Category: Church

Advertising Objective

The purpose of a business is driven by the scope of the business idea upon which objectives or central objectives are vital installments of the business. In this case, a business has to be guided by a set of objectives that coincide with a brand name reflective of the products. This is a marketing proposal that is guided by a central objective of decentralizing the aspect of unhealthy living through the consumption of fast food. Chicken is one of the main content of the fast-food restaurant menu and an ingredient to various dishes prepared in this particular setting. The objective of this business plan is to provide a product loved by people but taken with caution because of its health issues. The centrality of this objective is to eliminate the aspect of the health concern in the product of interest.

Product Name and Description

The product name is Churchs Fried Chicken and the advertising objectives of the product are to reach out to the whole market of chicken lovers as well as convincing fast-food critics of the health safety of consuming Churchs Fried Chicken. In theory and practice, it is hard to convince a crowd with preconceived ideas about fast-food menu content on its safety. In this case, the concept of fried chicken is an idealized topic that travels through the shifting of paradigms. The purpose and main strategy of advertising the product are to rebrand the existing paradigms of fast food by reinventing the ingredients and laying out the factual health benefits of the product. Through this approach, the advertising would be programmed to attract realists rather than brainstorming the market with falsified information similar to those used for other products.

Financial Objectives

There are two financial objectives focused on in this proposal. These include; pulling customers and building a market share bigger than the currently leading vendors of fried chicken does. To achieve the financial objective of building a market share will incorporate price wars, delivery of quality service, and provision of market-standard product. The financial goals of this proposal include the achievement of marketing notoriety through the inclusion of product name that does not coincide or resemble the existing local or international brands. As popular as some product names are, their reputation over the decades has gone down  the likes of MacDonalds. Churchs Fried Chicken is picked as a strong product name due to the twist brought by the first name. The purpose of picking the product name is to raise the curiosity of a new market while at the same time launching a product that reckons the existence of other products.

Target Market and Country of Introduction

The target market and the country of the introduction would go hand in hand to maximize and map the market share that would result from the initial operational period. The target market is not limited to a certain class of persons in terms of social standards, financial stability, or a certain age bracket. The market target is the general Egyptian public with the possibility of serving prominent personnel if bids to host events sail through. The sale of fast food is a big business because the corporate world is a dynamic platform that dines at the workplace hence the requirement of preparedness in launching the marketing promotion.

Abstract

On February 15, 1999 fire broke out at a church in Lake Worth, Texas. It led to the death of three fire fighters when its roof collapsed and trapped them as they were trying to put off the fire from inside the church. This was a few minutes after varied fire fighter departments arrived at the scene to extinguish the fire. The fire was reported to have started in an adjacent shed and spread rapidly to the upper floor of the church because of wind. A police officer from Samson Park spotted the fire and reported it to his boss. The message had within no time reached different fire fighting departments which responded by sending its staffs to the scene. Lack of compatible accountability check among the crews was noted as one of the factors that led to death of the three fire fighters. The incidence led to fire fighters changing their methods of responding to fireground incidences.

Introduction

A fire that erupted in Lake Worth, Texas was one of the worst fires to have ever affected a church. The fire in the single-storey building that acted as a church led to the death of three fire fighters after the roof of the church collapsed and barricaded them when they were trying to fight it. The fire had emerged from an adjacent storage shed. Presence of wind led to the fire spreading rapidly into the upper floor of the church. As fire fighters struggled to put off the fire from inside the church, its roof collapsed trapping five of the fire fighters. Other four fire fighters who were at the top of the building escaped narrowly. As people tried to assist those who had been trapped, they managed to rescue two fire fighters before the fire became wild for them to contain it (Duval & Comeau, 1999, p. 1).

How the fire began

The fire is believed to have started form an adjacent storage which was located at the northeast corner of the church building. During the eruption, there was strong wind which made the fire spread rapidly to the upper floor of the church before it was noticed. As pastor was cleaning the church, a boy came and reported that the church had caught fire. Just before the boy had reported to the pastor, a police from Samson Park had noticed it and reported to his boss. He notified Samson Park fire department as he thought the fire had come from there. An employee from water department in Lake Worth had also spotted the fire and informed his supervisor through radio call. In return, the supervisor reported it to Lake Worth fire department. This led to total of six different fire departments arriving at the scene. They all came with different fire fighting facilities (Duval & Comeau, 1999, p. 1).

Fighting the fire

The first fire department to arrive was Lake Worth. Its machine was deployed to attack the fire from the front of the church. The nest was Samson Park and its machine was deployed on the Cowden Street. Both Samson Park and Lake Worth sent two handlines to assist in fighting the fire. Handlines from Lake Worth were deployed inside the church as well as one handline from Samson Park. Saginaw Fire department sent an aerial tower which facilitated in accessing the roof of the church for ventilation. River Oaks Fire Department responded by supplying fire fighters with water from a close hydrant. Fire fighters from both Lake Worth and Samson Park had managed to fight the fire and made a progress towards the east portion of the church. They noticed that the fire had spread up to the upper floor and they decided to extinguish it. Two fire fighters from River Oaks also came to assists them. This made the number of fire fighters inside the church reach five. Four of them managed to access the roof of the church and stated building up the ventilation. After one of the fire fighter removed covers from the roof monitor, he reported to have seen light smoke emerging from the roof. The smoke continued increasing with time. Before they could complete developing the ventilation, the roof collapsed. One of the fire fighters fell into the main hall of the church while the other was left hanging by his fingers at the rim of the collapsed roof (Duval & Comeau, 1999, p. 2). The one who fall in the main hall managed to get the exit and survived with minor injuries. One of the others decided to help the one who was hanging at the edge of the collapsed roof while the other three rushed to the tower ladder.

Death and casualties from the fire outbreak

As the roof collapsed, there were still five fire fighters within the church who got trapped. They were in the southeast corner of the building next to the wall that divided the fellowship hall. According to accountability check performed in the scene, it was found that only two fire fighters were trapped in the building. Other fire fighters made an attempt to rescue the trapped through the fellowship hall. As one of them entered the hall, he reported to have seen a door next to the room that those trapped were believed to be in. He managed to come out with two of the five trapped fire fighters without knowing that there were more in the room. After this rescue, the fire became more wild make it hard for the fire fighters to contain it. A second accountability check was conducted where they realise that there were three fire fighters missing. Two of the missing fire fighters were from River Oaks fire department while the other one was from Samson Park. As they continued extinguishing the fire, they found two of the trapped fire fighters in a small collider that was close to the altar while the third one was in one of the church offices. After the incident, state and local fire marshals decided to take the matter in their hands and investigate what caused the death of the three fire fighters (Ellensburg Daily Records, 1999, para. 2).

Factors that led to death of the three fire fighters

According to state and local fire marshal investigation, they came up with various reasons that may have led to the death of the three fire fighters. One of their reasons was lack of proper building size-up. The investigation team highlighted lack of enough space in the building as one of the reasons that led to the death of the three fire fighters. The corridor and office they were found in were too small. As smoke filled these rooms, they suffocated make it hard for them to breath. Lack of a consistent accountability check among thee fire fighting departments was another factor that led to their death. Initial accountability check had suggested that there were only two fire fighters missing from the entire group. The accountability system used did not account for all fire fighters. This led to fire fighters only rescuing two of their colleagues when they accessed the room they were in through the fellowship hall. Had the group had a uniform accountability check system, they could have managed to know the exact number of fire fighters missing. Lack of rapid intervention crew also contributed to the death of the three fire fighters (Ellensburg Daily Records, 1999, para. 3-5). The team had not put in standby a team of fire fighters who could respond to rescue those of their colleagues who happened to be trapped or overwhelmed by the fire. All the crew present at the scene were busy extinguishing the fire. This made them tired to an extent that they could not respond to any emergency. Team members did not have Personal Alert Safety System (PASS). This is an alarm system used by fire fighters when they get overwhelmed by fire. The sound of the alarm alerts other members that there is danger thus making them respond quickly to rescue the victim. Among the fire fighters who arrived at the church, no one had the alarm. This made it hard fort them to understand that some of their team members had been trapped inside the church.

