Assisting CEAM/AMIDE Seminary Students in Identifying Their Vocational Calling for Cross-Cultural Missions in Brasília, Brazil and Beyond

Abstract

This research portfolio is about my leadership and vocational development. Because I had difficulty understanding my vocation and God’s will for my ministry career, I was looking for ways to help others with similar challenges. Tyndale's Doctor of Ministry (DMin) program enabled my personal development and offered the means to conduct research to investigate vocational challenges and seek solutions. My research project was designed to help Center for Advanced Studies in Missions (CEAM) students become more confident in their calling. The methodological approach of this study was based on the principles of Participatory Action Research (PAR), which is designed to promote organizational changes that benefit the research participants. The participants contributed to the study’s design, helped formulate the research questions, participated in the collective construction of knowledge, and served as the main actors in the analysis and application of what we discovered. The findings showed that participants became more vocationally confident during the study and developed a more remarkable ability to discern God's voice internally and through feedback received by the group. My participation in this project allowed me to complete a cycle of inner change, moving from a more individualistic vision to a collectivist vision of ministry and leadership. These changes allowed me to understand the value of living and serving as part of the body of Christ.