Document Type
Doctoral Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Ministry
University
Lipscomb University
Publication Date
6-3-2026
Abstract
I have served in leadership as an elder/shepherd at the Cedar Lane Church of Christ in Tullahoma, Tennessee, since 2011. Before serving in this leadership position, I was in full-time ministry with churches of Christ from 1982 to 2005 (as a youth minister, education minister, and preaching minister). Since 2007, I have been a public educator, first as a High School Civics teacher and now as a Middle School Social Studies teacher. My primary work as an elder includes education, spiritual formation, and community engagement. Another role I have is to assess the spiritual health of the believers I am called to shepherd. In response to the spiritual well-being of the congregation, I consistently ask: How are our people doing in their spiritual walk? One function of leadership is to provide opportunities for people to reflect on their faith journey. As people participate in the corporate life of the congregation, are they given opportunities to grow, mature, and find joy in their commitment to Jesus?
Recommended Citation
Mitchell, David W., "Holy Hunger: A Study of How Spiritually Formative Practices Shape a Faith Community at the Cedar Lane Church of Christ" (2026). DMin Project Theses. 20.
https://digitalcollections.lipscomb.edu/dmin_project/20
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