Conclusion

Lake Worth church fire incident led to the fire fighting departments learning a lot of things when it come to fire fighting process. There are numerous complexities experiences in events of fireground. This requires commanders in such incidences to be well prepared. Some of the complexities keep on changing thus calling for fire fighters to regularly review their preparedness mechanisms to align them with these changes. Lack of preparedness and knowledge among fire fighters who responded to the incidence cost the life of five of their members. Fire fighting departments understood the need for compatible accountability check. This is imperative especially when different fire fighting departments combine effort in fighting fire. Lack of compatible accountability check led to the team failing to recognize the exact number of their members that were missing. Need for PASS among fire fighters was also understood as well as ensuring that there is a rapid intervention crew standby to respond in case of emergency. Absence of these protective measures had been identified as some of the causes of fire fighters fatalities in events of fire outbreak.

Reference

Duval, R. F. & Comeau, E. (1999). Church Fire: Lake Worth Texas. Web.

Ellensburg Daily Records. (1999). Church fire kills three when while fighting blaze. Web.

Introduction

Faith has played a crucial role around the world by guiding those in leadership both in church and government to enhance the care of citizens. Sider (2020) asserts that all people were made in the image of God, which is the true definition of the nature of a person. In addition, governments are meant to cater to their poor citizens. Similarly, according to Genesis 2:15, the responsibility of stewardship is entrusted to those in power by God, who are tasked to watch over others (Sider, 2020). Consequently, I concur that the government should participate in redistributing wealth to the poor, as the church addresses economic injustice while faith organizations are involved in eradicating poverty.

The Role of Government and Church in Economic Resource Redistribution

Governments are God-given, and all people are created by Him, hence humans are equal. Therefore, resource redistribution will not only reduce inequality but also lower the poverty levels among the afflicted. Genesis 2:15 indicates that man was created in Gods image and is equal (Sider, 2020). As a result, governments are most suited to this endeavor since they are centrally placed and know all their population. Similarly, the clergys role in wealth redistribution is well documented in the bible. In Mathew 25:24 Jesus highlighted the importance of supporting the state welfare when he spoke about the poor and the last judgment, where he advocates for caring (England, 2019). Therefore, the church should participate in the redistribution of economic resources to the poor.

The Church Addressing Economic Inequality

In my view, the church should address inequality being experienced across the world. This is because it is pivotal as an agency to give impulse and motivate other groups to work and enhance a sustainable and peaceful society. Abuom (2018) asserts that Amos 5:24 shows the importance of justice and righteousness and likens its flow to that of a stream. Therefore, this can be replicated by the church through fighting inequality.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is my opinion that both the church and the government can be involved in resource redistribution as indicated by the bible. In the books of Amos, Mathew, and Genesis, their roles have been highlighted respectively. Similarly, faith organizations are better suited to fight poverty than governments. This is because religious traditions involve the support of the vulnerable in society through service delivery and the provision of spiritual resources.

References

Abuom, A. (2018). A Clarion Christian call to justice and peace: Ending global inequality and climate injustice. World Council of Churches. Web.

England, R. (2019). Jesus on wealth redistribution: What he said and didnt say. Foundation for Economic Education. Web.

Sider, R.J. (2020). Christian Faith and Economics. In: Akram, T., Rashid, S. (Eds), Faith, Finance, and Economy (pp. 15-29). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. Web.

Introduction

Cohabitation before marriage has long been a debate between families and religious institutions. This practice has been a common factor throughout history and the current generation (Balswick & Balswick, 2018). Some people think it is a viable option, and those who do not support this may alter the structure of their households while they live together. Cohabitation is often associated with issues such as sex, money, fame, and child-rearing (Balswick & Balswick, 2018). People may disagree on the subject, but it is essential to consider all angles before forming conclusions. The purpose of this discussion board post is to gather information regarding the effect that young people feel regarding their sexuality, the decisions they make regarding it, and how they view their ability to form a family before establishing their residence.

The Churchs Position on Matters of Sexuality and Cohabitation

I believe that the Churchs stance on these issues is outdated. It seems that the Church has a narrow view of what constitutes a healthy relationship, and I do not think that it accurately reflects what many people are experiencing today. The Church must be more open-minded about premarital sex, non-traditional relationships, and divorce (Miller, 2021). I have heard many stories about people whose pastors told them that they could not get married until they had lived with their significant other for at least six months. This is not based on any evidence or research. It is an arbitrary rule passed down through generations, but many churches still follow it.

I also know people whose pastors have told them not to get married because their relationship was not perfect enough. I have even heard from some single people whose pastors said that they should feel ashamed for being sexually active before marriage. Studies show that most people have sex before marriage nowadays (Miller, 2021). As a result of this kind of narrow-minded thinking, many singles are left feeling confused and even pressured into making decisions they might not otherwise make if they had more accurate information about relationships and sexuality in general.

Different Teachings Regarding Cohabitation Before Marriage

Scripture teaches people to be wise in their conduct, especially regarding relationships. The Bible says we should abstain from sexual immorality (Rayesh and Kalantar, 2018), and I believe it means what it says. The Bible also tells us that marriage represents Christs relationship with the Church (Ballenger, 2017). Therefore, for me, cohabitation before a wedding is something that would have to be thoughtfully considered. According to Rayesh and Kalantar (2018), cohabitation before marriage can lead to more divorces than waiting until after marriage. It is further correlated with a lower quality of relationships and decreased levels of commitment (Rayesh and Kalantar, 2018). These findings are consistent across cultures and religions (Rayesh and Kalantar, 2018). Thus making it a robust case that cohabitation before marriage is not beneficial.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Churchs stance on premarital sex and cohabitation has not changed. It has numerous teachings on cohabitation and sexual relations before marriage. For example, couples who cohabitate too soon signify a lack of commitment, putting the stability of their relationship at risk of failure. Cohabitation is a habit that easily becomes a routine, further damaging a couples relationship. The Church firmly believes in marriage as a sacrament and teaches that this sacrament should not be broken before God has blessed the union. While there may be differing opinions regarding these topics, one should always act following the teachings of the Church. Sexual intimacy is a personal choice and can only be determined by oneself. While couples may feel pressured to act according to social norms, the decision ultimately lies with each individual to decide on their paths regarding sexual intimacy in their relationships.

References

Balswick, J. K., & Balswick, J. O. (2013). Authentic Human Sexuality: An Integrated Christian Approach. InterVarsity Press.

Ballenger, M. (2017). The Ultimate Guide to Christian Singleness. Createspace Independent Publishing Platform.

Miller, L. R. (2021). Single womens sexualities across the life course: The role of major events, transitions, and turning points. Sexualities, 24(1-2), 226-251. Web.

Rayesh, N., & Kalantar, S. M. (2018). The role of praying for the spouse and sanctification of marriage in reducing infidelity. Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 21(1), 65-76. Web.

Introduction

The one lord Jesus Christ is such a description of a being with distinction. As much as religion is concerned many people have different beliefs and faiths that they hold unto. For the Christians the great faith speaks of the trinity with the figure Jesus being God the son as one person of the three persons i.e. God the Holy Spirit and God the father. With Jesus having shared human form and being the mediator of mankind nations across the world have different terms with which they refer to him. Many historical interpretations refer to him as a sovereign being far above all creation. The bible has been one key source of all manner of referrals on regard to the one Lord Jesus.

From the bible and related documentations the reflection of Jesus is as one who was before creation and actually everything was created through him. Now, there is a constant clarity in all sources that there is one sovereign deity, the almighty God who is God the father but the revelation of his son and actually his manifestation was done far much later as flesh and blood in human form. This was a typical introduction in his manifestation about two thousand years ago as a light to the world and in the revelation as God with us. When Jesus went back to the father he promised us to come back to his disciples and he did as the Holy Spirit who is the mighty counselor of brethren and so actually the three in one aspect is such a consubstantial trinity.

