M. Alan McMahan School of Intercultural Studies Biola University 13800 Biola Ave. La Mirada, CA 90639 (562) 903-6000 ext. 3269 office (845) 323-5401 cell phone alan.mcmahan@biola.edu SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS: Ø Department Chair for the B.A. in Intercultural Studies Program, Biola University. Ø Former President and current Secretary of the American Society for Church Growth. Ø General Editor, Great Commission Research Journal Ø Former Co-Director, Transform Los Angeles Ø Served as the Academic Dean of The King s College, the flagship college of Campus Crusade for Christ located in the Empire State Building where I launched 5 new majors and opened 3 new schools. Ø Served as Vice President of the Alliance Theological Seminary, Nyack, NY (ATS) stimulating the Christian and Missionary Alliance s national seminary toward growth in fund-raising, enrollment, program development, and distance education. Ø Birthed an innovative School of World Missions (ATS) focused on teaching change agentry to missionary candidates by combining theory and praxis in the cross-cultural context of New York City. Ø Sixteen years of full-time teaching experience in higher education (7 years on the graduate level) in the areas of evangelism, church growth, anthropology, missiology, leadership, and organizational development. Ø More than four years of overseas experience focused on the teaching and training of national church leaders in the areas of evangelism, church growth, and missiology. Ø Served in pastoral ministries in the U.S. and abroad for more than ten years. Ø Led a church growth consulting ministry throughout the U.S. and abroad while mentoring students and pastors to be effective interventionists. Ø Conducted extensive research efforts in Indonesia in regard to evangelizing unreached people groups. Ø Dissertation in the area of Transformational Leadership and Church Growth won two faculty awards at Fuller Theological Seminary. Curriculum Vitae March 2013
2 ACADEMIC PREPARATION: Ph.D. in Intercultural Studies, School of World Mission, Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, CA, 1998 Concentrations: Leadership, Church Growth, Missiology Dissertation: Training Turnaround Leaders: Systemic Approaches to Reinstating Growth in Plateaued Churches Th.M. in Missiology, E. Stanley Jones School of World Mission and Evangelism, Asbury Theological Seminary, Wilmore, KY, 1989 Concentrations: Anthropology, Church Growth Thesis: The Invisible People Next Door: Ministering to Urban Appalachians M.Div. in Missions, Alliance Theological Seminary, Nyack, NY, 1984 B.S. in Missions, Nyack College, Nyack, NY, 1980 PROFESSIONAL POSITIONS: (beginning with the most recent) Biola University Associate Professor, August, 2006 Present Editor, Great Commission Research Journal Department Chair for B.A. in Intercultural Studies Teaching missiology in the School of Intercultural Studies (SICS) Former Department Chair for B.A. in Intercultural Studies (SICS), 2007-2009 President, Metro Church Growth Associates, August, 2005 Present Launched a consulting and resourcing ministry focused on equipping leaders in church growth to build effective, growing churches and promote global missions efforts. Adjunct Professor, October, 2012 and January, 2009 Kuban Evangelical Christian University, Krasnodar, Russia - Taught: Biblical Conflict Resolution (2012) - Taught: Leading Change for Churches and Organizations (2009) Adjunct Professor, September 2005 2010 Nyack College and the Alliance Theological Seminary, Nyack, NY - Leading Change and Resolving Conflict for Churches and Organizations and in the past taught in the areas of Research Methods and Statistics; Faith in the Global Marketplace; Ethical Leadership, Organizational Development, and Organizational Analysis.
