Arts and Humanities Commons^™

Censorship And Banned Books From A Christian Perspective, Sarah D. Jenkins

Selected Honors Theses

Removing material due to controversial content has been a common practice for much of recorded history. This action is often done in concern for the psychological and emotional well-being of viewers, especially if these viewers include children. However, this does not necessarily mean this practice is always warranted. Many researchers have studied this topic as well as its effects, expanses, and connections to religion. Research shows that exposure to certain material can potentially cause changed behavior in individuals who do not possess the maturity needed to process them effectively. Individuals who are more mature or emotionally stable show no lasting …

Gems Of Gods And Mortals: The Changing Symbolism Of Pearls Throughout The Roman Empire, Emily Hallman

Armstrong Undergraduate Journal of History

Born in the wombs of shells and polished by mother nature herself, pearls were regarded as gifts from the gods. For millennia, the creation of pearls was credited to the tears of heavenly creatures or the formation of sun-touched dewdrops. Countless civilizations, both Western and Non-Western, have their own myths and legends surrounding the pearl, a mark of their mysterious allure. The artform of jewelry, favored by the Roman aristocracy, took advantage of naturally perfected pearls to create stunning pieces with staggering prices. The pearl’s meaning evolved throughout the Roman Empire and into Early Christian Rome, setting up a contradictory …

Comparison Of Perceptions Of Single Mothers And Christian Leaders Through Transformational Change, Brienne Denise Robertson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study was to examine the transformational change process of single mothers from their perspective, and to then assess the influence of Christian leaders in this transformational change process from the leaders’ perspective, with respect to the single mother’s family stability: spiritually, emotionally, financially and generationally. The two theories working simultaneously in this study was the transformational leadership theory and transformational learning theory. The implementation of these two theories could spark an authentic life-long change in the single mother. Understanding the role of transformational leadership in Christian leaders then becomes necessary to guide single mothers …

A Mixed-Methods Case Study Of Spiritual Formation And School Induced Stress In Student Registered Nurse Anesthetists During Hospital Residency, R. Dawn Whybrew

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Student registered nurse anesthetists in hospital residency undergo a rigorous schedule. For Christian nurse anesthesia students, spiritual formation may suffer due to the stressors of anesthesia residency. The purpose of this mixed-methods case study sought to understand and describe the perceived influence of participation in spiritual formation opportunities during nurse anesthesia hospital residency on students’ spiritual formation level as well as their ability to handle stressors of hospital residency. In phase one of the study, the researcher conducted a purposeful convenience sampling of 54 Junior and Senior students in a quantitative quasi-experimental design. In phase one, the participant's spiritual formation …

The Qualities Of The Worship Leader Perceived To Engage Others To Serve In Worship Ministry, Dawn H. Cochran

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The person serving in the role of the worship leader represents one of the primary positions of leadership within the Church. In the corporate worship setting, the worship leader is entrusted with the responsibility of fostering an atmosphere that is conducive to active participation, but may lack the proper skills needed to accomplish this task. This thesis project proposes that the worship leader must demonstrate the essential qualities necessary to engage others to serve in the worship ministry. This project will focus on four specific qualities that are crucial in this process: character, capability, commitment and chemistry. Through the examination …

Begin With Worship Pastor Longevity In Mind: A Biblical Guide For The Evangelical Worship Pastor Search Committee, Thomas Christopher Gonzales

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Within contemporary Western Protestant evangelicalism, congregations rely heavily on search committees for onboarding pastoral staff. Though this measure for pastoral acquisition is commonly practiced throughout contemporary Western Protestant evangelicalism, the ambiguity and/ or unexpressed expectations of the committee inhibit the securing of a candidate who offers greater longevity and effectiveness, thus provoking subsequent and frequent pastoral turnover. Provided the innate need for mitigating the unintentional oversight and understudied approach by the pastoral search committee, this research investigates and assesses the governable factors on the committee’s behalf that calibrate the search towards securing compatibility by way of effective leadership and longevity. …

A Study On Development Of Evangelism Training Program For Evangelistic Small Group Leader 전도 지향적 소그룹 리더를 위한 전도훈련 프로그램 개발에 대한 연구, Myungchul 장명철 Chang

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study is to emphasize that small groups in church need to pursue evangelism and introduce an evangelism training program for evangelistic small group leaders. Korean churches have several types of small groups. All small groups, however, need to pursue evangelism, because an evangelistic small group is a biblical model for a small group. The growth of a small group solely depends on the leader. Therefore, an effective evangelism training program for leaders must be developed in order to nurture evangelistic small groups. This project will address four major types of small groups in Korean church¬—home cell …

Equipping Ministry Leaders For Service At Mount Calvary Baptist Church, Vodricka L. Epps

