Education Commons^™

Case Study Exploring Training For Assembly Of God Pastors, Robert W. Shader

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

Abstract Pastors in the Assembly of God fellowship have several options regarding types of pastoral training. Conducting a multiple case study qualitative study, the researcher interviewed 12 pastors with 2-6 years of ministry experience who had primary training in a specific category: higher education, on-the-job training, hands-on internships, or credentialing programs. The researcher utilized a transformational leadership framework and asked questions related to idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, and individualized consideration. The findings suggest each training method (higher education, hands-on internship, on-the-job training, and credentialing programs) equipped pastors to demonstrate aspects of transformational leadership.

Hooked On A Feeling: The Importance Of Fostering Emotional Intelligence In Adolescents, Annika Wirkkala

Classical Conversations

In the summer of 2023, CNN reported on a 14-year old girl who claimed to have several mental health issues. These included ADHD, depression, autism, and various phobias. After a specialist examined her, however, she was officially diagnosed not with her extensive list of illnesses but with severe anxiety. How did this 14-year old girl become so convinced that she suffered from all of these problems? Social media. Sadly, this girl is not the only victim of social media self-diagnosis. According to the CNN report, “A growing number of teens are turning to social platforms such as Instagram and TikTok …

Judicial Rhetoric And The Rhetoric Of Myth In "Till We Have Faces", Maria Wilkening

Master of Arts in Classical Studies

C.S. Lewis is unquestionably one of the more enduring influences in the 20th century, due in part to his personal popularity during his lifetime, as well as to his prolific and approachable oeuvre in wide-ranging genres such as apologetics, fiction, and public debate and address. Lewis has only become more popular since his death, with continued interest building after the more recent development of movie interpretations depicting both his fiction and life. C.S. Lewis’s corpus is certainly vast, and even more has been written about C.S. Lewis and his writings since his death. Strong scholarship exists, particularly in the areas …

The Bereaved Songwriters' Project, Laura A. Figueroa

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

The purpose of this quantitative, quasi-experimental study was to evaluate bereaved individuals’ responses to a reflective songwriting program intervention (RSPI). The purposive and convenient sample included 30 bereaved adults who were members of the teaching staff at a private, Christian, K-12 school in the southeastern United States and/or past or present members of the church with which the school was affiliated. The researcher developed a simple and succinct RSPI in which study participants were prompted to create an original musical piece using personal reflections, memories, and descriptions in song form to commemorate a deceased loved one. The Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being …

Order, Structure, And Patterns In English Grammar: Utilizing A Classical Christian Methodology, Teresa Lynch

Master of Arts in Classical Studies

Order, structure, and patterns are found in English grammar; however, they are not taught as essentials under a modern pedagogical approach. The classical Christian methodology of education not only teaches the student to recognize these attributes, but also utilizes order, structure, and patterns in the teaching methods themselves. In a world in which education is clearly in decline, a reassessment of educational methods is necessary. This work considers three models of education: modern, classical, and classical Christian. Within each of these pedagogies, the methods used to recognize order, structure, and patterns are also identified. In addition, the results of a …

Utilizing The Classical Christian Study Of Latin To Promote Intentionality, Erin Lamont

Master of Arts in Classical Studies

It is well known that the study of Latin increases English vocabulary, helps one understand grammar, raises standardized test scores, and helps one learn other languages. As modern education sees itself as an agent for change and social reform set on reconstructing society, fewer schools are offering Latin to students. Of those that do offer it, many are veering away from the traditional approach which has a goal of being able to read and connect with the writing of the great thinkers of the past while utilizing a methodology that focuses on grammar and syntax. This paper looks at three …

Experiences Of Egyptian Youth Participating In Discipleship And Mentoring Groups After Attending An Evangelical Youth Camp In Egypt, Jo E. Hawkins

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

Spiritual development plays a vital role in young people’s psychological health and wellness, and spiritual awareness is beneficial in developing morals and coping strategies when dealing with real-life situations (Lee et al., 2020). A lack of scholarly literature addressing the spiritual growth of Egyptian youth involved in evangelical camps and now living for Christ in a predominately Muslim society prompted this study. This qualitative narrative study was based on the theoretical framework of social constructivism pioneered by Vygotsky. The research participants were four Egyptian youth who had attended a Christian camp, made the life-changing decision to follow Christ, and were …

Examining Discipleship Strategies In Christian And Missionary Alliance Churches, Osvaldo A. Alvarado

