The Creation and Implementation of a Spiritual Mentoring Program for Deployed Sailors and Marines on Board the USS Oak Hill
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Andrews University Digital Commons @ Andrews University Dissertation Projects DMin Graduate Research 2004 The Creation and Implementation of A Spiritual Mentoring Program for Deployed Sailors and Marines on Board the USS Oak Hill Santiago Rodriguez Andrews University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dmin Part of the Practical Theology Commons Recommended Citation Rodriguez, Santiago, "The Creation and Implementation of A Spiritual Mentoring Program for Deployed Sailors and Marines on Board the USS Oak Hill" (2004). Dissertation Projects DMin. 569. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dmin/569 This Project Report is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Research at Digital Commons @ Andrews University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertation Projects DMin by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Andrews University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ABSTRACT THE CREATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A SPIRITUAL MENTORING PROGRAM FOR DEPLOYED SAILORS AND MARINES ON BOARD THE USS OAK HILL by Santiago Rodriguez Adviser: Alfonso Valenzuela ABSTRACT OF GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH Dissertation Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary Title: THE CREATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A SPIRITUAL MENTORING PROGRAM FOR DEPLOYED SAILORS AND MARINES ON BOARD THE USS OAK HILL Name of researcher: Santiago Rodriguez Name and degrees of faculty adviser: Alfonso Valenzuela, Ph.D., D.Min. Date completed: December 2003 Purpose The purpose of this dissertation was to create, implement, and evaluate a Mentoring for Spirituality program for deployed sailors and marines on board the amphibious warship USS Oak Hill. This program endeavors to help military personnel grow in their relationship with God and, thus, help them overcome many of the emotional and behavioral problems they experience being away from home. Problem The spiritual lives of many United States Navy/Marine personnel under my chaplaincy direction are affected by long periods away from home. While away from their families and friends, many young sailors and marines often run the risk of being influenced by unscrupulous buddies that may lead to military discipline or poor long- range life choices like drinking, adultery, sexual immorality, divorce, gambling, etc. Also, they also are at risk of experiencing a wide variety of behavioral and emotional problems—depression, loneliness, anxiety, committing rape or physical violence towards a shipmate. These military personnel did not have a meaningful avenue to assist them in coping with these challenges. Method The project examined the biblical principles of spiritual mentoring and how it positively influenced some of the Bible’s main characters. The project also evaluated some of our nation’s leading thinkers on mentoring and how their current views on mentoring added value to our seminar. The Mentoring for Spirituality program has two components. First, the participants and I met four times a week as a group to study a spiritual lesson. Second, I scheduled a two-week rotation plan to personally meet with each individual for mentoring purposes. Studying the nightly lessons together provided the common ground by which my relationship with the proteges would deepen as we met one on one. Results This mentoring program personally blessed me because of the time I spent studying God’s Word and imparting the rich lesson material that paved the way for God to penetrate the minds of the proteges. The long-lasting relationships that I have with many of the proteges will always give me great joy. The project outcome surpassed my expectations and its success gave me renewed energy and satisfaction. Spiritual mentoring will continue to be a priority in my ministry and has reinforced how I interpret the intricacies of spiritual growth and sanctification. As an outcome of this seminar, most of the proteges adopted a more purposeful Christian lifestyle that included a strong commitment to daily studying and applying God’s Word, a willingness to become active in a local church body, meditation and reflection on positive and holy things, and, finally, a plan of action to avert or discourage temptations. Even though evangelism was not the project’s planned purpose, I was pleasantly surprised that twelve of the thirty-two proteges decided to become Seventh-day Adventists. Conclusion I am hoping that the Navy chaplains in the Fleet or local church pastors can use the principles and methodology of this mentoring project. Since my approach to spirituality is patently a Seventh-day Adventist view of sanctification, the curriculum content of this project needs to be adapted so as to reflect the specific faith background of other would-be mentors. This will help them meet the needs of general Protestant and Catholic participants. Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary THE CREATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A SPIRITUAL MENTORING PROGRAM FOR DEPLOYED SAILORS AND MARINES ON BOARD THE USS OAK HILL A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Ministry by Santiago Rodriguez February 2004 THE CREATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A SPIRITUAL MENTORING PROGRAM FOR DEPLOYED SAILORS AND MARINES ON BOARD THE USS OAK HILL A dissertation presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Ministry by Santiago Rodriguez APPROVAL BY THE COMMITTEE: Alfonso Valenzuela J^mes North April Jfsd QO*/ Skipped Date approved TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION................................................................................ 1 The Current Need for Mentors ................................................... 1 A Personal Appeal for Mentoring................................................ 2 Purpose of the Project........................................................ 5 Justification of the Project............................................................ 5 Description of the Project............................................................. 5 Limitations of the Project ............................................................ 6 Delimitation of the Project........................................................... 6 2. THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATION OF MENTORING....................... 7 An Etymological and Theological Study of Mentoring ............. 7 Master, Lord, Rabbi, Teacher, Disciple ............................... 7 Master and Lord................................................................... 7 Rabbi................................................................................... 9 Teacher................................................................................ 10 Disciple................................................................................ 12 Mentor and Mentoring................................................................. 14 Protege and Apprentice............................................................... 17 Imitation...................................................................................... 19 The Purpose of Spiritual Mentoring............................................ 21 Mentoring Meets a Basic Human Need of Feeling Valued. 22 Mentoring to Increase Spirituality ....................................... 25 Biblical Examples of Mentoring ....................,........................... 32 Moses and Joshua: Love and Loyalty ................................. 32^ Eli and Samuel: The Development of a Servant’s Heart .... 34 Elijah and Elisha: Passing the Torch of Faith.................... 36 Naomi and Ruth: From Belonging to Becoming ................. 37 Jesus and His Disciples: Right Process, Right Product ...... 38 Barnabas, Paul and Mark: The Extra Mile .......................... 40 Conclusion......................................................................... 42 iii 3. CREATION AND DESCRIPTION OF THE MENTORING FOR SPIRITUALITY PROGRAM................................................... 43 Process of Planning the Project .................................................. 43 “Joshua’s Men” Mentoring Model ............................................. 46 Mentoring in the United States Navy ......................................... 47 Curriculum of the Project ........................................................... 50 Stage One—Discerning the Basics ............................................. 52 General Content.................................................................. 52 Lessons............................................................................... 52 Purpose............................................................................... 53 Stage Two—Deepening Our Knowledge ................................... 53 ' General Content.................................................................. 53 Lessons............................................................................... 55 Purpose............................................................................... 56 Stage Three—Depending on God............................................ ,.56 General Content.................................................................. 56 Lessons............................................................................... 57 Purpose............................................................................... 58 Stage Four—Deciding to Make a Difference ............................. 58 General Content.................................................................. 58 Lessons..............................................................................