Professional Dissertations DMin

Date of Award

2026

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Ministry

College

Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary

Program

Doctor of Ministry DMin

First Advisor

Allan Machado

Second Advisor

Ricardo Norton

Abstract

Problem

The youth service, or “youth society,” of the “Iglesia Nueva” within the Dominican Central Association has experienced low attendance and participation among young adults between the ages of eighteen and thirty-five. A preliminary study identified several contributing factors to this situation. These include program content that fails to capture sufficient interest, worship experiences that lack perceived relevance, limited opportunities for young people to discover and exercise their spiritual gifts and talents, a shortage of mentors, and inadequate planning and follow-up in ministry efforts.

Methodology

Theological foundations regarding the principles of youth participation in the church were examined. Contemporary literature was analyzed to identify the most effective methods and strategies for improving attendance and engagement in youth worship services. A profile of the “New Church” within the Dominican Central Association was developed, along with a study of the factors contributing to the limited interest shown by young people in the youth service programs. Taking all of this into account, a strategy was developed with the purpose of creating the necessary conditions to significantly increase youth attendance and participation in the youth service. The strategy was implemented over a six-month period, which allowed for the observation of sustained changes in participants’ behavior and level of engagement. Furthermore, the process was evaluated using a mixed-methods approach, integrating quantitative measures, such as systematic attendance records and levels of participation, as well as the administration of structured surveys, and qualitative tools, including focus group, testimonies, and the perceptions of the young people involved. This approach made it possible to assess the effectiveness of the intervention in a comprehensive manner.

Results

This project addressed the challenge of low attendance and limited participation among youth in the Seventh-day Adventist Church “New Church” youth service, located in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Through a participatory diagnosis using a focus group, real needs, limiting perceptions, and opportunities for improvement were identified. In response, a comprehensive, biblically grounded, and contextually relevant strategy was designed and implemented to foster youth participation and the development of youth ministries. The evaluated results demonstrated a significant transformation in the church’s youth culture, resulting in a greater sense of belonging, spiritual commitment, and dynamism. The implemented strategy effectively connected with the interests of the youth, strengthened their sense of identity, and deepened their spiritual motivation. The high level of consistency among the participants’ responses reflected strong approval of the evaluated aspects. This indicates that the applied strategy was highly effective in meeting the real spiritual and social needs of this young generation, thus positively impacting their attendance and participation in the youth service.

Conclusion

The strategy implemented to revitalize the youth service proved to be highly successful, achieving its primary objective of significantly increasing youth attendance and participation in a continuous and sustained manner. This growth not only reflected a rise in the number of attendees but also demonstrated a transformation in the quality of the spiritual commitment among baptized youth. The initiative effectively connected with their genuine interests, strengthened their sense of belonging, and fostered deeper spiritual engagement. This outcome demonstrates that implementing service and participation models in youth worship based on spiritual gifts can transform the vitality of the youth community. Likewise, the model of small groups integrated into the youth service facilitates more organic and relational growth. These settings promote openness, mutual discipleship, and a more meaningful church experience.

Subject Area

Church work with youth--Seventh-day Adventists; Church attendance; Participation; General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Inter-American Division. Dominican Union Conference. Central Dominican Conference;

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