Digital Commons Network^™

How Spirituality Intensifies Sustainability: A Case Study Of Ananda Valley In Northern Portugal, Mia Handler

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The religious affiliations of citizens in the West are currently shifting away from the fundamentalist, traditional structures of the past towards more alternative spiritualities. Furthermore, as a result of the climate crisis, ecovillages are becoming increasingly popular. Ecovillages are intentional, “sustainable” communities that seek to reduce consumption, live in harmony with nature, and create strong social bonds. They are characterized by varying levels of spiritual involvement (Greenberg, 2014, p. 274). As such, the objective of this paper is to study the relationship between spirituality and environmentally-friendly practices and attitudes, using the ecovillage Ananda Valley – an Ananda Marga Master Unit …

Integrating Medical Pluralism In Southern Africa: The Case Of The Zion Christian Church’S Healing Motif, Olaotse Obed Gabasiane

Journal of Adventist Mission Studies

The challenges that Western-trained medical missionaries and Christian doctors face is that their African patients, some of whom may be Christians, do consult all the healers in the parallel medical systems freely and almost simultaneously, the result of which may be complications, and possibly mental confusion, due to medications from different sources being taken at the same time without any liaison between doctors and healers.

Re-Imagining And Rechanneling Youth Potential Through The Lens Of The Hofstede Cultural Dimensions Model, Olaotse Obed Gabasiane

Journal of Adventist Mission Studies

No abstract provided.

Approaches To Faith Integration: A Case Study Of Andrews University Employees, Duane Covrig, Glynis M. Bradfield, Steven Injety, Duduetsang Kakhu

Faculty Publications

For centuries, Christians have cultivated faith in themselves and others by engaging in prayer, evangelism, discipleship, and education, with Christian tertiary institutions playing a vital role in this nurturing of faith. However, previous studies have shown that Christian educators have also been complicit in depleting faith in others. This erosion of faith has been well documented in American "Christian" universities like Harvard, Yale, and Princeton, primarily due to modernity and secularization. For faith to thrive, it has to be backed with intention, and this is especially of paramount importance in American higher education today. As the oldest Seventh-day Adventist University, …

Gerontic Evangelism, Yakubu Jakada

Great Commission Research Journal

Gerontic Evangelism focuses on sharing the gospel with senior adults. Many evangelism ministries are focusing on children, youth, women, and other adult members of society, but few focus on the elderly. Senior adults in most cases are not seen as a peculiar group that needs to be strategically reached with the gospel. Their importance in society and their growing population worldwide should attract the attention of evangelists and missionaries to target them as a special group for gospel witness. This paper argues that winning the senior adults to Christ is a necessity and may open doors for the evangelization and …

Islamic Hospitality Philosophy, Islamophobia Host-Guest Relationships, Traveler Psychographic And Archetype In The Muslims World, Jamaliah Jamil, Zulhasni A. Rahim

University of South Florida (USF) M3 Publishing

The Islamic hospitality emerged within the cultural transformation between tradition and religion context. Throughout history, the Islamic hospitality it spreads to all parts of the world together with the adoption of Islamic faith and lifestyle. Today, the it is visible to identify the Islamic hospitality in many shapes and form of social activities and also commercial industries sectors. Once of the significant form of brand of the Islamic hospitality is the halal industries, which covers food, services, tourism and more based on the increasing demand on the Muslim market. However, the negative concept of Islamophobia that are dominantly prompted by …

Women's Holistic Transformation And Self-Help Groups, Desta Demessie Madie

Doctor of Ministry

Women in Adama City are enslaved to generational poverty due to a lack of alternative income generating means and unproductive expenditures related to spiritual practices in hopes of attaining supernatural power. A Self-Help Group is a development intervention approach that is aimed at empowering women. This research critically examines the role of SHGs in promoting holistic transformation of women in three areas: women’s economic empowerment, and socio-political empowerment, and women’s spiritual transformation with reference to the Ethiopian Kale Heywet Church Development Program. The SHG approach will be reviewed within a framework based on the concept of Christian holistic transformation. The …

Not Just The Sinner’S Prayer: People’S Experiences With “Stranger-Evangelism”, Kenneth Nehrbass

Great Commission Research Journal

While churches and Christian concerts are typical loci for evangelism, some Christians also broach the subject of faith with strangers they encounter at their health club, at the beach, or while visiting door-to-door. This study draws from 34 stories of “stranger-evangelism” offered by 11 ministers and laypeople who participated in semi-structured interviews. The central finding of this study is that stranger-evangelism contains a rich variety of experiences that are typical of any ministry: sometimes planned (by proclaiming, inviting, programming, befriending, and serving), and sometimes spontaneously. Participants described the fruit of their efforts along a continuum from rejection to interest, and …

Forming Saints In A Digital Context, Mark R. Teasdale

Great Commission Research Journal

Biblical and scholarly sources agree on the importance of forming Christians to seek after holy living to make them more effective evangelists, such that the ministries of evangelism and spiritual formation are intertwined. They also agree that one of the primary roles of the church is to provide for this formation. However, the practices for doing this have been complicated by the heavy move toward digital ministry because of COVID-19. Congregations can continue this formational work even in highly digital contexts by helping Christians tell their story through lifelogging, providing rituals and disciplines to sanctify time and physical spaces, and …

Applying Paul’S Areopagus Model To Generation Z, Tanita Maddox

Great Commission Research Journal

The members of Generation Z are today’s adolescents and young professionals, bringing with them their own culture. This culture requires other generations to use a cross-cultural approach to evangelism, as modeled by Paul in Athens (Acts 17:16-34). Paul observed the Athenian culture, built rapport, used common language with his audience, found common ground as a cultural doorway for his message, and redefined the audience’s understanding of the relationship between God and humans. The same steps can be applied to gospel proclamation to Generation Z for effective and relevant evangelism.

