Professional Dissertations DMin

Date of Award

2007

Document Type

Project Report

Degree Name

Doctor of Ministry

College

Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary

Program

Doctor of Ministry DMin

First Advisor

Werner Vyhmeister

Second Advisor

Eradio Alonso

Third Advisor

Nancy Vyhmeister

Abstract

The objective of the Great Commission (Matt 28:18-20) includes growth. Throughout Christian history, the church has grown. At the same time, qualitative growth enhances quantitative growth. Both are needed in response to the Great Commission. The Seventh-day Adventist Church would benefit from adopting a philosophy that promotes a wholistic growth of the church. This thesis studied such growth and elaborated a strategy for the Spanish Seventh-day Adventist Church in Baltimore to reach well-rounded growth.

The first step was to study church growth in the Bible. A careful study of the Great Commission throws light on discipleship, a key to church growth. The ideas and strategies of important authors of the church growth movement were also studied. In order to improve church growth in a specific geographical area, a study was made of the situation of Spanish Seventh-day Adventist churches in the United States. More specific attention was paid to the Spanish-speaking congregation of Baltimore. A multi-faceted approach to church growth was designed for this church.

Two specific recommendations were made to stimulate balanced growth in the Spanish Seventh-day Adventist Church in Baltimore, Maryland:

1. The application of the PLAN FE, a plan for spiritual formation and internal growth, with emphasis on vision, gospel, lordship, presence, and union with Christ.

2. Strategies for external growth, which include the permanent implementation of small groups, member instruction, leadership training, and the application of different types of evangelism.

Subject Area

Church growth--Maryland--Seventh-day Adventists; Spanish Seventh-day Adventist Church (Baltimore, Md.)

DOI

https://dx.doi.org/10.32597/dmin/681

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