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2025

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Nurturing Mature Adolescents: An Advanced Psycho-Educational Program Exploring The Effectiveness Of Social-Emotional Competence Among Adolescent Middle School Students- Phase I Action Research Pilot Study, Nkeiruka M. Maduike Dec 2025

Nurturing Mature Adolescents: An Advanced Psycho-Educational Program Exploring The Effectiveness Of Social-Emotional Competence Among Adolescent Middle School Students- Phase I Action Research Pilot Study, Nkeiruka M. Maduike

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Adolescence is a critical period marked of development marked by increased emotional and social challenges that shapes adolescents’ future well-being. This Phase I qualitative action research pilot study examined the effectiveness of the Nurturing Mature Adolescents (N.M.A.) psychoeducational program in enhancing emotional regulation and interpersonal skills among middle school students. Guided by Bandura’s Social Learning Theory, nine participants aged 11–14 engaged in a four-week intervention featuring structured lessons, observational learning, and self-efficacy strategies. Pre- and post-interviews and demographic surveys were analyzed using descriptive, In Vivo, process, emotion, and evaluation coding methods. Findings revealed consistent improvements in emotional awareness, self-regulation, communication, …


Why Not Me: Increasing Black Male Participation In Church Leadership, Veronica Ojo Dec 2025

Why Not Me: Increasing Black Male Participation In Church Leadership, Veronica Ojo

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This ethnographic qualitative study aimed to understand how the volunteerism and service of young Black males between the ages of 18 and 25, who were raised in and currently attend African American Baptist churches in the State of Georgia, are influenced by Transformational Leadership behavior. During the research, volunteerism and service were defined as those who participated or were connected to church ministries within their home church. The theory guiding this study was Burns’s (1978) transformational leadership theory as it relates to the behavior behind senior pastors’, youth ministers’, and senior church leaders’ mentorship of young Black males for leadership, …


Designing A Grief Intervention To Address The Religious Problem Of Evil, Charles Lee Burris Jr. Dec 2025

Designing A Grief Intervention To Address The Religious Problem Of Evil, Charles Lee Burris Jr.

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Christian fellowships should have grief ministries. The problem is the Greater Morning Star Baptist Church lacks a clear and practical intervention to support adult congregants coping with grief. The purpose of this DMIN action research project was to equip adult congregants of the Greater Morning Star Baptist Church through a biblically designed grief curriculum that provided training and encouragement to improve quality of life. This DMIN action research project applied qualitative and quantitative methods that included a pre-grief curriculum interview, a pre-grief curriculum survey, a post-grief curriculum focus group, and test assessments (pre-grief curriculum, mid-grief curriculum, and post-grief curriculum) for …


A Collaborative Leadership Development Model For Classical Christian School Consortiums, Lisa Diane Smith Dec 2025

A Collaborative Leadership Development Model For Classical Christian School Consortiums, Lisa Diane Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Over 55% of young adults in the United States have experienced some form of leadership development; however, their leadership skills are not being used within the church. Nearly 60% of those who regularly attended church during their youth are distancing themselves from it (Barna, 2023). Nonetheless, the same report suggested a link between youth who were well-integrated into a youth ministry and those who stayed active in the church. This Praxis program partnered with Redeemer Classical Academy to implement a Christ-centered leadership development initiative for its high school students. The argument supporting the Praxis program indicates that grounding students' leadership …


Development Of Contemporary Issues Related To Ellen G. White, Alberto R. Timm Dec 2025

Development Of Contemporary Issues Related To Ellen G. White, Alberto R. Timm

Ellen White Issues Symposium

No abstract provided.


Daily Eastern News: December 10, 2025, Eastern Illinois University Dec 2025

Daily Eastern News: December 10, 2025, Eastern Illinois University

Daily Eastern News: 2025-2026

No abstract provided.


