The assumption of the study was that children are capable of an intimate and real relationship with God. The question that is often asked is, "How does the church best help children to grow in that relationship?" The lack of an agreed upon definition and understanding of spirituality and the need for a sound and practical approach to helping children develop spiritually was the catalyst behind this research. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between ministry praxis and spiritual development milestones in the lives of Nazarene children. The literature review began with an examination of the history of spirituality, the biblical call to children's spiritual nurture, and the history of psychology and developmentalism. Attention was given to the typologies presented by Urban Holmes and David Kolb culminating in analysis of Michael Anthony's Children's Spiritual Formation Typology. A mixed methods approach was used to gather data. The process for development of the research instrument and the procedures used for implementation were clearly explained. The online instrument was completed by 201 (64.4% of the population) Nazarene children's pastors and analysis of the data was conducted using ANOVA testing. The respondents were assigned to one of the four ministry models based on their responses to the 24 statements on the survey instrument. By determining one's preferred ministry model and analyzing a variety of self-reported data, analysis of the relationship in the four spiritual development milestones was possible. In addition to the four spiritual milestones, growth rate of each of the ministry models was analyzed. The research was completed by conducting two focus group interviews to provide qualitative analysis of the data gathered from the survey instrument. Open-ended questions were presented to each focus group which further validated the analysis of the data. The statistical analysis of the data concluded that there are no significant statistical differences in the four ministry models and the four spiritual development milestones. Key words: child, children, development, formation, growth, milestones, ministry, nurture, praxis, spiritual, spirituality / This item is only available to students and faculty of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. If you are not associated with SBTS, this dissertation may be purchased from <a href="http://disexpress.umi.com/dxweb">http://disexpress.umi.com/dxweb</a> or downloaded through ProQuest's Dissertation and Theses database if your institution subscribes to that service.

Thesis (D. Min.)--Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 130-140).

Project (D. Min.)--Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University, 1989. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 128-129).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Ashland Theological Seminary, 2007. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 197-209).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Western Seminary, Portland, Or., 1998. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 193-197).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Ashland Theological Seminary, 2007. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 197-209).

The object of this study is to investigate the stability of the Church of the Nazarene Varax dome under various load distributions. A model of the dome constructed using I-DEAS is presented and results of linear and nonlinear analyses are discussed. A comparison between the critical load obtained using nonlinear analysis and combined linear and nonlinear analysis is made. The model is modified to include flexible joints and bracing to model the decking. The effect of these modifications on the critical load is discussed. / Master of Science

Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-03T12:21:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Jeffersonpg1_50.pdf: 585856 bytes, checksum: 276d37970a463a993a070f39dab4cdd2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-04-05 / This thesis is a description and a socio-historical analysis of Church of the Nazarene in all major aspects that contributed to its insertion and expansion in Brazil. We describe the formative history of this church in the United States, drawing on historical and sociological considerations of theological values that it brings, as arminianism, the wesleyan tradition and the doctrine of holiness. We try to understand, primarily, as was the process of integration and expansion of the Church of the Nazarene in Brazil, its governance, its liturgical practice, the training of pastors, the form of aggregation of members and the relationship established between these pastors and members. The study of that denomination is still incipient in the Brazilian academic, so we try to overcome the lack of information about it in the medium. Therefore, we emphasize the aspects of a socio-historical institutional approach that can distance themselves form the Church as the Nazarenes understand their own denomination. In addressing this subject, we emphasize the literature, documentary analysis, use of audiovisual resources, as well as participant observation. This work enabled the understanding that the Church of the Nazarene, from its beginnings, the practice follows the distinction between Protestant in which it operates. In the case of Brazil, where there are many others denominations, the Church has been firmed on its main distinction, the doctrine of holiness, which, by a focus on the theory of religious economies, has served as a product to meet specific market niche Brazilian religious. / Este trabalho é uma descrição e análise sócio-histórica da Igreja do Nazareno nos aspectos mais importantes que contribuíram para sua inserção e expansão no Brasil. Descrevemos a trajetória formativa dessa Igreja nos Estados Unidos, partindo das considerações históricosociológicas dos valores teológicos que ela agrega, como o Arminianismo, a tradição wesleyana e a doutrina da santidade. Buscamos entender, primordialmente, como se deu o processo de inserção e expansão da Igreja do Nazareno no Brasil, sua estrutura de governo, sua prática litúrgica, a formação de pastores, a forma de agregação de membros e a relação que se estabelece entre esses pastores e os membros. O estudo sobre essa denominação ainda é incipiente no meio acadêmico brasileiro, assim, buscamos suplantar a ausência de informações sobre ela, nesse meio. Portanto, ressaltamos os aspectos de um enfoque sócio histórico institucional que podem se distanciar da forma eclesial como os próprios nazarenos compreendem sua denominação. Na abordagem desse objeto, enfatizamos a pesquisa bibliográfica, a análise documental, a utilização de recursos audiovisuais, bem como a observação participante. Este trabalho possibilitou o entendimento de que a Igreja do Nazareno, desde seus primórdios, conduz sua prática pela distinção no meio protestante em que se insere. No caso do Brasil, em que existem muitas outras denominações, a Igreja se firma sobre sua principal distinção, a doutrina da santidade, a qual, por um enfoque da teoria das economias religiosas, tem servido de produto para atender determinado nicho do mercado religioso brasileiro.

