Context Of Ministry Research Articles

Kajian Teologis tentang Mazmur 23:1-6 dan Penerapannya dalam Pelayanan Gereja Masa Kini

Psalm 23:1-6 is one of the most well-known passages in the Christian tradition, portraying the intimate relationship between God as the Shepherd and His people as the sheep. In the context of contemporary church ministry, a deep understanding of these verses is crucial, as they offer theological and practical guidance for the faith community in overcoming various spiritual and emotional challenges. This study aims to explore the theological relevance of Psalm 23 in the context of modern church ministry. The primary objective of this research is to conduct a theological analysis of Psalm 23:1-6 and to explore its application in today's church ministry context. This study also seeks to identify how the principles contained in this Psalm can serve as a foundation for pastoral care, spiritual strengthening, and congregation development in the modern church. The research employs a qualitative approach, using literature review and textual analysis methods. The primary sources used include the Hebrew text of Psalm 23:1-6 and modern translations, while secondary sources comprise various theological literature, Bible commentaries, and writings from related theological experts. This research also utilizes hermeneutical methods to delve deeper into the meaning of the text and its interpretation in various historical and theological contexts. The results indicate that Psalm 23 portrays God as a Shepherd who nourishes, protects, and guides His people, creating a sense of security and trust for those who follow Him. These attributes are relevant to contemporary church ministry, particularly in the context of pastoral care and spiritual support for congregants facing life crises. The findings also suggest that the application of the values contained in Psalm 23 can strengthen church ministry strategies in providing comfort, trust, and hope to its members. This study concludes that Psalm 23 holds strong and practical relevance for modern church ministry, as it offers an ideal depiction of divine care that can be applied in pastoral ministry. The church can use the principles from this Psalm to build trust and hope among congregants, as well as to provide more effective spiritual support in addressing the challenges of modern times.

Youth Ministry as a Third Ecclesial Logic?

Abstract This article presents the main findings of a three-year-long research project (2020–2023) on post-confirmation leadership training in the Church of Norway. One of the project’s key findings was that the practice of leadership training is characterized by experiences of ambiguity. Interestingly, the interactive and relational learning and development of faith within the practice are both challenged and promoted by these complex traits of ambiguity. For those who participate in leadership training, their faith and relationship with the church seem to be strengthened by the richness of the practice. Drawing on the findings from this research project and engaging other relevant research and theory on youth ministry, the article explores how experiences and patterns of ambiguity may be negotiated in a youth ministry context. With the help of pedagogical and theological theory, it further discusses dilemmas and possibilities pertaining to youth ministry`s situatedness between intentionality and institutionality, suggesting that youth ministry may operate as a sort of strategic, third ecclesial logic.

To Be Safe and Seen: BIPOC Gen Z Engagement in Evangelical Campus Ministries

This paper investigates the Gen Z counter-demographic of the religious nones on college and university campuses by focusing on BIPOC students and the stories that they tell about why they actively engage in evangelical campus ministries during their college years. This is carried out by being attentive to the racially segregated campus ministry context and the preponderance of “white spaces” in colleges and universities, including in campus ministries. Data for this study come from the Landscape Study of Chaplaincy and Campus Ministry (LSCCM 2019–2022) in the United States. Like other students in campus ministries, we find that BIPOC students who are “churched” with a Christian upbringing seek out campus ministries that function as a “home away from home”, where they can find authentic belonging—genuine connections and acceptance among like-minded Christians. For BIPOC students, however, this search for authentic belonging included a search for a campus ministry where they could be “safe and seen” for both their ethnoracial and Christian selves.

Tigers or Strawberries: Seizing the New Mission Opportunities Before Us for Church and Campus

The context of my ministry is LIFE Adventist Church in Berkeley, California, a campus church near the University of California, Berkeley. I also provide leadership direction for Adventist Public Campus Ministry across the North American Division. This paper addresses the ministry challenge and opportunity for our mission forward following the COVID-19 Pandemic. For many churches and mission programs, the COVID-19 Pandemic was a huge interruption of their entire operation. In many ways, for us COVID-19 was more of a disruption rather than a complete interruption of ministry. This paper discusses the factors that contributed to the continuation of our ministry at LIFE Adventist Church, and also for other students attending non-Adventist college and university campuses across North America. It will include suggestions for moving forward at this time. The pandemic has opened numerous opportunities for ministry, including some right in front of us. Ways will be suggested to integrate these opportunities into a new strategic plan for advancing the Kingdom of God in our ministry context in this unique time.