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This thesis project will examine the congregational need for ministry leaders to develop leadership skills. Mount Calvary Baptist Church, located in Hopewell, Virginia, serves as the framework of this investigation. The problem addressed by this research is derived from ten ministry leaders currently serving at Mount Calvary who have servants’ hearts but lack leadership skills to develop their ministries. With adequate training and continuing education, leaders are more equipped to lead ministries. Without leaders who are adequately equipped to lead ministries, it is difficult for the church to carry out its mission and remain active. The findings of this research …

Enhancing Pastoral Care And Support By Providing Opportunities For Spiritual Growth And Transformation To Crisis And Trauma Sufferers, Angela Roberts Jones

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Trauma experiences are becoming more prevalent in today’s society. For example, each day, the media reports the widespread impact of war, gun violence, domestic and international terrorism, violent crimes, sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse and neglect, mass shootings, and natural disasters in the general population. The church has long been considered a place of refuge, hope, and healing for people who suffer from crises and trauma. It is often the first place Christians and the surrounding community turn in times of distress. Because pastors and churches are often the first responders when people experience crises and traumatic events, there …

A Study On The Evangelism Training Program For Church Growth: The Case Of Bethel Bible Baptist Church In Korea, Sung Hee Lee

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study is to find an evangelism training program for church growth in Korea. The researcher will study the evangelism strategies for church growth and will suggest effective evangelism training program to churches in order to find effective ways for church growth. The reason for selecting the evangelism training program for this study is to use it at Bethel Bible Baptist Church because evangelism is essential ministry for church growth and lots of churches have been experiencing growth by evangelism. The researcher will take advantages and supplement disadvantages from old evangelism programs to suggest new evangelism …

A Multiple Case Study Identifying Factors Influencing Church Attendance And Engagement With Unchurched And Dechurched Families, Jason Robert Waters

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Many medium-sized churches experienced significant growth followed by years of declining attendance (Haskell et al., 2016). Many of them are in locations that could allow for significant growth. It seems as if some once growing churches no longer recognize how to best reach their communities and how to minister to the needs of the families making up their surrounding communities. The purpose of this multiple case study, a comparative analysis, is to identify factors that positively and negatively influence church attendance and engagement among unchurched and de-churched persons and families. At this stage in the research, regular attendance and engagement …

A Study On The Awareness And Practice Of The Elderly Welfare In The Church: Focused On The General Assembly Of Presbyterian Church Of Korea In Gumi City 교회 노인복지에 대한 인식 및 실천방안 연구: 예장합동 구미노회 소속 교회를 중심으로, Young Moon Jang (장 영 문)

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Facing the aging society, the Korean church has made various initiatives and efforts to realize quality social welfare for the elderly and has contributed greatly to society by expanding welfare facilities and operating and implementing various programs. Nevertheless, it is true that there are no specific measures to evaluate specific details and that the role of the church has been relatively undervalued. What the researcher noticed while studying the social welfare field professionally as a pastor was that the Korean church is not aware of its role and importance despite its considerable benefits and influence to the nation and society …

Smooth Transitions: An Examination Of Succession Planning And Leadership Continuity Among Directors And Associate Directors Of The Potomac Conference Corporation Of Seventh-Day Adventists, Fred-Richard T. Warfield

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Far too many organizations fall short of the strategic task of succession planning. The absence of satisfactory solutions in this area stifles the ability of an organization to achieve its mission and vision. Lack of planning in this area also contributes to a negative impact on overall morale, staff performance, and effectiveness as these turnovers ensue. The purpose of this thesis project is to explore the perceived absence of intentional succession planning and leadership transitioning among director and associate director-level leadership positions within the Potomac Conference Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists. In this project, surveys and one-on-one interviews are conducted among …

A Multi-Case Qualitative Study Of Servant Leadership In The Appalachian Mountains Of Southwestern Virginia, Deidra Kaye Jackson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

There is a need for capable leaders within churches to provide interconnected stability for economically challenged regions. The purpose of this multi-case study research was to understand and assess the exposure to the Ken Blanchard servant-leadership model on Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) church congregations located in the three-county area of Buchanan, Tazewell, and Russell in the rural Appalachian Mountains (RAM) region of Southwestern Virginia (SWVA) and select outcome assessment criteria. At this stage of the research, servant-leadership was generally defined as a leader who works for the common good and attempts to empower others in ways that strengthen and transform …

The Irony Of A Well-Presented Lecture, Tony N. Jelsma

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"My ultimate goal is for students to become independent learners so that they won’t need me or someone like me when they graduate."

