Listening is a critical skill for those who lead. Research indicates that leaders significantly influence followers through their listening practices; however the relationship between leadership styles and listening is assumed but not conclusively proven (Kouzes and Posner 2002). The purpose of this current study was to determine if a relationship exists between leadership style and listening practices of International Mission Board (IMB) overseas team leaders (Burns 1978, Bass 2004). The population for this research was overseas team leaders of the IMB serving in this position for more than six months with a team of four or more team members. A total of 145 of 391 team leaders participated in this study with a response rate of 37%. The Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ) was used to measure transformational, transactional, and passive/avoidant leadership style and the Listening Practices Feedback Report-360 (LPFR) assessed listening practices of attention, empathy, memory, open mind, respect, and response. A correlational analysis using Pearson r was conducted between leadership styles and listening practices. Further analysis was conducted to determine which leadership style was most significantly correlated with each of the six listening practice subscales. The subscale of open mind was not significantly correlated with any leadership style. The findings indicated that transformational leadership had a statistically significant and moderately positive correlation with the total LPFR score and on five of the six listening practices subscales. Transactional leaders also had a moderately positive correlation with total LPFR score and significant correlations on empathy, memory, and response subscales. Passive/avoidant leadership style had a significantly moderate negative correlation with LPFR and with empathy, memory, respect, and response subscales. Transformational leadership scored highest on the LPFR total listening score. Passive/avoidant leaders' showed the lowest total listening scores and were rated ineffective listeners. This study shows that transformational and transactional leadership styles have a statistically significant and moderately positive relationship with listening dimension scores as measured by the LPFR and supports transformational leadership theory.

ABSTRACT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE HANDS ON PROGRAM IN ATTAINING THE STATED GOALS OF THE INTERNATIONAL MISSION BOARD: A QUANTITATIVE STUDY Jeffrey Martin Gayhart, Ph.D. The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2013 Chair: Dr. George H. Martin This dissertation examines the effectiveness of the International Mission Board's Hands On program in reaching stated goals. Chapter 1 introduces the research question by examining the current state of short-term missions (STM) and the Foreign Mission Board/International Mission Board's (FMB/IMB) methodological embrace of STM. This chapter introduces a particular short-term mission (STM) opportunity offered by the IMB, called Hands On. The research questions are addressed by a historical study and by a quantitative study of the effectiveness of the Hands On program. Chapter 2 is a more in depth historical study of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), the history of the FMB/IMB and its embrace of new methodologies, particularly STM. The chapter notes the FMB's initial use of college students for STM assignments, which blossomed into the Journeyman program. The chapter concludes with the FMB's adoption of Bold Mission Thrust as impetus for a more robust student mission strategy, including Hands On. Chapter 3 is an additional historical sketch for this study that reviews the history of STM and student missions. This chapter explains how the early histories of the SBC and student missions/STM movement parallel one another chronologically but not methodologically. The student missions/STM movement is a historical phenomenon that both informs the IMB's strategy and benefits from the IMB's methodological embrace. Also, this chapter surveys technological and sociological advances that opened the world to shorter-term missionaries. The final two chapters focus on the results, analysis, and answers to the research problem. Chapter 4 includes the results and findings of the quantitative survey. In addition, this chapter explains the data analysis method of structural equation modeling (SEM), which is used to analyze multivariate data. Chapter 5 discusses presented resolutions (or lack thereof) to the research problems introduced in Chapter 1. In addition, this chapter includes recommendations for changes in the Hands On program. Finally, this chapter highlights some potential areas for further research.