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

In this quantitative study, discipleship strategies of churches in the Christian and Missionary Alliance were surveyed, to determine if discipleship strategies were effective at fulfilling the mission of helping people connect with God and grow spiritually. Data were collected from 30 church attenders from Western Pennsylvania churches, 27 of which fully completed the research survey. The internal reliability level of participant responses was evaluated and considered excellent. Results showed that the study participant perceptions that they grew in their faith in Christ through the discipleship opportunities provided at their church was statistically significant with a very large magnitude of response …

A Proposed Curriculum To Improve The Scientific Literacy Of Pastoral Leadership In The Church, Kacey Mewborn

Selected Honors Theses

Scientific illiteracy is a widespread reality in the Christian church today. The observatory and evidentiary nature of science seems to strongly contradict the faith-based belief in religion that often lacks physical evidence. This contradiction has incited many different conflicts between the congregation of the church and proponents of scientific advancement. A potential cause of this division is that the current education provided for church leaders is severely lacking in exposure to scientific topics that would allow these leaders to effectively communicate with their congregation when scientific issues are raised. Therefore, this research proposes a supplementary curriculum in the form of …

A Call To Family-Centered, Eternity-Focused Education Aimee Smith, Aimee M. Smith

Selected Student Publications

In Norms and Nobility: A Treatise on Education, David Hicks claims we are at risk

because modern education has lost its focus on moral instruction, normative standards, and a connection between knowing and doing. Beyond these changes in modern education, our culture is at risk because the education of future generations has been removed from the family. Parents can pursue a family-centered, eternity-focused education as they consider the iconic sword and the stone to overcome the current risk. Paideia serves as a cornerstone for an education recognizing eternal persons, and normative standards enable students to wield their swords of …

Teaching Multicultural Literature In The College Classroom, Jordan K. Fleming

Selected Honors Theses

Due to a lack of research on the topic and events of 2020, this thesis aims to learn how professors teach multicultural literature to traditional undergraduate students and how students respond to these courses. I focus on pedagogical scholarship that notes the structure, challenges, and impact of teaching this genre in K-12 and higher education classrooms. My conclusions provide educators with a repertoire of teaching strategies, materials, and student feedback to help students critically respond to living in a multicultural nation and world. These conclusions also lessen a gap in research, as there is significantly less published information on teaching …

Evaluation Of Church Plant Training Methods Within The Assemblies Of God, Bethlehem Backes

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

The steady decline of churches in America is a cause of great concern among spiritual leaders (Stetzer & Im, 2016). Missiologists agree that church planting is vital to presenting the gospel to unreached people groups. If church planting is the vehicle to deliver the life-giving message of Jesus to the world, church planters are the drivers who actively accomplish the purpose of healthy multiplication. Recent data on the health of church planters indicates many of them are not adequately prepared and desire long-term support to be successful. The Assemblies of God denomination has tasked the Church Multiplication Network with leading …

An Exploratory Study Of Private School Admission Policies For Students Of Same-Sex Parents, Homosexual, And Transgender Students, Karen Kay Caroe

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

This mixed-methods, non-experimental, exploratory study investigated the private school admission policies related to the admission of students from same-sex families and homosexual or transgender students. The US Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges (2015) has had far-reaching consequences for Christian businesses, organizations and ministries. As the rapidly changing socio-political environment embraces LGBTQ concerns, private religious schools need to re-evaluate their admission policies and prepare to address new types of admission decisions. The theory base in this study was the evolutionary theory of social change. In this present study, the results of a nation-wide, anonymous on-line survey (n = 80) …

Biblical Leadership Principles And Practices Used By University Leaders, William C. Hackett Jr

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

This study was conducted to ascertain the leadership principles and practices of those persons in leadership positions at a private, Christian university. The purpose, therefore, was to determine to what degree the leaders at the Christian university under study did practice biblical principles and practices in their leadership. The research design was an explanatory sequential mixed methods study. The same private, Christian university was used for both the quantitative and the qualitative study. The quantitative method employed the Leadership Practices Inventory which asked 30 questions using a Likert scale to determine to what degree 50 leaders at the university practiced …

The Connection Between Lead Pastors' Enneagram Personality Type And Congregational Size, Jeremy David Johnson

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

This study examines the relationship between the Enneagram profile of a lead pastor and the size of congregation. This study is motivated by the research question, “Do lead pastors of Protestant

megachurches in the United States tend to share commonalities in their Enneagram personality types?” Previous research indicates that personality plays a role in the impact of a pastor, but to date, no systematic investigation has explored the connection between the Enneagram profile of the leader and the size of the congregation. Using a sample of 58 megachurch pastors and 56 non-megachurch pastors, the Enneagram type of each pastor was …

