Christian Education Journal: Research on Educational Ministry

The history of Baptists describes their changing views of conversion and baptism of children. This qualitative research was designed to explore how 22 children, their parents/guardians, pastors, and other leaders from 14 Southern Baptist churches describe the phenomenon of conversion and baptism in the lives of the boys and girls. The research revealed that leaders in the faith community play a significant role in conversion, language of the faith can assist and distract from understanding, and children are influenced by the need to be included or by concern related to exclusion.

Evaluation is a powerful tool for improvement yet is often perceived as simply a rearview mirror into the past. A two-tier qualitative method was used to uncover the practice and understanding of evaluation among youth pastors in Illinois. Reliance on indicators, such as stories and observation, tended to reinforce assumptions in practice. Evaluation was pervasive, powerfully guided perception, and primarily implicit.

This article is designed to explore the use of rote learning as a viable solution as an educational method. Argued herein, it is a viable method of teaching and learning if it is used within the framework of catechism, a method of teaching using the question-and-answer format. Important considerations such as the definition of rote learning, the benefits and limitations of rote learning, and the use of catechism in the home and church as a means to lead to meaningful learning are addressed. The catechism is a useful tool for presenting the gospel and passing along the faith once for all delivered to the saints to the next generation.

Transformational learning theory describes the learning process that leads to deep change in adults. Transformational learning research has been conducted and described from within the discipline of adult education (Loder, 1981; Loder & Fowler, 1981; Mezirow, 1991; Taylor, 2000). The purpose of this research is to describe transformational learning from the perspective of practical theology, based on pastors’ observations of transformational learning in their ministries. With contextualized knowledge, ministry leaders can more readily foster transformational learning through ministry practices, including teaching, preaching, and counseling.

Perception and experience of transformative learning and faculty authenticity among Christian education professors in North America were explored in this qualitative research. Through convenient purposeful sampling, 19 professors from North American Professors of Christian Education were recruited for this study and, ultimately, 16 professors participated in the whole research process. The findings from the research study consist of Christian professors’ experience and perception of transformative learning and faculty authenticity, and through the qualitative research analysis three components to “pedagogy of authenticity” were derived, namely (a) integrity; (b) facilitating disorientation; and (c) relational teaching.

How can we develop a biblical framework for understanding transformational education? The New Testament provides some keys for doing so. In this article, we look at the verb metamorpho through its uses by the New Testament authors in both the Gospels and in the Epistles. God provides an image and an invitation to his people to be transformed when Jesus Christ is transfigured before Peter, James, and John. Why was Christ transfigured, and how is it significant for transformational education today? How then can the apostles help us understand what this transformation looks like in our lives and the educational ministry of the church?

Teaching that cultivates Christian transformation requires conversation, not just as a small component in the teaching process, but conversation as the overarching pedagogical framework and catalyzing force of transformational learning. This article aims to demonstrate the necessity of conversational teaching by discussing the meaning and magnitude of conversation as a force for learning and change; the progressive recognition of conversational epistemology in history; and how conversational teaching maximizes the interdependence of conversation and cognition as well as the social nature of knowing in relationship with God and all other aspects of life and faith. Reflections on life-changing encounters with Christ illustrate the transformational power, meta-components, and specific practices of teaching via conversation.

In an age of overwhelming quantities of information, an increasing superficiality of understanding, and an increasing emphasis on “devices,” Christian educators can invite learners into transformational learning through focal contemplative practices that help learners sharpen their attention and deepen their experience. Participation in focal practices invites the emergence of contemplation and helps cultivate a readiness to receive the gift of contemplation. This essay explores briefly the relationship between focal practice and contemplation. It then considers three particular practices that can support and encourage contemplative knowing across a range of teaching/learning contexts: contemplative looking, contemplative reading, and contemplative play.

The current intellectual and social interest in neuroscience invites Christian educators to engage this complex and sometimes disparate field for the sake of transformative teaching and learning. Recognizing that neuroscientists differ over the nature of transformation—as educators differ on a definition of transformative learning—should not detract from neuroscience's contribution to transformative teaching within Christian education. This article contributes to the conversation by charting a “neurological” approach to resources for transformative teaching and learning. The article maps the field of transformative learning, provides neuroscience insights that support transformative teaching through cognitive, emotional and social domains of neuroscience, and discusses approaches to neuroscience that explain the very processes of transformation within Christian education.

This article explores Transformative Learning Theory, primarily as asserted by Jack Mezirow, and highlights its relevance for the field of Christian education. The theory's core elements of experience, critical reflection, corporate discourse, authentic relationships, and change identify significant building blocks of effective adult discipleship.

Story has been shown in Christian education scholarship to be an effective pedagogical tool. However, story has become even more vital to Christian education in the postmodern world. This article explores how narrative pedagogy, a pedagogical approach that seeks to transform personal narratives with the narrative of the Christian faith, can prove to be an effective pedagogical approach that forms identities, strengthens communities, and transforms congregations. The article will also examine practical ways teachers can use narrative pedagogy in the church's educational ministries and encourage scholars and practitioners to explore the possibilities of narrative pedagogy in Christian education.

In this section 15 books are reviewed, presented in the following general order: children/family ministry, youth ministry, adult ministry, foundations, teaching-learning process, spirituality/spiritual formation, and leadership/administration—although reviews may not appear for each area. A list of each area and responsible editors appears after the last review in this section. We invite readers to consider reviewing a book for CEJ. Guidelines are available in downloadable documents at www.biola.edu/cej under Publications Policy on the drop down menu.