Autobiography

Autobiography

When completing your Life Experience Journal in the sections below, use the following descriptions of each of the four elements of Kolb’s model as a guide for what should be included in your responses. These should be written in the first person, so these elements will translate the learning you’ve gained from your experiences into knowledge.

Kolb’s Model

The University uses Kolb’s model to from experiences into knowledge. Below is a brief description of each of the four elements of Kolb’s Model. Please make sure you respond to each section for each of the subtopics:

Description of Concrete Experience: Concrete experience represents your personal participation with the people, places, activities, and events of an experience. You should describe your involvement relative to the experience, demonstrating the opportunity for learning.
Reflections: Reflections represent a student’s thinking and processing relative to the experience
Generalizations, Principles and Theories: Generalizations, Principles, and Theories are constructs that organize and guide academic learning. A typical college course is built around several such generalizations, principles, and/or theories
Testing and Application: Testing and Application represent situations in which the new learning can be used.

EXPERIENCE JOURNAL TOPIC: History of Christian Religion

SUBTOPIC 1: Theoretical perspectives and development of the theology

Description of Concrete Experience (approx. 150 words):

As a young Minister and a Prayer Leader in the church, my priority has always been to learn how to engage in the Christian ministry constructively and to have that real connection with God. I emphasize my personal experience by ensuring that I the activities that make me feel involved in the development of Christian community

I remember one day I was in the church, I had an incident that at some point frustrated me, I was just coming from planning a prayer meeting that had to take place in a work time, it was the routine to notify the congregation secretary so that everything required can be availed during the meeting. So, as I was talking to the secretary, his utterances were not pleasing and as a result, anger got the better of me and I just found myself bursting out to the Secretary. The Secretary, notified the senior ministers that I lack wisdom especially in the manner I responded. However, other ministers who were around regarded the incident to be the normal settling into ministry of my part and trusted that God would help the secretary and I to negotiate the differences.

Reflections (approx. 150 words):

As I Reflect on the Christian ministry, I have come to understand that Constant involvement in Christian activities in the church and being a young minister in the church has helped me to understand the various concepts of Christian community.

After that incident with the secretary, I went home but I was feeling terrible and wondering if that was God’s way of telling me that I shouldn’t have become a minister. However, I was a bit at ease when learned that other church members also had some issues with the same Secretary. One of the Colleague told me that we had to pull together as a team so that we could turn the Secretary in to a great asset. Immediately, I actually sensed God reminding me that I was too quick to want my own way. I immediately felt the discomfort of being ‘at odds’ with the Secretary and I though on how I could collaborate with him as well as other members of the Church Council. I understood that being in Ministry was not just about what I was as well as what I did, instead, I understood that ministry is also about the worship, witness, as well as service of the entire congregation. Every time I went on my knees to pray to God, I resolved to listen more to the leaders of the congregation and I knew this would lead to effective collaboration with them.

Generalizations, Principles and Theories (approx. 150 words):

As I consider my experience of God’s presence as well as His action while at the same time discerning God’s purpose, I usually ask myself if this is consistent with the current practice of my faith as well as ministry. It has not been easy to me and it has taken me long moving to a resolution. Sometimes, I live with some ambiguity but I understand where the tensions are within my theology.

From the earlier incident, I was not able to understand God’s call to me. On further refection, I also thought that it was not a reason for me to doubt God’s call. As I was thinking how the congregation had to work, God reminded me through my colleague the importance of belonging to the Christian community as well as offering individual perspective. I regretted how I talked to the secretary and I knew that situation in the church council would be awkward and tense and this would hinder working together. I understood that Living together as the disciples of Christ is a continuous learning process.

