Digital Commons Network^™

Vanguards Of Change In The “Georgia Of The North” Youth Activism In The New Jersey Civil Rights Movement, Emily Peterson

The Thetean: A Student Journal for Scholarly Historical Writing

On February 17, 1948, the small suburb of Somerville, New Jersey began preparations for its annual “Brotherhood Week” meeting, part of an annual national initiative to address racial and religious prejudice. That day, the planning committee for the event received the following letter from a local high school student who served on the Brotherhood Week Youth Planning committee: “Every February…Brotherhood Week rolls around...But what about the other 364 days of the year? What happens to our fine ideas of cooperation, understanding, and goodwill then? Nothing ever comes of these meetings. We, the youth of Somerville, feel there should be a …

Wholely: A Youth Ministry Program To Develop Life Skills For Students, Brenda Antigua

Christian Ministries Senior Capstone

Churches usually focus primarily on people's spiritual lives. The mission of youth ministries is to foster a relationship with God among young people from an early age, but the church is called to do more because God cares holistically for his children. Wholely is a ministry that works with the academic, educational, and professional needs of students in Humboldt Park, Chicago, IL, providing them with monthly workshops that teach them life skills to prepare them for the future; mentorship from devoted leaders; inductive Bible study to learn what the Word says about them and what they are learning; a resource …

Exploring The Perspectives Of Trained Pastoral Leaders On The Perceived Role Of Mental Health Conditions In Spiritual Formation, Duane P. Roberts

PhD in Organizational Leadership

The call of the pastoral leader is to serve and lead their congregants through a process of spiritual formation in alignment with how Jesus led His disciples to fulfill the Great Commission. However, when an underlying mental health condition is present, it can play a disruptive role in the spiritual formation of congregants in unique ways. Mental health conditions are a global phenomenon that continue to significantly affect individuals across all sectors, including the church. Thus, pastoral leaders are seeking to employ the most effective leadership style to guide congregants in continual spiritual formation when an underlying mental health condition …

Community-Based Research And Catholic Higher Education In Solidarity: Embracing The Risks And Gifts Of Interdependence, Linda Land-Closson

The Journal of Social Encounters

With common ground in the work of solidarity and the common good, Community-Based Research (CBR) and Catholic Higher Education (CHE) can be brought into a mutually beneficial dialogue. Accordingly, this article serves first as a reminder of the radicality of solidarity, second as a callout to CHE for often falling short of solidarity-in-action, third as an invitation for CHE to offer understandings of solidarity as discernment tools to mitigate harm in the changing field of CBR, and finally as an invitation to CBR to be aware of and continue promoting solidarity through good judgment.

Exploring The Growth And Impact Of Contemporary Mindfulness Programs In Japanese Society, Shreya Wagh

Japanese Society and Culture

In today's fast-paced world, mindfulness practice offers a peaceful way to enhance awareness and find clarity in the mind. This practice, rooted in Hindu and Buddhist traditions, aims to achieve spiritual enlightenment. In the late 20th century, mindfulness was adapted into secular, evidence-based therapeutic interventions in the West, leading to its widespread inclusion in healthcare, education, and corporate settings globally. The Westernized version of mindfulness has also been reintroduced to its countries of origin. Japan is no exception. The purpose of this article is to comprehend the rise and growth of mindfulness programs in Japan by analyzing existing literature, particularly …

Adult Sexual Grooming: A Systematic Review, Christin Aletky, Bonita Sharma, Jose Carbajal, Tia Eubank

Journal of Social Work in the Global Community

Grooming is the manipulation and intimidation of people into acts that may appear consensual but are in fact exploitative and harmful, activities they would not have chosen otherwise. Different legal definitions and shifting social perspectives on consent complicate efforts to determine whether a given behavior is a result of informed consent or a response to grooming behaviors. Most studies on grooming and sexual assault focus on adults grooming and abusing children—research on adults grooming other adults is scarce. Therefore, the purpose of our study is to conduct a systematic review of current research on the grooming of adults. We used …

Reformed Worship (Rw) 155 - Ascension / Pentecost (March 2025), Reformed Worship Editors