Book Review: Development In Mission: A Guide For Transforming Global Poverty And Ourselves By Monty Lynn, Rob Gailey, And Derran Reese, Nathaniel Veltman

Great Commission Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Complete Fall Issue

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

No abstract provided.

"Constant Kindness, Constant Gracefulness:" Leading In Conflict, Ella Simons, Petr Cincala

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

No abstract provided.

Trauma And Its Impact On Pastoral Leadership, David Sedlacek

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

This article presents quantitative data collected from 607 seminary students at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary from 2019 through 2022 on the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) they have suffered. ACEs include various forms of abuse and neglect as well as household factors such as being raised with addiction, mental illness, divorce, and the like. Also included are environmental factors such as being raised in an unsafe or deprived neighborhood. Included in this article are ACE data collected from pastors at the 2022 Called Convention, a quinquennial meeting for all Seventh-day Adventist pastors in North America, and a small sample of …

The Emotionally Competent Pastor, Kevin Spratt

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

A pastor with high emotional intelligence is more likely to be successful in the skills required to lead a church, which will likely produce a healthier church. Stated another way, a lack of emotional intelligence is a potential predictor of pastoral leadership failure, which could lead to an unhealthy church. Current church authors and researchers miss emotional intelligence as a key leadership competency. This article raises the importance of emotional intelligence and suggests that an emotionally intelligent pastor who is both self-aware and socially aware can relationally lead a church well.

Pastoral Wellness: Six Tips For Vocational Health, Dwight K. Nelson

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

No abstract provided.

Emotional Intelligence: An Essential And Valuable Tool For Effective Christian Leadership, Louis Brown

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

No abstract provided.

The Intersection Of Leadership And Addictive Disorders With A Focus On Pornography, Katia G. Reinert

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

No abstract provided.

Dissertation Notices

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

Foye, P. B. (2023). Exploring perspectives of African American Pentecostal clergy Scripture teachings regarding mental illness. DPsy, Walden University. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing, 28772830.

Hayles, R. A., Jr. (2021). The relationship between emotional intelligence and Christian virtues in organizational leadership: An analysis of nonprofit leaders. PhD, Regent University. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing, 28323567.

Hodges, J. W. (2022). Fumbling with love: The first step toward cultivating a beloved community: A Bible study addressing four psychological barriers to racial reconciliation. DMin, Duke University. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing, 29160909.

Holmes, M. (2022). Racial reconciliation in the church: A resource for pastors and leaders. DMin, Ashland Theological …

Engaging And Mobilizing Baby Boomers For Effective Ministry, Paul D. Russell

Doctor of Ministry (DMin)

In the 21st-century church in America, can Baby Boomers, who presently range from 57 to 76 years of age, be envisioned and commissioned to make a difference through effective and meaningful ministry? The intent of the research was to discover relevant information and present considerations to help those entering the last third of life make an informed contribution to the church and community. Evidence will be presented to show that Boomers need the church and that the church needs the presence and resourceful productivity of the Boomer cohort. This reality does not circumvent the essential mission of reaching other generations …

Historical Examples And Evaluations Of Visions And Dreams, Wilfred T. Adderley Sr.

Journal of Adventist Mission Studies

This article asks whether there has been an ecclesiastical shift away from spiritual gifts—especially believing and accepting that God still sends visions and dreams during this present period in history? Is the Holy Spirit continuing to speak to humans through visions and dreams? These questions will be answered, and the seven-element biblical model will be used to evaluate visions and dreams. I will review documents from the Ante Nicene Fathers, will look at the works of Martin Luther and John Wesley, and Adventist pioneers William Miller and Ellen White concerning dreams and visions. Documented dream experiences from Muslim cultures and …

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 …

Present And Post-Pandemic Theology: What And How We Will Teach And Preach, Seventh=Day Adventist Theological Seminary

Current: Faith Meets Life and Culture

No abstract provided.

"Self-Care:" Not Just A Buzzword, Petr Cincala

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

No abstract provided.

Toward An Eco-Cosmopolitanism: Wendell Berry And Ecowomanism In Conversation, Wade Casey

Dissertations

Agriculture, Alice Walker, bell hooks, Ecology, Theology, Wendell Berry

Towards A Post-Pandemic Mission, Boubakar Sanou, Josh Dietrich, Tyler Kern

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Same Purpose, New Approach: A Case Study Of The North Dakota Bismarck Mission Using Social Media During Covid-19, Scott L. Howell

Faculty Publications

This is the story of how one mission in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Church) adapted its approach, but not its purpose, to invite all to come unto Jesus Christ during the first 16 months of the COVID-19 pandemic (March 2020 to July 2021). The North Dakota Bismarck Mission (NDBM hereafter) covers all or parts of the states of North and South Dakota, Minnesota, Montana, and Nebraska, and, like the other 404 missions¹ throughout the world, traditional approaches to missionary work were significantly disrupted by the effects of COVID-19. No longer were missionaries able to find and …

Theology Matters, Jiří Moskala

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

A Story Of Digital Church Development And Its Implications, Petr A. Činčala, Foye Michael Belyea, Mabio Cohelo

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

In Lockstep With Père Charles Duparquet— Synodality As The Catholic Missionary Insertion Within Novel Sociality, Elochukwu Uzukwu Cssp

Spiritan Horizons

No abstract provided.