Testing and Application (approx. 150 words):

As a young Minister, I understood that my attitude in raising my voice at the Secretary of the congregation was not the right thing. I knew, consistent with God’s call to live in community, that I had to go quickly and apologize, and take full responsibility for my actions. I knew that living in community does not imply concurring on everything, instead, it means being honest regarding differences. In this regard therefore, it was necessary for me to listen to the perspective of the secretary the same way he listened to me. Careful listening to God as well as listening to others became something that I started working on and I knew that this would help to foster Christian community. In this regard, I further trusted my fellows in guiding me towards working with other church leaders.

SUBTOPIC 2: Mysticism in Christianity

Description of Concrete Experience (approx. 150 words):

One night I had some difficulties sleeping because there were some problems in the family and I wondered how bad things had turned out in my family. Due to lack of sleep, I decided to engage God in prayers, after finishing, I went to sleep but I could not get any sleep so I started thinking about the issues that had encountered my family, as I was thinking, I experienced unexplained situation in the room, I felt a strong connection with God which urged me to forgive. I wondered what forgiveness had to do with the issues in my family, in 6te morning when I woke up, I remembered the incident with the secretary and I quickly rushed to find him. One thing has learned, from this experience is that God does not like to see us suffer and He always guide as through Christian community to the right path.

Reflections (approx. 150 words):

I realized and learned that through prayers and focusing our mind to God, things can work in various ways that we do not understand. I did not realize how just a little experience of focusing my mind above could turn so many situations around. Receiving new thoughts from above wasn’t a small thing for to me, it was as if a big revelation had been given to me, and there I stood, like I had all the answers for all the issues that had started in my family some days earlier. I learned that as Christians, there are a lot that we can experience as we focus on the Lord.

Generalizations, Principles and Theories (approx. 150 words):

While considering my experience about God’s presence that night, regarding the earlier incident, I could not understand God’s revelation me. On further refection in the morning as I was deeply thinking about the revelation at night, I believed that God was telling me something. As I was thinking how to solve my family issues, God reminded me through my thoughts, the importance of forgiveness in the life of a Christian. Suddenly I remembered my incident with the secretary. I learned that Christian community should at all time uphold forgiveness while focusing on God.

Testing and Application (approx. 150 words):

With the experience I had on how to connect to God, I further understood the power of Christian community as far as Mysticism is concerned, it was my responsibility to work towards achieving it. To me I felt that it helped me to achieve my divine goal and this helped me to foster and ensure a strong Christian community. In this regard therefore, it was necessary for me to seek the development of both of the spiritual experience as well as the understanding of the situation. I had to set times for my personal prayer, personal study as well as do a personal self-examination, this would help me experience spiritual ideals.

SUBTOPIC 3: Organization and Sacred Literature

Description of Concrete Experience (approx. 150 words):

As a young Minister and a Prayer Leader in the church, I always understood that prayers are the keys to many things. One day, as I was heading home from Church, I immediately discovered that I had forgotten my Laptop charger in the church, so, I went back to pick it. Almost everybody had gone except for the Bishop who was still around. I ran into him and we started exchanging some few words, while talking I decided to tell the Bishop some few issues I was going though in the family. The Bishop gave me some advice and then at last he wished me lack and told me to read (Colossians 3:13) and (2 Chronicles 20).

I later understood why the Bishop had no many words to talk to me and I also understood why he gave me the two Bible verses. After reading the two Bible chapters given b the Bishop, I found my answers right there. God used the Bishop to reveal the answers I was seeking to me, that is why he talked little about the issue I told him. I realized that the Bible is the sacred holy book that contains all the answers seek in life.

Reflections (approx. 150 words):

Reflecting back the experience I had with the secretary, I realized that God was reminding me to forgive others and cultivate Christian community. After forgiveness many things changed, the situations I had seen to be frustrating turned around and personally I could not believe. Reading (Colossians 3:13) and (2 Chronicles 20), I found why forgiveness was important and also what to do in times of difficulties. The two bible chapters worked for me, I realized that God communicates to us through the holy Book, “Bible”

Generalizations, Principles and Theories (approx. 150 words):

As I was thinking about my experience with the word of God, I realized that asking God to guide you during the process is important and make me understand what the Holy book of God says. Gradually, I begun to understand the purpose of God in my life, I started realizing why He called me to be a minister, this gave me even more strength to go on. Every time God reminded me to read the word spreading it and praying over the word, this was the way to knowing God better, through His word. The Christian community encourage in other through the word of God. The word is a live and working and it can a accomplish anything for the Christians.