3 Adjunct Professor, May 2006-2008 International Graduate School of Leadership (formerly ISOT), Manila, Philippines - Taught: Leading Change in Churches and Organizations - Taught: Church Growth Adjunct Professor, August, 2005 January, 2006 Indiana Wesleyan University, Marion, IN - Taught online classes in Contemporary Theological Trends, focusing on the church s response to Post-Modernism. Adjunct Professor, May-June, 2005 Alliance Graduate School (Alliance Biblical Seminary), Manila, Philippines - Taught Church Growth for a summer modular class and led consulting training Academic Dean, August, 2002 August, 2005 The King s College/Campus Crusade, Empire State Building, New York, NY - As the chief academic officer I led the college in launching three new schools and 5 new majors during a period of rapid expansion. Areas of contribution included: accreditation review, faculty handbook, retention studies, curriculum proposal and revision, faculty recruitment, evaluation, and development, and special events. - I taught in the areas of Leadership, Organizational Development, and Instituting Change. Vice President of Program Development, Advancement, Enrollment Services, Student Services, and Information Technology, 1998 2002 Alliance Theological Seminary, Nyack, NY - As one of two Vice Presidents, I gave primary attention to increasing the growth of ATS in terms of program development, enrollment, and advancement. - Developed and launched three new schools: The Ravi Zacharias Graduate School of Apologetics, The Alliance Institute of Ministry Leadership (focused on practical, in-ministry leadership development), and the Alliance Graduate School of Mission. - Upgraded learning technology resources through 3 phases of development, moving toward the implementation of Smart Classrooms using educational video-conferencing technology. - Increased charitable giving to ATS by more than 50% to set new records. - Chaired the Institutional Planning Committee and the Enrollment Management Committee. Director of the Alliance Graduate School of Mission (AGSM), 2000-2001 Alliance Theological Seminary - Redesigned ATS s missions program to create a new school of missiology focused on combining academic theory with experiential, hands-on learning through the development of a transformational learning community utilizing the cross-cultural opportunities of New York City. The goal of the program was to teach change agentry to missionary candidates. - Led urban immersion programs, integrative seminars, peer mentoring clusters, and leadership development retreats for AGSM. Supervised students doing 2 nd Continent Experiences. Assistant Professor of Missions, Church Growth, and Leadership, 1998-2002 Alliance Theological Seminary, Nyack, NY - Taught classes on the following subjects: Leading Organizational Dynamics; Change Dynamics for Church and Missions; Conflict Resolution; Church Growth; Church Planting; Contextual Theology; Seminar in the Global Expansion of the Church; Seminar in Contextualization.
4 - Served on the faculty committees in Learning Resources, and Academic Affairs. Adjunct Professor, 1999-2002 (Under-graduate Level part-time) Nyack College Adult Degree Completion Program - Taught classes on Faith and Worldviews; Organizational Development; and Organizational Analysis. Adjunct Professor, spring 1999 (modular) Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, CA - Taught Leading Learning Organizations, a class on systems theory as applied to leadership, church revitalization, and organizational dynamics. Adjunct Professor of Missiology, 1991-1993 (Graduate Level modular courses) Jaffray Theological School Jakarta, Indonesia - Taught classes in the Theology of Church Growth; Anthropology for Christian Missions; Folk Religions; Advanced Church Growth. Visiting Professor, 1992 (Under-graduate Level modular courses) Tenggarong Theological School, Tenggarong, Kalimantan, Indonesia, - Taught classes in Church Growth, and Anthropology for Christian Mission. Professor of Missiology, 1990-1993 (Graduate Level full-time) Jaffray School of Theology, Makassar, Sulawesi, Indonesia - Taught classes in: Anthropology for Christian Mission; Folk Religions; Evangelism and Church Growth; Advanced Church Growth; Trends in Missions; Theology of Church Growth. - Mentored and evaluated