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.