Faith-based instructional interventions: the relationship of the short-term mission trip with the spiritual-formation disciplines of mainline Protestant Christian traditions

This study examined the relationship between the short-term mission trip experience and participation in spiritual-formation disciplines for individuals identifying with mainline protestant Christian traditions. The study was causal comparative and primarily concerned with comparing the independent variable of a short-term mission trip experience with several dependent variables. These variables included participation in prayer, service, worship, study, giving, and witness related disciplines as well as the integration of faith into everyday life. The primary research question asked whether there was a significant relationship between a short-term mission trip experience and self-reported participation in Christian spiritual-formation disciplines. Participants included individuals ranging in ages from 13 through 24, who identified as being engaged with either the Baptist, Methodist, or Presbyterian traditions. Participants were part of the National Study of Youth and Religion (NSYR) and were surveyed three distinct times over a six-year period. Due to the longitudinal nature of the NSYR, it was possible to identify a short-term mission trip as a treatment. This treatment allowed for the comparison of survey responses, both before and after a responder reported participating in a short-term mission trip experience. It was also possible to compare responses between peer groups: those who reported mission experience and those who did not. After analyzing survey responses for seven distinct comparison groups across three survey waves, the study showed little to no evidence of a significant difference in the levels of participation in spiritual-formation disciplines following engagement in a short-term mission trip experience. Results did demonstrate a theme of declined participation in spiritual disciplines for individuals who did not participate in a short-term mission trip experience. Results also suggested differences in participation levels for those experiencing a short-term mission versus those who did not, during the timeframes before and after the experience. However, on the whole, for individuals reporting a short-term mission trip experience, participation levels neither increased nor decreased following the experience. The results of this study suggest a continued need for the research based conversation concerning the short-term mission trip, including its value as an instructional intervention for spiritual-formation.

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Author dc:creator

• McCord, Jeff D.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Crawford, Elizabeth K.
• Hinsdale, Bernard; Tucker, James A.; Rausch, David W.
• College of Health, Education, and Professional Studies

• Short-term missions
• Spiritual formation

Licence

• https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en

Language dc:language

English, eng

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholar.utc.edu/theses/498

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholar.utc.edu:theses-1645