Thomas - Reviving Church Empowerment Th

184 Pages·1999·7.8 MB·English

by  Thomas, D.C. Nosakhere

REVIVING CHURCH EMPOWERMENT
THROUGH MULTI-DIMENSIONAL PRAYER MINISTRY
AT RAINBOW COMMUNITY PRAISE CENTER OF SEVENTH-DAY
ADVENTISTS, RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CALIFORNIA
A Professional Project
Presented to
the Faculty of the
Claremont School of Theology
In Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Degree
Doctor of Ministry
by
D. C. Nosakhere Thomas
May 1999
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All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the New King James
Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
© Copyright 1999
D. C. Nosakhere Thomas
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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This professional project, completed by
D. C. Nosakhere Thomas
has been presented to and accepted by the Faculty of the
School of Theology at Claremont in partial fulfillment of the
requirements for the degree of
DOCTOR OF MINISTRY
Faculty Committee _ »
Garth Baker-Fletcher a
William M. Clements
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ABSTRACT
Reviving Church Empowerment through Multi-dimensional Prayer Ministry
at Rainbow Community Praise Center
of Seventh-day Adventists, Rancho Cucamonga, California
by
D. C. Nosakhere Thomas
This project seeks to discuss the impact of multi-dimensional prayer, as a means of
revival in the life of the local church and to make the Body of Christ aware that multi­
dimensional prayer as a “thought-practice” is essential for church member empowerment.
Essentially the findings suggest that in period 1 (no multi-dimensional prayer taking
place in the church), the scores were consistently lower than period 2. Conversely, period 2 had
significantly higher scores in every area as the practice of multi-dimensional prayer was in full
implementation in the church’s ministry. Also, in Period 2 scores were higher than period 3 at
which time the pastor was absent from church due to vacation. While period 3 has lower scores
than period 2, it has significantly higher scores than period 1 when multi-dimensional prayer was
scarcely implemented. It also should be noted that the average for the questions ranked in the
high rating area (6-9) with the exception of question 15 (having to do with the church’s
community outreach), which registered percentages of 5.1% in period 1 and 5.7% in period 3,
but was 6.0% (low end of high rating) in period 2.
In period 2 there was an overall increase in prayer, leadership effectiveness, member
empowerment and church morale as a result of fully engaged multi-dimensional prayer.
Between periods 1 and 2 (multi-dimensional prayer) there was an obvious increase in member
spirituality, which is consistent through out each category.
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The data indicates that between periods 2 and 3, there was an overall decreased impact of
spirituality in the lives of church members. Of obvious importance was the fact that the pastor’s
absence impacted member spirituality, empowerment and the church’s ability to do effective
ministry, with few exceptions.
Final conclusions articulated in the last chapter are: (1) Multi-dimensional prayer
enhances church members in the areas of prayer, leadership, empowerment and morale; (2)
The pastor’s presence is essential for the effective implementation of multi-dimensional; (3)
Fast growing, multi-service churches tend to be Pentecostal and employ multi-dimensional
prayer; and (4) Pentecostal/charismatic pastors tend to pray more and thereby experience
greater church growth.
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I would like to give honor to God, Who is the Head of my life. I would like to
especially acknowledge the presence and power of the Holy Spirit operating in me to
accomplish this project. Throughout this project the Holy Spirit has served as my
Teacher (Luke 12:12; John 14:26), Revealer (John 16:13) and Guide (John 16:13; Rom.
8:14; I Cor. 2:10-11, 13). I also praise God for the incredible patience and support of my
wife Debbie, sons Khalfani Salim and Kamaal Ture and my beautiful daughter Kiera
Syandene.
I would like to acknowledge the following persons and/or organizations for
inspiring (“birthing”), praying and assisting me: Dorothy S. Thomas (literal mother),
Angel Cohill (spiritual mother), Michael Fisher, Roland Hill, V. Nenaji Jackson,
Mimielle Goulatte, Cheryl McKinley, Cheryl Dawson, Koala Jones, Tammy La Motte,
Jerry Nwonye, Jesse L. Wilson, Ron M. Gibson, Craig Johnson, Anthony Paschal,
Nathaniel Ervin, Jr., Roy Armstrong, Henry Solomon, Zanetta van Putten, Toward Black
Manhood, Access the Spirit Ministries, Rainbow Community Praise Center, Kansas
Avenue Seventh-day Adventist Church, Life Church of God in Christ, Cathedral of
Praise, African American Ministries Department of the Southeastern California
Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, and Pine Springs Ranch.
iii
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Chapter
1. Introduction....................................................................................................I
Problem Addressed by this Project..........................................................I
Importance of the Problem........................................................................1
Thesis ...........................................................................................................2
Definitions of Major Terms........................................................................2
Work Previously Done in the Field...........................................................7
Scope and Limitations of the Project......................................................10
Procedure for Integration.........................................................................10
Chapter Outline..........................................................................................11
2. Biblical and Theological Foundations for
Multi-dimensional Prayer........................................................................13
Seventh-day Adventist Position on the Elements of
Multi-dimensional Prayer.......................................................................13
