Digital Commons Network^™

The Transformational Effects Of Forgiveness In The Lives Of Members Of The Kingsboro Temple Congregation, Joseph E. Ainsworth

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Forgiveness is a crucial need within the congregation, and the lack of a greater practice of forgiveness is severely impacting the emotional, relational, and spiritual wellbeing of members. This present study investigated causes of hurt within the congregation, and designed a process to assist members in achieving forgiveness to empower them to live a forgiven life.

Method

The Pearson Correlations of Values measured 17 variables of spirituality and forgiveness against variables of avoidance, revenge, distancing, and feeling close. The ] 7 variables were reviewed and validated by Dr. Joan Atwood as a check and balance to personal biases. Forty-eight …

A Program For Prevention And Intervention Of Compassion Fatigue And Burnout Among Pastors In The Guyana Conference Of Seventh-Day Adventists, David O. Mckenzie

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

The membership of the Guyana Conference of Seventh-day Adventist has surged to over 50,000 over the ten year period, 1997-2006; however, the professional Adventist clergy group has experienced a decrease over the same time period—from thirty-three to twenty-seven ministers (Guyana Conference of SDA Statistics). The ratio of clergy to laity is, thus, 1:1853, where it was previously 1:1039. Consequently, ministers in the Guyana Conference of SDA are likely to become victims of burnout—and its compassion fatigue form—as they encounter the demands of ministry.

Methods and Procedures

Following the case study method of qualitative research, the researcher utilized Eisner’s (1998) …

Developing Spiritual Formation And Mission Awareness In The Hill Portuguese Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Johannesburg, South Africa, Dilson M. Bezerra

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Between 1992 and 2007, the attendance of the Hill Portuguese Seventh-day Adventist Church has declined from 200 to 60 members and the church completely lost its sense of mission. This downturn requires investigation and study in order to reverse the situation. The project is an implementation of a program to revive the church in fellowship with God, and in action within the community. Further, Portuguese immigrant members display a tendency towards liberalism when removed from their native culture.

Method

An informal survey was created and administered to the church members in order to discover why membership had been declining …

Performance Evaluation Of Pastors In East Zimbabwe Conference, Douglas Mutanga

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

There has been no consistent and effective way of evaluating the performance of pastors in the East Zimbabwe Conference. In most cases the evaluating is only done for the purpose of identifying ordination candidates and is based only on quantifiable goals that include baptisms, tithe returns, and submission of reports. Due to the rapid growth of the church in terms of personnel, number of churches and membership, and the vast geographical territory, the need for an evaluation instrument is critical.

Method

The study was descriptive and designed around research questions that helped determine the job description of the pastor. …

Intercultural Faith-Based Mentoring Of Helderberg College Students, South Africa, Edward A. Appollis

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Many of the students of Helderberg College do not utilize the mentoring program fully and staff members lack the time and training for doing faith-based mentoring. Additionally, both staff and students have expressed the challenges that arise from a mentor-mentee relationship which is often intercultural.

Method

A mixed methodology study using the following instruments with two populations of Helderberg College: a survey-questionnaire by 93 fulltime registered student mentees present at a weekly assembly (3rd Nov. 2008); and a survey-questionnaire by 28 mentoring staff (4th Nov. 2008). Further, 6 interviews with mentors on 29th July- 3rd Aug. 2009 and 10 …

The Transition Of The North Botswana Field To Conference Status: Three Critical Factors, Galenakgosi M. Orapeleng

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Since being organized in 1984, the North Botswana Field (NBF) has been aspiring to become a conference but had been hindered by a number of factors. However, in 2008 it managed to qualify for conference status. This project was to evaluate the prevailing circumstances in North Botswana Field between 2005 and 2008 to discover critical factors that contributed to the rapid growth of the work in North Botswana Field, resulting in it qualifying for conference status in May 2008.