Reformed Worship Magazine

Editorial: What Story Do You Love to Tell? by Joyce Borger....2

Worship Series: God Is In the Story by Mike Collins and Dorothy Vandersteen....3

Worship for All by Lindsay Wieland Capel....12

Q&A: Framing Worship by Paul Ryan....15

Worship Service: God and Goliath by Jay Knochenhauer....18

Reading Scripture in Public Worship by David W. Music....23

Worship Service: James Wrote You a Letter! by Charles Keogh....26

The Nicene Creed....29

The Nicene Creed at 1700 Years Old by Joyce Borger....30

Songs for the Season by Anthony Bolkema....32

Marking the 1700th Anniversary of the Nicene …

The Limits Of Community: St. Ambrose's Arguments Against Arianism In De Fide, 1-2, John B. Thompson

Pro Rege

No abstract provided.

The Convergence Of World Prosperity And Afterlife Salvation: Neoliberalism And Political Islam In Turkey, Muhammad Andi Firmansyah

Jurnal Politik

This article investigates why Turkey’s middle-to-low-income earners, the segment of the population that has suffered the most from the neoliberal policies of the Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi (Justice and Development Party AKP), have continued to support the party for so long. Using a case study approach based on secondary data, this article argues that the source of the AKP’s enduring legitimacy lies in their skill in utilising political Islam to consolidate neoliberalism. They strategically framed neoliberal restructuring in an Islamic spirit, generating not only loyal cross-class support but also obedience to neoliberal political projects with all their destructive consequences. The …

Faith And Spiritual Renewal In Secular North Macedonia: The Pastoral Role Of The Macedonian Orthodox Church - The Archbishopric Of Ohrid In A Pluralistic Society, Borche Nikola Grambozov

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This article explores the relationship between faith and social dynamics in secular North Macedonia, with a focus on the Macedonian Orthodox Church-Archbishopric of Ohrid’s role in shaping spiritual values, social ethics and individual transformation. Although Republic of North Macedonia is a secular state, the Church remains a vital institution, an essential spiritual presence, offering spiritual guidance and fostering ethical frameworks that transcend cultural or national affiliations. It highlights how religious beliefs intersect with the country’s diverse cultural landscape, with an emphasis on the Church’s pastoral mission – directed not toward national or cultural constructs, but toward the transformation of individual. …

Old Victims, New Oppressors? Considering Postcolonial Social Conservatism Without Christianity In Central And Eastern Europe, Michal Opatrný

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

A significant part of societies in the states of Central and Eastern Europe openly reject the interconnection of Europe with the geopolitical, social and environmental problems of Africa, the Middle East, etc. Social conservativism without Christian belief is characteristic of this situation. Nevertheless, the churches and especially the representatives of the Catholic Church, often openly support these rejecting attitudes, i.e., by rejecting refugees, for example.

In the 20^th century, the Soviet Union and its internal supremacy of Russian nationalism heavily influenced this area. The postcolonial theory, together with the anti-oppressive theory, seems realistic to apply to this situation. In …

Blue Momma, Why Are You So Blue: A Trauma-Informed Theological Approach To Systematically Oppressed Black Mothers In Memphis, Tennessee, Valerie Houston

Doctor of Ministry

This dissertation discusses the effects of systemic oppression on the well-being of Black mothers in Memphis, Tennessee. It posits that systemic oppression causes trauma that negatively affects Black motherhood and familial stability. Research shows that maternal mental illness may negatively affect child development, behavior, and cognitive and socio-emotional development.³ Black literary history has revealed the importance of Black mothers for family development.⁴ It has shown how Black mothers used religion to support themselves emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually during times of travail.⁵ This work theorizes that a trauma-informed theological approach will liberate Black mothers in Memphis, Tennessee, from …

The Mystery Of Water Baptism: A Metaphorical Exploration Of Water Baptism And The Black Male Who, Due To Historical, Political, Societal, And Cultural Domination, May Experience The Justice Of Jesus In The Water, Reba Renee' Pennywell

Doctor of Ministry

There are many definitions of water baptism. A definition that is like the Biblical form of baptism and the context of this essay is the immersion or ‘dipping’ into a body of water. In the Christian church, this is viewed as a ceremonial ritual mimicked after the event when John the Baptist baptized Jesus in the Jordan River (Matthew 3:13-17, Mark 1:9-11, Luke 3:21-22, John 1:29-34). In some ecclesial settings, the water is lightly sprinkled on the person’s forehead.