Youth as Ministers: Fish Sandwiches and the Prophetic Ministry of Young People in the Missing Voices Project

Leaning on the missional theology of Karl Barth, this article explores the theme of young people using their voice and agency in various congregations across Florida. These ministry contexts are focused on creating new expressions of youth ministry that take seriously the voices and experiences of young people in the queer community, with various intellectual disabilities, and from within the experience of foster care. The witness of these young people gave rise to hope that congregations might be shaped by their voices and be open to being formed by their very presence. Barth gives language to their experiences as an example of being a witness, prophetic even, within these congregational settings. With a heavy emphasis on the voices of young people themselves, this article explores the possibility of congregational systems being open to God's leading through teenagers.

Multilingualism in incarnational ministry: A quest to reach the neglected

Language is a critical tool for communication. This article uses the autoethnographic methodology to describe the author’s experience of language acquisition, which has influenced his understanding of multilingualism in incarnational ministry. He belongs to a missional order, InnerCHANGE, that uses an incarnational approach to ministry. InnerCHANGE understands incarnational ministry as a mission to meaningfully identify with people its members live among. InnerCHANGE’s membership is of diverse backgrounds culturally. Multilingualism within the order and in ministry contexts in a way that makes communication smooth is still an ideal rather than a reality. This article asks how multilingualism could positively contribute to InnerCHANGE’s quest for a meaningful incarnational approach. It found out that multilingualism could be a tangible act of equity and justice. It could also be a way to affirm diversity in a world that is constantly on a quest for a lingua franca, a contradiction to the event of Pentecost found in Acts 2. Finally, it could be an act of solidarity towards the valorisation of languages that some people see as inferior. It concludes by stressing that black Africans should be at the forefront of valorising their native languages in proudly using them and producing knowledge that could be shared with fellow Africans and non-Africans.Contribution: This article intends to contribute to the ongoing debate on the relation of the gospel to culture. Its focus is on language, which is one of the components of a culture.

Who Is My Neighbor? Developing a Pedagogical Tool for Teaching Environmental Preaching and Ethics in Online and Hybrid Courses

As theological education has moved increasingly to online and hybrid settings (both by choice and by pandemic necessity), practical theologians committed to teaching ecological theological education must navigate a paradox. How do we teach about interconnectivity and interdependence between the human and other-than-human inhabitants of a particular place when our classrooms are in disembodied digital spaces? This article examines a case study of a pedagogical tool developed by the author called the “Who Is My Neighbor” Mapping Exercise that enables students to explore and articulate how they conceptualize themselves and their faith communities embedded within their larger ecological contexts. This paper assesses the use of the mapping exercise in four different course contexts: three online and one hybrid online–immersion course. The author provides an overview of each of the four course contexts in which the tool was used, includes descriptions of how students engaged the tool, and assesses its effectiveness. The author uses three types of criteria for assessment of the pedagogical exercise: student feedback, level of competence demonstrated in student assignments (sermons, worship services, teaching events), and personal observations, particularly around the differences between online and onsite contexts. The author suggests that the mapping exercise is a tool that can be used by others teaching practical theology to help students understand their relationships within Creation and their communities, critically engage environmental justice issues, and apply what they learn to their ministry contexts.

Can Christians be Possessed by Evil Spirits?

In the African ministry context, accusations of demon possession are commonplace. It would appear that every strange, bizarre, or abnormal form of behavior is attributed to demon possession. Unfortunately, in many cases there is a very thin line between occurrences of mental disorder and demonization. This is because the symptoms in several instances are quite similar, and the precursors may be quite complex. For these reasons, another article in this issue sought to address the issue of discerning whether certain conditions were caused by mental disorders or demonization. In addition, the predisposition to regard every unexplained behavior as having a demonic origin was also addressed in this issue and described “the expanded middle.” However, one debate that has continued for decades and which is the concern of this chapter is, Can Christians be possessed by evil spirits?

Contextualisation within context: A pedagogical spectrum of six methodologies

The field of contextualisation is broad, with a vast diversity of definitions, models and methodologies. There are now many useful models of contextualisation from which to choose. But clearly, there is no one-size-fits-all solution – the diverse collection of options are not equally valid or useful or effective in all ministry contexts. How should one choose the best method for his or her ministry and context? This article argued that the ministry ‘context’ – the area, actors and activity of ministry – is the key determining factor for choosing the most effective contextualisation method for each ministry situation. The various contextualisation models and methods are based on the ministry context for which they are designed, as the constraints of each specific ministry context significantly influence the ideal contextualisation methodology. This article considered six distinct ministry contexts, each of which requires a different contextualisation methodology.Contribution: This article contributed to the discussion of contextualisation methodologies. While there are many settled theories and methods in this area, there remains considerable divergence and disagreement around various contextualisation concepts and practices. This article provides a useful pedagogical framework for organising the various methods in order to aid the academic discussion as well as the practical application of these methods.