Method

The methodology used for gathering information in this project was not intended to be scientific or to be used …

Dual Allegiance And The Seventh-Day Adventist Church In Africa: How To Address The Issue In An Open Dialogue In The West Central Africa Division, Gilbert Wari

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Africa in general, and the West-Central Africa Division in particular, has been facing the issue of dual allegiance or “split level Christianity.”

Method

The Bible, Spirit of Prophecy, and other related books and articles concerning the issue of dual allegiance were studied, then theological and religious-cultural data were analyzed, a strategy was put in place by using a Logframe Matrix and a Gantt Chart so as to address and deal with the issue from a biblical point of view.

Results

A spirit of dedication and commitment started manifesting itself among pastors, administrators, and church …

Assessing Retention Patterns And Implementing Strategies For Membership Retention In The Zimbabwe Union Conference Of Seventh-Day Adventists, Richard Sithole

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

This research project has investigated, identified, and assessed member retention patterns of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Zimbabwe, an entity usually referred to as the Zimbabwe Union Conference (ZUC). What prompted the research are two quinquenial reports (1998-2002; 2003-2007) which, as will be seen, show high baptisms as well as high membership losses (see Appendix B). Findings were made through surveys and questionnaires to pastors, elders, members, and former members; the researcher then designed an intervention program which was tried in two churches which were fast growing and at the same time poor in retention. The program was deliberate, …

A Molecular Dynamics Study Of Mechanical Properties Of Carbon Nanotube Polymer Composites And Graphene Nanoplatelet Polymer Composites, Suchitra Reddy Yerramaddu

Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics

Carbon nanotubes have been the main focus in science and engineering fields lately for their extraordinary properties. But carbon nanotube fabrication process is very expensive, particularly for reinforcements and structural composite applications. Instead of working towards developing lower cost nanotubes, an alternate solution to resolve the problem is to formulate a cost effective reinforcement referred to as graphene nanoplatelets. These nanoplatelets have excellent mechanical as well as electronic properties opening up for several applications in various fields. Their structure with carboncarbon bonds make them stronger and stiffer. Single nanotubes can be used as reinforcements in one direction, while the graphite …

Development And Implementation Of A Seminar To Combat The Effects Of Pornography On Marriage In The Madison Community Sda Church And Strategies For Prevention, Abraham L. Swamidass

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem. Recent statistics in the nation, research among Christian couples, and my own counseling experience with couples, “particularly men” who were addicted to pornography, revealed that pornography is one of the leading causes of divorce and family breakdown today. Thus, it needed to be addressed at the Madison Community Church in Madison, Wisconsin. The purpose of this research project was to develop, implement and evaluate a seminar on The Effects of Pornography on Marriage and Strategies for Prevention. The intent of the seminar was to help couples, and “particularly men,” to understand the harmful effects of pornography on marriage, and …

Development Of An Action Plan To Transform The Erwin Hills Seventh-Day Adventist Church Into A Family-Friendly Church For The Purpose Of Winning Families With Youth And Children, Eli Rojas

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Through a period of a few years the Erwin Hills Seventh-day Adventist Church went from a thriving congregation with members of all ages to a small group of faithful members who desired to see the return of the days when their church was thriving. As the new pastor took office a desire to change came upon the leadership, one that led them to think of ways to attract and retain families to their ranks. There was a lack in ministry that was inclusive of all the members of a household and thus unattractive to new members with young adults …

Developing Relational Communities: An Evangelistic Approach To Non-Adventist Students At Solusi University, Herbert Ndlovu

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

The purpose of this study was to determine how healthy relational communities contribute to membership growth and the retention of non-Adventist students at Solusi University. Some of the effects of current public evangelistic approaches and the loss of community spirit were studied. The challenge of nurturing a community of meaning and relationship at Solusi was also explored.

Method

A self-reported questionnaire was completed by both Adventist and non- Adventist students. In order to verify the results of the self-reported questionnaire, interviews were conducted with the church leadership, 10 church members, and 20 second and third year students.

