after years of pursuing this theology of ministry, its deficiencies have become apparent. the emphasis on information and facts from scripture does not seem to be producing commensurate levels of spiritual maturity and transformation. leaders and members are still captive to self, sin, and society. conformity to the image of christ is still elusive. therefore, leaders of campus churches affiliated with churches of christ in ghana became aware of this spiritual stagnation experienced by members of the church, we resorted to retreats as viable alternatives to encourage pursuit of spiritual formation and transformation. this has been going on for more than a decade.

this study evaluates these retreats as spiritually formative experiences for the participants who are mostly emerging adult christians. the study also seeks to advocate a review of theological vision and telos of ministry. almost all participants in the retreat discussed in this study indicated that they have experienced some positive spiritual shifts related to their retreat experiences. they described the retreats as “educative and transformative.”

this project explores a possible way to help the exile, as well as teaching the exile how to help each other, to move in transformative healing. the following is the question that this project explores regarding the exile moving into transformative healing: is it possible that spiritual direction techniques, aided by spiritual formation modules (spiritual disciplines) and community fellowship, assist with transformational healing within the incarcerated exile community? the following is the developmental flow of this project. chapter 1 is a discussion on the purpose of this project and problematics that gave rise to the project and that the project had to overcome. chapter 2 is a discussion on the correlation between jeremiah 29 and incarcerated landscape that the incarcerated exile dwells. chapter 3 is a literary review and theological discussion on the spiritual direction methodology (techniques) i used in this project with those living in exile. chapter 4 outlines the methodology for teaching spiritual direction methodology (techniques) to those living in incarcerated exile. the final chapter discusses the outcome that derived from this project, the outcomes that currently continue as development projects, and the outcomes that are laying the foundation for future projects.

after a literature review outlining the “neighborhood pneumatology” that undergirds the core convictions outlined above, this project reports on a series of interviews conducted with parkside’s members and neighbors. participants responded to four questions, each of which solicited stories about god’s presence and activity in the neighborhood in which the church is located. three central themes are identified from these interviews, each of which affirms the work of the holy spirit in and with parkside’s neighborhood. the final section of the project highlights the implications of these findings for parkside’s future in the neighborhood, as well as for any other congregation seeking to share in god’s life in the particularity of their place.

chapter one serves as an introduction to the work and provides context of the researcher. chapter two will theologically reflect on the ministry of reconciliation by considering its relationship to justice and community. chapter three will further this reflection by exploring the ubiquitous effect of racialization on the american cultural landscape and on christian efforts of reconciliation. chapter four offers an explanation of the study of the experiences of black christians in predominantly white churches while chapter five will present the interview findings. the sixth and final chapter will analyze the findings and fuse them with theological and formational reflection to elucidate the intersecting meanings of these phenomena.

ripley's believe it or not is a popular franchise that features a collection of unusual, strange, and incredible stories from around the world. these stories can range from oddities of nature, to extraordinary human feats, to bizarre cultural practices, to historical curiosities. what makes these stories "unbelievable" is that they often defy our expectations of what is normal or possible. for example, a story might feature a person with extraordinary talent or skill, such as the ability to hold their breath underwater for an unusually long time. another story might describe an unusual animal or plant with a unique adaptation or behavior. however, another story might recount a historical event or cultural practice that seems strange or shocking by contemporary standards.

while some of the stories presented in ripley's believe it or not may be true, others may be based on legend, folklore, or exaggeration. nevertheless, the appeal of the franchise lies in its ability to capture the imagination and inspire a sense of wonder and curiosity. by showcasing the unusual and unexpected, ripley's believe it or not invites us to broaden our v perspectives and challenge our assumptions about what is possible or normal. the parallelism here is between the incredible, unusual stories ripley is known for and the incredible stories that exist at the intersection of religion and race.

within the pronunciation of this study, "reconciling race and religion" is language that suggests a need to bring together or find common ground between two essential aspects of identity; race and religion. the word "reconciling" implies a process of resolving differences or conflicts, while the use of "race" and "religion" highlights the significance of these factors in shaping personal and collective identity. the subtitle "the role of the marketplace ministry" narrows the focus to the intersectionality of race and religion in a specific context, namely the marketplace. this suggests that the study will explore how race and religion intersect and influence each other in economic or business settings, and how this may impact individual experiences and outcomes. this parallelism creates a sense of intrigue and curiosity, inviting readers to explore the complex and sometimes enigmatic connections between religion and race and marketplace. this project overviews the complex issues of race, religion, and cultural engagement within the african american believer, synthesizes the biblical foundations for reconciliation, and offers a framework for how marketplace ministry can bridge the gap between the church and marketplace.

