Development of Lay Leadership through Teleconferencing in the Early Bird Bible School

Problem As a pastor in local South Korean Adventist churches in the United States, I tried several times to train and nurture members, but there was not much fruit. I discovered that the activities of lay leaders in these churches were steadily declining. Although there are many causes, the most serious challenge is a lack of leadership development training for lay leaders. And then, when leadership training is provided, the program fails to promote an evangelistic passion and ultimately causes a deficit of training for future church leaders. Even when churches do provide the program, many Korean Adventists cannot attend the training session due to distance, lack of time, and/or apathy. Method This study used interviews to identify the factors that might influence the lay leadership in ministry. Some were personal calls and others group communication by teleconferencing. Some of the responses were observations from the organization of the Early Bird Bible School from 2008 to 2014. Library research, a theological analysis of lay leadership, a contextual analysis of the Early Bird Bible School and ministries of Korean Adventist Church in North America were pursued to design a leadership development strategy for lay leaders. Results The results of the data analysis showed that the number of applicants and lay leaders interested in the Early Bird Bible School increased steadily from 2008 to 2014. The results of the 2010 census showed that Korean-speaking Koreans living in North America are increasing even though immigrants from Korea are decreasing. It indicated a need for language training for lay leaders and a need to provide a leadership training program in the Korean language. The location of the Korean Adventist Churches in North American showed that they cannot easily cooperate with other churches unless they are in big cities. The distance creates time and financial barriers; however, communication is possible through teleconferencing as shown in the Early Bird Bible School. The limitations of geographic distance can be diminished through technology. Conclusions The results of the study of the Early Bird Bible School indicated that building lay leadership requires spiritual training based on regular Bible study, prayer, and ministry, as well as practical training based on the needs for the responsibility. Interviews with leaders indicated that there is a need for a mature leader and a system of accountability. A mature leader in this sense means someone who is consistent in word and deed, task-oriented, and searching for a spiritually rewarding experience. This study suggests that all churches need to be training centers for the development of lay leadership

An Inductive Study on How Business as Mission Entrepreneurs Decide to Start Businesses

Anecdotal evidence suggests that Businesses as Mission (BAM) entrepreneurs seem to have characteristics of both for-profit and social entrepreneurs. For-profit entrepreneurship literature has transitioned from focusing on who the entrepreneur is, to what they do as a function of their cognitive processes. Social entrepreneurship research areas have trended toward the formation of personality and motives of the socially-minded entrepreneur. Regardless of type, each entrepreneur must recognize opportunity, evaluate it, and then decide to take action or not. There were few peer-reviewed articles in the literature with regard to the study of BAM organizations or the entrepreneurs that start them. Since the BAM entrepreneur is a new entrepreneurial construct with attributes of both for-profit and social entrepreneurs plus an objective for spiritual growth among stakeholders, one might conclude that study of the BAM entrepreneur decision process could yield valuable insight. This research aimed to identify theory on how BAM entrepreneurs decide to go into business. To accomplish this, grounded theory research protocols were used. Theory building proceeded from expert interviews and the literature through constant comparative analysis. The results are documented in this manuscript in the form of a BAM Entrepreneur Infrastructure Model and entrepreneurial decision making that positions practitioners, educators, and supporters to identify, train, and maximize the capabilities of BAM entrepreneurs

Networked together: designing participatory research in on-line ethnography

Abstract. This book contains the conference proceedings of the third edition of Rethinking Educational Ethnography: Researching on-line communities and interactions Conference hold in Napoli from 6th to 7th of June 2013. In 2013, the third edition of the Conference has invited ethnographers in different fields of research (not only in education), and those involved in ethnographic investigations in diverse disciplines (anthropology, sociology, etc.) to present and discuss contributions on the challenges of participatory research design in digital ethnography

Can different applications of solution focused cognitive behavioural coaching enhance well-being?

Background: a series of studies evaluating different applications of solution focused cognitive behavioural coaching (SFCBC) were performed to explore the feasibility of methods, designs and the randomised research process. The aim of the main and last study was to explore if different applications SFCBC could increase psychological and subjective well-being in a work environment setting. Method: The SFCBC was delivered face to face, virtually by Skype and in the form of a computerised self-coaching program, all applications were based on the PRACTICE framework (Palmer, 2011). Virtual coaching solutions could provide cost effective ways to reach larger work populations and potentially lower the threshold for seeking further assistance with issues at work, issues that if not detected and handled, could lead to decreased well-being. Research regarding coaching has taken place primarily face to face, and there is a lack of studies on the effects of assisted and non-assisted, cognitive behavioural virtual coaching programs in the workplace. Design/procedure:A randomised controlled trial design was used, consisting of 86 working adults that were randomly allocated to either one of the three intervention groups or a waiting list control group. Comparisons were performed between intervention groups and the control group. The coaching program was used for 8-12 weeks, and online surveys were conducted at three time points, pre-coaching, at the end of the programme and three months after completion. Primary outcome measures were: psychological and subjective well-being and secondary outcomes investigated the coaching applications effects on goal attainment and perceived psychosocial risk/health factors. The results showed that the PRACTICE framework had a direct effect on subjective well-being (SWB) through the Skype application. Furthermore, that SFCBC had mediating effects on the participant’s perceptions of demands (Skype) at work. The study also gave information about which goals participants chose to work with (like role ambiguity) to increase their SWB at work, and solutions chosen, to increase, for example, job clarity through support seeking behaviour and development of cognitive behavioural aspects

