great potential that this seminar held in conjunction with topics on prophecy and finding meaning for today (gospel) will attract people to hear the message of the Seventh- day Adventist Church as given in Rev 14. The series helps to strengthen faith in the Bible and the creation and flood stories.

Subject Area

Life--Origin; Earth--Origin; Creation

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 4.0 International 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/627

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