This thesis examines five religious organisations which existed in the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, collectively known as the Maritime Region, between 1880 and 1920. Each of these denominations emphasised holiness theology, albeit in varying degrees. They include, in order of their establishment in the region, the Methodist Church, the Free Christian Baptist Conference, the Salvation Army, the Reformed Baptist Alliance of Canada and the Pentecostal Church of the Nazarene. This study assesses these religious bodies in a number of ways. First, it examines their theological beliefs, comparing them with one another and tracing any changes which occurred in them between 1880 and 1920. Second, it considers the various associations which each of these denominations developed with the late nineteenth-century American holiness movement. The enquiry devotes particular attention to the response of each religious body to a spiritual encounter, known as ‘entire instantaneous sanctification’, popularised especially during the last quarter of the nineteenth century by the holiness movement in parts of Canada, Great Britain and the United States. Third, a review of the unique strengths and weaknesses of each of the five institutions offers an explanation for the numerical and financial growth of several of these groups early in the twentieth century, as well as the degeneration of others. Fourth, the study discloses much of the opposition which was directed towards Maritime holiness movement sympathisers, offering a number of explanations why some of these individuals left their traditional religious affiliations to join holiness bodies which they perceived to be true advocates of scriptural holiness. Fifth, it appraises the strong leadership which a number of individuals offered to the holiness cause in the Maritime region, taking into account the education, religious training, financial status, gender and ancestral origin of these men and women. Finally, a thorough statistical analysis of each constituency highlights the unique composition of each denomination’s membership. Taken together, these features inform the primary argument of the thesis, which is that significant transformations occurred in some of these religious bodies at the same time as large percentages of constituents became wealthier and more socially acceptable. These changes eventually facilitated the merger of the Methodist Church and the Free Christian Baptist Conference, the two oldest denominations, with national mainline religious bodies. This thesis contends that such unions may not have occurred had these groups not attained public recognition. Furthermore, in realising these achievements both of these denominations relinquished the more radical elements of their heritage, as well as much of the spiritual passion linked with it.

As the church focuses on people’s spiritual development, there is growing realisation that the church should be holistic in its approach and participate in resolving urban poverty issues through the implementation of community development projects. This study looks at the way in which traditional theories of community development concentrated on stimulating economic growth and ignored the social aspects involved. It suggests that despite the massive injection of donor funds to some communities, the situation of the poor has deteriorated over the years and sustainability of projects has been minimal. The study finds that projects implemented by the Church of the Nazarene in Orlando East, while improving the lives of the community, are not in line with community development principles and the sustainable livelihoods approach primarily because the community was not involved in the assessment of needs or designing of interventions, and the community members were only the implementers. The evaluation of these projects through this study suggests an alternative developmental paradigm that has been used with success in other similar circumstances – the sustainable livelihood approach (SLA). The SLA contends that urban communities should become planners, initiators and executors of community development interventions so that transformation can occur. The study recommends that urban communities such as that in Orlando East have to change their behaviour and attitudes, be willing to accept change, and take ownership of their own projects. The facilitators, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and government have to be willing to unlearn their traditional ways, to listen, and to accept that they are not the only experts in community development as they attempt to embrace indigenous knowledge systems. / Development Studies / M.A. (Development Studies)