Type of Document	Thesis
Author	Ensminger, Shawntel Lyn
Author's Email Address	shawntel@gmail.com
URN	etd-04092007-212548
Title	Mission to the Seekers: Evaluating Seeker Sensitive Churches through Andrew Walls' Missionary Paradigm
Degree	Master of Arts
Department	Religion, Department of
Advisory Committee	Advisor Name Title Amanda Porterfield Committee Chair Amy Koehlinger Committee Member John Corrigan Committee Member
Keywords	Church Marketing Church Growth Seeker Sensitive Churches Commodification Of Religion Missionary Paradigm
Date of Defense	2007-03-27
Availability	unrestricted
Abstract This thesis assesses seeker sensitive churches from the standpoint of Andrew Walls’ missionary paradigm. Seekers are described as a distinct population on the American religious landscape, characterized by the importance of individual relevance, immanence, and open-mindedness. Their ideological lineage is said to go back to the Transcendentalists. Seeker sensitive churches act as missionaries to seekers. These churches have conservative statements of faith. However, in translating their message to seeker culture, some of the aspects of those conservative beliefs become muted. Seekers come away with a strain of Christianity which is tailored to the three key characteristics of seeker religiosity. This new seeker Christianity makes the religion viable for a population who had moved away from the Christian faith. Other missionary encounters often have similar results, with Christianity adapting based on the culture into which it is introduced. These adaptations have led to Christianity’s continued success.
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