Elements of Multi-dimensional Prayer.................................................24
Faith, Agreement and Fasting.................................................................24
Praying in the Holy Spirit......................................................................28
Uninhibited Exuberant Praise.................................................................34
Confession, Cleansing and Intercession................................................39
Anointing and Laying on of Hands........................................................44
Operating in the Gifts of the Spirit........................................................52
Rebuking, Binding and Loosing............................................................55
Name and Blood of Jesus........................................................................58
3. Implementing the Multi-dimensional Prayer Ministry..........................60
Desperation................................................................................................60
Positioning..................................................................................................63
Expectation................................................................................................66
Revelation...................................................................................................70
Obedience...................................................................................................74
Impartation...............................................................................................76
Manifestation............................................................................................81
4. Qualitative Research Results....................................................................86
Instrument..................................................................................................86
Goals...........................................................................................................87
Procedure....................................................................................................88
Subjects......................................................................................................88
Findings......................................................................................................88
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5. Evaluation and Conclusions.........................................................................95
Appendixes.............................................................................................................110
A. Research Tools...........................................................................................Ill
B. Five-Fold Ministries...................................................................................117
C. Jubilee Program...........................................................................................121
D. Prayers and Revelations.............................................................................137
E. Stop the Violence Conference ’99 ...........................................................142
F. Home Fellowship Groups.........................................................................150
G. Biographical Sketch..................................................................................158
Bibliography..........................................................................................................164
v
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TABLES
Table Page
1. Pentecostal and Charismatic Growth......................................................4
2. Basis of Qualitative Instrument.............................................................86
3. Survey Results Between Periods 1 and 2 ..............................................89
4. Survey Results Between Periods 2 and 3 ..............................................91
5. Apostolic Gift after Pentecost...............................................................101
6. Restoration of Five-Fold Ministry Gifts..............................................102
7. Comparison of Conservative-Evangelical and Pentecostal-
Charismatic Churches.......................................................................105
8 Comparison of Evangelic and Pentecostal Church Growth
From Same Inception........................................................................105
9. Pastoral Prayer Based on Theological Orientation............................108
vi
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1
CHAPTER 1
Introduction
Problem Addressed bv this Project
This study addresses the lack of revival and spiritual power existing in the local
church and focuses upon pastor-motivated, multi-dimensional prayer as the major
component for successful ministry.
Importance of the Problem
This project seeks to discuss the impact of multi-dimensional prayer, as a means
of revival in the life of the local church and to make the Body of Christ aware that multi­
dimensional prayer as a “thought-practice” is central and essential for local church and
member empowerment.
The writer takes the position that making divine contact with the God of the
Universe for the purpose of rendering praise, worship, accessing power and unlimited
divine resources is more than a custom or a meaningless exercise.
Prayer is a spiritual undertaking and a faith venture without which the Body of
Christ cannot survive. Even as the physical body needs breath to survive, the Body of
Christ needs prayer not only to survive, but also to revive. Many pastors and parishioners
believe that their educational training, talents, and skills alone will suffice in ministering
for the cause of God. However, prayer is essential to ministry and to leadership. Prayer
is the single most vital tool of successful ministry.
In counseling, it is prayer that is the first tool employed to break yokes, destroy
strongholds and engage in spiritual warfare on behalf of demonically oppressed persons.
It is prayer that gives power and authority over the enemy, and through prayer one
intercedes on behalf of other brothers and sisters. Prayer creates contact with the spirit-
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