Trauma-Informed Children's Ministry: a Qualitative Descriptive Study.

Over half of American children will experience at least one traumatic event, and nearly one in six will experience four or more events. These traumatic events affect children's physical and mental health throughout their lives. Consequently, organizations which serve children, including local religious congregations, are urged to adopt the principles of trauma-informed care. The purpose of this study was to describe specific ways in which trauma-informed principles are applied by church children's ministries. We gathered interview, focus group, and observational data from nine different children's ministries that were previously identified as being exceptionally inclusive and supportive. Interview participants included nine children's pastors, 17 children's ministry volunteers, and 38 individuals across 14 families. Focus group participants included 20 children ages 7 to 13. Data were analyzed using qualitative descriptive methodology using both a deductive and inductive approach. Drawing from prior literature, we deductively categorized the values (preparation, awareness, collaboration, and transparency) and goals (that children feel safe, regulated, connected, and valued) of trauma-informed children's ministries. Results. Results inductively identify and describe specific ways in which each of these values and goals were applied in the children's ministry context. Our results reveal that churches have the potential to be places of healing for children who have experienced trauma. Moreover, although many of these trauma-informed practices in a children's ministry context are similar to a school context, there are important differences that make children's church a unique context for care. We highlight the implications for children's ministries.

Intercultural Formation and the Leadership Practicum: Competencies in Doctor of Ministry Education

This essay affirms the value of experientially based leadership formation in Doctor of Ministry theological education as a hallmark of developing religious leadership for the African American context. It suggests envisioning leadership practicum goals so students gain intercultural competencies for all ministry contexts. The essay argues it is possible to increase cultural and ethnic literacy, personal formation and development, attitude and values clarification, multiethnic and multicultural social competence, basic ministry skills proficiency, educational equity and excellence, and empowerment for intercultural engagement through focused competency goals. It encourages experiences of cultural disorientation as the context in which students best learn the need to affirm ethnic identity, to be inclusive, to appreciate diversity, and to overcome fear of human diversity. Stated differently, through intentional comprehension of commonalities of human community, DMin students journey more rapidly toward intercultural competence. Keywords: Doctor of Ministry, Intercultural Competencies, Ministry Context, Leadership Formation

More than a Feeling: The Influence of Emotions in Learning and Implications for Church Ministry

Historically, educators have taken a reticent and measured approach in engaging the affective domain in learning, particularly as it relates to human emotions. By default, the cognitive and psycho-motor domains have tended to receive a greater level of attention and care. The same imbalance, by and large, characterizes learning environments in church ministry, perhaps due to an overly cautious fear of crossing professional and ethical boundaries. Yet, emerging research and science on the brain reveal that the emotions play an essential role in the learning process. Through basic measures such as acknowledgment of the presence of emotions, the practice of empathy, and evoking emotion through story, educators in church ministry contexts can account for the vital contribution that emotions make to the process of learning and formation.

A relevant ministry for the armed forces: An agenda for the South African National Defence Force chaplains praxis

Chaplaincy in South Africa (SA) recently became an attractive ministry and research fields for both ministers and theologians, respectively, more especially since the dawn of democracy in 1994. The military chaplaincy has been flooded with applications and enquiries from ministers and leaders from religions other than Christianity who want to secure their space in the ministry to the SA armed forces. Individual churches are also joining the queue for enquiries. As SA is a multireligious nation, religions other than Christianity are also knocking at the door of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), claiming their right to be accommodated. For this reason, it is important for churches, other religious organisations, leaders, ministers and theological institutions or faculties to have knowledge of this unique world and its context, as well as the ministry dynamics and challenges involved. This will assist them in order to prepare appropriately in terms of shaping the curricula and qualifications of their ministers for effective ministry to the armed forces with special reference to the SANDF. This article investigates the dynamics of the military chaplaincy in relation to historical developments along similar chaplaincies globally, the nature of its ministry to the SA armed forces and the challenges posed by the ministry context (SANDF environment), and finally, it crafts and proposes a suitable curriculum for a relevant and effective ministry in the SANDF and the world.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: This article is located in the field of Missiology. However, it has interdisciplinary implications that affect disciplines such as Military Science, Sociology, Practical Theology and Church History, which all assist as building blocks towards a relevant ministry for the armed forces.

Ministry in laïque France: Understanding history to confront present challenges

This article attempts to provide insight into the challenging and changing religious context for cross-cultural ministry in France in the 21st century. Many of these challenges exist due to the religious history of France, the marginalization of religion, and the unwelcome presence of foreign missionaries in secular France. French laïcité presents a specificity in origin, definition, and evolution which arises from a unique historical context leading to the Law of Separation of Churches and state in 1905. The law abrogated the 1801 Napoleonic Concordat with the Vatican, disestablished the Roman Catholic Church, ended centuries of religious turmoil, declared state neutrality in religious matters, and continues as a subject of debate and dissension 100 years later with the emergence of Islam as the second largest religion in France. Cross-cultural workers enter a ministry context where religion has been progressively removed from public space.