The Divine Disciplinarian: God As The Model Father, Jacob Daniel Jones Dec 2025

The Divine Disciplinarian: God As The Model Father, Jacob Daniel Jones

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A pastor is responsible for instructing a congregation regarding biblical information and instruction. When a person is unsure of what the Bible teaches on a topic, the pastor can preach sermons and teach lessons that convey biblical truth. The growing congregation of Nevada Free Will Baptist Church consisted of believers who had been away from church for some time and new converts, resulting in a lack of biblical literacy due to their limited exposure to biblical truth. One area where congregants were uninformed was biblical parenting. This study addressed the problem of biblical illiteracy regarding parenting. It informed participants about …


From Transactional To Transformational: Cultivating A Theologically Robust Learning Experience For Upper School Senior Bible Classes, Linus Nguyen Nov 2025

From Transactional To Transformational: Cultivating A Theologically Robust Learning Experience For Upper School Senior Bible Classes, Linus Nguyen

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The problem at Holy Ground Christian Academy is that its approach to senior-level Bible classes is transactional rather than transformational for life and godliness. With parents feeling pressured to find effective educational options for their children and teachers facing growing demands from administrative duties, education urgently needs a new vision. Parents want their children to succeed and leave a lasting impact on society, while educators seek purpose in their careers. Modern educational trends push schools toward a utilitarian, transactional approach to learning, and private Christian college-preparatory schools are no exception. Within the Christian college-preparatory setting, Bible classes often struggle with …


The Echo: November 10, 2025, Taylor University Nov 2025

The Echo: November 10, 2025, Taylor University

2025-2026 (Volume 113)

No abstract provided.


What Does Ethical Leadership In A Changing World Require?, Kristina Fruge Nov 2025

What Does Ethical Leadership In A Changing World Require?, Kristina Fruge

Intersections

No abstract provided.


The Ecclesial Approach Of The Synod On Synodality, The Synthesis Report Of Its October 2023 Phase, And My Understanding Of The Spiritan Mission, Emmanuel Ofori Donkor Cssp Nov 2025

The Ecclesial Approach Of The Synod On Synodality, The Synthesis Report Of Its October 2023 Phase, And My Understanding Of The Spiritan Mission, Emmanuel Ofori Donkor Cssp

Spiritan Horizons

No abstract provided.


Is Ai A Techno-Ally Or Our Worst Enemy?, Rogelio Paquini Nov 2025

Is Ai A Techno-Ally Or Our Worst Enemy?, Rogelio Paquini

Lake Union Herald

No abstract provided.


Women In Ministry In The Churches Of Christ: A Comparative View, Jennifer Reinsch Schroeder Oct 2025

Women In Ministry In The Churches Of Christ: A Comparative View, Jennifer Reinsch Schroeder

Discernment: Theology and the Practice of Ministry

This article examines the experiences of women serving as full-time ministers in the Churches of Christ. Analysis of the Siburt Institute’s 2025 Salary Survey shows a large gender pay gap that speaks to concerns regarding support and sustainability in ministry. To better understand mechanisms that impact both support and sustainability, a separate qualitative study was performed that analyzed the interviews of twenty-one full-time, female ministers. The study revealed recurring features of unhealthy systems and the impact of unhealthy systems on women in ministry. Conversely, the interviews illuminated hallmarks of healthy systems and the results that emerge out of such systems. …


Developing A Ministry Model That Reengages The Members Of Mount Zion Into Fulfilling God’S Purpose, Desmond Wayde Wallace Oct 2025

Developing A Ministry Model That Reengages The Members Of Mount Zion Into Fulfilling God’S Purpose, Desmond Wayde Wallace

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Making a meaningful difference within a ministry that requires intervention demands not only strategic planning and teamwork but also leadership that is unwavering in its commitment to fulfilling God’s purpose through service. The church under review has faced significant shifts within its community beginning in the late 1990s and extending into the early 2000s. Unfortunately, these changes did not lead to the anticipated growth and development; instead, they triggered a noticeable decline within both the ministry and the surrounding area. This decline has had a cascading effect, negatively impacting the community and further eroding the church’s vitality, resulting in decreased …


Generation Z And The Church: A Phenomenological Study Of Perceptions, Barriers, And Opportunities For Church Engagement, Hector Albert Soto Oct 2025

Generation Z And The Church: A Phenomenological Study Of Perceptions, Barriers, And Opportunities For Church Engagement, Hector Albert Soto

