Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Technology plays such an important role in the lives of today’s youth, that the use of technology causes existential change in their lives and even challenges the way we understand and define church. The existential changes that will be referred to in this study refers to the influence the use of technology has on all aspects of the users life; the forming of identity as Christian, interaction with people in and outside their social grouping, in and outside congregations, online and offline, the way youth gets involved in world events and the use of material things. Throughout this study it should be evident that the use of social media must be seen as a necessity for effective communication in youth ministry. Not only should the use of social media be a part of youth ministry, but the effect it has on youth should also be noted. This study will, with the previous information in mind, develop a better understanding of how Facebook is used by youth workers to promote relational youth ministry. The research question can thus be put as follow: How can the use of Facebook make a contribution to relational youth ministry? With the goal and background of this study in mind, different chapters will be dedicated to the different goal settings for this study, like they are listed on page 3, namely: Discussion of the theological essence of this study (chapter 2), discussion of the theological grounding of relational youth ministry (chapter 3), the determining of the prominence of relationships during the phase of adolescence (chapter 4), the determining of the role of social media on the lives of adolescents (chapter 5), description of the research methodology of the study (chapter 6) and the determining of the impact the use of Facebook has on relationships in youth ministry (chapter 7). Chapter 8 concludes this study with final remarks on the findings of this research, for example: Adolescents does not use Facebook like expected, but Facebook still provides youth workers the potential to form and maintain relationships. Suggestions is also made in this last chapter for example: congregations should reevaluate the audience of their Facebook communication and also that certain other social media platforms should be used in synergy with Facebook for more effective communication with adolescents in creating, maintaining and enhancing relationships. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Tegnologie speel so ’n belangrike rol in die lewens van veral die hedendaagse jeug dat die gebruik daarvan ’n eksistensiële verandering teweegbring en selfs die wyse van kerk-wees uitdaag. Die eksistensiële verandering in hierdie studie sal verwys na die invloed wat die gebruik van hierdie tegnologie het op alle aspekte van die gebruiker se bestaan, bv. die vorming van identiteit as Christen, interaksie met mense binne en buite hulle sosiale groep, binne en buite gemeentes en aanlyn en van lyn af, die manier waarop jeug betrokke is by wêreldgebeure en die verbruik van goedere. Tydens hierdie studie behoort dit duidelik te word dat die gebruik van sosiale media in jeugbediening nodig is as daar op ’n effektiewe manier gekommunikeer wil word. Nie net behoort die gebruik van sosiale media ’n deel te vorm van bediening aan die jeug nie, maar daar moet ook gelet word op die effek daarvan op die jeug. Hierdie studie wil, met bogenoemde in ag geneem, ’n beter verstaan ontwikkel van die gebruik van Facebook deur jeugwerkers ter bevordering van verhoudingsgerigte jeugbediening. Die navorsingsvraag kan dus so gestel word: Hoe kan die gebruik van Facebook bydra tot die bevordering van verhoudingsgerigte jeugbediening? Met die doel van die studie en die agtergrond daarvan in gedagte, sal in die volgende hoofstukke in diepte aandag gegee word aan die verskillende doelstellings wat gestel word op bl. 3, naamlik: Die stel van die teologiese aard van die studie (hoofstuk 2), die stel van die teologiese begronding vir verhoudingsgerigte jeugbediening (hoofstuk 3), die bepaling van die prominensie van verhoudings tydens die fase van adolessensie (hoofstuk 4), die bepaling van die rol van sosiale media in die lewens van adolessente (hoofstuk 5), Beskrywing van die navorsingsmetodologie wat gevolg is in die studie (hoofstuk 6) en vasstelling of die gebruik van Facebook enige impak het op verhoudings binne jeugbediening (hoofstuk 7). Hoofstuk 8 sluit die studie af met konklusies oor die bevindings van hierdie navorsing soos dat Facebook moontlik nie deur adolessente gebruik word soos verwag nie, maar dat die gebruik van Facebook steeds geleentheid aan jeugwerkers/jeugpredikante bied vir die vorming en instandhouding van verhoudings. Voorstelle word ook gemaak soos dat gemeentes se Facebook kommunikasie gehoor geherevalueer moet word en dat sekere ander sosiale media platforms, in samewerking met Facebook, gebruik moet word om meer effektief met adolessente te kommunikeer ter vorming, instandhouding en bevordering van verhoudings.