Exploration of Christian Women’s Vocational Ministry Leadership and Identity Formation in Evangelical Churches on the West Coast

This empirical research explores adult identity formation through work experiences, gaining insight into structures and practices which allow women to thrive in leadership within the evangelical church ministry context. This qualitative research explores adult identity formation and gender role stereotypes in leadership domains within the evangelical church context on the West Coast. Twenty-five ( n = 25) women in vocational church leadership, aged 25–71, revealed what impedes or contributes to female leadership adult identity formation. Key findings revealed women leaders thrive and gain identity strength through agency found in union with Christ; hold back identity components and skills available to church leadership teams to fit the male work context; contextual factors impact women’s well-being in leadership including assumptions and mindsets adverse to women leading; and lead pastors and supervisors’ beliefs about women in leadership are critical to healthy identity formation. Therefore, this research is an exploration of what experiences assist women leaders to thrive or not thrive in evangelical vocational leadership on the West Coast and how their identity in Christ empowers their leadership.

Spiritual Formation by Training Leaders in their Indigenous Cultures: The Importance of Cultural Humility and Virtue Theory

In this article, we contribute to a conversation in global Christianity. Majority World pastors want access to training so they can more effectively care for their communities. But how? In this article, we create a context for spiritual formation rooted in virtue theory. We offer a humility-based, cross-cultural, relationally oriented model for training indigenous leaders while they are rooted within their locales, communities, and ministry contexts. We highlight a method that we believe to be culturally, educationally, and psychologically hearty. We explore the non-formal training model and curriculum of Training Leaders International (TLI) as a test case. TLI provides a structured program of training in spiritual growth and hermeneutical and communication skills to Christian leaders in the Majority World within their indigenous contexts. But it develops and delivers this training in a manner that causes two key factors to rise to prominence that are widely applicable in the cross-cultural development of Christian leaders: cultural humility and Christian-adapted virtue development, both relationally oriented. This article is meant to inspire and enable other ministries.

From Rural to Urban: Critical Differentiations in Ministry Contexts within Rural and Urban Environments

"This article seeks to delineate three critical dimensions of ministry that impact ministry strategies in predominantly rural and in predominantly urban contexts for AFM Front Line Workers (FLWs). First, the community contexts within rural and urban environments. Second, the ministry strategy considerations for FLWs in rural and urban environments. Third, personal factors impacting FLWs in rural and in urban environments. The article provides in summary form the three key critical dimensions of ministry that are shared with AFM FLWs during initial training and that are utilized post-launch by AFM FLWs with their supervisors when prayerfully demonstrating urban ministry strategies within their unique urban contexts. The article will not provide an exhaustive analysis of each of these critical dimensions of ministry, but will provide a conceptual framework that FLWs can and do utilize when prayerfully reflecting on mission strategies on the ground."

Re-appreciating the significance of historical perspectives and practices on reformed pastoral theology and care today

This article investigates the issue of Reformed pastoral theology and care, from a historical perspective. Contemporary literature on this topic is not always informed by the actual pastoral care practices of historical church leaders, specifically up until and including the Reformation era. Consequently it can sometimes lack an important dimension needed to foster more theological depth and clarity, which is essential for sound pastoral care. Thus, it is necessary to clearly establish the connections between Reformed theology and practice in historical view, and pastoral care ministries in the church today. Despite huge societal changes that have taken place since the Reformation era, the core focus on the compassionate “care of souls” has remained unchanged. Can leading Reformers’ pastoral theological ethos and practices still be deemed relevant, whilst considering fresh issues in our contemporary pastoral care ministry contexts?

Identifying Stressors among Rural Church of England Clergy with Responsibility for Three or More Churches

ABSTRACTThis study identifies the stressors experienced by clergy with responsibility for multi-church rural benefices. First changes that have taken place in ministry over the centuries are explored in order to set twenty-first century rural ministry in context. Second, work carried out by Brewster in the early 2000s to classify sources of stress among clergy is reviewed. Third, stressors identified by nine clergy with responsibility for up to four rural churches in a single diocese are classified according to Brewster’s categories. Three new areas of stress are identified in addition to the categories proposed by Brewster. The differences between the stressors identified by Brewster in the early 2000s and those identified by clergy in the present study are then discussed.

Nicholas Taylor, Paul on Baptism: Theology, Mission and Ministry in Context

Nicholas Taylor, <i>Paul on Baptism: Theology, Mission and Ministry in Context</i>