Begotten of His Father Before All Worlds

In the very beginning God started by creating the heavens and the earth and this is a clear indication that there was a beginning for creation by God and for everything that exists outside God himself and actually it is him who is the creator. So in essence God was and is the one that was even before the creation, for the creator must precede the creation. In other very familiar terms, in that very beginning was the Word and actually this Word was God and indeed creation was done through him the Word. There is great reference therefore from the Old Testament right then from creation as indicated in the introductory message of creation in the bible. In the New Testament this is clear and it is a confession in the church and generally in the Christian faith that the Holy Spirit by whom Jesus was born has the creative action and in other words a giver of life. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, pt. 1, par. 290-292). According to the New Testament, the book of John states

001: In the start, there was the word, and the word was with Him, and the word was Him
002: The same was at the beginning with God.
003: All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.
004: In him was life; and the life was the light of men. (King James Version, John. 1.1-4)

There is a lot and clear emphasis that Jesus was the Word and that creation was done by him and really, a creator comes first before the creation and such if Jesus was the Word then he precedes the creation.

There are more emphases as they are done in the book of Colossians and they address the same subject more Cleary. For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him. (King James Version, Colossians 1.16). It is thus a reality that before the world was, Jesus was as the Word that which was revealed later as flesh and blood, became light that shone to the world. The implication here is that he was begotten of the father way before his birth.

God Of God, Light Of Light, Very God Of Very God

It is inseparable to define Jesus not exactly as God. There is no confession that there are three Gods, but there is a confession that there are three divine persons and they dont share divinity but each is whole and divine. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, pt. 1. par. 253-256) It is the implication of the bible in the New Testament that Jesus being the Word was made into flesh through birth by Virgin Mary. In the form of a human being with flesh and blood he actually dwelt among the people beholding his very nature and glory of God as he really was. (King James Version, John 1. 14) He was brought up in the very manner of man but he had an exemplary character and wisdom. At an early age of even twelve years, he would challenge the temple priests with his great wisdom and accuracy about the things of the kingdom of God.

His persistent and passionate hunger for godliness and to serve mankind telling the goodness of the kingdom of heaven and how to be part of the same was such a light to many. His great works illustrating that the power of God was mighty and active in him proving that he was the foretold Messiah and light to the word. The explanation of Apostle Peter for Jesus is that of a beloved son of God who came and shone in a dark place and realized himself as a day star that has shone in the hearts of many. (King James Version 2 Pet. 1.16-18) The manifestation of the lord Jesus as the Messiah and the son of God in Israel and indeed a savior to the world began with an adorable welcome right at his birth, by the wise men who had come from the East. This was such an illustration that even the pagans discovered the messianic promise from the Old Testament, he being the light to the world. They actually worshiped Jesus as the Son of God as one to be the king of the Jews. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, pt. 1, par. 422-682)

There is such emphasis in the bible that Jesus was actually in the very nature of God but beholding his glory and indeed denying his image of power and majesty but rather accepting to carry the burden of our sins. He being esteemed far above angles and the heavens but was so humble amidst men to even accepting to die in their hands though had the power to deliver himself. He has been termed as the heir of all things through whom the worlds were made. (King James Version, Hebrews. 1.2-4)

Begotten, Not Made, But By Whom All Things Were Made

There is clear illustration that Jesus was and is the only begotten son of God. He was not made while the rest of the creation was being established. In any case everything was made by him for he was even in the beginning. Basically a creator but not part of the creation would be the best definition of Jesus. The birth of Jesus is elaborated as a unique case of child conception. The Virgin Mary was a Jewish lady who was engaged to a young man called Joseph and actually was in the process of courtship towards marriage. The Young man suspects that the lady and his fiancé were expectant and so he was like any other responsible person worried and concerned. He wanted to disengage Mary but in private. This however did not go for long before God sent an angel to the young man with an explanation of the whole scenario. Mary had not become unfaithful to her fiancée but the lord had appeared to her and informed her that she would conceive of the Holy Spirit. The angle explained that the birth would be to the fulfillment of a prophecy and that the childs name would be Jesus. This was to mean God with us and to be the savior of the nations. (King James Version, Mathew, 1.18-21)

Many people do not however appreciate that Jesus is the son of God or the word of God and that he was not made. One big reason for many people is the fact that he like any other human person had his own place in human history. The capability to have two natures in one being is such a mystery and has not been clear to many. However the livelihood of Jesus ends in such a way rather too different. Besides the prophetic revelation of his livelihood, he himself prophesies his death. He actually dies and on the third day after his death rises again and reaffirms his being the son of God.

Being One Substance With The Father

Jesus told his disciples that those who had seen him had seen the father and actually he promised them that after his ascension he would be back in a little while and he did send the Holy Spirit. (King James Version, John, 14.1-21) He is actually sited on the right-hand side of God. For a long time in Israel, God revealed himself as one the Lord God of Israel, whom they were to love with all their hearts and should and indeed their might. God called them to himself as the only God of their salvation. These were such times when Israel would follow other foreign gods and worship them. By the word of the prophets God continuously called Israel and the nations to turn back to him for he is the only one God besides who there is no other. In the New Testament, God Jesus actually affirms that God is the one and only God who must be loved with heart, strength, soul and with is the lord and as well who must be loved with ones mind. At the very same time, from Jesus we get an understanding that he himself is Lord who must be loved. Actually confession of Jesus as Lord and savior is one fundamental basis in the Christian faith and this is not to be any controversy but actually to illustrate that Jesus is one substance with the father. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, pt. 1. par. 201-202)

Jesus has the abounding reflection of God in the manner of power, authority and majesty. As explained in the The Mirror of the Blessed Life of Jesus Christ, Jesus in his ministry demonstrated outstanding wisdom that not even the wisest men of his era would fathom. It is really clear that the life and ministry of Jesus was such a clean life in the sense that though he was himself human, was tempted like any other human he never gave in to sin. Even the greatest of prophets in the scriptures has at one point or another been caught up in sin but Jesus was all through Holy. He overcame with such divine walk that would qualify to be called one with the father. (Connolly, 12-18)

Who for Us Men And for Our Salvation Came Down From Heaven

There are so many views to the reason of the revelation of Jesus and one greatly referred is the essence of salvation. The world had become so corrupt at some point that it was destroyed by floods. These were the times of Noah in the biblical history. Later enough, the world again becomes filth before God but then the love of God the Father for the world could not allow him see the world perish out of its sins. Due to this great love God gave up his one and only son and as explained at large in the bible, his only begotten son so that whoever could make up his mind believe in him as the true word of God and light to the world would inherit the Kingdom of God. Whoever would doubt that would have no chance than to perish in his sins. (King James Version, John. 3.16)

Commonly any person that gathers his mind to confess with his own mouth about the lordship of Jesus and the forgiveness of sins in his death and resurrection is considered saved. In the course of actually believing this at heart with regard to what one confesses realizes one is justified or righteous before God. (King James Version, Romans 10.9-10) The implication for the messianic suffering is upheld as a relief for mankind from agony and suffering. Instead Jesus is reckoned as a man of many sorrows and grief. In actual sense he suffered and so took our sorrows, this is far much a great act of salvation for mankind from their transgressions. He was wounded for many to realize their healing and liberty, a key prophecy by prophet Isaiah. (Taylor, 148)

And Was Incarnate by The Holy Ghost of The Virgin Mary and Was Made Man

Jesus incarnation and to mean the word become flesh is the key to our salvation. Gods love for us made him give up his only and begotten son and by the power of the Holy Spirit and was incarnate of the Virgin Mary and was hence made man. This was to reconcile mankind to God and to their salvation. This was to allow man to see and know the full capacity of Gods love. It was the manifestation of Gods love for us all that we may perish not but rather be given a model and icon of holiness from which people would learn the will of God the Father, Jesus being the perfect example. God commanded that he be listened to during his transfiguration as the true voice of God. The word of God became Flesh and man for that matter so that even man could partake in the divine nature of God. This was a sign of adoption into sonship in the kingdom of God along with Jesus as the firstborn. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, pt. 1. par. 456-460)

