Table Of Content

ADDRESSING IDENTITY CRISIS AMONG YOUNG ADULT MISSIONARIES IN MYANMAR/BURMA A THESIS-PROJECT SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF GORDON-CONWELL THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF REQUIREMTS FOR THE DEGREE DOCTOR OF MINISTRY BY JOSEPH TIAL LUAI THANG MAY 2021 Copyright © 2021 by Joseph Tial Luai Thang. All Rights Reserved. I dedicate this project to my sweetheart and loving spouse and I also dedicate this project to our daughter Olga T.T Par and our son Agabus T.T Bawi. CONTENTS LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS …………………………………………………………………iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS …………………………………………………………………..v LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ………………………………………………………………viii ABSTRACT ……………………………………………………………………………….....ix Chapter One: The Problem and Its Setting 1.1. Introduction ………………………………………………………………………1 1.2. Identifying the Problem ………………………………………………………….2 1.3. Briefs History of Burma (Myanmar) …………………………………………….3 1.4. MAME Ministry………………………………………………………………...30 1.5. Hypothesis………………………………………………………………………31 1.6. Limitations of The Study………………………………………………………...32 Chapter Two: Theological View: Identity Revealed in The Bible 1.1. Introduction ……………………………………………………………………...33 1.2. Humanity's Origin Increation……………………………………………………34 1.3. Fall of Man………………………………………………………………………40 1.4. Jesus Christ, The Image of God …………….…………………………………..42 1.5. Priests and Princes of God ………………………………………………….........46 1.6. Conluding Summary Statement………………………………………………….50 1.7. Appendix on the Equality of Male and Female …………………………………52 Chapter Three: Review of Related Literature 1.1. Introduction……………………………………………………………………...55 Related Book on Identity-Formation Dr Sharon M. Parks ………………………………………………………………….55 Related Book on Identity-Formation Mark Yaconelli ………………………………………………………………………62 Related Book on Emerging Adults’ identity and Religious &Tradition Colleen Carroll Campbell ……………………………………………………………67 Related Book on a Persons’ Identity Alistair McFadyen …………………………………………………………………...70 Related Books on Personality Disorders and Narcissism Chuck DeGroat ………………………………………………………………………76 Related Books on Modernity and Identity Scott Lash, Jonathan Friedman……………………………………………………….81 1.2. Conclusion ………………………………………………………………………84 Chapter Four: Methodology 1.1. Introduction ……………………………………………………………………...87 1.2. Principles of Data Collecting …………………………………………………….88 1.3. The Identity Crisis Seminar: An Overview ……………………………………...96 1.4. Implementing the Project……………………………………………………….100 1.5. Conclusion …………………………………………………………..................111 Chapter Five: Results 1.1. Likert Scale (Quantitative Results) ……………………………………………112 1.2. Qualitative Results of In-Dept Interviews …………………………………….136 1.3. Interviews Outcomes Summary………………………………………………...140 1.4. Reflections: Responses to Findings…………………………………………….144 1.5. Interpretation of Results ……………………………………………………….145 1.6. Recommendations for Improving the Project ………………………………….147 1.7. Recommendations for Further Research ……………………………………….148 1.8. Concluding Theological Reflection ………………………………....................149 1.9. Conclusion and Summary………………………………………………………152 APPENDIX A: Pre-test result………………………………………………………………154 APPENDIX B: Post-test result ……………………………………………………………..157 APPENDIX C: Curriculum: Session Plan……………………………………………….....160 APPENDIX D: Transcripts of the In-Depth Interviews …………………………………....165 APPENDIX E: Diagnostic Tools: Pre-Test and Post-Test……………………….…………169 BIBLIOGRAPHY…………………………………………………………………………..202 VITA ………………………………………………………………………………………..210 ii ILLUSTRATIONS Figures 1 Distinguishing Between Quantitative and Qualitative Approach…………................96 2 One-day Identity Seminar Schedule…………………………………….....................97 3 Initial Survey: Pre-test and Post-test………..………………………………………133 4 Initial Survey: Pre-test and Post-test………..……………........................................134 5 Initial Survey: Pre-test and Post-test………..………………………………………115 6 Initial Survey: Pre-test and Post-test………….…………………………………….116 7 Initial Survey: Pre-test and Post-test………………………………………………..117 8 Initial Survey: Pre-test and Post-test……….…………………………………….....118 9 Initial Survey: Pre-test and Post-test……….……………………………………….119 10 Initial Survey: Pre-test and Post-test……….……………………………………….120 11 Initial Survey: Pre-test and Post-test……….……………………………………….121 12 Initial Survey: Pre-test and Post-test………...……………………………………...122 13 Initial Survey: Pre-test and Post-test……….……………………………………….123 14 Initial Survey: Pre-test and Post-test……….……………………………………….124 15 Initial Survey: Pre-test and Post-test……….……………………………………….125 16 Initial Survey: Pre-test and Post-test……….……………………………………….126 17 Initial Survey: Pre-test and Post-test……….……………………………………….127 18 Initial Survey: Pre-test and Post-test……….……………………………………….128 19 Initial Survey: Pre-test and Post-test……….……………………………………….129 20 Initial Survey: Pre-test and Post-test……….……………………………………….130 21 Initial Survey: Pre-test and Post-test……….……………………………………….131 iii 22 Initial Survey: Pre-test and Post-test……….……………………………………….132 23 The most to least increase question………...