Results

Analysis …

The Historical Reflection Of The Integration Of The Minority Groups Within The Adventist Church In Zimbabwe Between 1985 And 1994, Jonathan Tapera Nzuma

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

The integration of minority groups into the mainstream of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Zimbabwe has been resisted. In the power struggle that ensued, rooted in complex issues of multi-ethnicity and multiculturalism, the church has gone through a schism. Little reflective thought has been given to how this schism may have been avoided and how to address similar issues in the future, as well as seeking to embrace wounded members back into the larger Adventist Church.

The Method

A theological foundation was laid for this project by examining the biblical doctrine of unity in diversity as portrayed in both …

Consumer Protection In Transnational Contexts, Jacques Delisle, Elizabeth Trujillo

Faculty Scholarship

This Article provides an overview of United States consumer protection law in the growing number cases with an international dimension that arise with economic globalization, expanding transnational corporations, worldwide production chains, manufacturing outsourcing and more efficient international communication. U.S. consumer protection law remains primarily state law, including tort and product liability law, contract and warranty law, and general and product-specific consumer protection statutes. (This refers to the private law remedies for consumer goods which are the substantive laws addressed in this article.) There is little treaty-based, constitutional or federal law except for federal regulatory law that largely adopts state law …

The Feminist Cure: Feminist Identity As A Shield From Hyper-Sexualized L'Vledia Induced Self-Objectification In College Women, Natalie Smith Carlson

English

This paper explores the impact of hyper-sexualized media on college women in terms of inducing self-objectification and/or inhibiting feminist identity. The survey and resulting analysis showed participants' feminist orientation ostensibly affected their inclination to self-objectify after watching and responding to a slideshow of common images of women in our culture. By comparing the reactions of women \Vith high feminist orientation and low feminist orientation, suggestions were clear about connections between an identification with feminism and a propensity to value the self and other women for characteristics beyond those of appearance and sexuality.

Modeling And Analysis Of Impacts Of Right-Tum Lane Lengths, Pavan Kumar Chevuri

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Tum lanes have been studied for several decades, with focus being on left-tum lanes and for urban areas. The need for right-tum lanes has been studied using the impact of such tum lanes on both safety and operational efficiency. However, the impacts of different right-tum lane lengths have not been studied well. The determinations of righttum lane lengths have been based primarily on the deceleration of the right-turning vehicles, which happens to be one of the many factors that should influence such decisions. In this study the impacts of the right-tum lanes on two-lane roads with no controls on major …

Filamentous Growth In Entrapped Microbial Cell Reactor Treating Wastewater, Vinodgnanadrepan Sathyaseelan

Civil and Environmental Engineering

The overgrowth of filamentous microorganisms in wastewater treatment systems is a common adversary condition leading to foaming, poor sludge settling problems, and reduction in organic removal efficiency. Entrapped microbial cell reactors have been investigated for their uses in wastewater treatment. However, their susceptibility to filamentous growth is not known. The objective of this study is to investigate the filamentous growth and its effect on the treatment performance of an entrapped microbial cell system treating wastewater. A typical activated sludge wastewater treatment system was included for comparative purpose. Both systems were operated at the same operating conditions using synthetic wastewater. Four …

Analysis And Evaluation Of The Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon In School Zones, Michael Howard Bittner

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Meeting dual objectives of pedestrian safety and motorist convenience at pedestrian crossings in school zones is an important and continuing challenge for all local communities. Pedestrian safety is influenced by pedestrian delays as well as motorist compliance of controls. Motorist convenience is influenced by the delay experienced by drivers. Conventional crosswalk control devices such as marked crosswalks and pedestrian signals are not always adequate or efficient in balancing these two crucial but conflicting objectives. The 2009 edition of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) has paved the way for the use of a brand new crosswalk control device …

'Struck' By Stereotype: Ruth Bader Ginsburg On Pregnancy Discrimination As Sex Discrimination, Neil S. Siegel, Reva B. Siegel

Faculty Scholarship

This is an attempt at recovery. This Essay hopes to call attention to then-Professor Ruth Bader Ginsburg's merits brief in Struck v. Secretary of Defense. The brief has been under appreciated in part because the Supreme Court declined to decide the case. But anyone seeking to understand the origins and nature of Justice Ginsburg's views on sex discrimination would be well advised to read this brief. So would anyone interested in reimagining the bounds of constitutional possibility in the realm of gender equality.