COVID-19 triggering homecare professionals’ change of attitudes towards e-Welfare

During 2020, the COVID-19 crisis expanded the use of digital tools in public health and social care. The aim of this qualitative, single-case study was to scrutinize how homecare professionals experienced meaningfulness in their work in the midst of a crisis and with the utilization of the videophone in long-term homecare service provision. The empirical data consisted of 20 thematic interviews carried out among homecare professionals and their managers in the city of Tampere, Finland. The results indicated that the videophone can generate significance, self-realization and broader purposes among homecare professionals, thus providing meaningfulness for work in the midst of a crisis and continuous work-related changes. In addition, a crisis may support change in the meaningfulness of e-welfare in work-related tasks and aid in overcoming reluctance amongst public-sector social care (homecare) professionals towards an e-welfare initiative: the videophone (VideoVisit).Peer reviewe

A Phenomenological Study of Women Administrators’

This phenomenological qualitative research study investigated Mennonite women with experience leading Mennonite high schools across the United States and Canada during their first year serving in the role of principal. This study gives voice to 12 Mennonite women leaders who felt God’s “call” to lead. Women leaderencountered bias due to an androcentric culture. Despite the many struggles and limited view of women in leadership, the women built campuses andacademic programs, mentored leaders, helped to transform students, and shaped communities as pioneeringleaders in Mennonite schools. Feminist, organizational, and vocational theory provided several analytical lenses to interpret their experience. Feminist theory explained how women experienced and managed androcentric cultures in schools and communities. Bolman and Deal’s (2013) organizational theory (four frame model)explained how women’s leadership styles navigated authoritarian power and political structures, and became symbolic representation for a new style of leadership in Mennonite schools. Parker Palmer’s (1983/2010) vocational theory explained Mennonite women’s deep sense of being called by God, and how they learned to lead in androcentric, heirarchical church structured school communities. The findings illustrate the potential of faith-based women leaders to empower and build community. The women shaped communities found mentors, networked, and developed a new norm for women in their communities. Implications and recommendations included building continued awareness and education in schools and community churches by addressing adult gender biases within the culture as well as educating younger children in nonbiased early education programs

The use of information and communication technologies in family support across Europe: a narrative review

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the use of information and communication technology (ICT) to deliver parenting and mental health support services to families. This narrative review illustrates the diverse ways in which ICT is being used across Europe to provide family support to different populations. We distinguish between the use of ICT in professional-led and peer-led support and provide implementation examples from across Europe. We discuss the potential advantages and disadvantages of different ways of using ICT in family support and the main developments and challenges for the field more generally, guiding decision-making as to how to use ICT in family support, as well as critical reflections and future research on its merit

Mapping digital competences of modern languages students

During recent years, digital competence has become a key concept in the discussion of which skills and understanding people should have in the knowledge society. This article presents the results of a research project that set out to describe digital natives’ perceptions of their ICT competences. A mixed case study approach was used, applying a survey to collect data based on three proposed dimensions: instrumental, socio-communicative, and axiological. Among the main findings, it was possible to describe the way digital natives interact with ICT tools, and the tendencies in their use for social and communicative purposes.

The Voice, Spring/Summer 2015: Volume 60, Issue 3

Leading Off With the President: @DordtPresident Editor\u27s Notes: Transition News: Analyzing What\u27s in the Stuff Around Us; Come and Read What You Want; Faculty Bits; Campus Kudos; Getting It Straight From the Composer; Listening Makes a Difference in Nursing; Ribbon Cutting; Men\u27s Volleyball Eyes First Varsity Season; Seeing Solar Energy Use; Research Opens New Way to Look at Cancer Cells; Grad Ed Bucks the Trend; Standardized Testing, Help or Harm: A Faculty Reflection; Have Quilt, Will Travel; Students Lead Push for Sustainability Features: Dordt Takes Its Turn Hosting Concrete Canoe Competition; Ag Students Head to the Feed Lot; Nurturing Gracious Examiners of Culture; Looking for the Big Picture in Agriculture; Kornelis Song Wins Choral Music Prize; The Last One Standing was the Winner; Career Development Center Gives Grads New Tools for the Road; HireDefenders Goes Live; CACE; Putting Love Into Action; PLIA Destinations; Reflections on a Week of Serving Alumni: Milestones Mark the Way; Alumni Bits; Craig Friesema: So Much to Learn and See; Zwarts and Dordt; Perkins Pocket Prize; Obedience in the Little Things of Life; Class of 1965 Holds 50th Reunionhttps://digitalcollections.dordt.edu/dordt_voice/1134/thumbnail.jp