Thesis (DTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Children represent more than half of the total African population and therefore form a significant and strategic part of the church in Africa. Visits to churches and children’s ministries in Africa raised questions on the being of the church and children’s inclusion into church life. My personal exposures to the Church of Pentecost (COP) lead to this reflection on the children’s ministry of the Church. I was in particular interested to learn what ministry strategies and related theological underpinnings support their children’s ministry. It appears from literature that children does not enjoy the same attention from systematic theologians when central theological themes such as the human condition, nature of faith, language about God, the church and the nature of religion, is discussed. The apparent absence of clearly defined theological positions on children by the COP and limited African theological discussions and academic works on children matters, contributed further to conclude the following problem statement: The church needs children’s ministry strategies that includes children as integral part of church life. In support of such strategies, the Church needs theological underpinnings for a Christian theological approach to children and the role and responsibilities of families and faith communities. My choice for an African church relates to my exposures to and relationships with churches in Africa. The COP is viewed as a significant church in Ghana, provided an ideal opportunity to explore an African church within the framework of the broader Christian landscape in Ghana. The research question is: What was the ministry strategy focusing on children of the Church of Pentecost between 1970 and 2010? Chapter 1 deals with the motivation, objectives, research question and strategies of enquiry. Chapter 2 describes the genesis history of the COP as to explore possible strategic children’s ministry elements. Chapter 3 focuses on theological underpinnings for a church as a particular ministry environment where children could be integrated into church life. The study worked with a key meta theoretical assumption that God is dynamically working in the church and society. Theological themes and characteristics raised in the study of the Old Testament people of God suggested a possibility that the New Testament church might be a continuation of the Old Testament people of God’s way of living. This theological exploration of the church contributed to inform the proposed ministry practices in chapter 6. Chapter 4 dealt with the design and operationalisation of the empirical research strategies to explore church members’ perceptions of church, based on their childhood experiences. The empirical data were analysed and interpreted in chapter 5 to serve the study in the conclusions in the last chapter. Chapter 6 concluded with the finding that the COP did have a number of non-intentional elements interpreted as possible ministry strategies for the children’s ministry as well as an intentional strategy. The findings concluded that the COP seriously needs theological underpinnings for an intergenerational approach to children’s ministry. The last part proposes children’s ministry processes that could assist the COP to become an intergenerational church. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Kinders verteenwoordig meer as die helfte van die bevolking in Afrika en is daarom ‘n beduidende en strategiese deel van die kerk. Blootstelling aan die kerk en kinderbedienings in Afrika het vrae oor die verstaan van kerkwees en kinders se insluiting in die bediening van die kerk na vore gebring. Antwoorde is in die strategiese benadering tot kerkbediening asook die kerk se teologiese begronding van kerkwees gesoek. Die Church of Pentecost (COP) se strategiese posisie in Ghana het bygedra om om hierdie studie op die bedieningstrategiee van die COP te rig. Vanuit ‘n teologiese perspektief lyk dit asof kinders min of geen rol speel in die manier hoe sistematiese teoloe oor sentrale teologiese temas soos die toestand van die mens, die wese van geloof, taal oor God, die kerk en die wese van religie, dink nie. Daar is ook geen noemenswaardige werke wat handel oor teologiese gesprekke en ondersoeke rondom kind-georienteerde onderwerpe vanuit Afrika nie. Die bogenoemde persepsies het bygedra om die volgende probleemstelling te ontwikkel: Die kerk het ‘n behoefte aan kinderbedieningstrategiee wat kinders in gemeentewees kan insluit. Hierdie bedieningstrategieë benodig ‘n teologiese onderbou om ‘n Christelik teologiese benadering tot kinders asook die rol en verantwoordelikhede van families en gemeenskappe daar te kan stel. My keuse vir ‘n fokus op ‘n Afrika kerk kom uit my verbintenis as ‘n Afrikaan aan Afrika sowel as die verhoudings en insig wat opgedoen is met die Afrika kerk. Die COP in Ghana word beskou word as een van die toonaangewende kerke in Ghana. Dit het my ‘n ideale geleentheid gebied om ‘n gevallestudie binne die groter Christelike landskap in Ghana aan te pak. Die navorsingsvraag van die studie is: Wat was die kinderbedieningstrategie van die “Church of Pentecost” tussen die tydperk 1970 en 2010? Hoofstuk 1 spel die motiverings, doelwitte en navorsingstrategiee uit. Die vraag of daar strategiese elemente in die geskiedenis van die COP se bediening van kinders ontdek kan word, word in hoofstuk 2 bespreek. Die wordingsgeskiedenis van die COP is binne die groter Christelike landskap in Ghana beskryf. Die teologiese onderbou vir die verstaan van die kerk as ‘n bepaalde ruimte wat kinders kan insluit word in hoofstuk 3 beredeneer vanuit die Ou Testament en die ‘nuwe Testament. Die studie het hier sterk gesteun op temas en karaktertrekke van die geloofsgemeenskappe in Bybelse tye wat kan help om te verstaan watter aspekte gesien kan word as ‘n voortsetting van die gemeenskapslewe van die volk van God in die Ou Testament. Die studie verreken hier ‘n sleutel metateorietiese vertrekpunt naamlik dat God dinamies werksaam is in die kerk en gemeenskappe. Hoofstuk 3 kon teologiese vertrekpunte ontwikkel wat later in hoofstuk 6 ‘n voorgestelde bedieningspraktyk geinformeer het. Hoofstuk 4 sit die empiriese navorsingstrategie uiteen en operasionaliseer dit om die vraag oor lidmate se persepsies van kindwees in die COP te beantwoord. In hoofstuk 5 word die analise en interpretasie van die empiriese data bespreek. Die bevindinge word in hoofstuk 6 bespreek. Dit blyk dat die COP met sowel niebeplande kinderbedieningstrategiee as ‘n intensiele kinderbedieningstrategie gewerk het. Die COP kort egter duidelike teologiese onderbou vir hul kinderbediening asook bedieningspraktyke wat kinders intergenerasioneel kan insluit in kerkwees. Hieruit maak die studie aanbevelings vir ‘n proses benadering tot kinderbediening wat daartoe kan bydra dat die COP wel geleenthede kan skep vir ‘n meer intergenerasionele benadering tot kerkwees.

