Pentecostal Catechism: Observing the Effectiveness of Short-Term Missions Trips to Initiate Spiritual Growth in the Lives of Teenagers
[Thesis]
Cameron, David Mark
Castleberry, Joe
Assemblies of God Theological Seminary
2020
215 p.
D.Min.
Assemblies of God Theological Seminary
2020
Churches in the United States invest a substantial amount of time, effort, and money into short-term missions trips. Detractors of these trips state that these trips do not provide a lasting impact in the communities they visit. On the other hand, supporters of such trips often posit that participants experience a positive change as a result of the missions trip. This study sought to confirm or negate the existence of change in upper-middle class high school students who participated in a short-term missions trip. This study partnered with Cedar Park Christian School, a ministry of Cedar Park Assembly of God, as they launched a missions week for high school students. The primary model used to compare change in participants was Cheryl Bridges Johns' Pentecostal catechism in conjunction with Paulo Freire's conscientization through praxis and Juan Luis Segundo's hermeneutical circle. Each participant received a one-week Devotional Booklet to encourage biblical reflection in the area of personal spiritual growth and to present scriptural instructions regarding caring for the poor. The Devotional Booklet incorporated a Pre- and Post-trip Assessment whereby to ascertain the participants' level of change as a result of participating in the missions trip. The qualitative and quantitative data both indicated the following: (1) participants experience a deepening faith and commitment to the Lord, (2) participants acquired a greater awareness of the social situations in the locations they visited; and (3) participants exhibited an increase in the biblically-based desire to provide help to people in poverty.