Digital Commons Network^™

Church Growth And Outreach Lessons From The Oil Boom In North Dakota, Mark R. Teasdale, Steve Trefz

Great Commission Research Journal

Using primary data collected from four churches situated in the North Dakota towns of Williston and Watford City, this study considers how the outreach ministries of these churches have been affected by the massive population growth brought about by the oil boom in the Bakken region. Drawing from the survey responses provided by the leaders of these congregations, the study concludes that people engaged in new outreach ministries can apply several lessons, including the definition of evangelism, the importance of relationship building, the need for multifaceted teams and resources, and issues with denominational support.

Journal Of Hip Hop Studies

Journal of Hip Hop Studies

No abstract provided.

Cover, Editors And Editorial Board, Sponsors, Table Of Contents

Journal of Hip Hop Studies

No abstract provided.

Inviting Students To Determine For Themselves What It Means To Write Across The Disciplines, Brian Hendrickson, Genevieve Garcia De Mueller

Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications

Situated in the literature on threshold concepts and transfer of prior knowledge in WAC/WID and composition studies, with particular emphasis on the scholarship of writing across difference, our article explores the possibility of re-envisioning the role of the composition classroom within the broader literacy ecology of colleges and universities largely comprised of students from socioeconomically and ethno- linguistically underrepresented communities. We recount the pilot of a composi- tion course prompting students to examine their own prior and other literacy values and practices, then transfer that growing meta-awareness to the critical acquisition of academic discourse. Our analysis of students’ self-assessment memos …

A Wholistic Model Of Apologetics For Equipping The Youth, Selim Kesmez

Master's Theses

Problem

While available studies indicate that biblical world view among young adults decreases in years of secular education Adventist education system in Germany is struggling to address the needs of the young adults. The question arises what kind of needs can be identified why they leave faith and church behind and how the Church may counteract this process and provide valuable assistance. The urgency of this question emerges in considering the high rate of de-conversion among Adventist youth.

Method

This study analyzes various studies and statistical reports regarding the condition of the spiritual life of young adults in both the …

Courageous Solstice: Reconstructing Fairy Tales For A Black Youth Aesthetic, Tanya Boucicaut

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis interrogates the historical, philosophical, and existential implications of the Black Arts Movement and its major artists on the recurring themes of social injustice, Western hegemony, and the fight for aesthetic authenticity to reimagine fairy tales for the youth Black Aesthetic. As a personal reflection and foundational document for a larger project, this work weaves these implications through the practical application of the varied stages of program development for youth artists. This project also is a handbook that encompasses scholarly research, reflective analysis and anecdotal journal evidence. The subsequent chapters explore the theological and theatre pedagogical educational influences that …

The Power Of Encouragement: The Role Of Christian Academic Librarians In Supporting The Whole Student, Earleen J. Warner

The Christian Librarian

Christian librarians are exhorted to consider the role of providing encouragement, care, and emotional and spiritual support to college students. Caring for the whole student can have a positive impact on college student success and retention, as well as have a transformational effect on students’ spiritual lives. By treating college students as whole persons created in the image of God, Christians academic librarians can not only help these students succeed by meeting their academic needs, but also help students thrive by supporting them emotionally and spiritually.

Joustra And Wilkinson's "How To Survive The Apocalypse; Zombies, Cylons, Faith And Politics At The End Of The World" (Book Review), Cynthia Hammell

The Christian Librarian

A review of Joustra, R., & Wilkinson, A. (2016). How to survive the Apocalypse; Zombies, cylons, faith and politics at the end of the world. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Publishing Company. 198 pp. $16.00 ISBN 9780802872715.

Dean And Hearlson's "How Youth Ministry Can Change Theological Education – If We Let It" (Book Review), Terry L. Christian

The Christian Librarian

A review of Dean, K.C., & Hearlson, C.L. (Eds.). (2016). How youth ministry can change theological education – If we let it. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing. 331 pp. $30.00. ISBN 9780802871930

Facilitating A Change Of Mind About Father God Through Mentoring Of The Fatherless, Stephen Madosky

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The consensus of published research has proven beyond question that fatherlessness is a crisis in America. Textbooks and autobiographies have covered and reported the statistical effects of fatherlessness; nonetheless, there is far less literature dealing with the solution of fatherlessness and even less literature from Church scholars on how the Church may participate in its correction. This thesis presents an understanding of fatherlessness and proposes a resolution to act on behalf of fatherless children. The resolution will be comprised in preparing Church leaders to equip Church laity to understand and to minister to the fatherless in their affliction effectively.