Bachelor s and Master s Theses - Students included top national church leaders, bible school teachers, district superintendents, indigenous missionaries, and pastors. Associate Pastor, 1984-1989 First Alliance Church, Lexington, KY - Responsibilities included: evangelism training, assimilation and follow-up, visitation, singles ministry, regular preaching, small group training, planning, and leadership development in a church of 600. Ministry Intern, 1982-1983 Paradise Alliance Church, Paradise, CA - Responsibilities included: preaching, counseling, small group ministries, visitation, evangelism visitation, and worship leading in a church of 1200. PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION: Licensed, Christian and Missionary Alliance, 1984 present Ordained, Christian and Missionary Alliance, Lexington, KY, 1986
5 PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS: - Great Commission Research Network - American Society of Missiology - Evangelical Missiological Society - Member of the Overseas Missions Study Center (OMSC) Study Group on Missions Issues ACADEMIC/PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS: Multi-ethnic and Immigrant Churches as Strategic Bridges for Mission, Passion for the Nations Missions Conference, Fullerton, California, March 2, 2013. Transform Los Angeles as a Missionary Method, Evangelical Missiological Society, Regional Conference, Biola University, March, 2012. The Strategic Value of Urban Missions to Impact the Indo-Malay World, Impact the Indo-Malay World Conference, Glendale, CA, February 23, 2012. Opportunities and Challenges for Social Justice Ministries in Asia, Asia Society of Missiology, Seoul, Korea, October 25-28, 2011. The Strategic Nature of Urban Ministry, Evangelical Missiological Society National Conference, Scottsdale, AZ, September, 2011. Church Growth and Leadership Development Strategies to Support Multiplicational Church Planting, Pastor s Summit, Moscow, Russia, January 2010. Building the Bridges for the Next Generation, American Society for Church Growth Conference, November, 2005. Re-positioning the American Society for Church Growth for the New Challenges, American Society for Church Growth Annual Conference, Pasadena, CA, November 2004. Instructor, Perspectives on the World Christian Movement, New York City and Southern California, 2001-2006. Presentation on Church Growth Mega-strategies Hispanic Assemblies of God District Conference, New York City, 2002 Presentation on Biblical Conflict Resolution Patterns Hispanic Assemblies of God District Conference, New York City, 2000.
6 Presentation on Systemic Church Growth Interventions Pre-Conference Session: American Society for Church Growth, San Francisco, 1998 Presentation on Folk Islam, C&MA Regional Conference on Islam, Bangkok, Thailand, fall 1997. Instructor in the National Urban Ministry Workshops in Jakarta, Indonesia, 1991 and 1992. Seminar presenter in the following topics: Leadership Training Models, Leadership Development, Focused Living, Mentoring, INSCAPE Psychometric Inventories (DiSC Inventory, Dimensions in Leadership Inventory, Learning Insights Inventory, Discovering Diversity Inventory, Coping and Stress Inventory, C.A.R.E. (Team-building) Inventory]. RELATED EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: General Editor for Great Commission Research Network beginning in 2008. Leadership team for Transform Southern California (a Luis Bush Initiative). Secretary for the Great Commission Research Network beginning in 2007. President, American Society for Church Growth. Term was for 2 years in 2004-06. Participant at the Global Cities Initiative, New York City, September, 2009. Member of the Future Leadership Issue Group, 2004 Lausanne Forum, Pattaya, Thailand. Editorial Board. The Theological Journal of Jaffray School of Theology, Makasar, Indonesia. Participant at Amsterdam 2000, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 2000. Participant in Consultation on Leadership, Leighton Ford Ministries, Charlotte, NC, 1998. Participant in Consultation on Systems Theory and Church Health, Houston, TX, 1998. Participant in the Regional Lausanne Committee on World Evangelism, Bogor, West Java, Indonesia, 1992. Participated in Evangelical Consortium on Unreached People Group Research, Jakarta, Indonesia, 1991 and 1992.
