Digital Commons Network^™

A Theology Of Hope For Missing Persons And Lost Causes, Joelle Yanko

Salubritas: International Journal of Spirit-Empowered Counseling

This paper explores how unresolved tragedies—particularly missing person cases and lost causes—serve as profound reflections of the human condition and reveal the necessity of Christian eschatological hope. Missing person cases touch the deepest questions of the human soul and reveal a deep, universal longing for justice and resolution—longings that cannot be fully met within the bounds of this present life. Drawing from theological reflection, the paper argues that both suffering and miraculous resolution ultimately point toward a greater hope found in the Christian vision of union with God. This future-oriented hope, grounded in the resurrection of Christ, invites believers to …

Exploring Biblical Language In Trauma Processing, Kathy B. Hoppe

Salubritas: International Journal of Spirit-Empowered Counseling

Clients may often find themselves struggling with accessing traumatic experiences in therapy, thereby developing an avoidance of trauma that impedes healing. Strategies for reducing trauma processing may be difficult to identify effectively. This project suggests several means by which therapists can utilize the language of scripture, including scriptural narrative, metaphor, and poetry, as a therapeutic intervention with conservative Christian clients who are pursuing trauma processing. The proposed approach assists clients in explaining their traumatic events in a secure setting, hence preventing the common hyperarousal symptoms that are upsetting. The treatment can enhance the effectiveness of evidence-based practices. It incorporates several …

Walking In Promise, Living In Reality: Exploring The Mental Health Implications Of The Pentecostal Discourse Of Divine Calling, Robert D. Mcbain

Salubritas: International Journal of Spirit-Empowered Counseling

Pentecostalism places a strong emphasis on the discourse of divine calling, where individuals believe they are purposefully created, guided, and empowered by God to fulfill a specific mission. This sense of calling profoundly shapes Pentecostals’ sense of identity and purpose. Using Grounded Theory, this study analyzes open, in-depth interviews with Pentecostals in the U.S. to explore the impact of the Pentecostal discourse of divine calling on their mental health. The metaphor of ‘walking in’ one’s calling emerges as the central theme used by participants to explain the interaction between their perception of divine calling, their lived realities, and their mental …

I Am My Body: Post-Traumatic Embodying And The Unexpected Disinterring Of Childhood Spiritual Neglect, Cathy Rowan

Salubritas: International Journal of Spirit-Empowered Counseling

This autoethnographic paper investigates how an embodying approach (Focusing) unexpectedly impacts the author’s spiritual formation in the undoing of childhood relational trauma, which had resulted in a dissociative embodiment reaction. This enlivening and deepening spiritual formation process is described by means of a five-step metaphor, moving from “no-body” (dissociative disembodiment) to “I am my body” (the experience of the bodily indwelling) as her spiritual formation evolves from just intellectual belief to an embodying, experiential Christian spirituality. This life-long process is viewed through various lenses, including children’s spirituality research, trauma theology, faith development models, the writings of Thomas Merton and the …

Hoping Forward, Haley R. French

Salubritas: International Journal of Spirit-Empowered Counseling

No abstract provided.

Front Matter Salubritas 4 (2025), Editors Salubritas

Salubritas: International Journal of Spirit-Empowered Counseling

No abstract provided.

Full Issue Salubritas, Editors Salubritas

Salubritas: International Journal of Spirit-Empowered Counseling

No abstract provided.

Reason And All My Senses: Surveying The Post Enlightenment Frame Of Reason Through Contemporary Philosophy, Cognitive Psychology, And Cognitive Linguistics, Joshua T. Lowe Rev. Dr.

Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation

This dissertation argues that Christian theology and practice are aided and enriched by a more complete understanding of reason by surveying recent studies and views in theology, philosophy, cognitive psychology, and cognitive linguistics. Since the Enlightenment, Christian theology has assumed widely the Enlightenment model of human reason as ideally acontextual, that is, free from constraints of contexts, and therefore universal, that is, applicable in all contexts. Recent developments from a variety of perspectives challenge this model of rationality. Some challenge the acontextualism of the Enlightenment understanding by showing how it arose from and depends on a context, and that context …

Sacral Glitch, Kareena Naresh Solanki

Masters Theses, 2020-current

Growing up in a multifaith environment in Mumbai, I witnessed many religious sites and people with diverse beliefs. My parents always remained open-minded to other faiths, and my house remained replete with idols of deities of different religions. I studied Nichiren Buddhism, particularly the Lotus Sutra, as my mother began practising it along with her faith in Hinduism. Philosophical studies became a part of my life at the age of nine. Catholic prayers turned into rituals in my convent school days, and Islamic prayers resonated from afar. I often reflect on the influence of multiple religions in shaping my approach …

The Echo: May 12, 2025, Taylor University

2024-2025 (Volume 112)

No abstract provided.