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Work

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Work

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Work

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Work

The purpose of this study was to investigate the programmatic values of Southern Baptist youth ministries, providing a descriptive analysis of youth ministries' core values communicated through programmatic methodology. To accomplish this aim, the researcher examined youth ministry mission statements, financial expenditures, and ministerial activities of the youth pastor. The mixed method research design consisted of two phases. Phase one utilized a Delphi panel of youth ministry educators who have expertise in the theory and practice of youth ministry, as well as knowledge of the literature. The panel compiled a list of foundational values and a list of popular values. The second phase utilized these values to survey SBC youth ministry mission statements, financial expenditures, and ministerial activities of the youth pastor. Using the financial expenditures and ministerial activities the researcher provided a descriptive analysis of the programmatic values. Additionally, the programmatic values were examined in light of the stated values as well as the supplied demographic and ministerial information. / 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.

This dissertation examines the influence of youth ministry internships as a component of education for full time youth ministry. The need for evaluation of ministry internships is elucidated within a discussion of the current state of theological field education. The precedent literature relevant to theological field education is then discussed. This includes biblical discipleship, experiential learning theory, internships in higher education, and internships in youth ministry. The literature points to five basic objectives of internships that are used to guide the evaluation of learning from field experience. These are the expansion and assimilation of knowledge, the acquisition of skills, the formation of character, the development of mentor relationships, and the opportunity to test vocational interests in order to make a vocational decision. Purposive sampling was employed in this descriptive, quantitative research to reach the largest segment of the research population. The population consisted of junior and senior youth ministry majors in the seven largest universities associated with Churches of Christ who offer a bachelor's degree in youth ministry. Information was collected from these students concerning their internships through a survey instrument. Results indicated students perceive internships to be a vital component of their education for ministry. Interns ranked learning new skills in ministry, followed by growing in Christian character, and learning new knowledge about ministry as the most important contributions of their internships. Although interns ranked the influence of the supervisor relationship as fourth among significant contributions of internships, the supervisor relationship permeated every other aspect of internships. When supervisors were intentional about offering training and support in ministry, and when they practiced the spiritual disciplines with interns, their interns were more likely to say they experienced both educational and spiritual growth. The practice of journaling and theological reflection also emerged as influential disciplines of interns. The influence of internships on the vocational decisions of students to enter or avoid ministry was minimal. Applications for ministry education are proposed as they apply to professors, supervisors, and interns. These are followed by suggestions for future research in the area of theological field experience. / 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.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the extended tenures of youth ministers, their common characteristics, as well as, their leadership techniques. The researcher defined expert, leadership techniques, longevity, organizational climate factors, spiritual gifts, and youth minister. This research addressed and presented theoretical foundations based on the youth minister and spiritual gifts, leadership techniques of youth ministers, the call to ministry, youth ministry, and thriving in youth ministry. It also discussed the importance of having the trust of youth and parents which can come through tenure. The subjects of this study were youth ministers who have been in their current positions for ten years or more. These ministers have held the title and position of youth minister for the duration of this time. The sample of youth ministers were given a survey in which their expertise will be conveyed. After compiling the responses, the researcher returned to three of the youth ministers for more insight into the results of the survey. The study presented these results with charts and tables along with explanation of each. Personal characteristics, spiritual giftedness, leadership techniques, call to ministry, organizational climate factors, as well as, the nature of the relationship between these topics are presented. Once the information was compiled and displayed the researcher drew conclusions to longevity in ministry and leadership techniques of youth ministers with extended tenures. Ways in which the results of the research can be applied and implemented into churches and institutions to help youth ministers know what to expect if they are going to remain in youth ministry long-term will also be addressed. Further research into spiritual giftedness, leadership techniques, ministerial calling, and extended tenure is encouraged. / 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.)--Covenant Theological Seminary, 2007. / Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 113-115).