7 Spearheaded major research project among 26 Christianized villages in East Kalimantan, Indonesia on evangelism effectiveness, 1992. Arrow Leadership Program, Leighton Ford Ministries, Graduated in 1998 Church Resource Ministries Refocusing Network Training, Levels I-III, Santa Ana, CA, 1996-1998. Leadership Development and Church Growth Consulting in over 80 churches in partnership with nationally known consultants such as Carl George, Dan Reeves, Jim Van Yperin and, Don Bubna, 1995 present. Traveled and preached with Ravi Zacharias in Thailand and Malaysia, 1982. Preached evangelistically and taught in much of Southeast Asia including Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, 1980 present. Regular preaching in local churches and missions conferences in the U.S. HONORS AND AWARDS: Leadership Award, Fuller Theological Seminary, 1998 Donald McGavran Church Growth Award, Fuller Theological Seminary, 1998 Theta Phi Honor Society, Asbury Theological Seminary, 1989 Who s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities, Nyack College, 1979 and 1980 GRANTS RECEIVED: Faculty Research Grant, Biola University. Research project, Urban Church Movements That Are Changing the World: Lessons from Asia, Spring 2013. Study Scholarship, Christian and Missionary Alliance, 1994-1998. Mustard Seed Foundation Scholarship, 1994. Sandy Ford Fund, Leighton Ford Ministries, 1997. Full Study Scholarship, E. Stanley Jones School of World Mission and Evangelism, Asbury Theological Seminary, 1987-1989.
8 RESEARCH: Research interests can be distinguished, though not separated into three primary fields: leadership, church growth, and cross-cultural studies. Recent work on the multi-ethnic church resulted in a published book on the topic co-authored with Gary McIntosh in June, 2012. The doctoral dissertation was devoted to the study of how leaders may be empowered to turn around plateaued churches using systemic church growth interventions. Transformational leadership theory was explored from a systems perspective and case studies were conducted of churches that had implemented systemic strategies to reinstate growth. Field research in Indonesia probed the evangelistic effectiveness and dominant worldview themes of 26 Christianized villages in East Kalimantan (Borneo) in relation to local unreached people groups. The Th.M. thesis focused on localized failure of church planting efforts in the Christian and Missionary Alliance s Easter 100 Project due to a misunderstanding of cultural factors. Current research interests include: 1) understanding rapidly growing urban church growth movements in Asia (Indonesia, India, China), 2) re-examining receptivity theory in light of contemporary research into epidemiology (or the spread of infectious diseases and the diffusion of innovations), 3) exploring the frontier of systemic church growth interventions, 4) investigating the dialectical and symbiotic nature of national church mission relations, 5) understanding and predicting effective transformational leadership development experiences and examining these practices in various cultural contexts. LANGUAGES: - Fluent in English and Indonesian - Familiar with Greek PUBLISHED WORKS: Effective Practices of Growing Churches, National Association of Evangelical s newsletter, Insight, March, 2013. In Pursuit of the Multi-ethnic Church: How Much Is Too Much?, Unity in Christ Magazine, March 2013. Being the Church in a Multi-Ethnic Community: Why It Matters and How It Works, Wesleyan Publishing House, June, 2012. Co-authored with Gary L. McIntosh. Opportunities and Challenges for Social Justice Mission in Asia, in Discern What is Right, Asia Society of Missiology, 2012.
9 The Strategic Nature of Urban Ministry, in Compendium of the Evangelical Missiological Society, Volume 20, 2012. General Editor, Great Commission Research Journal, Volume 1, No. 1 Summer, 2009; Volume 1, No. 2 Winter 2010; Volume 2, No. 1 Summer 2010, Volume 2, No. 2 Winter 2011, Volume 3, No. 1 Summer 2011, Volume 3, No. 2 Winter 2012, Volume 4, No. 1 Summer 2012, Volume 4, No. 2 Winter 2013. General Editor, Journal of The American Society for Church Growth, Volume 20, Winter 2009 Church Growth By Another Name: Challenges and Opportunities for the Future of a Movement, in Great Commission Research Journal, Volume 1, No. 1 Summer, 2009. Training Turnaround Leaders: Systemic Approaches to Reinstating Growth in Plateaued Churches, University Microfilms, Inc. 1998. Book Review: Human Capital: What it Is and Why People Invest It, Strategies for Today s Leaders, Third Quarter 2001 (Web edition). Church Growth Consulting: Evolution of an Intervention. Journal of the American Society for Church Growth, fall 2004. Guest Editor, Journal for the American Society for Church Growth, fall, 2004 Issue. References available on request.