The Church of God of Prophecy: A Study of The Impact of Ecclesiology on Church Planting and Discipleship

2018·0.83 MB·English

by  ANDREW ALEXANDER HUSBANDS

THE CHURCH OF GOD OF PROPHECY:
A STUDY OF THE IMPACT OF ECCLESIOLOGY ON
CHURCH PLANTING AND DISCIPLESHIP

A THESIS PROJECT
SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF
GORDON-CONWELL THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE
DOCTOR OF MINISTRY

BY
ANDREW ALEXANDER HUSBANDS
MAY 2018
Copyright © 2018 by Andrew A. Husbands. All Rights Reserved.
I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism in dealing with people,
but in every nation the person who fears him and does what is right is welcomed before
him.
─ Acts 10:34-35
iv

CONTENTS

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS vii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS viii
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS IX
ABSTRACT
Chapter x
CHAPTER I: THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTING
Introduction 1
Statement of the Problem 2
Historical Overview of the Church of God of Prophecy 5
Mission of the Church 14
Outline of Study 18
Biblical Basis for Study 20
Project Design 21
Outcomes 22
CHAPTER II: LITERATURE REVIEW
Ecclesiology 24
The Church and the Kingdom 26
The Nature of the Church 28
The Identity of the Church 33
Towards A Pentecostal Ecclesiology 37
v

Summary 44
Church Growth and Discipleship 46
CHAPTER III: BIBLICAL AND THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATION
Mission and God’s Plan 55
Mission from an Old Testament Perspective 57
The Mission of Jesus Christ 61
The Kingdom of God 66
The Church 71
Discipleship 74
The Church in Mission 78
CHAPTER IV: PROJECT DESIGN
Rationale for Project 86
Project Goals 88
Methodology 89
Questionnaire 89
Interviews 92
Summary of Results of the Survey of pastors 93
Data on Church Membership 93
Church Health 96
Church Leadership 98
Outreach 99
Hindrances to Church growth 100
What do you see as the greatest need of your church? 101
vi

Relationship between Regional and International Leaders 101
Interviews 103
Presbyter, N A. and Presiding Bishop, Mid-Atl. Region 103
Executive Director: LDD 110
CHAPTER V: OUTCOMES
Ecclesiology 114
Church Growth and Discipleship 117
Project 123
Project Goals 123
Assessment of Results 124
Church of God of Prophecy, North America 127
Strategies for Church Growth and Leadership Development 129
Recommendations and Conclusion 130
Appendix
APPENDIX 1: QUESTIONNAIRE
Survey of Pastors Mid-Atlantic Region 135
APPENDIX 2: INTERVIEW
Outline of Interview 141
APPENDIX 3: TURNING TO THE HARVEST 142
APPENDIX 4: CHURCH OF GOD OF PROPHECY: VISION 2020 146
BIBLIOGRAPHY 156
VITA 152
vii

ILLUSTRATIONS
Figures
Figure 1: COGOP, Church Membership, Mid-Atlantic region 94
Figure 2: Church Membership by ethnicity 95
Figure 3: Hindrances to Church Growth 102
Figure 4: Membership of COGOP, North America, 1990-2016 127
Table:
Table 1. Measurement of Church Health 96
viii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The Lord deserves all praise for bringing us to this place, he kept us grounded and focused,
and demonstrated that the one who began a good work in us will never leave or forsake
those who trust him.
Hector Ortiz is to be commended for the Gordon-Conwell / COGOP consortium
which introduced our ministry to rigorous theological education. I am indebted to Compton
and Margret Wharton for introducing me to the consortium, especially to Compton for
encouraging me to participate in the DMin. program. My local church, the Center of Praise
and Worship has supported my wife and I on this journey. My thanks to Eldin Villafañe,
and Dr. Hector Ortiz, our mentors, to Dr. Mary Riso, my editor, and to the staff of Gordon-
Conwell’s DMin and Hispanic Ministries programs. Thanks to Bishops Tim Coalter, Levi
Clarke, and Brian Sutton for the opportunity to interview them as part of the project.
Thanks to the pastors of the Mid-Atlantic Region of the Church of God of Prophecy for
participating in the survey; especially, Bishop Chatmon and the pastors of District 3 who
were involved in the prescreening of the survey. Thanks to Bishop Adrian Varlack for
providing original materials during my research, and to Katherine Osborne for her help
with archival materials.
My wife, Loretta, accompanied me on this journey, walking step by step with me
as we pursued our passion, I thank the Lord for her passion and dedication to our family,
Alexis and Louis, and to his mission, she is the quintessential virtuous wife of Proverbs 31.
I thank the Lord for placing her in my life.
ix

ABBREVIATIONS
A.A.H: Andrew A. Husbands
AMD: Accredited Ministries Development
BTI: Bible Training Institute
CBL: Center for Biblical Leadership
COGOP: Church of God of Prophecy
ESV: English Standard Version
GCTS: Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
KJV: King James Version
LDD: Leadership Development and Discipleship Ministries
Mid-Atl: Mid-Atlantic region
NA: North America
NA. Pres: North American Presbyter
NAS: New American Standard Version
PB. M-Atl Presiding Bishop, Mid-Atlantic Region
PTS: Pentecostal Theological Seminary
SOPAS: School of Practical and Advanced Studies
x

ABSTRACT
This study focuses on the impact of Ecclesiology on Church planting and disciple-
ship, with specific emphasis on the ecclesiastical traditions of the Church of God of Proph-
ecy, which is used as a point of departure for a study of the doctrine of the church, and an
examination of Pentecostal ecclesiology. The study examines the relationship between the
Kingdom of God and the Church, and provides insight into the nature, identity and distinc-
tive marks of the church. Pentecostalism adds a new dynamic to the church, it is a Chris-
tocentric Spirit movement which facilitates experiencing Christ through the Holy Spirit in
the word, worship, fellowship, discipleship, and the experience of the charisma, the study
provides an overview of Pentecostal ecclesiologies.
Mission is discussed from the perspective of Israel’s call, the mission of Jesus
Christ, and the church’s mission to establish God’s kingdom (his reign or rule) in the lives
of the peoples of the earth, by making disciples of all nations.
The project examines the state of the Church of God of Prophecy, Mid-Atlantic
Region, with regards to church health, church planting and discipleship, leadership devel-
opment, and church growth. My goal is to provide an analysis of the church’s journey thus
far, and to outline specific strategies and methodologies that will aid the church in its mis-
sion to plant new churches and disciple its members as it seeks to fulfill its mission to make
disciples of all nations.
The study concludes with recommendations and strategies for effective church
planting, church growth, church health, leadership development, and discipleship.