This dissertation examines the current state of global youth ministry leadership, with a focus on the training of indigenous youth workers. The goal of this work is to encourage the International Mission Board and other missions organizations to consider the need for a global strategy to train youth workers for every people group. Chapter 1 introduces and defines the subjects of youth ministry and youth missions. Attention is given to the emergence of the North American Youth Culture in the twentieth century, as well as the church and parachurch organizations that developed concurrently with the American Youth Culture. Chapter 2 examines the strategies for global youth ministry that are currently being implemented by ReachOut, Youth Ministry International, Youth Builders, and SonLife. In addition to presenting a brief history along with the guiding vision of each organization, this chapter sets forth the similarities and differences among the various organizations, and identifies indigenous youth worker training as a key component of each strategy. Chapter 3 analyzes and evaluates the effectiveness of the strategies of each of the aforementioned missions organizations. Strengths and weaknesses of each organization are presented, with special attention to their respective strategies for training indigenous youth workers. Chapter 4 describes the current state of Southern Baptist mission work among the youth of the world. The results of surveys from IMB missionaries from every region, as well as feedback from interviews with IMB missionaries, are set forth. Data from the surveys and interviews is used to assess the current situation and priority of global youth ministry among Southern Baptists. In Chapter 5, IMB youth work is evaluated and critiqued. Chapter 6 offers a proposal for the IMB of the SBC to train indigenous youth workers for the people groups of the world. A brief concluding chapter offers suggestions for further study in the area of global youth ministry. This study suggests that youth ministry ought to be playing a key role in the world of missions in the twenty-first century. The fact that the majority of the world's population is under age 25, accompanied by evidence that youth are the most receptive age group for the Christian gospel, serves as an indictment against missiologists and missions organizations that fail to incorporate youth into their world missions strategies. In spite of the evidence, it appears that only a handful of missions "experts" and organizations are strategizing to reach the young people of the world. This dissertation seeks to perform an assessment of youth work done by IMB personnel. The research revealed that many IMB missionaries are focusing on young people. This study concludes that although the IMB is involved in youth work around the world, its involvement is generally not strategic, completely uncoordinated, and not sufficiently prioritized and encouraged. I argued that youth ministry and indigenous youth worker training warrant a higher level of emphasis and priority from the IMB, and I have made a series of recommendations for the IMB to address its shortcomings in the area of global youth ministry. The work of ReachOut, Youth Ministry International, Youth Builders, and SonLife were analyzed and principles from the work of these organizations informed the evaluation of, and recommendations for, IMB youth work. / 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 research explored how mission trip volunteers assume various roles throughout their volunteer experience. By seeing the various roles that emerge in mission volunteer work, the identities that they construct based upon these roles are revealed. Discovering the ways in which these roles and constructed identities affect the way that mission trip volunteers could potentially help colleges improve their recruitment messages and distinguish themselves from other institutions. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to obtain data from the participants, and the data were analyzed through a thematic, constant comparative method. Findings revealed the types of stories heard from other mission trip volunteers prior to serving, the impact of those stories on decisions to volunteer, the various identities that emerge while serving on a mission trip, and how mission trip volunteers make sense of their experiences after serving. This study applies several well-known aspects of organizational communication to the context of mission trip volunteers, offering new and interesting data. This study also provides practical implications for mission trip coordinators and individuals who might be interested in being a mission trip volunteer.

The statement and the title of the thesis "Towards an intercultural mission" is the starting point for the essay's purpose and examination. Interculturalism is an ideal in which equality and re-ciprocity are characterized by cross-cultural relationships, which is also an objective of international mission. For an intercultural mission, it is therefore necessary to examine which factors may hinder an intercultural approach, which, for this study, justifies searching for underlying unequal structures. The theoretical frame of reference for the analysis is postcolonial theory and feminist theology, which makes it possible to visualize such structures. The purpose of the thesis is therefore to analyze the intention of the international mission work in the Uniting Church in Sweden based on postcolonial feminist theology, and to propose criteria that need to be found for the mission work to be characterized by an intercultural approach. In order to achieve the purpose, it is necessary to answer the following general questions: 1. Is there an awareness of unequal power structures in the culture-crossing relationships in the intentional discourse on mission in the Uniting Church in Sweden? 2. How does interculturalism appear in the international mission in the Uniting Church in Sweden?And; 3. What criteria need to be found for the mission work to be characterized by an intercultural approach?With the help of qualitative content analysis of the Church's public text material, which constitutes the study object; six thematic areas have emerged; gender equality, woman's vulnerability, patriarchal structures, mission and worldview, postcolonial structures, and cooperation and reciprocity. The result has been analyzed on the basis of the concept of interculturality and a proposal for criteria for an intercultural approach has been prepared, among other things, with proposals for clarification of unequal power structures and a critical self-awareness about their own history and cultural values.