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine the perceptions, barriers, and opportunities that shape the relationship between Generation Z and the Christian church, with particular attention to how these factors influence patterns of engagement. Recent trends indicated a significant decline in church engagement among Generation Z, contributing to the erosion of vital resources necessary for the sustained vitality of contemporary Christian congregations (Barna, 2020; Braddy, 2021; Earls, 2020). The study was guided by three research questions: 1) What Generation Z variables did the church need to focus on to attract and retain Gen Z (e.g., social concerns, leadership …


Preparing New Life Pentecostal Ministries Young Adults For God’S Design Of Marriage Through Identity Development, Ameerah Brown Oct 2025

Preparing New Life Pentecostal Ministries Young Adults For God’S Design Of Marriage Through Identity Development, Ameerah Brown

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This thesis project, Preparing New Life Pentecostal Ministries Young Adults for God’s Design of Marriage Through Identity Development, addresses the growing crisis of identity, purpose, and relationship instability among young adults within NLPM and beyond. The purpose of this action-oriented research is to provide a theological and spiritually formative framework that prepares young adults for marriage by biblical principles. The project identifies key spiritual and emotional barriers, including unresolved wounds and distorted self-identity. Lack of discipleship and cultural confusion hinder spiritual maturity and readiness for God-ordained relationships. Grounded in Scripture and supported by human development theory and spiritual formation scholars, …


Sports Evangelism On Wheels: An Evaluation Of The Efficacy And Development Of Athletic Evangelism, Keira B. Martin Oct 2025

Sports Evangelism On Wheels: An Evaluation Of The Efficacy And Development Of Athletic Evangelism, Keira B. Martin

History Senior Capstone

This thesis includes how sports evangelism operates and develops conceptually, evaluating the program Wandering Wheels as a qualitative case study. Wandering Wheels was a cycling program that began in Upland, IN in 1964 to illustrate the toughness of the Christian life. Drawing on oral histories, archival records, and documentary material, it argues that community, activism, athletic maturation, and personal spiritual growth were pivotal to Wandering Wheels' model. This evaluation demonstrates the extent to which this program exemplified the concept of sports evangelism.


The Church And Child Welfare: Exploring Faith-Based Support For Foster, Kinship, Adoptive, And Biological Families, Elizabeth Deagle Oct 2025

The Church And Child Welfare: Exploring Faith-Based Support For Foster, Kinship, Adoptive, And Biological Families, Elizabeth Deagle

Orphans and Vulnerable Children Senior Capstone

The child welfare system relies on foster, kinship, adoptive, and biological families to provide care, stability, and permanency for vulnerable children. Despite their critical role, these families often face complex challenges, including trauma exposure, placement instability, caregiver burnout, socioeconomic and legal barriers, and limited access to supportive resources. Historically, churches and faith-based organizations have played a significant role in caring for orphaned and vulnerable children. This paper examines the unique contribution of the church and faith-based organizations in strengthening child welfare efforts across three dimensions: (1) biblical and theological foundations for caring for vulnerable children and families, (2) trauma-informed ministry …


An Effective And Organized Mentorship Model: Does It Affect The Emerging Leaders’ Call To Ministry And The Longevity Of The Universal Church?, Linda F. Parker Oct 2025

An Effective And Organized Mentorship Model: Does It Affect The Emerging Leaders’ Call To Ministry And The Longevity Of The Universal Church?, Linda F. Parker

Doctor of Ministry (DMin)

The concept of mentorship is undeniably a fundamental tool for personal and professional growth. Statistics show that mentorship has a vital impact on both individuals and organizations. Could having a strategic mentoring plan in ministry make a meaningful difference for individuals and the Universal Church? This dissertation has explored the effects of mentorship and models based on experiences and strategies from those who identify as ministry leaders. For the Apostle Paul, Christ's life serves as a model and example, as he states, “Follow my example, as I follow Christ” (1 Cor 11:1). These words are the exact phrase that Jesus …


The Church As An Ecological And Cultural Anchor: Examining Its Role In Gifted Education, Advanced Academic Access, And Educational Equity, Matrissa Bennett Oct 2025

The Church As An Ecological And Cultural Anchor: Examining Its Role In Gifted Education, Advanced Academic Access, And Educational Equity, Matrissa Bennett