There is an emphasis on the fact that he was born of a woman like any other human child, this introduces Jesus in a world of sin in the very way that many children have been bone. He was brought up as a young boy and actually experiencing the very upbringing and routine of a Jewish male child, circumcised on the eighth day and life was as human as possible. He did not prove any different to other children physically. However in his growth he had favor before many and before God himself as a very wise child who spent good time in the temple, accompanying his parents to festivities and Jewish Cultural events. As he grew even before he started his ministry, Jesus had great power in himself, only time was to prove when to start ministry. One day in the company of his friends and his parents at a wedding party at Cana of Galilee, Jesus power is stirred with surprise. The wedding wine run out and the party was not over, Jesus mother was one of the few who knew the power in Jesus beyond his human nature and she put Jesus on the call for a solution Jesus was astonished between being himself as a man among other men, maybe to offer a local solution of buying more wine or acting in his Godly image and working a miracle. He actually was overcome by her mothers persistent trust as the son of God and solution to impossibilities and ended up performing a miracle though privately, in actual sense many people only wondered why the sweeter wine later. (King James Version, John. 4.1-5)

Conclusion

The only one lord Jesus had a paramount duty to serve and suffer for man, born of a virgin woman mysteriously through the power of the Holy Spirit as such one substance with God the father. The three divine persons are distinct from each other. The manifestation of each being ideal, God the father generates, God the Son is begotten and God the Holy Spirit proceeding. However, Each Person is wholly God of the three in one. Jesus as the begotten son of God who came down from heaven to earth to save mankind was such close manifestation of the trinity in the form of flesh and blood, the son of man. The whole incident happening in the deeply religious Jewish culture in Israel from far foretold prophesies. This happens in such a time when the traditional Jewish religious culture holds unto the ten commandments of Moses, a great prophet and Israel legendary priest and more keenly deliverer from ancient Israels captivity in Egypt. Actually the one Lord Jesus came to deliver the Israelites and Jews in particular but his revelation was not clear to many and they ended up rejecting him with ridicule and actually prosecuting him among two other convicts for lawlessness, the Jewish priests providing allegations against him. This however turns against them and for such rejection by his own, the rest of the world and gentiles getting the opportunity to accept him thus becoming not only a savior for Israel but for all mankind. Though he went to be with the father and is in his right hand, he is God with us. He promised us the Holy Spirit who is in the hearts of those who believe in Christ Jesus; no one can call him lord unless help of the Holy Spirit who is preparing the church of Jesus Christ to the will of God the father.

Works Cited

Catechism of the Catholic Church: 2^nd Ed. Web.

Connolly Margaret. Nicholas Love: The Mirror of the Blessed Life of Jesus Christ. Medium, Aevum articles journal, 76.2 (2007): 12-18. Web.

Taylor Vincent. The Life and Ministry of Jesus: New York: Abingdon Press, 1955.

Background

The Foursquare Gospel is an evangelical Pentecostal denomination the name of which is closely related to the emblem, represented by four squares. The four squares symbolically show Jesus Christ the Savior, Baptizer, Healer, Coming King. It refers to the revelation of Aimee Semple McPherson, the founder of the church, which she received from the book of Ezekiel. Aimee McPherson described the emblem as the four essences and hypostases of Jesus Christ. This theological doctrine is the unique identifier of the church.

Founder

Aimee Semple McPherson (1890-1944) was a prominent Canadian evangelist who used radio and other media to preach and spread Christianity. One was one of the most famous Protestant evangelists and the founder of Foursquare Church (de Alminana 256). In 1922, she announced that she had received a revelation about the vision of the Gospel of the Four Squares, which defined the theology of serving Jesus Christ in four aspects (de Alminana 258). She laid down a cooperation policy with other evangelical churches, the consciousness of assemblies and unions that would lead an active preaching activity. Her preaching style, charity fundraisers, and faith healing activities attracted many followers and imitators.

Polity

Initially, the church was not planned as a denomination, but the number of followers was constantly growing; therefore, a structure was needed. The Evangelical Protestant Church does not recognize a vertical system since each person must turn to God and seek salvation individually. In 1927, a structure was formed, which in 1930 was named the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel. It uses modified episcopal governance when pastors are appointed to the positions (Jensen 22). The followers believe that individuals must lead their peers. The horizontal structure and collaboration with other evangelical organizations allow the Foursquare Gospel to spread quickly to different countries and recruit new followers.

Theology

The theology of the Foursquare Gospel is based on the four hypostases of Christ and the recognition of the Bible as the whole word of God. The motto of the church is that Jesus Crist is the same yesterday, and today, and tomorrow, and forever from Hebrews 13:8 (Jensen 19). The Church confirms that Christ is co-existent and co-eternal with the Father, his virgin birth, death, and resurrection. Church followers believe in the existence of heaven and hell, the second coming of Christ, and the final judgment (Jensen 29). It practices Baptism by immersion only and the Lords supper (Jensen 29). Baptism using the Trinitarian formula is practiced only for adult believers and is closely related to the possibility of salvation, although it is not salvation in itself (Jensen 30). The Lords supper is understood in the church as a token that connects the believer with God.

On evolution issues, Aimee Semple McPherson believed that evolution is contrary to the Bible and Christianity and denies the power of God. Therefore, the church opposes Darwins theory, denying human and animal evolution (de Alminana 264). However, it does not support the idea of a young Earth(de Alminana 271). Disciples do not believe that the age of the Earth can be calculated based on the Bible.

The Bible is recognized as the word of God and the only source containing true knowledge. It is the final indisputable authority that allows us to make judgments on certain issues. The church recognizes that people are in the fallen state of being and feel guilty for violating Gods law (Kaunda 122). Salvations for people are achievable entirely by grace and a free gift. Even though the sacrifice of Christ was for all humanity, the benefits of His death are obtained only through a personal appropriation by grace (Kaunda 122). The churchs followers believe in a persons free will, which leads them to salvation through a moral lifestyle.

Growth and Development

The Church of the Foursquare Gospel has proclaimed a policy of association with all Christians and cooperation to achieve a joint mission. Therefore, the church is a member of several Christian organizations such as Pentecostal Charismatic Churches of North America, Pentecostal World Fellowship, and the National Association of Evangelicals (International Church of the Foursquare Gospel). The Foursquare Church claims to have over 100,000 churches in 150 nations worldwide. The website claims that the church has 8.8 million followers worldwide. The last accurate count of American church members was made in 2006 and totaled 353,995 people (International Church of the Foursquare Gospel). The Pentecostal movement, like The Foursquare Church itself, claims to see growth in followers and the spread of churches to different countries. The US, Brazil, and Ecuador communities are particularly strong. According to these data, it can be stated that the church is developing and growing.

Video Lecture Summary

The Pentecostal movement is the fastest growing branch of Christianity, especially in the Global South. The many religious branches of Christianity influenced the movement, and it is difficult to trace its legacy. The lecturer described how the emergence of Pentecostalism coincided with the San Francisco storm of 1906 (Video Lecture: Pentecostalism). A new movement was forged in the services and motives held in parallel with the terrifying natural disasters. Another vital feature of Pentecostalism is the development of Methodism, a horizontal structure, and the pastors approach to the flock. The democratic design allows the church to constantly develop and look for new ways to attract people to salvation and faith. In addition to this, many people are attracted to music and healing rituals, which give unique energy to being in church (Global Pentecostalism). The movement is as tolerant as possible to people of all races and genders, aimed at gaining personal salvation.

Works Cited

Global Pentecostalism. YouTube, 2008.

de Alminana, Margaret English. Aimee Semple McPhersons Pentecostalism, Darwinism, Eugenics, the Disenfranchised, and the Scopes Monkey Trial. Pneuma, vol. 41, no. 2, 2019, 255-278. Web.