Effects Of Child-Parent Attachment And God Attachment On Depression In Adolescent Christians, Soloman Aifuwa

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This thesis contains a description of a study that examined the relationships between parent attachment, God attachment, and depression in adolescent Christians. It was predicted that secure parent and God attachment are related, and that they will have positive effects on depression and that God attachment will mediate the effects of parent attachments on depression. The study was a cross-sectional correlation study that employed 75 adolescents in youth ministries in North-east Jersey. Depression and attachment measures were administered and the results were analyzed using hierarchical and simultaneous multiple regression, and Pearson’s product-moment correlation coefficient. The study findings demonstrated that parent …

Book Reviews & Books Received, Howard A. Snyder, Timothy J. Christian, Brian Shockey, Jeremy B. Griffin, Moe Moe Nyunt, Nicholas W. Carpenter, Robert Danielson, Grant Miller, Benjamin J. Snyder, Jeremy B. Griffin, Taylor S. Brown, Robert Danielson

The Asbury Journal

No abstract provided.

From The Editor, Robert Danielson

The Asbury Journal

No abstract provided.

Personal Reflections On Christian Endeavor, Christine D. Pohl

The Asbury Journal

No abstract provided.

Sending Silent Missionaries: How One Man's Writing Helped Transform Youth And The Global Church, Brian Hull

The Asbury Journal

No abstract provided.

The Very Stones Would Cry Out: A Study Of The Gospel Of Christ In Luke 19:37-40, James Gardner

Senior Theses

My senior thesis project is a Sunday School series to be used for the high school ministry at Shandon Baptist Church. I've been an intern for the Shandon youth ministry for a year and a half, including the current semester, and have been involved in the ministry in some other capacity for nearly six years. Through my experiences with the youth ministry there, it has become my desire to pursue vocational ministry myself, and this project has become a great practical way for me to do research and learn what it will be like to be a youth pastor and …

Helping My Little Brothers And Sisters, Megan Gillson

Verbum

In lieu of an abstract, below is the essay's first paragraph.

When I think about my trips to El Salvador, I think of peace and joy. I also think of peace and joy when I think about Christmas break and summer. In the blur of a school day, it can be so hard to find these things—why? How is it that we can accomplish so much in one day, from 8am until midnight, but still feel as though we’ve missed out on something bigger, something better? My argument is this: I think we were created to experience life to the …

Teacher Preparedness For Spiritually Transformational Teaching: A Case Study In One Christian High School, Wendy Lewis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This single instrumental case study examined a purposive sample of teachers from Live Oak Christian High School (a pseudonym) for indications that they were spiritually qualified, sufficiently trained, and intentionally committed to transformational Christian teaching. Spiritually qualified teachers would evidence an active Christian faith as demonstrated by a sound basic theology, verbalization of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and various spiritual practices. Teachers who were sufficiently trained would evidence personal knowledge, experience, education, or training related directly to Christian education. Teachers who were committed to transformational Christian teaching would evidence that intentionality in documents, surveys, classroom observations, and personal …

Full Issue, No Author

Verbum

No abstract provided.

Mediating The Sacred: Popular Culture As Liturgical Icon In A Secular Age, Jason Lief

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

This presentation explores how popular culture and the new forms of technology that mediate it function as a "cultural liturgy" within the immanent frame of secularity. Poetic and symbolic expressions that mediate the sacred within the lived experience of young people will be shared. Icons within the secular experience of young people in the West can be seen positively by Christians. This paper draws from research conducted for a forthcoming book on the relationship between Heavy Metal music and Theology.

Christian Youth Ministries And Youth Sports: A View From The Trenches, Mark A. Granquist

Faculty Publications

Although youth sports have long been a challenge to Christian youth ministries, these activities are now consuming more and more time of the youth involved, often drawing them away from activities and ministries sponsored by churches. What are the issues (and opportunities) in this challenge, and what can be learned from those currently doing Christian work with youth?

The Black Church : Responding To The Drug-Related Mass Incarceration Of Young Black Males : "If You Had Been Here My Brother Would Not Have Died!", Sharon E. Moore, A. Christson Adedoyin, Michael A. Robinson, Daniel A. Boamah

Faculty and Staff Scholarship

The mass incarceration of young Black males for drug-related offences is a social issue that has broad implications. Some scholars have described this as a new form of racism that needs to be addressed through the concerted effort of various institutions, including the Black Church. In this paper the authors will elucidate the past and current roles of the Black Church, discuss the utilization of the social work Theory of Empowerment and Black Church theology to address the disproportionality of drug-related mass incarceration of young Black males, focus on initiatives undertaken by the Black Church to address this issue and …

Six Principles To Consider When Working With Roman Catholic Clients, Thomas G. Plante