Spiritual Formation: A Survey Of Freshmen At A Christian Institution Of Higher Education, Bethany Thomas

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

The purpose of this study was to learn what the spiritual formation process is for a student in a Christian higher education institution. In order for a Christian university to help develop a student spiritually, the university must know where the students perceive themselves spiritually upon entering their first year. The data collection instrument used was a survey. The survey was distributed to freshmen students who were entering into their first year of college. There were 704 students enrolled into the first-year course, and during their third week of class, the survey was distributed electronically via email. Of the 704 …

A Phenomenological Study Of Native Village Pastors’ Perceptions Of The Alaska School Of Ministry, Cynthia L. Cohen

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

The Alaska School of Ministry (AKSOM) was established to provide ministerial education venues in Alaska. This phenomenological study queried pastors who provide ministry in Alaska Native villages to examine their perceptions of AKSOM and perceived effects of the program on their ministries and villages. Fifteen participants, including students and AKSOM leaders from various ethnicities, were interviewed. Transcripts were analyzed to discover common themes. Five themes were noted, which included relationship (fellowship, local, approachable), flexibility, empowerment (support, confidence), practicality, and financial feasibility. All leaders and students perceived the program as a valuable and effective education tool in preparation for ministry in …

Influences Of Tenure Among Church Of God Of Prophecy Pastors, Florida District, Romeika Ferguson-Adderley

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

The factors that influence pastoral tenure are varied and complex, especially as men and women serve congregations with growing diversities and needs. However, in the past 30 years, the research on pastoral tenure typically examined congregations that were Protestant in organizational belief and structure. Little research on pastoral tenure among Pentecostal churches could be found in the current body of literature. The purpose of this quantitative, non-experimental study was to investigate the factors that influence pastoral tenure within three regional/subcultural areas of the state of Florida for the Pentecostal denomination of the Church of God of Prophecy (COGOP). All lead …

The Perceived Centrality Of Spirituality In Athletic Competition, Joel Perttula

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

Spirituality, while not visible, is a central component in athletic competition. This study examined the perceived centrality of spirituality in athletic competition among Christian athletes. To do so, a theological understanding of the image of God was developed and considered participant gender, ethnicity, student’s level of standing, preferred sport, and cultural environment associated with the preferred sport for the purpose of identifying the most robust, statistically significant correlate and predictor of the perceived centrality of spirituality in athletic competition. The quantitative study utilized survey research methodology. A total of 65 student-athletes were approached and the first 53 athletes who provided …

A Qualitative Study Of Black Male Professionals' Attributions Of Education, Career, And Success, Kamille Natasha Leptz

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

The purpose of this study was to explore the factors to which Black professional males attribute their persistence in education and their professional success. This qualitative case study is founded on the theoretical frameworks of attribution, growth mindset, and grit. The research participants were a criterion-based sample consisting of four Black male professionals who earned at least a bachelor’s degree and were employed full-time in their respective professions. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with all participants to gather rich, detailed information about their experiences in both education and their professions. Data collected from interviews were transcribed, coded, and analyzed to determine …

Exploring Historical Empathy In Secondary Education, Melanie Alsene

Selected Honors Theses

This thesis sought to explore the purpose of teaching history, to define historical empathy, to discover if historical empathy is being taught in secondary public schools, and to see what methods of instruction teachers utilize. Research was done by conducting interviews of middle school and high school history teachers from different schools in the area. These interviews sought to find out if teachers could come up with their purpose for learning about history, if they could define historical empathy, and what methods they utilized to teach historical empathy. Some of the teachers were able to define historical empathy and gave …

The Creative Commodity: A Study Of Improvisation In Middle And High School Choral Classrooms In Florida, Caitlynn M. Ensley

Selected Honors Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of improvisation in middle and high school choral classrooms. Specifically, the researcher sought to answer the following questions: (1) To what extent are middle and high school choral directors using improvisation activities in their classrooms? (2) How do the Core Arts Standards impact the value choral music educators’ assign to improvisation? (3) What challenges do choral music educators encounter when attempting to implement improvisation? (4) What do choral music educators believe would help them effectively use improvisation in their classrooms?

A researcher-designed questionnaire was sent to 105 middle and high …

Music’S Impact: A Review And Curriculum Proposal, Susanna M. Lindberg

Selected Honors Theses

The following thesis is a review of literature, covered in three chapters, and a proposal for a researched-based education curriculum. The goal of this research is to find how music affects the brain, how it influences education, whether it affects emotions, and if it has an impact on special populations in regards to education. In the final section of this thesis, there is a theoretical proposal for a yearlong music-based literacy curriculum for third grade students who struggle with reading and comprehension.