reconciling race and religion for african americans is an opportunity to address the unique historical and systemic injustices that have impacted their experiences of race and religion in america. it creates space and opportunity to acknowledge and honor the complexity and diversity of african american religious traditions and to recognize the role that these traditions have played in promoting social justice and resistance to oppression while working towards building bridges and creating a more unified community. through a series of vi interviews, this project investigates the inner and external turmoil african american believers experience in church and culture. it uncovers the internal struggles that believers frequently face and validates how their cultural experiences in the marketplace can shape their spiritual path. most significantly, it offers particular ways in which the marketplace can participate in reconciling issues of race and religion within the african american church context.

members of woodland west were invited to answer seven open-ended questions in an interactive congregational experience called a day of discovery, hope and renewal. the collective responses were reviewed and analyzed by six members of the congregation—three staff members and three regular members—in a collaborative effort to discern, understand, and explain the various beliefs and attitudes expressed by the members.

this dissertation captures and examines all nations worship assembly memphis’ participation in three consecutive testimony services and draws upon the interpretive responses of the participants of various focus groups related to this project using phenomenology as a research philosophy. the participants in this research conveyed their enjoyment and hoped to make testimony a regular part of the worship service. this hope, however, was not realized. the research strategy for this project, which is thematic analysis, unexpectedly revealed the presence of shame induced perfectionism, which serves as a barrier to authentic testimony and genuine missional community and ultimately underpinned the reason testimony would not continue in this congregation. i have determined, through this research, that testimony is a v necessary practice because it trains our heart to grow in the discipline of dialogical theology. testimony is a tool that can curate the mutual community, relationality and love that is represented in the triune god.

the literature review looks at cultural, philosophical, theological, and biblical influences in the conversation of bodily inclusion in spiritual formation. alongside this, the stories and responses of twenty people who participated in an embodied spiritual formation retreat and answered a set of eleven questions three separate times help flesh out the particular ways embodied practices influence lives of faith. as a result, one overarching narrative came to the surface and three themes within it. this lead into the final chapter that explores theological and spiritual implications for a variety of ministry contexts.

through various practices of listening, the project was designed to stimulate the congregation to confront the troubling relationship between greed and racism. each sunday for seven weeks, the congregation practiced dwelling in the word with luke 14. during the same timeframe, three black leaders from the community hosted conversations called listening opportunities. data was collected through field notes, three sets of post-listening opportunity surveys, and two focus group interviews of seven participants at the end of the seven weeks. after coding and comparing the data from all responses, eight major themes were identified and are presented in chapter five. the final chapter concludes by identifying areas of strength and growth for the congregation while considering possible next steps.

this doctor of ministry project was created in an effort to force acknowledgement, raise awareness, and foster advocacy for ministers from church elderships. the qualitative research method of narrative inquiry was used in this project to interview eleven ministers brave enough to share how burnout has impacted their personal and professional lives. by applying the commonalities and differences from their answers several threads emerged that were used to construct a new narrative with a collective voice. it is the hope of this project that a better partnership can be formed amongst the parties above to create a robust environment of understanding, communication, and support.

the general literature review provides information on virtual and in-person experiences in the virtual classroom and online dating, along with considerations of anthropological and psychological dimensions of human existence. the literature validated how in-person interactions are typically more valuable than solely virtual interactions. the biblical-theological literature review provided explanations of incarnation, ecclesia, and eschatology. god’s choice to incarnate as a means of salvation, the communal being and actions of the acts church, and the eschatological hope of redeemed bodies all point to the value and divine intent of embodiment. other modes that reach others to the furthest extent possible can come alongside embodied activity.

to assess the potential change in awareness of in-person benefits, a survey was given to west harpeth attendees before and after a six-week bible study that allowed for theological reflection on the value of in-person corporate church gatherings. theological reflection did not raise the majority of participants’ awareness of the value of in-person engagements, so theological and ecclesiological implications were highlighted as a means for west harpeth to effectively move forward and minimize losses associated with non-ideal modes of engagement.

several beneficial findings emerged as a result of this project model. first, the families’ shared experiences led to a shared language. the movement from experience to dialogue to formation proved to be a powerful tool for families as they seek to be formed by the holy spirit. the project model also created space for families to practice the shema together. the spiritual practices shared by families throughout the series helped them envision a pathway to living in their calling as the people of god. in addition, the shared, spiritual practices played a crucial role in creating community among all the participating families. finally, while time proved to be the biggest threat in the spiritual formation among the families who participated in the project, the culture of accountability created through this project can assist in generating new spiritual rhythms and pathways that can combat this threat to formation. overall, this project proved to be effective in impacting the spiritual formation of participating families.

by integrating biblical and theological reasons for caring for the environment, historical and traditional practices of simplicity, and the unique contextual challenges of emerging adulthood, this project reveals the spiritual depth of practices that are oriented toward caring for god’s creation. not only are green spiritual practices of simplicity an opportunity to worship the creator, they are also one way to experience wholeness within ourselves, love our neighbor, speak to the pressing concerns of young people, and embody the good news of jesus to all creation