Psychology

Although the majority of Americans consider themselves to be Christian and affiliated with various Protestant denominations, a quarter of the American population identify themselves as Roman Catholics who are the largest single religious denomination in the country. Yet, surprisingly, fairly little research has been published in the professional psychology literature about working with this very large and diverse group. Psychologists have an ethical responsibility to be aware of and respectful to diversity including diversity based on religious background, affiliation, and perspectives. The purpose of this brief reflection is to offer 6 important principles to keep in mind for professional psychologists …

Perfect Harmony: An Examination Of The Necessity Of Interdependency Between First And Second Generation Korean Congregations, Hank H. Shin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The English speaking second-generation Korean Americans coexisting with the first-generation Koreans topic identifies the issues associated in a typical Korean immigrant church. Based on the resources, the English Ministry has a tendency to stay under the authority of the Korean Ministry leadership, coexist independently with a separate administration, or depart to set up a separate church. This project is separated in three parts. The first section reviews the history of the early Korean American churches in the United States. The second section addresses the problems between English Ministry and Korean Ministry. The third section identifies a strategy to provide harmony …

Speak English, Pray In Spanish: Forming Cultural Bridges Between Hispanic Teens And Parents, Dulce Flores

LMU Theses and Dissertations

Within Hispanic families there is a growing gap – a disconnection between Hispanic immigrants and their U.S. born and raised children. The cultural gap formed between these two groups has caused many U.S. Hispanic teens to disconnect from “Catholic” as a marker of identity. In order to help Hispanic teens establish a Catholic identity, the local church community needs to help families bridge the gap between teens, parents, and the Church itself. Through the exploration of mestizaje and the incorporation of lo cotidiano and accompaniment in catequesis familiar, parents in conjunction with the Church community can help engage teens in …

The Eucharist In An Unarticulated World, Tim Sensing

Graduate School of Theology

Ethnographic data from the lived experiences of teenagers participating in the weekly observance of the Eucharist provided rich data for an application of Bakhtinian approaches to discourse in order to inform current practice. Bakhtin’s understanding of dialogism and heteroglossia asserts that all discourse communities are located in historical situations that involve complex interactions. Each utterance takes meaning from its “actual social life.” Bakhtin gives priority to utterances that occur in context and focuses on the intentional negotiation of meaning and interpretation between author and reader, or, in this case, researcher, participant, and community. The research provides opportunity for teenagers to …

South Carolina Conference Journal 2015, United Methodist Church. South Carolina Conference

South Carolina Conference Journal

THE JOURNAL OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA CONFERENCE OF The United Methodist Church Southeastern Jurisdiction

VOLUME I 2015

Price: $30.00 per year paid in advance by subscription only (Volumes I and II included)

Edited for the Conference by KENNETH L. NELSON Secretary of the Annual Conference

Florence Civic Center Florence, South Carolina

June 7-11, 2015

An Analysis Of Students' Perception Of Biblical Community Within The Environment Of Digital Media: A Mixed Methods Study, Matthew Alan Vander Wiele

Faculty Dissertations

This study is an examination of teen perception regarding their understanding of biblical community within the environment of digital media. The study also examines the principles, essentials, or characteristics of biblical community regardless of environment.

The researcher surveyed a sample of teens that attend classical, open enrollment, and closed enrollment Christian schools of various denominations as well as no denomination. A survey presenting a list of the essential principles of biblical community, regardless of environment, including questions for each objective was sent to the sample. The respondents were asked to participate in a quantitative Lickert-scale survey. An expert panel was …

Four Lessons Learned From Treatingcatholic Priest Sex Offenders, Thomas G. Plante

Psychology

Perhaps there is no one in our society more despised and vilified than sex offenders, especially those who sexually violate young children. And during the past decade perhaps no particular subgroup of sex offender has been more despised than those who are Roman Catholic priests. We need to be attentive to the state-of-the-art facts, best practices, and create policies and procedures to keep those who might harm children away from children. To do otherwise is foolish and harmful. Yet strong opinions, advocacy, and hysteria sometimes gets more attention than actual evidence-based quality research and practice which is not ultimately in …

Can A Christian College Student Please God? Spiritual Growth And Its Relationship To Small Group Involvement, Accountability And Academic Progress, Ralph W. Jernigan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In order to please God, a Christian college student should be committed to spiritual growth, accountability, as well as doing one's best academically. This project will examine the association between these three areas. Academic success will be measured among College Learning Strategies students using their pre-class and post-class grade point averages. A pre- and post-class survey will be administered to students in order to measure spiritual growth. Spiritual growth will be compared to a student's involvement in some type of accountability. The finding of a correlation between spiritual growth and accountability and/or spiritual growth and academic achievement would lead to …