Date of Award

3-14-2025

Document Type

Project Portfolio

Degree Name

Doctor of Ministry (DMin)

Department

Seminary

First Advisor

Linda Sommerville, DMin

Second Advisor

Jason Wellman, DMin

Third Advisor

Ken Van Vliet, DMin

Abstract

NPO Statement

Emerging adults in ministry without a deepening awareness of being God’s beloved may struggle to flourish and lead in their given contexts.

Key Benefits

Being the Beloved: Cultivating a Head to Heart Journey of Identity for Emerging Adults in Leadership and Ministry is a curriculum created to ground emerging adults in the love of God as they transition into adulthood and emerge as the next generation of Church leaders. Developmental psychology labels emerging adulthood as a time of significant change, instability and transition, while having to navigate key life decisions regarding education, career, and relationships. Identity formation is the hallmark of this developmental stage as life narratives emerge in cognitive development, often without the comfort and guidance of known support systems. The timing of this transitional period makes it an ideal occasion for emerging adults to root their identity in a deep relational knowledge that they are God’s beloved.

Ministry Context

My ministry context is stewarding a non-profit Christian youth camp ministry, specifically leading, developing, and mentoring the young adult staff.

Project Description

The project is a workbook curriculum designed for emerging adults to explore and deepen their understanding of themselves as deeply loved by God. Through the lens of Scripture, theology, and social sciences, the curriculum addresses four core identity questions: Who is God? Who am I? Where do I belong? What’s my purpose? Five guiding ideas shape the content: Trinitarian theology, the Incarnation of Christ, narrative development, attachment theory, and the integration of explicit and implicit ways of knowing. Jesus Christ, the Beloved Son whose life and ministry reflected the love relationship between Father and Son, is the center of the curriculum as both the model and means. A supplemental website and podcast are future components intended to enrich the formative experience.

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