Theology

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Browsing Theology by Advisor "Janse Van Rensburg, Johan"

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    'n Pastoraal-hermeneutiese benadering tot pedofilie
    (University of the Free State, 2011-12-15) Potgieter, Stella; Janse Van Rensburg, Johan
    English: Paedophilia is a major problem in South Africa. The sexual molestation of children appears to be a common occurrence. Statistics show that one out of three girls and one out of five boys are victims of sexual molestation. It even is more terrifying to reveal that 95% of molesters are male, and that children who were molested, usually become molesters themselves. Paedophilia is not a subject people like to talk about. It is embedded in the negative social discourse of violence and has far-reaching consequences for everyone who is touched by it. The need arose to find a suitable pastoral model in which meaningful pastoral therapy and multi-disciplinary models can be utilized together in therapy with the paedophile. In view of the apparent lack of pastoral models to deal with this problem, this study set out to find a suitable model for meaningful guidance to the paedophile. The nature of the investigation is determined by the hermeneutic approach. The paedophile is not allowed to be neutral in the therapeutic process. He becomes a co-researcher who is involved in the process and progresses from understanding to change. The pastoral models with a hermeneutic angle contribute to this research. The hermeneutic approach is particularly valuable when considering the issues of being human, as well as the soul and sexuality. The strategies of the narrative approach are employed to give the participant the chance to tell his problem-filled story. Other strategies are also used, namely meditation, visualisation, gestalt therapy and prayer therapy. The foundation of pastoral therapy in the narrative approach is the diaconiological epistemology, which is theologically founded and in which the normative authority of the Bible is recognised. However, for the purposes of this study the strategies are dissociated from their original epistemological roots and are used in the diaconiological epistemology. By means of a qualitative research method this study enters into the world of the paedophile in an explorative and descriptive manner. This method also makes it possible for the researcher to conduct the study in a participatory manner to be able to describe the practical implementation of the pastoral therapeutic process that is being examined. The solution to the dilemma of the paedophile lies in a holistic approach in which the entire person is attended to. Persons in the grip of paedophilia need every bit of care they can get, including pastoral therapy. Pastoral therapy enabled the participant to become aware of his spiritual wounds. He moved from a negative God view to a new perspective and a positive God view. From there he could proceed to forgiveness, which plays an important part in the person‟s feelings of guilt. True repentance occurred. The confession of sins enabled the participant to give and receive forgiveness. In this way inner healing was made possible. The participant benefited particularly from the visualisation techniques that were used. His interpersonal functioning improved and his feelings of guilt, sadness and anger were lessened. Society is not really aware of the phenomenon of paedophilia. Methods should be devised to raise consciousness in this regard. In this way not only the molester, but also victims of molestation that suffer from intense feelings of guilt, will gain fresh insights into their situation. At a meeting arranged by the researcher, women who had been molested as children, were given the opportunity to speak to a person who, by his own admission, is a paedophile and who has been managing and controlling his condition for nine years. They found answers to their questions and since he offered an apology to them on behalf of their molesters, they were able to forgive the persons who had wronged them. This study will render a service to society where there is a need for methods to make the general public aware of this enormous problem. The roots of paedophilia lie in the person‟s childhood, where his unstable home and own molestation play an important role. I am reluctant to talk about total transformation, but what I can state with confidence is that a person, who molests children, may be taught the skills to control and manage his sexually deviant behaviour. Participants in this study expressed a genuine desire to be free from their symptoms. If pastoral therapy is employed in conjunction with other disciplines, other persons who also suffer from this deviant behaviour may also be helped. The findings in this study are based on information that was obtained from the molesters himself.
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    Youth ministry in the Christ Church Lahore
    (University of the Free State, 2008-11) Yousaf, Aneel; Janse Van Rensburg, Johan
    English: This research is concerned with the complex situation in which the youth of the Christ Church Lahore find themselves. One of the key problems is that the youth do not have a sound knowledge of the Bible, which makes them less effective in witnessing in a Muslim country like Pakistan. After a brief introduction of Pakistan and the province Punjab, the research examined the country’s famous cites Lahore with reference to aspects such as the historical and modern Lahore, people and population, history and culture, language and education. The history of the Christ Church Lahore and its youth, as well as the history of the youth ministry laid a firm foundation for the study. It has been observed that the adolescents of the Christ Church have been neglected, and this causes serious problems in their spiritual growth. The youth do face challenges and issues. They are also trying to find their true identity in Christ. Recognizing the basic needs of the young people will make the church in general and the Christ Church Lahore in particular aware how to care for their teens and to value this ministry. Five functions of the youth ministry, namely worship, prayer, fellowship, discipleship and evangelism or mission are highlighted to bring the adolescents into a relationship with God. It was necessary to develop a contextual youth ministry model for the youth of the Christ Church while studying different models. The emphasis was on creating a model which was Biblically based and culturally appropriate. In this regard, the key factors / principles were pointed out. For the youth of the Christ Church to operate in an effective way, the following points were provided, namely the importance of the election and responsibilities of the youth leadership team, an intergenerational youth ministry concept and the value of a vision, goals and programmes. The research also shows that family support (parents) is important for the spiritual growth of teens. A lack of family support hinders them in attending youth meetings regularly and in being available for the work of the Lord. The researcher’s interviews with the youth group, the leading pastor and members of the congregation helped to examine the real situation of the youth with their challenges and issues. The study confirms that the youth of the Christ Church need proper attention. Besides help to face their challenges and obstacles, they need youth ministry training and a discipleship process to equip them for an effective and fruitful ministry. The research also reveals that equipped youth leaders are needed to mentor and lead the young people. Without a supportive team or leadership team, the youth of the Christ Church will not survive. Throughout the research, it is emphasized that the youth are not the church of tomorrow but indeed the church of today. We cannot ignore them in the church. The topics and subtopics in this study are obviously areas that need independent and extensive research. However, the researcher has incorporated them in order to draw the true picture and examine the issues that the youth are facing.