Electrochemical And Mechanical Properties Studies Of Flexible Mg-Rich Primers, Tiantian Chen

Coatings and Polymeric Materials

The coating systems for military aircraft must protect the aluminum skin and frame, and associated fastening and joining from corrosion in a variety of aggressive environments. Excessive grinding is often needed to remove the corrosion products at the cracks formed around the seams and fasteners on the aircraft resulting from poor system flexibility of coatings, which causes high maintenance cost and damages the integrity of the aircraft's body. Thus the U.S. Air Force wants to develop an advanced performance coating system with a primer that can provide superior flexibility and good corrosion protection. Currently commercialized magnesium-rich corrosion protection primers were …

The Synthesis, Characterization, And Evaluation Of A Polypyrrole/ Aluminum Flake Composite Pigment, Christopher Alan Vetter

Coatings and Polymeric Materials

The goal of this study was to synthesize a polypyrrole/aluminum flake composite pigment to inhibit corrosion on aluminum alloy 2024 T3. This was done in order to remedy some of the problems associated with the application of pure polypyrrole as a coating. Namely these problems are insolubility in common solvents, brittleness, poor adhesion to metal substrates, and catastrophic failure in some conditions due to fast ion incorporation. By incorporating the polypyrrole composite pigment into an epoxy primer, the superior mechanical properties of the epoxy binder can be combined with the corrosion inhibiting properties of the polypyrrole. Results indicated that the …

Corporate Social Responsibility: A Roadmap For Georgia, Tamar Kvaratskhelia

Communication

Today, more than ever, business companies are held accountable and judged for their business practices. They are expected to work in ways that make a positive impact on the environment and the society. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is often conceptualized as companies intentionally exceeding their primary responsibility of making profit in order to support the common goal of creating secure, just, and productive communities while protecting the environment. Although CSR is widely practiced in Western countries, the concept is still relatively new and emerging in Georgia, a country with a transitional economy and democracy. Current CSR practices are less stable …

Military Marriages: A Look At Dialectical Tensions, Deployment, And Military Life Through Navy Wives' Eyes, Erienne Lee Fawcett

Communication

This qualitative study explored the lived military relationships of eighteen Navy wives whose husbands were stationed on the Naval Air Station Whidbey Base in Oak Harbor, Washington. The researcher performed interviews to better understand how internal dialectical tensions- autonomy-connection, novelty-predictability, and opennessclosedness - were manifested throughout deployment, and what strategies were used to cope with those tensions. Results suggested that a variety of tensions characterized these marital relationships throughout the course of a deployment. The tensions that coincide with military lifestyles were often addressed by using the reframing coping strategy. A military/non-military external tension emerged from the data that influenced …

Extending The Diffusion Model In Risk Communication: A Case Study Of Risk In A Public Health Campaign, Kimberly A. Beauchamp

Communication

Everett Rogers' (2003) diffusion model provided a theoretical framework through which to measure change among publics. However, use of Rogers' diffusion model can lead to research shortcomings such as lack of consequence research, change agent tendencies, proinnovation bias, and inadequate research methods. Through new model development, the current study introduced a specific data analysis process that distinctly measured and merged a relationship between communication, outreach, and scientific effects. The application of a public health campaign served to test the new model's ability to overcome previous diffusion research shortcomings. Using an integrated approach of diffusion and gap analysis, the study investigated …

The A3 Report As Knowledge-Accomplishing Activity: A Practice-Oriented Analysis Of Situated Organizational Problem Solving, Angela Yvonne Hatton

