Professional Dissertations DMin

Date of Award

2025

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Ministry

College

Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary

Program

Doctor of Ministry DMin

First Advisor

Bruce L. Bauer

Second Advisor

Derson Lopes

Abstract

Problem

Although the number of Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) volunteers worldwide has increased dramatically, the Church continues to face challenges in engaging people, particularly young adults, in volunteer and mission projects on a global scale. While interest in volunteering is growing, especially in countries within the southern hemisphere, the percentage of participation remains disproportionately small in comparison to the global church membership. Given this disparity, there is a pressing need to research the impact of the volunteer experience on spiritual practices and discipline. Understanding how volunteering influences young adults’ spiritual growth is critical to developing strategies that can effectively engage more of them in mission-driven volunteer projects.

Method

This dissertation study was conducted in three distinct phases. First, a bibliometric literature review was performed, focusing on scholarly works related to volunteerism, followed by theological reflections on volunteerism in the Bible. This phase helped provide a foundational understanding of the subject and its relation to the SDA Church’s mission. -- Second, a quantitative survey was conducted to explore the Adventist volunteer profile. The survey examined key aspects such as motivation, missing skills, and factors influencing participation in volunteer projects. The sample consisted of participants within the South America Division of the SDA Church, allowing for a detailed understanding of the regional volunteer landscape.  -- Finally, the data collected from the survey were subjected to multivariate analysis, enabling the identification of patterns and relationships among the variables studied. This analysis provided insights into the key motivations and challenges faced by volunteers, as well as areas of potential improvement needed for future engagement strategies.

Results

Even though the outcome cannot be evaluated in such a short term, the empirical results of this study showed that ongoing volunteering played a significant role in strengthening the spiritual commitment of the participating SDA Church members. Statistical analysis revealed that dedicating time to volunteering was positively related to the practice of Bible study and engagement in ministry activities, corroborating the idea that ongoing involvement can encourage members to seek a greater understanding of Adventist beliefs and become more actively involved in the mission of the church.

Conclusions

To execute its mandate, the Adventist Volunteer Service must address the problem of missional effectiveness. Leadership training that starts with the topics of mission and contextualization is a good beginning point to be developed in a full-scale program shaping the missional and strategic vision of leaders.

Subject Area

Voluntarism--Religious aspects--Seventh-day Adventists; Spirituality; Seventh-day Adventists

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