Gardner-Webb To Award Its 25,000th Bachelor’S Degree During Spring Commencement On May 8, Office Of University Communications

Gardner-Webb NewsCenter Archive

Gardner-Webb University will host its Spring Commencement Ceremony on Thursday, May 8, at 6:30 p.m. in Spangler Stadium. Families and guests will celebrate the achievements of nearly 500 students in traditional undergraduate, online, and graduate programs of study.

Gardner-Webb Celebrates Achievements Of Nearly 500 Graduates, Office Of University Communications

Gardner-Webb NewsCenter Archive

Gardner-Webb University hosted its Spring Commencement Ceremony on Thursday, May 8, at 6:30 p.m. in Lutz-Yelton Convocation Center. Families and guests celebrated the achievements of nearly 500 students in traditional undergraduate, online, and graduate programs of study.

The Echo: May 5, 2025, Taylor University

2024-2025 (Volume 112)

No abstract provided.

Waylight: Mapping The Journey Of Faith, Emma Woerle

Theses

Waylight is a digital learning platform that reimagines how we explore the life of Jesus through maps, movement, and meaningful interaction. Designed to bridge the gap between static Bible study tools and the physical settings of Scripture, the platform allows users to follow curated journeys such as Miracles or Timelines across ancient Israel. The project began with experimental designs using three-dimensional terrain and literal religious symbols. These early versions lacked cohesion and felt visually heavy. As the work progressed, the design shifted toward a more refined two-dimensional aesthetic inspired by textures like layered paper and the craft of carpentry. This …

Realistik Heaven, Alexa H. Senan

Theses and Dissertations

“Realistik Heaven” processes the traumas, forced transformations and the cannibalization of womanhood and culture as a result of colonization. Inspired by Oswald de Andrade’s Cannibalist Manifesto, Senan writes to evoke the literal meaning of Andrade’s description of the cannibalization of culture and having to become someone new cannibalizing themselves while still longing for the remains of the past.

Hemispheres Of Faith: Mapping The Global Journey Of An Ivory Rosary Bead At The Metropolitan Museum Of Art, Mary M. Thompson

Theses and Dissertations

Hemispheres of Faith reattributes a carved ivory rosary bead in the Metropolitan Museum of Art to the Quito School in 18th-century Ecuador. Through examining the trade history of the Manila Galleons, material analysis, and iconographic study, Hemispheres of Faith challenges the bead's European origins and reveals the object as a product of global exchange, devotional practice, and colonial artistic collaboration within the Spanish Empire.

Examining The Probability Of Christ Fulfilling Prophecies, Will Best, Robin Lovgren

ACMS Conference Proceedings 2024

No abstract provided.

A Sacrifice On The Altar Of Unity: The Loss Of Black Identity In The Unification Of Kynett And Lagrange First Umc., Rebecca Sue Wishnevski

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the 1996 merger of Kynett United Methodist Church, a historically Black church, and LaGrange First United Methodist Church, a traditionally White church in LaGrange, Kentucky. The study provides insight into nonurban Black churches, showing that while they may have smaller congregations in smaller towns, the Black church remains central to Black life and connection like its urban contemporaries. Methods for collecting primary source material relied heavily on oral histories performed by the researcher with Black and White individuals attending said churches and their experiences during the merger. The study reveals that although unification promised a modern building …

The Church, Transportation, And Race: Education, Involvement, And Advocacy In The Transportation Industry By Churches For The Benefit Of Dallas’ Black Community, Vonciel J. Hill

Doctor of Ministry Projects and Theses

The American transportation industry is an amalgamation of policy, planning, infrastructure, funding, contracting, employment, economic development, legislative enactments, modes [transit, rail air], and roads, highways, and bridges. Each of these components affects the daily lives of ordinary people in multiple ways, including, but not limited to, employment, education, health care, recreation, and finances. Historically, the industry has ignored, jeopardized, and adversely affected Black people, neighborhoods, and communities. Quality of life, as related to transportation, in Black communities has not been and is not now on par with that in white communities. Nevertheless, if one observes the industry, one is hard …

Equipping The Saints For The Work Of Ministry In The East London Church, Andrew C. Fleming

Doctor of Ministry Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this project was to implement a qualitative evaluation process to measure the progress of the East London Church’s transition toward a flatter team-based ministry model. The research evaluated the effectiveness, fitness for purpose, and procedural weaknesses of the church's articulated leadership goals, which included equipping members for ministry, increasing member involvement, forming ministry teams, and sharing power and resources. The study employed a mixed-methods approach, integrating quantitative data from two Church Health Assessment (CHA) surveys separated by a three-year interval with qualitative insights from focus groups to provide a comprehensive understanding of the transition process. The CHA …