Communication

The A3 report is a lean practice innovated by Toyota motor company. The A3 report, a growing trend in organizations, is promoted as a communication tool, but it has not been studied from a communication perspective. In this study I interview twelve professionals who use A3 reports in their work and identify the ways in which A3 reports enable and constrain organizational communication. This study illustrates the communicative enactment of knowing and identifies how the A3 report structures organizational problem solving and creates knowledge-accomplishing activity. The A3 report constrains information through its concise 11 by 1 7 inch paper size …

Corporate Communication On Facebook: A Multi-Method Approach To Corporate Use And Stakeholder Perceptions Of Social Media, Kathryn Marie Hedberg

Communication

This study looked at how corporations are currently using Facebook and what stakeholders' perceptions are of current corporate Facebook usage. A content analysis of nine corporate profile pages was conducted. Pages were coded for the presence or absence of relational development strategies under the categories of information dissemination, disclosure and involvement. A survey was also distributed to the fans of the nine corporate profiles in order to gain the fan perspective. Results showed that while corporations include disclosure and information dissemination strategies, they rarely use involvement strategies. This lack of interactivity is inconsistent with the fan perspective of corporate profiles, …

The Role Of Cyber And Face-To-Face Verbal Bullying On Adolescent Victims, Laura Catherine Farrell

Communication

The purpose of this study was to examine adolescent verbal bullying across communication media (e.g., face-to-face [F2F], cyber, both). Media Richness Theory (MRT; Daft & Lengel, 1984; 1986) and hyperpersonal communication (Walther, 1996) are the guiding theories in this study. Results suggested three of the four emotional outcomes [happiness, self-esteem, and peer satisfaction] were not significantly different across verbal bullying media, while the fourth emotional outcome [relational victimization] was significantly different. Results also suggested differences in frequency of bullying communication types between bullying media. There was a significant difference in the frequency of bullying type and grade level; however, there …

Chevron's Power Of Human Energy: A Case For Corporate Social Responsibility As Identification Inducement, Michelle Marie Roers

Communication

With corporate social responsibility (CSR) emerging as an inescapable business priority around the world, organizations are developing elaborate CSR campaigns to highlight their good deeds and influence important stakeholders. Despite its potentially powerful persuasive influence, however, we know surprisingly little about the actual messaging used in contemporary CSR campaigns. Accordingly, this study investigates a major multinational-and controversial-company's CSR campaign to examine CSR messages' propensity for inducing positive organizational identification. A case study applying Cheney's (1983b) organizational identification inducements reveals that Chevron's Power of Human Energy CSR campaign extensively and strategically uses CSR messaging to induce identification. This study thus suggests …

Virtual-Experiment-Driven Process Model (Vedpm), Chin Aik Lua

Computer Science

Computer simulations are the last resort for many complex problems such as swarm applications. However, to the best of the author's knowledge, there is no convincing work in proving ''What You Simulate ls What You See'' (WYSIWYS). Many models are built on long, subjective code that is prone to abnormalities, which are about corrupted virtual scientific laws rather than software bugs. Thus, the task of validating scientific simulations is very difficult, if not impossible. This dissertation provides a new process methodology for solving the problems above: Virtual-Experiment-Driven Process Model (VEDPM). VEDPM employs simple yet sound virtual experiments for verifying simple, …

Post-Deployment Key Management In Heterogeneous Wireless Sensor Networks, Paul Edward Loree

Computer Science

Many wireless sensor network applications require secure communication between nodes in the network. However, establishing pair-wise keys between nodes to provide security is challenging due to the limited resources in sensor nodes and the hostile environments in which they are deployed. Many key establishment schemes have been previously proposed for wireless sensor networks. However, most of these schemes were designed to work in a homogeneous network environment in which the nodes all have similar capabilities. Our work establishes that better performance can be achieved in a heterogeneous sensor network environment. We present a key management scheme for establishing pair-wise keys …