Testing and Application (approx. 150 words):

As a young Minister, I had to make the congregation to understand the word of God, I guided the church members to word and prayers. I felt that it was my duty and that God chose me for this purpose, I didn’t have to take this chance for granted but to talk to the people that what God told me to tell them. I understood that deciding to co-operate with God is the only way I could achieve this goal and my attentiveness to the presence and action of God in a particular ministry situation and my refection on God’s purposes would give me a theologically reflective practice as well as some clues about my continuing ministry practice and finally providing some decisions for my future ministry encounters.

SUBTOPIC 4: Christianity Significant Events and History

Description of Concrete Experience (approx. 150 words):

I attended a two-week church seminar in which the guest speaker was a man of God who was considered to be a prayer warrior and a true apostle. During those two weeks, I learned about several events that have taken place throughout the history of Christian religion. The life and teachings of Jesus Christ including his great works and temptations strengthened my believe and trust in God the more, it also made me feel the presence of God. This is because, when Jesus came the word of God and the prophesy was being fulfilled (Isaiah 11: 11-12), this implied that as a Christian, I was serving a true Living God, this strengthened by desire to search him further while obeying His commands. This make me feel the presence of God every time and understand how God is acting through seeking humility and attentiveness.

Reflections (approx. 150 words):

As I was Reflecting back on the teachings about the death of Jesus, I was wondering why and how the son of God who never sinned would be killed in such a cruel way. However, the most challenging part was after they crucified Jesus, He still asked God to forgive them (Mathew 27-32-56). Here, my mind was opened and I understood that for Christians, forgiveness is a paramount factor. Remembering my incident with the secretary, it was difficult for me to go back and ask for forgiveness, however, the spirit of God helped me to go and make peace with him. Our working relationship came back to know and there was no more tension. in this regard, I learned that the major events that have taken place over the history of Christian religion, was not in vain, instead, it is meant to teach us aspects in life while others are meant to give us hope and strengthen our faith in God.

Generalizations, Principles and Theories (approx. 150 words):

As a young minister, I have always encountered challenges teaching the congregation to do their best so that they can understand the importance and significant of the events that happen throughout the Christian life. However, I have always turned to the various principals of the bible such as literal, moral, allegorical, and anagogical which both help me to hold on to the significant of the Christian events. They make me understand that the Bible is the final authority for all things and the means by which God provides principles for living in a way that protects from harmful thinking and behavior. Scripture clearly teaches how Christians are to live. It is therefore my responsibilities to work with my fellow ministers to support the church members by encouraging them that despite the difficulties they might be going through, God is always there to guide them through the hard times and also the good times.

Testing and Application (approx. 150 words):

By applying the various Biblical principles as well as theories that I have previously listed, the church members are able to see and understand that God love them and as a result of this, even when times get hard just as we can see through the various Christian historical events that, they can always trust in God for support, help and encouragement. While testing many of these principles over some period during my ministry time, I found that all these principles turn3d out to be successful to foster Christian community. Additionally, it has always been my desire to have a firsthand experience which I believe it will help throughout my ministry even in the future.

SUBTOPIC 5: Christian Rites and Practices

Description of Concrete Experience (approx. 150 words):

As a Christian, there are various rites and practices which I uphold. Based on my experience earlier with the secretary, after realizing that I had talked badly to him, I realized that that would ruin our working relationship and so my though asked me to go and make things right between us, I apologized to him about the incident. I also confessed to God and asked for his forgiveness about by behavior. My fellow colleague came to me recommended me for apologizing, he told me that what I did was important is among some of the rites and practices that Christians should uphold.

