The purpose of this study is to make the readers to examine and understand the importance of making available research as a competence course for missionary trainees that will be working among the unreached Muslims people group. It will share with trainees what has been known about mission research among unreached people groups in order to assist them in doing the cross-culturalmissionarywork effectively. It is not with the purpose of making them to become academic researchers who gather information that very few people can use, but to help them become researchers who can discover opportunities for preaching the gospel among the unreached; and to become researchers who can be actively involved in unreached people groups.
Culture shock and culture stress are common, but also expected and apparently not a primary direct cause of missionary attrition. But they certainly affect the quality of the missionary experience and impact the overall resilience of the missionary. And lowered resilience certainly does affect missionary attrition. One popular Nigerian adage says, "prevention is better than curing", meaning do what you need to do now, before it becomes crisis management. Proper planning will prevent poor performance; while poor preparation will present poor performance. Culture shock and culture stress and other factors of attrition for the cross-cultural missionary can be avoided with proper training. When a missionary heads into an unreached people, there are high expectations all around. But, before they even leave for this difficult endeavor, there must be an assurance that they are adequately equipped, that their zeal is equally balanced with knowledge.
The main purpose of this study is to make the readers to understand the importance of making available research as a competence course for missionary trainees that will be working among the unreached Muslims people group. This research has focused on thorough examination of the relevant literature and seek to uncover the meaning of doing research as a competence course; the ways in which research is valuable in a missionary training program; the most effective time in a missionary training program to provide a research training process and the implications of doing research among workers in Muslim communities that result in long-term effective ministry.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1 – Introduction
Background of the Study
Purpose of the Study
Statement of the Research Question
Definition of Terms
Delimitations and Limitations
Significance of the Study
Chapter 2 – Review of Related Literature
Assumption and theoretical framework
Addressing Sub-problem 1
Addressing Sub-problem 2
Addressing Sub-problem 3
Addressing Sub-problem 4
Summary
Chapter 3 – Methodology
The Research Method
Data Collection Strategies
Data Gathering Procedure
Development of Interview Questions
Interview Questions and their Relation to the Sub-problem
Data Analysis Strategies
Evidence of Validity of the research
Assumptions, Limitations and Bias
Chapter 4 – Analysis
Data Gathering Approach
Population and Sample
Data Summary
Sub-problem 1
Sub-problem 2
Sub-problem 3
Sub-problem 4
Summary of Data
Chapter 5 – Conclusions
Summary of Findings: Resolution of the Sub-problems and Findings
Resolution of the Main Research Question
Unexpected Findings
Strengths of the Research
Limitations of the Research
Implications for Practice
Recommendations for Churches and Missionaries
Recommendations for Research
Research Objectives and Themes
The primary objective of this study is to determine the importance of implementing research as a core competence course for missionary trainees preparing for ministry among unreached Muslim people groups. The research investigates how such training enhances the long-term effectiveness and resilience of cross-cultural missionaries by improving their ability to analyze contexts and navigate cultural challenges.
- The role of formal research training in enhancing missionary competence.
- Methods for identifying the most effective timing for research training within missionary programs.
- Strategies for mitigating missionary attrition through proper cultural and research preparation.
- Biblical foundations and practical applications of research information in missiological contexts.
- Assessing the impact of pre-field research training on long-term ministry performance in Muslim communities.
Excerpt from the Book
Introduction
Leedy and Ormrod (2013, p. 45) point out that the heart of every research project, is the problem or question the researcher wants to address. Therefore, the first step in the research process is to identify this problem or question with clarity and precision. A research problem (question) is an area of concern or a gap in the existing knowledge that points to the need for further understanding and investigation, while a problem statement is used in research work as a claim that outlines the problem addressed by a study.
The topic for this research is "The importance of making available research as a competence course for Missionary trainee that will be working among the Muslims unreached people groups." The researcher is working on this topic to make the readers to examine and understand the importance of making available research as a competence course for missionary trainees that will be working among the unreached Muslims people group. The researcher has chosen the above title, because he wants to find out how making research available as a competence course may influence the long -term effective missionary work among the Muslims unreached people groups.
Summary of Chapters
Chapter 1 – Introduction: This chapter establishes the core problem of the study, highlighting the need for research training in mission practice to bridge the gap between known and unknown cultural contexts.
Chapter 2 – Review of Related Literature: The chapter explores the theoretical framework and existing scholarship concerning culture shock, mission attrition, and the necessity of specialized competence training for cross-cultural workers.
Chapter 3 – Methodology: This section details the qualitative case study approach, the sampling methods used, and the strategies for data collection and analysis employed in the research.
Chapter 4 – Analysis: This chapter presents the data gathered through interviews, examining themes related to the sub-problems, including the importance and timing of research training.
Chapter 5 – Conclusions: The final chapter summarizes the research findings, translates them into implications for practice, and provides recommendations for church leaders and future researchers.
Keywords
Competence, Competent missionary, Intercultural competence, Cross-cultural, Intercultural, Multicultural, Research, Research methodology, Qualitative research, Cross-Cultural Worker, People group, Unreached people group, Missionary, Cultural shock, Decision making.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research project?
The research examines the necessity of integrating research training into missionary education programs to prepare workers effectively for ministry among unreached Muslim people groups.
What are the primary themes addressed in the text?
The study centers on cultural shock, missiological research design, missionary attrition, the importance of competence training, and practical strategies for cross-cultural navigation.
What is the central research question?
The study seeks to understand the importance of providing research as a competence course for missionary trainees who will work among unreached Muslim populations.
What research methodology is applied in this study?
The author uses a qualitative research design, specifically employing a case study approach with non-random snowball sampling to gather insights from experienced mission practitioners.
What content is covered in the main body of the work?
The main sections cover literature reviews on cultural adaptation, the role of research in missiogenesis, the development of specific interview questions, and an analysis of themes derived from participant responses.
Which keywords best describe this study?
Key terms include Intercultural competence, Cross-cultural missionary, Research methodology, Unreached people groups, and Qualitative research.
Why is pre-field research training considered significant?
Participants emphasized that pre-field training acts as a preventive measure against cultural shock and missionary attrition by providing the necessary tools to analyze and adapt to new environments beforehand.
How does the research approach interpret "research" in a missionary context?
The text defines research not as purely academic, but as a practical set of skills—such as finding information, analyzing cultural patterns, and critical inquiry—that allow missionaries to serve effectively in unknown contexts.
What is the author's primary recommendation for training institutions?
The author strongly recommends that mission training organizations formalize research as a prerequisite course to ensure that trainees have the skills to handle the complexities of cross-cultural missionary work.
- Quote paper
- Abiodun Owoade (Author), 2021, The Importance of Making Available Research as a Competence Course. Missionary Trainee among the Muslims, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1351856
