The Church as the Surrogate Family
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This project presents a practical theology model for nurturing rural African Methodist youth through the church as the surrogate family. Oak Chapel African Methoidst Episcopal Church moved from a struggling traditional congregation to this surrogate family model which reduced conflict and enhanced cooperation in the church. This practical theology model provided seven theme sermons on the attributes of God and his family to provide a spiritual foundation for church youth. Seven African style intergenerational Bible studies were created to facilitate the healing, sustaining, guiding, and reconciling with Jesus the Christ. This was needed to counteract some of the effects of poverty, racism, and nihilism that is prevalent in the community. The implementation of this holistic model resulted in enhanced confidence, spiritual growth, and maturity among the youth and increased growth in the church family.
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About the Book
This practical theology model provides seven theme sermons on the attributes of God and his family to provide a spiritual foundation for church youth, to facilitate the healing, sustaining, guiding, and reconciling with Jesus the Christ. This was needed to counteract some of the effects of poverty, racism, and nihilism that is prevalent in the community. The implementation of this holistic model resulted in enhanced confidence, spiritual growth, and maturity among the youth and increased growth in the church family.
About the Author
Dr. Robbie Mills has practiced law in North Carolina for over twenty-five years, representing people who have been injured and are disabled. She has received education in three professional fields over the past thirty-eight years. She has a Master of Divinity from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, a Master of Divinity and Master of Arts in Christian Studies from Luther Rice Seminary, a Bachelor of Nursing from Atlantic Christian College, a Master of Nursing from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and a law degree from North Carolina Central University. She has a Doctor of Ministry degree from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC, where she completed a Doctor of Ministry track in practical theology for pastors, chaplains, and clinicians. She has also taught for twelve years in the university system, where she wrote several articles that were published in peer-review journals. She has been hosting a devotional website for the past eight years, where she has provided devotions through www.sonrisemission.org. She has been pastoring Oak Chapel AME Church located in Warrenton, North Carolina, for the past four years. She is the first itinerate elder in the Second Episcopal District of the AME Church to pastor in an intercultural appointment. She has been married to Clark H. Mills Sr. for the past twenty years. They reside on a farm in Nash County that has been in her husband’s family for over 150 years. They are both actively involved in a home Bible study provided for members of the Spring Hope community.