Desire and longing in conversion process

Mikola, Borbála Veronika

1 online resource (ix, 204 leaves)

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 188-204)

D. Min. Covenant Theological Seminary 2023

Includes abstract

Titolo

Desire and longing in conversion process

Ultima modifica

11/20/2024

Creatore

Mikola, Borbála Veronika

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore how Hungarian Millennial new converts to Christianity connect longing to their conversion process. The study utilized a qualitative design using semi-structured interviews with six native Hungarian Millennials who recently had converted to Christianity and had no previous Christian background. The assumption of this study was that new converts to Christianity have been motivated in different ways in their conversion process and learned important principles about what makes a Hungarian Millennial interested in exploring Christianity. The literature review focused on three areas to help to understand this issue: human capacity of desire, longing, and love; the human desire and longing in the Bible; and the culture of Millennials in Hungary. This study concluded that Hungarian Millennials’ approach to Christianity is influenced by the post-communist heritage which ridicules religiosity, has materialistic worldview, and creates a unique post-communist individualism. Challenges for the Hungarian church in trying to reach Millennials with the gospel include Millennial prejudices, Buddhist romanticism, and a “God yes, church no” attitude. The Millennials can be engaged by a gospel response to their needs stemming from egocentrism and meaninglessness, hollow values, disruption and lack of emotional self-regulation, and happiness-seeking. To address these Millennial needs, this study identified seven major implications for outreach: connect to people’s desires, engage Millennials’ unique needs pre-evangelistically, communicate meaningfully within their culture, ask good questions concerning their needs and listen well, present a bigger gospel than individual salvation with stories, respond to their assumptions about the church, and teaching about suffering in light of the hope of the God’s redemptive story.

Collaboratore