My colleague made me understand that taking part in Christian rites and practices such as baptism, initiation, confession, as well as intercession helped me to foster Christian community. I also realized that rites and practices bound the Christian family together.

Reflections (approx. 150 words):

Reflecting back the experience I had with the secretary, it was not an easy decision for me to think of asking for forgiveness, however, I sought to try and I was shocked that the secretary was an easy-going person and he quickly made peace with me. Our working relationship came back to know and there was no more tension. in this regard, I learned that forgiveness is important as far as Christianity s concerned, it is one of the driving forces to the development of Christian community. For my case, forgiveness was essential for maintaining a long-term Christian relationship between the secretary and other church leaders.

Generalizations, Principles and Theories (approx. 150 words):

From the earlier incident, always thought that going back to ask for forgiveness from the secretary would demine me and my position and the secretary could be seeing me as a petty person. However, I always asked dg to make me understand the principle of love and forgiveness. The greatest principle I used in this case was the principle of love, I saw the secretary as my own brother, there was no reason for the two of us to behave like enemies. The principle of love proved to be the greatest principle and the most successful in this case. If I would love the secretary as my brother, then we would not fight over any issue but instead find the best way to use in solving any issue that could arise.

Testing and Application (approx. 150 words):

SUBTOPIC 6: Persons Contributing to Contemporary Expression of Christianity

Description of Concrete Experience (approx. 150 words):

Am very much aware that Christian religion started with Jesus and His disciples. By then, they were responsible for the contemporary expression of Christianity during this time. However, before His Ascension into Heaven, Jesus commissioned his disciples to take charge and spread the word of God, in this regard, therefore, Jesus’ Apostles were the individuals who majorly contributed to the expression of Christian religion during that time (Geddes & Griffiths, 2002). I understand that as a young minister, I have a bigger responsibility for the contemporary expression of the Christian religion. Understanding this responsibility is important and this always give me a reason to go and meet with other Christians and carry out various activities that are pertained to Christian community. I organize prayer meetings to intercede and pray that God can strengthen the Christian community.

Reflections (approx. 150 words):

My reflection of my experience makes me to understand the significant role I play as a minister in fostering Christian community. Additionally, my Constant involvement in Christian activities in the church and being a young minister in the church has helped me to understand the various concepts of Christian community.

It is however important for the church to not only rely on the existing ministers but more and more Christians should be called upon to help in the modern expression of Christianity. I understood that being in Ministry was not just about what I was as well as what I did, instead, I understood that ministry is also about the worship, witness, as well as service of the entire congregation. Every time I went on my knees to pray to God, I resolved for God to bring more and more ministers so that they can help in spreading His word.

Generalizations, Principles and Theories (approx. 150 words):

I understand that it is the desire of God to see that His purpose in my life is fulfilled, In this case therefore, it is important to that I reflect on God’s desires for the people with whom I minister and also to reflect on the God’s hopes for the way I minister. I work hard to ensure that I make progress towards ministering the word of God and also fostering the development of Christian community. I know that God will make me understand the how I can best carry out the responsibilities pertaining my ministries; therefore, I keep on focusing on the Biblical principles as my foundations.

Testing and Application (approx. 150 words):

Throughout this experience, I have learned that the major responsibility of the minister is to foster Christian community. This cannot be obtained easily, there are challenges, difficulties and oppositions, however, as a minister, I keep on applying the principles and guidance given by the word of God, to achieve and carry out this experience. I desire to be a role model for the follow Christians and ensure that by doing the right thing, they can be encouraged and also engage in doing the same. Therefore, even though the theology may have been revised some-what and so lead to new implications for my ministry practice, I believe that my attentiveness to the presence as well as action of God in my ministry situation and my refection on God’s purposes will give theologically reflective practice while at the same time providing guidance regarding my constant ministry practice.

Remember! This is just a sample.

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