Aaron M. Kauffman Graduates with Doctor of Ministry Degree
Dr. Aaron Kauffman graduated with a Doctor of Ministry degree from Asbury Theological Seminary on Saturday, May 18, 2019.
PRESS RELEASE
Release Date: May 21, 2019
REACHING THE NEXT GENERATION
Local Missions Leader Studies Effective Ways Churches Are Engaging Young Adults
Aaron M. Kauffman, president of Virginia Mennonite Missions since 2014, graduated with a Doctor of Ministry degree from Asbury Theological Seminary on Saturday, May 18, 2019. Asbury’s 96th commencement on the Kentucky campus conferred 52 doctoral degrees and 208 master’s degrees.
Dr. Kauffman’s dissertation entitled, “Thriving: Effective Strategies for the Evangelism and Discipleship of Emerging Adults,” uncovers five key strategies of local churches that are successfully engaging young adults. To identify these practices, Kauffman surveyed the pastors of Virginia Mennonite Conference to gain an overview of their perspectives on young adult ministry. He then interviewed the pastors of six Harrisonburg churches growing in overall size and percentage of young adults and conducted focus groups with young adults from each of those churches. Participants from these churches represented a broad range of denominations and ethnic backgrounds. Analysis of the data from these sources yielded five overarching themes.
The dissertation of Dr. Aaron Kauffman (right) was advised by Dayton, Va., resident Dr. Art McPhee (left), retired Sundo Kim Professor of Evangelism and Practical Theology at Asbury Theological Seminary and author of multiple books.
Dr. Kauffman’s dissertation was advised by Dayton resident Dr. Art McPhee, retired Sundo Kim Professor of Evangelism and Practical Theology at Asbury Theological Seminary and author of multiple books, including Friendship Evangelism and The Road to Delhi. Kauffman’s research adds to the growing body of literature focused on how churches can reach out to and develop mature Christian faith among members of the next generation.
Kauffman received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Eastern Mennonite University in 2001, followed by a Master of Arts from Georgetown University in 2003. Before joining the staff of Virginia Mennonite Missions in 2011, Kauffman taught English language learners in the Rockingham County Public Schools, Colegio Americano Menno in La Mesa, Colombia, and the Intensive English Program at EMU. He earned a Master of Divinity from Eastern Mennonite Seminary in 2012.
Contact Information:
Virginia Mennonite Missions
601 Parkwood Drive
Harrisonburg, VA 22802