International Church of the Foursquare Gospel. Serving You, Changing the World. Foursquare Leader. Web.

Jensen, Erik Ringsvold. Organizing Revival: the story of how the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel and the Norwegian Pentecostal movement sought to facilitate for growth. MS thesis. 2021.

Kaunda, Chammah J. Pentecostal Rationality: Epistemology and Theological Hermeneutics in the Foursquare Tradition, written by Simo Frestadius. Mission Studies, vol. 39, no.1, 2022, 122-123. Web.

Video Lecture: Pentecostalism.

Introduction

Being a believer requires a great deal of sacrifice and dedication but it is mainly synonymous with disciple-making. The church is expected to play a significant role in spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. Consequently, the task of making disciples is a core element of the church and it is not an extra service that individuals are expected to carry out. The Great Commission of Matthew 28 orders followers of Christ to make disciples from all nations and creeds ¹. In this plan, I am laying out a disciple-making plan that can be implemented within my area of influence. The main purpose of the plan is to improve my organizations efficiency in the task of making disciples. The plan will incorporate a detailed analysis of my organizations vision, views, values, verifiers, and vehicles. After this plan is laid out, it is expected to boost evangelistic efforts within my area of operation.

Vision

In the book of Proverbs 29:18, the main element of a vision is noted as people. Therefore, any vision that lacks the input of the people is set to wither and die. My capacity as a disciple of Christ is important in ensuring that the vision of the church is realized. Nevertheless, it is important to note that the process of becoming a disciple has been slow and deliberate. I have gone through various stages of discipleship, and at each stage, I have grown from strength to strength. I harbor the same aspirations in the course of disciple-making. I believe that this endeavor should follow a dedicated path². On the other hand, this path should be outlined by a specific plan of action that depends on a mission and relationship-oriented discipleship plan that is guided by the gospel of Christ. I have been through a journey of discipleship that has led me to various stages of growth. I believe that my journey is not over yet, and the same case applies to my mission. My vision for the ministry is that God will continue molding the church according to His specifications. However, this process is only possible through my input and that of other disciples in the church.

When it comes to the target of my disciple-making plan, my mind goes back to what Jesus told his disciples: the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few³. The gospel is for everyone and it does not discriminate because even those who have already become disciples continue to rely on it for survival. Nevertheless, as an individual, I cannot reach all people at the same time and it is only prudent for me to focus on specific areas⁴. My innate calling is to those who find it hard to become disciples because they suffer from rejection as a result of some form of societal stigma. On the other hand, other disciple-makers might be hesitant to make genuine contacts with this demographic. Jesus was the champion of taking the gospel to the individuals that the society had cast aside.

In John 4:23, the woman whom Jesus ministers to is contented with being an outcast and she is surprised that Jesus is talking to her. However, the conversation at the well reveals that even though she is alienated, the woman is a party to the way of the truth. This situation is replicated in various parts of my locality where disenfranchised individuals are hungry for the truth but they cannot get it. My vision of discipleship is inspired by Jesus efforts in trying to reach and disciple to the disenfranchised. Most of these groups are found in random places but not in prayer meetings or other such places. The internet remains to be the major playing ground for the disenfranchised and I hope to utilize this medium in the course of my efforts to reach and disciple.

Values

My ministry is dependent on various values but the main ones are cultivating fellowship among believers, the proclamation of the gospel, discipleship duties, living testimony, and worship. Fellowship of believers is an important aspect of discipleship because it is the fire that keeps the gospel burning. In Hebrews 10:24, the apostle advises the church to let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up on meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another⁵. This passage gives an outline of how disciples are incubated in preparation for multiplication. This plan seeks to rely on these core values to guarantee longevity and efficiency in the spread of the gospel.

In the book of Second Timothy, Paul outlines a core value of discipleship as the ability to remain calm in all situations while enduring hardships and carrying out the duties of the ministry⁶. Discipleship is challenging for anyone and it requires a great deal of sacrifice from those involved. Another core value of this plan is the proclamation as it is laid out in Matthew 28:19-20. The fulfillment of the Great Commission is the core value in this plan because it establishes a central purpose. The commission is also the basis for the churchs relationship with the rest of the world. There is a sense of continuity through the value of the Great Commission because all disciples become disciple-makers thereby creating an unending chain. Furthermore, the church and the community feed off the energy of each other in a symbiotic relationship⁷.

Another important passage in this plan is found in Acts 1:8: but you will receive the power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth⁸. The Holy Spirit is the motivation for all my actions including that of coming up with this plan. Witnessing the goodness of Christ constantly motivates me to induct others into His umbrella so that they can also enjoy the peace of mind that comes with it. The only people who can profess about the power of the Holy Spirit are the ones who have witnessed its command. Continuous worshipping is also expected to be a core value in the discipleship plan. According to John 4:24: God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth⁹. After all, is said and done, disciple-makers are primarily worshippers and they have to do so in a manner that upholds the core values of the gospel of Christ.

Views

Our ministry is dependent on various perspectives for it to be successful but some of these are more relevant than others are. The church is the main element of this disciple-making plan because all the activities that are outlined here are an extension of the churchs activities. The current stature of the church can be traced back to the mid-1900s when the outfit became a viewpoint of personal faith. The church is the body of Christ and it is made of many different parts composed of the redeemed in Christ as Paul reminds the church¹⁰. Currently, I use my church affiliation as the central reference in my expression of faith. On the other hand, my parent-church has various unique elements that define it. For instance, the church has people from different demographics and they all assume various roles as workers in the body of Christ. The most accurate view of the church is as an organization of workers who come together to accomplish the Great Commission.

The body of Christ is constituted of several parts and components, which are all necessary for the accomplishment of the Great Commission. The three main components of my ministry are leadership, pastors, and saints. All of these parts depend on the leadership of Christ in the course of discipleship duties. The senior pastor is the figurehead of the church and he is called specifically to lead the local church, supernaturally empowered to equip the saints, and has a servants heart cast vision for the church¹¹. Naturally, the pastor should be in a position to articulate the churchs vision and provide a sense of direction to the disciple-makers. Servant leadership is a key element of the pastors office.

The saints are the members of the body who have been spiritually gifted by the Holy Spirit to carry out the work of the church¹². The saints are also workers in the body of Christ and their various spiritual gifts are required in the course of disciple-making. It is usually the role of the pastor to recognize the gifts of the saints. Besides, the leader facilitates the growth of these gifts because this is a vital element of a healthy church. Eventually, saints take up the leadership of the church, and then it becomes their turn to nurture others. Any successful disciple-making process requires special attention to be paid to the growth of saints. Scholars recognize that even Jesus gave priority to His disciples over the crowds that gathered to listen to Him. Consequently, on various occasions, Jesus would disperse the crowds so that he could have one-on-one sessions with the disciples¹³. Saints are another core element in this plan and they have to be prioritized for disciple-making to be successful¹⁴.

The churchs mission is deeply rooted in discipleship whereby this is the only method of sharing and spreading the gospel of Christ. Discipleship is the central premise in this plan because when it is successful, the churchs development is uniform. Evangelism occurs within the premise of discipleship when the saints venture into all corners of the universe making disciples from all nations and creeds. Therefore, evangelism is the telling of the good news of what God has done for us in Jesus Christ&having received his continuing privilege and obligation to tell¹⁵. Discipleship provides a means of learning and exercising the will of God at the same time. On the other hand, successful discipleship gives rise to evangelism as disciples bear witness to the goodness of Christ.

