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Exploring How Spiritual Formation Is Practiced by Chinese Christian Young Adults in Mainland China a Project Report Submitted

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Exploring How Spiritual Formation Is Practiced by Chinese Christian Young Adults in Mainland China a Project Report Submitted EXPLORING HOW SPIRITUAL FORMATION IS PRACTICED BY CHINESE CHRISTIAN YOUNG ADULTS IN MAINLAND CHINA A PROJECT REPORT SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE DOCTOR OF MINISTRY BY XIANDE HONG WINEBRENNER THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY FINDLAY, OHIO AUGUST 2018 Copyright @ 2018 by Xiande Hong All rights reserved. EXPLORING HOW SPIRITUAL FORMATION IS PRACTICED BY CHINESE CHRISTIAN YOUNG ADULT IN MAINLAND CHINA A PROJECT REPORT SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE RESUIRMEMENTS FOR THE DEGREE DOCTOR OF MINISTRY BY XIANDE HONG APPROVED BY Chris A. Kiesling 3-27-18 Project Mentor Date Lance Finley 2-13-18 External Reader Date James Davison 2-13-18 Writing Stylist Date M. John Nissley 5-4-18 Doctor of Ministry Director Date WINEBRENNER THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY FINDLAY, OHIO AUGUST 2018 TABLE OF CONTENTS FIGURES ……………………...…….….………….…………………….……...……. viii TABLES ……………………………….………….…….…………………………….... ix ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ..……………...……..……….….………………................. xi ABSTRACT …………………………...……………………….…………………...…. xii CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION TO THE PROJECT ………...………….…...….... 1 Context of the Problem ……….……………………………….…………………. 2 Statement of the Problem ………………………………………………………. 10 Purpose of the Study …………………………………………………………… 13 Research Methodology to Study of the Problem …………………………….… 13 Research Questions to Guide the Research Project ……………………………. 13 Significance of the Research Project …………………………………………… 14 Assumptions/Limitations in the Research Project ……………………………… 15 Definitions of Terms ………………………………………………………….… 16 Outline of the Research Project ...………………………………………………. 16 CHAPTER TWO: BIBLICAL AND THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS ……...……. 18 Introduction ...……….……………………………….………………………… 18 Brief History of Spiritual Formation ….…….……………......……………...… 18 Theological Foundation …………..….……………………….…….……….…. 25 Spiritual Formation with the Image of God …………….………...…………… 31 iv Sanctification …….………………….…….….………………………….……. 36 Spiritual Growth Experience in China ….………………..…………….……… 40 Biblical Foundation ………………………...……………………………….… 43 Meditation …….………….…….………………….……………………... 45 Prayer ………….…….….…………….….………………………………. 47 Bible Reading ……….….………….….……………………….…………. 48 Fasting ………………….….….………….….…………………………… 51 Worship ………………….…...………….………………….……………. 53 Community ……...……….…………………………………………….… 55 Teaching ……...…………….…………………………………….……… 56 Fellowship …...…………….…………………………….………………. 57 Summary ……………………………………….………………………………. 59 CHAPTER THREE: LITERATURE REVIEW ……………….………………….…… 61 Introduction ………………………………....………….……………………… 61 The Context of the Chinese Culture …………….…….…………………….…. 61 Traditional Philosophy of China …………………………………………. 63 The Study of the History of Philosophy ……………...….………………. 65 Major Schools of Thought ………………………………………………. 66 Confucianism …………………………….………………………… 66 Buddhism ………………….…………………….…………………. 68 Taoism ………………………………………………………...…… 70 Socialization Processes …………..…………………………………………..… 72 Introduction …….………………………………………………………... 72 v Chinese Young Adults’ Social Value ……………….…………………… 73 Impact of Only Child ……………………………….……………………. 78 Education …………………………………………………………...……. 82 Employment …………………………………….……………...………… 84 Developmental Theories Related to Spiritual Formation ………........................ 87 Social Learning Theory ……………………………………….…………. 88 Psychosocial Development Theory …………………………………….... 89 Faith Developmental Theory …………………………………………...... 91 Summary ………………………………………………………………………. 94 CHAPTER FOUR: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND PROCEDURES …….…... 96 Introduction and Purpose .……………………………………………………… 96 Research Questions ……..….………………………………….………………. 96 Population and Participants ……………………………………………………. 97 Design of the Study ……………………………………………………....……. 98 Instrumentation …………….………………………………………...………… 99 Data Collection ………….…………………………………………….……… 101 CHAPTER FIVE: RESULTS AND ANALYSIS OF DATA ………………………... 105 Participants ………………………………………………………....………… 105 The Demographic Characteristics of the Participants ………………...… 106 Exploring Spiritual Maturity of Participants …………………………………. 114 Spiritual Formation Practice ……………….…………………………………. 119 Church Life …………………………….…………………………………...… 127 Interviews …………………………………………………….………………. 131 vi Interview Question One ……………………………………………...… 131 Interview Question Two ………………………………………………...134 Interview Question Three ………………………....………………….... 136 Interview Question Four ……………………………….……….……….137 Interview Question Five ……………………………….…….…………. 138 Summary of Major Findings …………………………………………….…… 138 CHAPTER SIX: SUMMARY, FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS ……………………………………………………………... 