Around the World

In this issue of the Journal of Research on Christian Education, our authors represent a world tour of Christian scholars. Collectively they hail from four continents and one island region. We start with a guest editorial by a young scholar from Nigeria, Africa, Stephen O. Maitamni, who recently completed a year of post-doctoral research studies at my institution, Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. During that year he worked with me as an assistant editor. That experience not only benefitted our team at JRCE, it also helped launch the new International Journal for Faith Integration (IJFI). To see the inaugural issue of IJFI visit the following website: https://ijfi.babcock.edu.ng/ and then look on the gold banner and click IJFI.

Authors residing in the United States, North America, wrote the two theory-building articles in this issue. One of these authors, Dr. Edyta Jankiewicz, after acceptance of her phenomenological study on conversion for publication, has since returned to her native Australia where she continues her ministry. Next, in a partnership between a K12 scholar with a university scholar, Kennie L. Cook and Andrew T. Babyak share an interesting exploratory study on the role that spirituality plays in dealing with occupational stress. Their study is a great example of research done in a public school setting that still has much to say to those working in and studying Christian education. The third article in our North American collection is a study on black leaders in Maryland church schools, in which the author, Brian Mark Zockoll, Jr., brings a “challenging conversation” to the forefront of Christian education studies. How do the racial issues that exist and often divide the broader culture in the United States influence Christian education?

The next article in this issue highlights work of emerging scholar Alebachew A. Wobete from Ethiopia, Africa, and his coauthors, Anjali Sharma and Swarnalata Das, from India, Asia. Their work has extended the use of an English-language school climate instrument (and its underlying theory) to a new context, with interesting results. We can hope to see more from Mr. Wobete in the future, particularly once he completes his doctorate.

This issue concludes with a scholarly essay in our Clearinghouse section. Writing from Jamaica, Dr. Ikechukwu Michael Oluikpe shares perspectives on the Christian view of the supernatural. Dr. Oluikpe represents the Caribbean Basin. Thus, we have in this issue, authors from Africa, Asia, Australia, the Caribbean Basin, and North America. Read this issue and you will take a quick trip around the world of Christian education studies.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Larry D. Burton

Larry D Burton, PhD is a Professor and teaches graduate courses in curriculum, an undergraduate course in teacher education, and serves as Director of Assessment for his departments, in addition to working as Editor-in-Chief of this journal. You may notice a slight institutional affiliation change in his byline. Andrews University has just reorganized several of its academic units. One such reorganization was the merger of the School of Education (his former affiliation) with the School of Distance Education and International Partnerships. Thus, he is now now a faculty member in the newly formed College of Education and International Services (CEIS).