Theses and Dissertations

This action research study examines the role of the Black church as an ecological and cultural anchor in addressing the inequities of gifted education and expanding access to advanced academic opportunities for Black students. The study is grounded in Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory, critical race theory, and racial and ethnical socialization, and it explores how the Black church can support student development, empower parental advocacy, and partner with schools to promote educational equity. Conducted at Mountain Valley Baptist Church in South Carolina, the interventions included student mentoring, goal setting sessions, academic enrichment, emotional support initiatives, a parent workshop, and a …


102nd Annual Inspire Bible Lectureship Program (2025), Harding University Sep 2025

102nd Annual Inspire Bible Lectureship Program (2025), Harding University

Lectureship Programs

This document contains the printed lectureship schedule.


The Beacon, September 26, 2025, Beacon Staff Sep 2025

The Beacon, September 26, 2025, Beacon Staff

The Beacon, 2025-2026

Club Spotlight: Raider Baking Club; North fireplace becomes place of worship; New album marks return of the red-head; “Downton Abbey Finale” overall success; Art and science combine at “Camera Obscura”; Preparation for 2025 music showcase; Surprise animal sightings around campus; Opportunities for college employment; Why the Apocrypha matters; Stop romanticizing all-nighters; NW Cross Country season looks promising; NW Golf places high as the season begins; Alumni Serves as interim e-sports director; The Black Hills: home of humility; The Emmy’s celebrate Hollywood stars


Vocation Of Ministry, James Hampton Sep 2025

Vocation Of Ministry, James Hampton

Syllabi

No abstract provided.


Teaching The Bible To Youth And Adults, Ellen Marmon Sep 2025

Teaching The Bible To Youth And Adults, Ellen Marmon

Syllabi

No abstract provided.


Teaching The Bible To Youth And Adults, Ellen Marmon Sep 2025

Teaching The Bible To Youth And Adults, Ellen Marmon

Syllabi

No abstract provided.


Gospel Catechesis:Transformative Discipleship, Ellen Marmon Sep 2025

Gospel Catechesis:Transformative Discipleship, Ellen Marmon

Syllabi

No abstract provided.


Teaching The Bible To Youth And Adults, Ellen Marmon Sep 2025

Teaching The Bible To Youth And Adults, Ellen Marmon

Syllabi

No abstract provided.


Contextualization: Old Tool, New Reach, Rogelio Paquini Sep 2025

Contextualization: Old Tool, New Reach, Rogelio Paquini

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.


Shaping Youth Ministry: Exploring Influences On Youth Pastors’ Approaches To Programme Design, Timothy A. Mullen, Trudi Cooper Sep 2025

Shaping Youth Ministry: Exploring Influences On Youth Pastors’ Approaches To Programme Design, Timothy A. Mullen, Trudi Cooper

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The literature on youth ministry practices is mostly anecdotal, and empirical research into the practices, goals, and meanings of youth ministry to youth pastors is rare, especially in Australia. In this study, 20 youth pastors in Perth, Western Australia, were interviewed about their goals, priorities, practices, training, and what influenced them. This study forms part of a larger doctoral research project. The interview data were analysed utilising a phenomenological approach, drawing upon Goffman’s framing analysis to examine the link between ‘meaning making’ and explicit and tacit motivations for youth ministry practice. The research found that youth pastors were most often …


Promising Strategies For Impacting Youth Development Systems From Christian Summer Camps, Rachael Botting, Jacob Sorenson, Karen K. Melton, Rob Ribbe Dr. Sep 2025

Promising Strategies For Impacting Youth Development Systems From Christian Summer Camps, Rachael Botting, Jacob Sorenson, Karen K. Melton, Rob Ribbe Dr.

Journal of Youth Development

As research on summer camp continues to expand and both scholars and practitioners gain a better understanding of the impact of the experience, it has become important to explore how the experience of summer camp is connected to the larger ecology of youth development. This study explores strategies of Christian summer camps for impacting faith in the home through interviews with 20 Christian summer camp leaders across three faith-based camping organizations: Christian Camp and Conference Association (CCCA), Lutheran Outdoor Ministries (LOM), and United Methodist Camp and Retreat Ministries (UMCRM). Using semi-structured interviews and an appreciative inquiry approach, this study identified …