Vehicles

Discipleship is a long journey and it requires vehicles that can help us reach our destinations faster. My ministry is well endowed with various vehicles in the journey of making disciples. The key vehicle is our churchs existing organizational structure, which currently includes pastors, trustees, and other existing executives. The church does not operate under the constructs of the human organization but within the guidelines of the bible. Therefore, the organization element of this plan is solely guided by the ministry of Christ. The church does not necessarily depend on financial strength to execute this plan. However, the plan is to put God first in all matters and while utilizing prayers as a guiding force. There will be an organizational chart that will be based on the structure of the church and the body of Christ. The metaphor of the body expresses an ontological entity of the variety of members with different functions but of the same nature¹⁶. The plan is to have Jesus in the drivers seat and have everyone else assume his/her respective position. Therefore, the deacons, ushers, leaders, and trustees will all be in the same church-vehicle.

There is already a well-established small group ministry within our organization and it will come in handy in this plan. First, the midweek Bible studies will be instrumental in creating a basis for the disciple-making process. Small group ministries are known to foster a causal relationship when it comes to the growth of bigger groups¹⁷. Within these groups, there is an unmatched element of prayer life and functional relationships, all of which contribute to the strength of any ministry.

The plans calendar and events will be prepared one year before the plan is put into practice. This tactic will be useful in facilitating planning and ensuring excellence in execution. The calendar will accommodate some flexibility because leadership changes can occur within any given time before the year is over. Planning is a vital element of any mission and it determines whether an endeavor is successful or not. Nevertheless, spiritual guidance is the overall guide because while it is us as human beings who make plans, it is God who directs our steps¹⁸. We hope that the calendars and events that we make are ordained by the Lord.

The disciple-making plan will include an event form that will be filled out by the leaders who will be in charge of the organization. Various leaders will rely on the event forms to approve some specific aspects of disciple-making. Prayers will be the first step when we are seeking success in any event. The second step will be approving the event, after which it is incorporated in the church calendar. The third step will be to organize the budget for the event while carrying out any additional plans. Nevertheless, some events will require some form of fundraising where provisional budgets are not enough.

The budgeting process will be carried out by the relevant personnel. In normal circumstances, budgets for various ministries are given out once a year. The final budget is not up to me but it is up to the budget personnel to make the final assessment on how many resources go towards a certain undertaking. Reaching is the central premise in the plan and it is expected that the budget will account for it. Also, the budget needs to account for the churchs efforts to communicate its vision and plans through a periodic publication. The publication will contain seasonal assessments and reports on the progress that has been made in the organizations efforts to carry out the Great Commission.

Verifiers

It is thus written: and whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him¹⁹. Therefore, it is up to the church to maintain high levels of performance in all its undertakings. Performance evaluation is part of the excellence that should be upheld by the modern church. The plan will evaluate the ministrys operations with the view of finding out what is promoting disciple-making efforts and what is derailing them. The mission of the plan has been outlined in detail. Consequently, the only accurate method of measuring progress is by using the plans mission as a point of reference. If the church has seen growth appropriate to the goal of moving from spectator to replicator it will be shown through attendance in worship and growth of the small groups²⁰. The main issue is to use verifiers that are goal-oriented assessments of the plan. For instance, we hope that the attendance of our worship meetings will go up considerably because of our efforts. The key concept is moving participants in small groups from spectators to participators.

On the simple measure of success is the quality of leadership that results from the disciple-making plans. For instance, quality leadership, firmly rooted in prayer, self-sacrifice, praise, and gratitude, will have a lasting impact for present and future generations²¹. A pastor cannot disciple a whole church but he requires the assistance of members. In this plan, the goal is for leadership to create leaders. These leaders are bound to come from any corner including small group meetings, educational classes, and other church activities. The plan is to utilize these new leaders by making them pillars of the church within the community.

The church will rely on conferences that can increase the number of disciple-makers within the congregation. The first step when catching fish is investing in fishing nets. Consequently, it is important for the church to be equipped to make disciples so that we can make healthy disciples²². Small groups within the church are vital verifiers because these men, women, and youth groups are important in the disciple-making process. I anticipate that a successful plan will lead to people being saved, baptized, transformed, and attending more church services.

This plan does not only account for spiritual growth but also increase in numbers. All human beings were the sheep of one fold and the concept of disciple-making is to return as many sheep as possible to the goodness of Christ²³. The interaction between Jesus and the woman in the well is a testament that all lost sheep can be found if the right strategies are used. However, before numbers are achieved other aspects of measurement are necessary. For instance, the SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis is a good method of verifying this disciple-making plan. All these four aspects apply to the organizational model of my church and it would be prudent to analyze the expected success rate of the venture. The main goal of this plan is to reach and minister the disenfranchised community. Consequently, members who come from other churches to ours are not necessarily part of the plan.

Bibliography

Arnold, Jeffrey. The Big Book on Small Groups. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2004.

Atkinson, Harley, and Joel Comiskey. Lessons From The Early House Church For Todays Cell Groups. Christian Education Journal 11, no. 1 (2014): 75-87.

Beagles, Kathleen. Growing Disciples in Community. Christian Education Journal 9, no. 1 (2012): 148.

Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. Dietrich Bonhoeffer Works Vol 4. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress, 2003.

Earley, Dave, and Rod Dempsey. Disciple Making Is: How to Live the Great Commission with Passion and Confidence. Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, 2013.

Erikson, Millard. Introducing Christian Doctrine. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1992.

Falwell, Jerry. Building Dynamic Faith. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2007.

Putman, Jim, Bobby William Harrington, and Robert Coleman. DiscipleShift: Five Steps That Help Your Church to Make Disciples Who Make Disciples. London, UK: Zondervan, 2013.

The Holy Bible, New International Version. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1984.

Whitney, Donald. Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life. Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2014.

Footnotes

1. Matthew 28:19 (NIV).
2. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Dietrich Bonhoeffer Works Vol 4 (Minneapolis, MN: Fortress, 2003), 205.
3. Matthew 9:37 (NIV).
4. Jeffrey Arnold, The Big Book on Small Groups (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2004), 56.
5. Hebrews 10:24 (NIV).
6. 2 Timothy 4:5 (NIV).
7. Jim Putman, Bobby William Harrington, and Robert Coleman, DiscipleShift: Five Steps That Help Your Church to Make Disciples Who Make Disciples (London, UK: Zondervan, 2013), 140.
8. Acts 1:8 (NIV).
9. John 4:24 (NIV).
10. 1 Corinthians 12:14-20 (NIV).
11. Harley Atkinson and Joel Comiskey, Lessons From The Early House Church For Todays Cell Groups, Christian Education Journal 11, no. 1 (2014): 77.
12. Dave Earley and Rod Dempsey, Disciple Making Is: How to Live the Great Commission with Passion and Confidence (Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, 2013), 1054.
13. Jerry Falwell, Building Dynamic Faith (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2007), 28.
14. Donald Whitney, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2014), 18.
15. Kathleen Beagles, Growing Disciples in Community, Christian Education Journal 9, no. 1 (2012): 148.
16. Donald S Whitney, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2014), 18.
17. Jeffrey Arnold, The Big Book on Small Groups (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2004), 78.
18. Proverbs 16:9 (NIV).
19. Colossians 3:17 (NIV).
20. Millard Erikson, Introducing Christian Doctrine (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1992), 29.
21. Harley Atkinson and Joel Comiskey, Lessons From The Early House Church For Todays Cell Groups, Christian Education Journal 11, no. 1 (2014): 79.
22. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Dietrich Bonhoeffer Works Vol 4 (Minneapolis, MN: Fortress, 2003), 210.
23. Dave Earley and Rod Dempsey, Disciple Making Is: How to Live the Great Commission with Passion and Confidence (Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, 2013), 754.

Most Christians think that women are oppressed, and their rights denied when limits are put on their roles in the church. This has led to the cropping of great challenges between complementarians and egalitarians on the limitation of womens leadership roles. For instance, many women in the current churches fight for the post of pastor despite its support from the holy book as men oriented (1Tim 2:11-15 & 1 Cor 14:34-35).

According to complementarians, all men and women were created identically in Gods likeness. However, God gave them different responsibilities in both places of worship and home. The complementarians believe in mens responsibility of mirroring God as loving, intelligent, defensive and omniscient. According to complementarians, there are important dissimilarities between women and men that dictate their roles.