Hearing God's Word Through Ecclesial Listening, Nathan Burrow

Doctor of Ministry Theses and Dissertations

This project dissertation was designed to enhance ecclesial listening when sermons are preached at the Hillcrest Church of Christ. The challenge of listening to the Word of God in a way that forms community is not unique to Hillcrest. It is a common problem for preachers and churches today. Our context, marked by shifts in church membership, societal division, and the isolating effects of digital culture, calls for a renewed emphasis on listening as a church community. This project explores the ways in which we can cultivate practices that encourage ecclesial listening—a way of hearing the preached Word that draws …

Commencement Program 2025, Loma Linda University

Commencement Programs

CONTENTS

2 | Message from the President

3 | 2025 Events of Commencement

5 | The Academic Procession

6 | Institutional Administration

7 | Board of Trustees

8 | Significance of Academic Regalia

9 | University History Highlights

11 | Criteria for Institutional Awards

13 | Loma Linda University Health and Loma Linda University Honorees

The Programs, The School Honorees, and The Speakers

29 | School of Medicine

50 | School of Pharmacy

63 | School of Dentistry

81 | School of Public Health

94 | San Manuel Gateway College

101 | School of Allied Health Professions - Allied Health …

The Making Of Disciples : Developing An Effective Discipleship Process For Current And Emerging Lay Leaders At Crossroads Community Cathedral, Ermias Feleke

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Pedro Aceves Mfa Thesis, Pedro M. Aceves

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

My Work is about looking at Cruising through a queer decolonial lens. Using multiple mediums such as photo, glass, Augmented reality, and film, I explore these queer histories and aesthetics through not just an anthropological approach but also an artistic epistemological approach weaving together narratives of prehispanic and modern queer Latinidad.

A Message To A Wayward King: The Unified Reading Of Proverbs Chapters 30 And 31, Lucinda Shelton Lyons

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Although Proverbs 30 and 31 often bear the label of being appendices to the book of Proverbs, and at first glance, reveal very distinct genres, this study aims to demonstrate a purposeful editorial coherence uniting the two oracles, conveying a significant message to the king. That united message reveals itself through a personal confession, numerical sayings, intimate advice from a mother to her son, and through an acrostic of the Woman of Valor. The two prophetic messengers, Agur and the Queen Mother, two elite voices within the Jerusalem palace-temple complex, strongly support the king. However, they see him as a …

Intergenerational Leadership : A Model For Developing An Age-Diverse Leadership Team, Jovelyn Califlores Gamiao

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

How Did Peter Use The Torah? A Bible Exposition Of Every Petrine Use Of The Torah, Jacob Christopher Berlin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this dissertation is to answer an unasked research question: How did Peter use the Torah? The findings help fill a hole in scholarship on the NT’s use of the OT and provide practical guidance to the modern church as it struggles to use the Law appropriately. The question was answered by conducting a Bible exposition of every Petrine use of the Torah, which totaled 20 pericopes. The research assumed that Peter wrote or significantly influenced the Petrine corpus, comprised of 1 Peter, 2 Peter, and all the words Peter spoke in the canonical Gospels and Acts. The …

Inductive Bible Study : Equipping Independent Pastors In Tamil Nadu, Samuel Joshua

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Using Technology Responsibly To Align Church Ministry With God's Plan, Sandra Rolon-Rodriguez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The proliferation of digital technologies, including live-streaming services, online community platforms, and virtual events, is revolutionizing the operational dynamics of church ministries. Churches of all sizes are embracing these changes to expand their influence, engage with members in new ways, and enhance the impact of digital technology on their ministry. Implementing digital transformation has led to innovative approaches in worship services, outreach programs, and community engagement, enabling churches to meet the evolving needs of their congregation and the broader community.

This dissertation-in-praxis explores the broader biblical and theological significance to gain a deeper understanding and demonstrate the practical application of …

Paul’S Vision Of Λογικός (Logikos) Worship: A Biblical-Theological Exegesis Of The Sacrificial And Transformative Motif Of Worship In Light Of Ἐν Χριστῷ (En Christo), Thang Lam Piang

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examines the Apostle Paul’s vision of λογικός (logikos) worship in Romans 12:1–2 as a theologically rich and integrative expression of sacrificial self-offering and transformative renewal, grounded in the believers’ union with the crucified and resurrected Christ. While Pauline scholarship has often approached worship either as moral exhortation, liturgical metaphor, or philosophical concept, this study contends that Paul’s worship theology cannot be adequately understood apart from his theology of ἐν Χριστῷ (en Christo), a holistic, sacrificial, transformative, and Spirit-empowered union that redefines the believers’ identity, vocation, and existence. The study conducts a biblical-theological exegesis of key Pauline texts, situating …