Mears Christianity: The Birth of the Modern Discipleship Movement

This dissertation demonstrates that Henrietta Mears was the forerunner of the modern discipleship movement because she introduced an educational philosophy that emphasized new essentials, while ignoring historic Baptist essentials, and influenced the major leaders who would do the same, igniting the new movement of discipleship.;Chapter 1 demonstrates that the modern discipleship movement attempts to fix the problem of the lack of discipleship, but ignores ecclesiology in the process. This all began with Henrietta Mears in 1928 when she started her ministry at First Presbyterian Hollywood.;Chapter 2 explains that there are Baptist ecclesiological essentials that are imperative to Christian maturity. These include regenerate church membership, the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord's Supper, the offices of pastor and deacon, and church discipline.;Chapter 3 demonstrates Henrietta Mears's Baptist background through William Wallace Everts and William Bell Riley.;Chapter 4 explains that Fundamentalism and Pragmatism had a dominant effect on Mears understanding of both the church and the role of education, informing the presuppositions of the modern discipleship movement.;Chapter 5 further investigates Mears's educational philosophy: to know Christ and make Him known. This is through establishing Christian maturity in others through teaching the Bible and training in spiritual disciplines and advancing the establishing of Christian maturity in others through leadership training and pragmatic programs.;Chapter 6 explains that her educational philosophy of establishing and advancing Christian maturity was passed on to key leaders Dawson Trotman, Bill Bright, and Jim Rayburn. They ignited the modern discipleship movement through their ministries, the Navigators, Campus Crusade for Christ, and Young Life. Each of these organizations influenced the campuses and the churches through the 1940s, 1950s to today with a unique educational philosophy that has changed the approach of Christian education.;Chapter 7 gives a conclusion to the dissertation. This includes implications from the research along with suggestions for further research.