Posting about ­­­­­­­­applying flipped instruction in the university classroom from In All Things - an online journal for critical reflection on faith, culture, art, and every ordinary-yet-graced square inch of God’s creation.

https://inallthings.org/the-irony-of-a-well-presented-lecture/

Hail, Caesar! A Jesus Film In Search Of A Christ Figure, Jon Coutts

Journal of Religion & Film

For over a century the moving picture has been a medium ripe for propagation or exploration of the story of Christ. Since the first wave hit screens in the late 1890s and early 1900s, the list of so-called “Jesus films” has come to number in the dozens. Given that Joel and Ethan Coen’s 2016 Hail, Caesar!­ sets itself up as a reprisal of such films, the question is how to interpret it. To explore this, interpretation of the film is framed by consideration of the Coen brothers' attention to religious themes, is set against the backdrop of the second wave …

The Moving Image And The Time Of Prophecy: Trauma And Precognition In L. Von Trier’S Melancholia (2011) And D. Villeneuve’S Arrival (2016), Luca Zanchi

Journal of Religion & Film

Both the deferred recurrence of post-traumatic symptoms and the foresight granted by prophetic vision bring about a disruption of temporality and generate a chronological discontinuity which is often formally rendered as narrative discontinuity. This similarity produces an interpretive ambiguity that is central to the films, Melancholia (2011) by Von Trier and Arrival (2016) by Denis Villeneuve. Both movies begin by hinting at the post-traumatic origin of visions and then gradually shift towards a prophetic explanation. In addressing these two case studies, this article approaches prophecy and its temporality from a narratological perspective, integrating the critical parameters of trauma-theory with the …

J.E.S.U.S.A., John C. Lyden

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a film review of J.E.S.U.S.A., directed by Kevin Miller. It is now available on Vimeo Prime (bit.ly/jesusa).

Roots Of African American Christianity, Homer Jones

Georgia College Student Research Events

The basis of African American Christianity is influenced by African religion and the Gullah Geechee Corridor. This study is explored in a performance arts structure of choreography and dramaturgy. This is because there is a strong sense of arts presented in Africa as well as African American religion. This research is explored in Crowns by Regina Taylor. Crowns is important for this research because of the African American culture that is presented specifically at Georgia College and State University. Crowns is the first African American musical that emphasizes the idea of black culture and religion and how African religion is …

"Christian Traditions, Culture, And Law": An Update And A Few Reflections, Robert F. Cochran Jr.

Pepperdine Law Review

Using Richard Niebuhr’s description of Christian approaches to culture, this Article examines the way Christians approach law, focusing on developments over the last 20 years. During that time, synthesists have continued to develop natural law, seeking an understanding of law based on shared human goods and reason, an approach that can generate a common approach among people of all faiths and no faith. Conversionists, including those on both the political left and right, argue for changes in law that will reflect Christian understandings of the good. Separatists (including many former conversionists) argue that American culture and law have become so …

One Step Enough, Steven D. Smith

Pepperdine Law Review

The growing divide between contemporary law and culture and Christianity forces Christians both in general and in the academy to confront difficult choices. The difficulty of those choices was manifest in the most recent presidential election. In this situation, some Christians take an aggressive or triumphalist stance; others are more inclined to a retreatist approach sometimes labeled “the Benedict Option.” What the right response is poses both prudential and theological questions about which Christians disagree, and about which confident answers are elusive. In this context, Professor Bob Cochran’s distinguished career exemplifies a path of humility in which the Christian citizen …

Jesus Came "Not To Abolish The Law But To Fulfill It": The Sermon On The Mount And Its Implications For Contemporary Law, David Vandrunen

Pepperdine Law Review

This Article interprets Matthew 5:17–48 and argues that, because Jesus came not to abolish but to fulfill the law and the prophets, the Old Testament law takes on a new form for New Testament Christians. The law of God has been refracted through the ministry of Christ. While Matthew 5 does not address contemporary human law directly, its teaching does have radical implications for it. These implications flow particularly from the fact that Matthew 5 marks a decisive shift from the Mosaic theocracy to the worldwide new-covenant church that has no civil jurisdiction.

Alex Vasquez Brings Young Life To Sioux County, Sarah Moss

The Voice

No abstract provided.

The Life And Times Of Leonard Gooz, Sarah Moss

The Voice

No abstract provided.

Defenders Forever, Karen Van Schouwen

The Voice

No abstract provided.

Gen Z Faith Formation And Campus Ministries, Sarah Moss

The Voice

No abstract provided.

The Story Of A Wheelchair, Sarah Moss

The Voice

No abstract provided.

Grateful For Growth, Contributing Writer

The Voice

No abstract provided.

Doing Field Work, Sarah Moss

The Voice

No abstract provided.

Doubling Down On The Arts, Kate Henreckson

The Voice

No abstract provided.