Rom 16:1 and Rom 16:7 support egalitarians belief in equality. The two verses outline the contributions of women. They also advocate for fifty-fifty power-sharing. Egalitarians disagree with mens supremacy by arguing that God created both men and women equally in His image and awarded them equal responsibilities.

According to egalitarians, roles in the church are not based on gender observance (Gal 3:28), and at the same time, marriages are based on agreements and negotiations and not headship. They consider male exclusiveness in leadership as an abuse of power.

The offices of deacons and elders are very distinct in the New Testament. In 1 Tim 3:2, the term elder is used to refer to a man. The verse also outlines a good following of Gods teaching, monogamy, hospitality, blameless and vigilance as the qualities of an elder. A man seeking the post of eldership must have good leadership qualities in his own home; this is because of broadness in church supervision.

The word deacon, on the other side, means servant. A deacon serves as a subordinate of the church elder. Biblically, for one to become a deacon, he or she must have the ability to serve God in spiritual ways. In addition, one opts to be gifted with the evangelism capability (Acts 8:5-7). A deacon should have true aspects of Christianity life, full of truth and spirit of administering the word of God (Acts 6:9).

I view womens leadership in church differently and take it negatively. This is because politics is finding its way into Gods holy place. Currently, women movements, the quest for equality in every field, including in the church, whereas the Bible clearly explains the importance of womens submissiveness (1Tim. 2:12). Women are supposed to give their views to men and not lead them (1 Cor. 14:34-35). However, the majority of my friends call for equality and a sense of recognition for women in the church, which I think to be politics-oriented.

The rules outlined in the Bible on how women are supposed to live in society are highly neglected in their daily lives. Women currently are not subjective to their husbands. They emphasize equality even in decision-making.

Although the Bible calls for womens submissiveness, they have some roles in the church. Older women are supposed to teach young women good conduct and ways of the church (Titus 2:3-4). It is also the responsibility of women to teach children good morals.

In conclusion, it is the responsibility of women to teach children good morals, and at the same time, they are supposed to respect and listen to their husbands. Women are also supposed to stop fighting for mens posts in church and instead give their views on what they expect.

Bibliography

Towns Towns. Theology for Today. New York: Wadsworth Incorporated Fulfillment, 2001.

Elwell, Walter. Evangelical Dictionary of Theology. Baker City: Baker Academic, 2001.

Enns, Paul. The Moody Handbook of Theology. Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2008.

Christianity has a vast history that begins in the Middle East and the religion is currently popular in European countries and some African regions, which the Europeans took under control. There are more than one billion Christians in the world, and this religion usually includes Orthodoxy, Protestantism, and Catholicism. Orthodoxy is widespread in such countries as russia, Ukraine, and Belarus; Protestantism is practiced in the USA and South Africa; Catholicism is a prevailing religion in West and North Europe (Roy 104). According to Takele, the Ethiopian geographical position is unique because of the isolation of the mountain range from the rest of the world, making Lalibela a great place for religious enlightenment (2). Such religious centers as Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela in Ethiopia are becoming one of the most famous in the world. In recent decades, Christianity in African countries has been developing at a high pace.

Eleven Medieval Rock-Hewn Churches are located in the center of Lalibela and are attributed to the domain of the king of the region who started the construction of these churches in the 12th century (Takele 9). The heir of the Zagwe dynasty attempted to build a new Jerusalem on African land and proclaim Rock-Hewn Churches the center of Christianity available for all Ethiopians. The desire to create the second center of Christian destiny forced the king of Lalibela to name the biggest river in the region Jordan. Churches are divided into three groups and are found in different parts of this river. Many priests state that the first group symbolizes the Earthy Jerusalem and is located on the North side of the river, the second is the Heavenly Jerusalem located on the East side, and the third consists of one isolated church and is called Bete Giyorgis.

Unique constructions look like masterpieces of art, and many art professionals consider them a cultural heritage of the earth. Monolithic blocks, windows, doors, roofs, and columns attract local citizens and tourists. 87,7% of citizens believe that these churches are key charms for foreign visitors (Berhanu et al. 7). Some citizens and workers in Rock-Hewn Churches believe that the buildings are unique because angels were joining builders bodies to work the whole day and night. Many architects around the world are interested in these constructions because of the complex labyrinth and catacombs structures (Takele 9). The churches have always been homes to priests and monks who lead daily worship and maintain the appearance of the constructions. Nowadays, a vast number of workers heirs live and work in the local settlement.

The purpose of creating Rock-Hewn Churches is unusual for many people professing Christianity as the distance from large cities helped Christians to immerse themselves in more profound thoughts and connect the holy with the religion. These Churches are still used for daily worship, receiving pilgrims, and celebrating such holidays as Christmas and Easter. Rock-Hewn Churches are the heart of African Christianity and stay important heritages for citizens of Ethiopia and many other African regions (Takle 13). The churches were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1978, and Africans are taking part in rebuilding them to save their uniqueness such as their exterior, atmosphere, and history (Takle 14). However, the Ethiopian climate does not give many opportunities to reconstruct the world heritage.

According to Takle, scientific research was not done, and incorrect usage of cement accelerates the destruction of this religious heritage (9). Drainage ditches were covered with earth till the 20th century, and now, after the churches recovery, archeologists found out that paintings and sculptures inside the buildings were destroyed, and constructions became unstable. Concerns for the preservation of Rock-Hewn Churches are now being raised in the world and all efforts are directed towards a better attitude to the religious object.

Many Christians around the world are not indifferent to the historical heritage of Ethiopia as it is one of the most significant religious places. Scientists and many travel organizations suggested that the modern history of Rock-Hewn Churches should be continued by developing travel destinations. However, even though modern innovations give a chance to develop religious tourism in Lalibela, it still might be challenging to do this due to the historical motive of being isolated from a vast influx of people. Berhanu stated that historically Lalibela has never been surrounded by comfortable infrastructure, and this factor might be a severe barrier to the creation of the modern history of the heritage (2). The age of the churches and the complexity of maintenance make the government and church workers concerned about the durability of the constructions. Rock-Hewn Churches have a massive impact on Christians, and religion always goes in the first place.

Religion has existed in Ethiopia for a long time, and particular relation to heritages is not uncommon. The idea of immersion in religion away from overcrowded cities remains one of the most attractive to Christians worldwide. Moreover, Christians interest in preserving history supports faith at a decent level. Efforts, money, and time spent on saving such religious places as Rock-Hewn Churches positively influence it by modern technologies and help create a history of the present.

Works Cited

Berhanu, Esubalew Bayih. Potentials and Challenges of Religious Tourism Development in Lalibela, Ethiopia. African Journal of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure, vol. 7, no. 4, 2018, pp. 1-17.

Roy, Oliver. Is Europe Christian? Oxford University Press, 2019.

Takele, Yezihalem Sisay Cultural Heritage Management Practices  in the Medival Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela, Ethiopia. Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Science, vol. 4, no. 1, 2020, pp. 8-20.

A Healthy Church defines a church that resembles and functions simply as a healthy body, namely the Body of Christ. It is the same desire that Jesus has for his body. The Body of Christ is in it, which doesnt need to be defined, but its important to include, The Body of Christ is the church (Hoare 2017). In contrast, the authors describe an unhealthy church as a church that is gradually losing health due to many wrong decisions that occur over a long period. This article further shows that the goal of discipleship is precisely a healthy church. It is important because as a result of discipleship, the spiritual transformation of believers into healthy people takes place, which forms a healthy body of Christ, that is, a Healthy Church.

The gap between discipleship and the local church may be the biggest challenge facing the Body of Christ in the twenty-first century. What worries many is precisely how discipleship and the local church are related. The possibility of transforming life into the image of Christ wanes until the Body of Christ understands the importance of discipleship and its connection to the church. A transformed life that preaches the gospel engages in life in relationships, uses spiritual gifts in service, and gives generously of time and resources such as money  the ways disciples build a healthy body.