In 1976, the Southern Baptist Convention adopted its Bold New Thrusts in Foreign Missions with the overarching goal of sharing the gospel with every person in the world by the year 2000. The formation of Cooperative Services International (CSI) in 1985 and the assigning of the first nonresidential missionary (NRM) in 1987 demonstrated the Foreign Mission Board's commitment to take the gospel message to countries that restricted traditional missionary presence and to people groups identified as having little or no access to the gospel. This thesis traces the historical development of the NRM paradigm along with an analysis of the key components of the paradigm and its impact on the Board's missiology. Chapter 1 presents on overview of the thesis, outlining the primary research question addressed by this thesis and the rationale for this research. Chapter 2 focuses on the key events, persons and concepts that directly and indirectly influenced the leadership of the FMB in the development of this new missiological paradigm. Chapter 3 outlines the events leading up to the launching of CSI and the NRM program, the unique contributions of key Board leaders, and the initial growth of the NRM paradigm. Chapter 4 examines the years of growth and maturity of the NRM paradigm under the leadership of Mike Stroope. During this time, the nomenclature changed from NRM to Strategy Coordinator (SC). Chapter 5 seeks to demonstrate the impact of the NRM/SC paradigm on the Board's reorganization in 1997 called New Directions. Chapter 6 explores the CPM phenomenon and its impact on the SC paradigm, giving special attention to the reductionism that occurred as the Board sought to define and describe these movements. Chapter 7 revisits the major objective of this research as expressed in the introductory chapter and offers suggestions for further research. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / D.Th.

In 1976, the Southern Baptist Convention adopted its Bold New Thrusts in Foreign Missions with the overarching goal of sharing the gospel with every person in the world by the year 2000. The formation of Cooperative Services International (CSI) in 1985 and the assigning of the first nonresidential missionary (NRM) in 1987 demonstrated the Foreign Mission Board's commitment to take the gospel message to countries that restricted traditional missionary presence and to people groups identified as having little or no access to the gospel. This thesis traces the historical development of the NRM paradigm along with an analysis of the key components of the paradigm and its impact on the Board's missiology. Chapter 1 presents on overview of the thesis, outlining the primary research question addressed by this thesis and the rationale for this research. Chapter 2 focuses on the key events, persons and concepts that directly and indirectly influenced the leadership of the FMB in the development of this new missiological paradigm. Chapter 3 outlines the events leading up to the launching of CSI and the NRM program, the unique contributions of key Board leaders, and the initial growth of the NRM paradigm. Chapter 4 examines the years of growth and maturity of the NRM paradigm under the leadership of Mike Stroope. During this time, the nomenclature changed from NRM to Strategy Coordinator (SC). Chapter 5 seeks to demonstrate the impact of the NRM/SC paradigm on the Board's reorganization in 1997 called New Directions. Chapter 6 explores the CPM phenomenon and its impact on the SC paradigm, giving special attention to the reductionism that occurred as the Board sought to define and describe these movements. Chapter 7 revisits the major objective of this research as expressed in the introductory chapter and offers suggestions for further research. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / D.Th.