Many Christian writers assert that the Jordan River was unholy until Jesus’s Baptism. The theophany at the Jordan River transcended the …

Financial Illiteracy Elimination Through The Development Of A Biblical Financial Literacy Curriculum For New Life Sda Church, Christopher L. Hughes

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The problem at New Life SDA Church is biblical financial illiteracy, caused by a lack of scriptural understanding of stewardship; the existence of knowledge gaps pertaining to modern, personal financial management practices; and substandard education across generations. As a result, there is a cascading effect of sustained cross-generational scarcity, difficulties fulfilling daily commitments and responsibilities, problematic family landscapes, and non-fulfillment of church-related stewardship. Protection against financial illiteracy is for New Life Seventh-day Adventist congregants to study and utilize biblical stewardship principles, along with modern financial concepts and practices in their lives. Therefore, this research project’s purpose was to train this …

The Social Interpretation Of Surat Al-Balad And Its Impact On Addressing Poverty, Dr. Ali Abdul Aziz Sayour

Faculty Peer-Reviewed Papers | بحوث هيئة التدريس المحكمة

This research is titled The Social Interpretation of Surat Al-Balad and Its Impact on Addressing Poverty answers a question: How does Surat Al-Balad, through its interpretation from a social perspective, provide solutions to the phenomenon of poverty prevalence? The research has two topics: the first is indicating the research terminology, and the second is dividing Surat Al-Balad into Four Sections; each section contains several verses presenting a method that contributes to addressing poverty. In this research, both descriptive and deductive methodology was used. It concluded with several results, including: proving that Surat Al-Balad provides us with a model that is …

Contemporary Views Of Spiritual And Theological Reflection (2013-2023) Compared To Forty Years Ago: Analysis Of 32 Texts, Chris Brouillard-Coyle, Des Mcenaney, Joselin Zak, Thomas St. James O’Connor

Consensus

What are contemporary views on spiritual and theological reflection? We answer this question using a hermeneutical research method analyzing 32 texts from the current situation. The data indicate five themes: 1) experiences as sources for spiritual/theological reflection, 2) meaning making as key component for spiritual/theological reflection, 3) growth in spiritual reflection and overlap with theological reflection, 4. some flexible methods; many without explicit method, and 5) spiritual but not religious. Discussion, limitations, and areas for future research are provided.

Letter To The Church, Chris Brouillard-Coyle

Consensus

What is pastoral leadership? How is, and can, pastoral leadership be embodied in the Church today? Who can and should participate in reflections on these questions? While engaging in a course on pastoral leadership, with the support of the professor, an idea arose to write a letter to the Church following the patterns of the Epistles in the Bible. The goal was to create something that could be read and studied by anyone, while ensuring that the academic rigour behind the contents was made available via the footnotes. The letter is intentionally written in the style of the Epistles, and …

Empowering Christian Schools Worldwide, Tim Van Soelen

The Voice

No abstract provided.

Bridging Campus And Community, Joya Breems

The Voice

No abstract provided.

Tackling Football And Engineering, Sarah Moss

The Voice

No abstract provided.

Providing Hope Through The Flood, Jennifer Vermeer

The Voice

No abstract provided.

Accelerating Kingdom Service, Sarah Moss

The Voice

No abstract provided.

Bridging The Gap: Overcoming Barriers To Church Attendance And Ministry Engagement Between Millenials And Baby Boomers In The African Methodist Episcopal Church, Lavoris Williams

Doctor of Ministry

This dissertation aims to develop a comprehensive understanding of the generational divide within the AME Church and propose actionable solutions for bridging this gap. Chapter 1 has introduced the problem, its context, and its significance, along with the guiding research question. Subsequent chapters will build on this foundation, exploring biblical, theological, and historical perspectives, as well as practical strategies for fostering intergenerational collaboration.

