Inspiring a congregation into new ministry: Examining the effect personal testimony has in the transition into a multi-site church ministry

This project focuses on the influential effect of utilizing personal testimonies in worship services to inform and unify Bethany Reformed Church in the process of expanding its ministry to become a multi-site church.;Through a series of personal testimonies by congregational members, both leaders of the church and supporters of the new satellite ministry, the congregation was exposed to the faith, minds, and hearts of the people behind the decisions to become a multi-site ministry church as they heard the rationale and passion for the expansion model The effect of these personal testimonies on the faith, support, expectation, and unity of the congregation for this move was measured by a pre-testimony survey and a post-testimony survey.;Congregational support regarding the move of one of four worship services currently held at the church campus to a satellite location in the community was discerned through a comparison of the support level before and after personal testimonies were given by individuals in a worship service over a period of six weeks. This project also studies the role of testimony and witness, based on the biblical word "martyr," as it is seen in both the Old and New Testaments. The use of testimony by the biblical writers in the proclamation of what God has done, as well as the defense and promotion of the faith through the concept of testimony, is included.;This project finds that personal testimony is a tool to both stretch the faith in the person giving a testimony, as well as building the faith and community of people who hear testimony.