In this study we studied how holistic mission should be accomplished. May we speak about social and evangelical mandates? This search is done through the examination of a Christian relief organisation, the Hungarian Baptist Aid. Our main research question was: Is the work of this service holistic? Although we concluded in the light of David Bosch's mission interpretation that their mission is not yet holistic, the model of Hungarian Baptist Aid is encouraging how we could multiply our resources that are placed in God's hand. How we can see a commission that seemed impossible can become possible, and how we can find our way in God's mission. / Christian Spirituality, Curch History and Missiology / M. Th. (Missiology)

<p>14 juni 2007 beslutade regeringen att tillkalla en särskild utredare med uppdrag att utforma förslag till en svensk veteranpolitik, som skulle innefatta ansvaret för personalen före, under och efter internationella militära insatser. Utredningen, som tog namnet Veteransoldatutredningen, lämnade i oktober 2008 sitt slutbetänkande. Syftet med denna uppsats var att kritiskt granska utredningens förslag till förbättring i frågan om psykologisk ohälsa, stressprevention, inför insats och med utgångspunkt i litteraturen försöka förutsäga om förslaget skulle komma att ge effekt</p><p> Metodvalen i denna uppsats har utgjorts av kvalitativ textanalys samt deskription. Tyngdpunkten i essän ligger i att definiera stressreaktioner samt åtgärder för stressprevention. Därefter följer analysen för att kunna se om det finns en förankring i aktuell forskning, och mot slutet granskas om förslagen kommer att ge effekt.</p><p>I uppsatsen söktes svar på följande frågeställningar:</p><p>-          Finns det en förankring i förslagen från Veteransoldatutredningen i aktuell forskning med inriktning på preventiva åtgärder?</p><p>-          Är det rimligt att anta att med stöd av aktuell forskning att förslagen kan förebygga psykisk ohälsa efter internationell insats?</p><p>De viktigaste slutsatserna som har dragits från denna studie är:</p><p>Förslagen från veteransoldatutredningen finns till del förankrade i aktuell litteratur. De förslag som väntas kunna förebygga psykisk ohälsa efter internationell insats är som följer.</p><p>-          En förbättrad och mer effektiv rekrytering genom större personlig kontakt medger en noggrannare rekrytering som gör att man får rätt människor, på rätt plats med godkända vitsord samt psykisk lämplighet och detta minskar i sin tur risken för stressreaktioner.</p><p>-          Utökad och bättre information till allmänheten från den politiska ledningen och från Försvarsmakten om missioner minskar förhoppningsvis samhällets opposition genom att öka förståelsen för Försvarsmakten och dess uppgifter. Detta nedbringar i sin tur den kumulativa stress i soldatens vardag p g a externa stressorer från samhälle och media.</p><p>-          Ytterligare utbildning i mänskliga rättigheter och krigets lagar bidrar till att skapa trygghet i vad soldater får - och inte får - göra. Genom dylik utbildning kan frustrationen, som uppstår då soldaterna inte vet hur de skall hantera specifika situationer, minskas. </p> / <p>This essay - <em>Veteransoldatutredningen – a review of its proposals for improving the matter of mental ill-health</em> – is written by cadet Josefine Nilsson. The aim is to study the <em>Veteransoldatutredning’</em>s suggestions for improvement when it comes to e.g. stress prevention and psychological ill-health ahead on an international mission.</p><p>The methods used are description and trial of a hypothesis. Through a study of the immediate literature and by analyzing the proposals, my conclusions are that an improved and more efficient recruitment allows for a more accurate recruitment; increased and better information to the public from the political body and from the Armed Forces will reduce external stress that the soldiers sometime feel, and also that additional education in human rights and the law of war contributes to create a security in what the soldiers can, and can not do.</p>

In this study we studied how holistic mission should be accomplished. May we speak about social and evangelical mandates? This search is done through the examination of a Christian relief organisation, the Hungarian Baptist Aid. Our main research question was: Is the work of this service holistic? Although we concluded in the light of David Bosch's mission interpretation that their mission is not yet holistic, the model of Hungarian Baptist Aid is encouraging how we could multiply our resources that are placed in God's hand. How we can see a commission that seemed impossible can become possible, and how we can find our way in God's mission. / Christian Spirituality, Curch History and Missiology / M. Th. (Missiology)