The Body of Christ is what many have identified with the church for many centuries. In Matthew (16:18), Jesus told Peter, Upon this rock, I will build my church, and even the gates of hell will not prevail against it. It is a powerful revelation given by God to Peter and every disciple. The conclusion from this story is this: God reveals himself to whom he wants and at any time he sees whom he suits. During this disposition, it was Peter who was the disciple of the Lord. However, it is now you and me: that is, God reveals the revelation of His word and desire to those who seek it. The gates of hell or hell did not overcome the old patriots, according to Jesus, and the gates of hell will not prevail against them today in the dispensation in which we now live.

A healthy church is founded on the biblical truth that is healthy in its work or ministry. It also has various programs and activities to help its new and old members mature and enable them to become disciples and educators of disciples. They can use their gifts and talents to benefit all members of the body. They are not ashamed of the gospel of Christ; therefore, they do not hide their faith, which they profess (Hoare 2017). Believers also selflessly serve both in the church and outside it, in society and wherever they find themselves.

A good Christian leader is very important for a healthy church. In way to gather them and not scatter, correct, rebuke, advise, praise and hold them accountable for what they do and ensure growth in the Body of Christ. The desire of a healthy church is for its new converts to stay and grow, mature, and become mentors. However, it is not in their power to achieve these results, so interceding for them will also go a long way to help the practical actions and steps taken to bring them to salvation. The lifestyle as students, leaders, and educators will also favor either their stay or departure, so we must let our light shine before them to see our good works and glorify people (Commentary 16). Heavenly Father, and this will encourage them to stay and bear fruit, as our heavenly father desires.

As you know, in the Body of Christ, and at the same time, in the Healthy Church, there are no distinctive dominations. There is one God, one faith, one baptism, one Lord and Savior of all. (Holy Bible 5-6). A pastor has been anointed and gifted by God to deliver His Word to the body for the sanctification of their souls (Holy Bible 11). Saints make up the body of Jesus and are known in most denominations as the gathering of souls. Spiritual gifts only come from the anointing of the Holy Spirit to exhort the churches for the benefit of the saints and the glory of the Lord (Holy Bible 11-16). Finally, these terms work hand in hand:

• to have a pastor who has no one to listen to his teaching and shepherding is meaningless,
• to have a church, like no shepherd is lost people,
• to have saints not anointed with the gifts of the Spirits, a church of the spiritually dead,
• to have a spiritual anointing without being holy is insignificant without any calls of the body, and false teachings abound.

If any of this is lacking in the church, then the church is said to be unhealthy and insufficient to spread the Good News about Jesus Christ. Thus, a healthy church has all this and uses what the Lord gives them for their good and His glory. As a result, a pastor who shepherds the saints in Christs walk would be considered the Christian spiritual leader in the church. There are many leaders in the church (Sunday school teacher, youth minister, junior church director, and others), and a healthy church will use many leaders.

For discipleship to occur, the church must be recognized as healthy. Therefore, a healthy church is a competent and conscious place for discipleship. In this case, his servants (saints) have the opportunity to go out into the communities as a whole to bring new disciples into the body of Christ voluntarily. Divided into four main categories, key characteristic statements have been identified that describe a healthy church accurately. These four categories are (1) gospel message, (2) groups that are kindred, (3) ministry deployment, and (4) giving with general erosion.

Since the result of discipleship is spiritual transformation, and believers constitute the church, it follows that the goal of transformed believers is the healthy body of Christ. Transformed lives that communicate the gospel participate in relationships, use spiritual gifts in ministry, and give time and money generously to form a healthy congregation or church environment. Disciples must deeply understand y gospel message from the perspective of the full guidance of God. Thus, the Good News of Jesus Christ must be championed by current disciples, believed by those who wish to become disciples, and accepted as new creations in Christ to experience their true transformative potential.

Healthy Church Assessment

The Strongest Area

Love for God is the strongest side of my local church. The pastors of this church consider this the strength of the number one church. In the church, the main thing is to search the Scriptures for yourself, teach what God is speaking through this message, and then share what God has shown to those who seek. The body students are constantly reminded that if the pastor says something unpleasant in the message, they need to check the Scriptures and bring everything into line with the Word of God.

The Weakest Area

Love of neighbor seems to be the area of least strength. Despite the fact that at present, the church and its disciples are not as active in society as we would like, the Lord leads to love for ones neighbor. Since this is a small church, the worshipers were still blessed enough by God to donate over $7,000. The church is still growing and has few members, so this is a significant step.

Plans for Improvement

If the pastors and the congregation agree, below is a shortlist of suggestions that I would like to implement in the ministry. That will help the church and its students to become better:

1. Start missionary work in the community
2. Start weekly community needs planning sessions

TAHO Chart

Below is a TAHO chart with scoring to describe the characteristics associated with the scoring above. For each selected area, I gave the corresponding estimate from above. In doing so, I scored 80 points for the overall score and then divided it by 25 (the number of points in the score) and got an average score of 3.2. After doing these two assessments and seeing where our strengths and weaknesses lie, I am excited to see how the Lord will manifest His will for our church.

References

Commentary, Matthew Henery Concise. Bible Hub, 2007. Web.

Holy Bible, New International Version. Ephesians 4 NIV. Biblica, Inc., 2011. Web.

Matthew. Bible Hub. Web.

Hoare, Edward. The Believer Not Ashamed of the Gospel. The Project Gutenberg, 2017.

Holy Bible: Containing the Old and New Testaments: King James Version. New York: American Bible Society, 2010.

Appendix A

Healthy Church Assessment: (Up/ In/ Out)

Love for God: (Up)

1. Obedience to Christ is valued above all else 10
2. Going, baptizing and teaching people to obey Christ is prioritized 8
3. New believers are growing in their ability to surrender and sacrifice for the kingdom 9
4. The whole counsel of God (meta-narrative) is being taught 9
5. A majority of the saints have daily quiet times % ___9____?
6. A majority of the saints are praying and listening daily for the voice of Christ% ___9____?
7. Believers are seeking to consistently be controlled by the Holy Spirit 10
8. The saints are memorizing the Word of God 7
9. Believers are eager and willingly investing their financial resources in the Kingdom of God 10
10. Worship occurs at the individual level and it is powerfully manifested when the body gathers together 9

Love for One Another: (In)

1. New believers are intentionally and individually nurtured and developed 8
2. The saints are growing in maturity in community (connecting them to Jesus through the disciplines) 9
3. The saints are growing in unity and love for one another 10
4. The saints are encouraged to discover their Spiritual gifts in community 7
5. A majority of the saints are in relational groups they are ministering to each other % ___9____?
6. A majority of the saints are using their gifts properly (according to Gods design)  % ___9____?
7. Leaders see their role as equipping and empowering the saints 9
8. Leaders are being consistently developed to make disciples 8
9. Speaking the truth in love is being consistently practiced 9
10. Restoring of other believers is done with grace and truth (Church discipline is practiced) 10

Love for Our Neighbors: (Out)

1. Passionate prayer is continually being offered up for the lost and for laborers 10
2. A majority of the body is engaged in mission (personal and groups)  %___5____?
3. A majority of missional groups are lovingly sharing their lives and the gospel with unbelievers (living on mission in community)  % ____5___?
4. The gospel is being proclaimed by word and action by the members of the body 8
5. The poor and least of these is intentionally being served and helped through the members of the body of Christ 10
6. Areas/ domains of the city are being intentionally occupied by ambassadors of Christ 9
7. The body of Christ (hands and feet of Jesus) is visible to the community& We dont know what we would do without this church in our community 5
8. Churches are working together to create a gospel net within a community (connecting the loops) 7
9. New churches are emerging in the community in response to the mission 3
10. The mission of Christ is being accomplished locally, regionally, nationally and globally by members from within the local body 8

OVERALL SCORE: Add up the three sections and divide by 3 = ____82.7____

Appendix B

TAHO Chart