140 Summary ………………….....……………………………………………….. 140 Biblical and Theological Foundations …………………………………. 142 Literature Review ……………………………………...………………. 143 The Research …………………………………………………………… 145 Findings ………………………………………………………...…………… 145 Conclusions …………………………………………………………………. 154 Recommendations …………………………………………………………... 157 APPENDIX A: PARTICIPANT CONSENT FORM ………………………………… 162 APPENDIX B: SPIRITUAL FORMATION ASSESSMENT SURVEY ……………. 167 APPENDIX C: FOCUS GROUP INTERVIEW QUESTIONS ………………..…….. 172 WORKS CITED ………………………………………………………………..…….. 175 WORKS CONSULTED ………………………………………...………………….… 183 vii FIGURES 2.1 The Process of Forming Christlikeness ….………...………………………………. 27 2.2 Order of Salvation …………………….……………………………………………. 39 5.1 Age Group Distribution According to Percentage …...…………………………… 107 5.2 Education of Participants …………….…………………………………………… 109 5.3 Education Frequency of Male Participants ……………………………………….. 110 5.4 Education Frequency of Female Participants …………………………………….. 110 5.5 Educational Level of Participants ……………………………………………….…111 viii TABLES 3.1 Structure of Children’s Families, By Child’s Sex and Migrant Status, 2010 ……… 85 5.1 Age Distribution of Participants ……………………………………….…………. 106 5.2 Gender Distributions of Participants …………………………………..………….. 108 5.3 Marriage Status of Participants ………………………………………………….... 112 5.4 How Long Have You Been a Christian? ..………………………………………... 113 5.5 Survey Question #1 ………………………………………………………………. 114 5.6 Survey Question #2 ………………………………………………………………. 115 5.7 Survey Question #3 ………………………………………………………………. 115 5.8 Survey Question #4 ………………………………………………………………. 116 5.9 Survey Question #5 ………………………………………………………………. 116 5.10 Survey Question #6 ………..……………………………………………………. 117 5.11 Survey Question #7 …………..…………………………………………………. 117 5.12 Survey Question #8 …………..…………………………………………………. 118 5.13 Survey Question #9 …………..…………………………………………………. 118 5.14 Survey Question #10 …………..…..……………………………………………. 119 5.15 Survey Question #11 …………..…..……………………………………………. 120 5.16 Survey Question #12 …………..…..……………………………………………. 121 5.17 Survey Question #13 …………..…..……………………………………………. 122 5.18 Survey Question #14 …………..…..……………………………………………. 122 ix 5.19 Survey Question #15 …………..…..……………………………………………. 123 5.20 Survey Question #16 …………..…..……………………………………………. 123 5.21 Survey Question #17 …………..…..……………………………………………. 124 5.22 Survey Question #18 …………..…..……………………………………………. 125 5.23 Survey Question #19 …………..…..……………………………………………. 126 5.24 Survey Question #20 …………..…..……………………………………………. 126 5.25 Survey Question #21 …………..…..……………………………………………. 127 5.26 Survey Question #22 …………..…..……………………………………………. 128 5.27 Survey Question #23 …………..…..……………………………………………. 128 5.28 Survey Question #24 …………..…..……………………………………………. 129 5.29 Survey Question #25 …………..…..……………………………………………. 130 x ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First, and most of all, I would like to thank God Almighty, for giving me strength and ability to finish the process of this research. I would like to thank my beloved and supportive wife, Yingzi Piao for her trust and patience at all time. I could not have done this without you. I would like to thank my lovable children, Yu (Alex) Hong and Jun Hong who served as my inspiration in the journey of this research. I would like to thank my parents and sister for their unceasing encouragement and support. I would like to thank my research team member, Dr. Chris Kiesling, Dr. Jim Davison, and Pastor Lance Finley for their valuable suggestions and guidance. I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to the faculty in WTS and I would like to give special thanks to Dr. John Nissley. Last of all, I would like to thank everyone else who helped contribute to this project. xi ABSTRACT With the rapid Christian population growth in China, Chinese church leaders should consider about congregations’ spirituality and there is an urgent need to develop more and more Christ-like leaders from young adults. In the past years, most of the Chinese churches focused on attending worship services and evangelizing people, and they did not know how to help congregations to live spiritual life especially young adults. The purpose of this study was to explore how spiritual formation is practiced by Chinese Christian young adults at three selected Christian churches. This study adopted a mixed method, explanatory design to discern the spiritual maturity of Chinese Christian young adults. The survey and the semi-structured interview protocol were used to collect data in this research. One hundred fifty young adults from three selected Christian churches registered to attend the research and on hundred twenty-nine showed up. Nine new insights and discoveries were found out from the research and the information led to three recommendations to Chinese church leaders, Chinese Christian young adults, and Chinese churches. xii CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION TO THE PROJECT The researcher was raised in a Chinese Christian home and accepted Jesus into his heart at
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