Chapter 2 will delve into the biblical foundations of unity and intergenerational collaboration, examining scriptural principles that emphasize mutual respect and cooperation. Chapter 3 will provide theological and historical insights, highlighting examples of successful intergenerational ministry within …

Determinants Of The Constituting Of The Orthodox Church Of Ukraine In 2018-2021, Yurii Boreiko

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

The article examines the particularities of the formation of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine in conditions of rivalry with the UOC-MP and in the context of challenges to the development of world Orthodoxy. The internal factors of the constitution of the OCU are analyzed, which include the development of an institutional network, the confrontation with the UOC-MP for influence on believers, the nature of interaction with the state, and participation in solving social problems. The external factors that determine the formation of the OCU are substantiated, in particular, by the attitude of local churches to the OCU, the opposition of …

God Is On The Move In Asia: Church Multiplication Stories From Southeast Asia, Carson Daniel

Books

No abstract provided.

Pr Activities Of Muslim Organizations In Slovakia: Political And Communication Analysis, Vadym Sluysar, Oleh Sokolovskyi, Serhii Kostiuchkov, Mykola Slyusar

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

The article is dedicated to analyzing the PR activities of Muslim organizations in Slovakia, taking into account the political, social, and communicative context. The authors explore the impact of digital technologies on religious communication, examining the use of social media and traditional media to shape the public image of Islamic organizations. Significant attention is given to the issue of islamophobia and the informational strategies aimed at overcoming negative stereotypes about Muslims. The PR campaigns of the "Islamic Foundation in Slovakia" are analyzed, including their role in interfaith dialogue and combating hate speech. The study addresses political challenges, particularly the populist …

The Social Policy Of Churches In Ukraine Today: Theoretical Foundations And Practical Implementation, Oleksandr Sagan, Mechyslav Yanauer

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This article examines the engagement of Ukrainian churches in addressing social challenges, emphasizing historical continuity and contemporary responses, particularly in the context of the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war. The study highlights diverse social services provided by religious institutions, including chaplaincy, rehabilitation, advocacy, and humanitarian aid, noting significant contributions during pivotal moments such as the Orange Revolution, the Revolution of Dignity, and the recent military conflict. Religious organizations notably support military personnel, displaced persons, and trauma victims, and actively participate in international advocacy through diplomatic channels. The article explores the current state of social doctrines, highlighting the ongoing development and adaptation process …

Samuel Štefan Osuský’S Critique Of Church And Society In The Face Of Totalitarianism, Michal Valčo, Katarína Valčová

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This paper provides a systematic review analysis of the relevant works of Slovak philosopher and theologian Samuel Štefan Osuský (1888-1975), focusing on his critical perspective concerning the responses of the Church (mainly the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Augsburg Confession in Slovakia) and society to the ideological and political dangers of fascism and Nazism in 20th-century Central Europe. Drawing on his major writings, including his prophetic 1937 lecture "Filozofia boľševizmu, fašizmu a hitlerizmu" [The Philosophy of Bolshevism, Fascism, and Hitlerism] and the courageous 1942 "Pastiersky list k židovskej otázke" [Pastoral Letter on the Jewish Question], we explore Osuský’s diagnosis of institutional …

Developing A Mentoring Model For Nurturing Worship Leaders In The Berrien Springs, Michigan Area, Jonathan Paul Rosengren

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Pastoral observation suggests that the use of worship leaders in the area of music is gaining prominence in Adventist churches today. However, because this is a relatively undefined ministry, worship leaders often lack spiritual preparedness and support for ministry in the local church.

Method

As a pastor I want to learn from worship leaders so I can help develop mentoring models that nurture their calling and ministry. The theological basis for nurturing worship leadership is based on a Seventh-day Adventist understanding of worship being central to the everlasting gospel of Revelation 14:6-7. In a practical sense, two theological stories …

Thanksgiving Prayer Walk, Calvin University

Campus Ministries Resources

No abstract provided.