……………………………………….134 24 The highest score and the lowest score.…………………………………………….135 Tables 1 Average Ranking and Percentage Increase: From Pre-test to Post-test ………....133 2 Initial Survey: Pre-test Results………………………………………...........154-156 3 Initial Survey: Post-test Results……………………………………….........157-159 iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS At the very outset, I thank my God and Savior Jesus Christ who enabled to accomplish my study thus far. This project is a culmination over twenty-two years of intimately knowing and known by Jehovah God. When I experienced regeneration at Youth Conference which is held by Kalay Valley Baptist Churches on March 21, 1998, the Sovereign God place His dream in my heart. Even though I did not know how it would happen, I had a deep desire to spend my life for mending a broken people. Sovereign God has been healing and transforming into His image in ever-increasing splendor day by day. To both of my parents are in Heaven, I dedicated this project to you, Ral Uk and Par Sung. You brought me into this earth and gave me life. I want to thank you for nurturing me, providing for me and protecting me. You taught me how-to live-in integrity and how to have love and compassion for people through your lifestyle. I love you and honor both of you. My wife, my daughter and my son miss you, and will surely see you in Heaven. I dedicate this project to the sweetheart of my life, my beautiful wife, Esther Tin Tin Aye. I keep falling in love with you more and more every day. Thank you for being my lifesaver. You have loved me, believed in me, trusted me, encouraged me, and strengthen me. You saved my life, Nutho, without whose support, I could never have finished it. You have agreed with me to apply this degree, on February 2, 2016. You have not given up through all days, weeks, and years of intense reading and writing. In multitudes of ways, you have helps me willingly and gladly to complete this project. I am grateful forever to you as the love of my life and my ministry partner. I also dedicate this project to our daughter, Olga T.T Par and our beloved son, Agabus T.T Bawi. Thank you for being children into our family. You are our joy and our crown. v After five years of studied the Doctor of Ministry program at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, I have received enormous knowledge and experience from the mentors and staff who have always given their best efforts in educating students. By taking this opportunity, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks and would like to reveal my deepest gratitude to Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary which has made my D. Min program in Pastoral Theology in Practice studies possible. Foremost, I would like to express my sincere gratitude and thank to generous mentor, all my professors, who supervised my study and to the librarians who assisted me in obtaining research materials. Their patient, guidance, wisdom and their unfailing encouragement, help me develop my knowledge and develop my point of view. Among them all, I must single out my thesis-project supervisor, Professor Dr. David Currie. Without your friendship and support, I would have never been accepted into this transforming experience at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. My life is much richer and fuller being communion with you. You serve us and bless us in many amazing ways, as D. Min Dean. You are my friend for life. Thank you for rescuing me from failure. The pivotal transforming moment for the researcher came in his experience with his thesis-project supervisor, like Dr. David Currie, who encouraged and affirmed him through the whole experience. Millions thanks to my mentor. More importantly, I would like to express my sincere gratitude and thanks to second reader and advisor, Professor Dr. Phil Thorne. Thank you so much for your patience, invaluable advice, and encouragement throughout the revision of this thesis. Dr. Phil, your meaningful guidance helped me to accomplish in writing this thesis-project. vi Moreover, I would to gratefully acknowledge my deepest gratitude and thanks to the D. Min Director of Operations Bridget Erickson, Thank you for loving me, accepting me and valuing me as an International Student. Thank you for your prayer, encouragement, love and support. Special thanks also to Dr. Mary Riso (first editor) and Coordinator of Gordon- Conwell Writing Center and Research Instructor, Charlotte Campus, Ashley Stamper (second editor) who edited the entire thesis-project, because they gave so generously their time to improve the felicity of my writing thesis-project. No word could adequately convey my gratitude to all my siblings and far and near relatives for the support they gladly offer me so that I could finish my study and this thesis- project. Indeed, I am also indebted to my far and near friends who have support me financially and prayerfully. God bless all of you who helped make this project a healing and transforming experience for our family members and all of the participants. You are all a blessing to us, Myanmar and the world. vii