Acknowledgements
I want to express my deep appreciation to all those who have influenced, encouraged,
supported, and enabled my personal and academic growth. This dissertation is a significant
accomplishment in my life not only because it represents the culmination of my doctoral
studies, but also because it contains the expression of my passion for the people called by God
to serve the Christian community.
I would like to first acknowledge my husband, Gene who first saw my academic
potential and has been devoted to me with contagious enthusiasm and tireless effort. This
represents an unconditional commitment to me in giving faithful love and service, a precious
family, time to pursue doctoral studies, and a hopeful future. I also want to thank my children
Tami and her husband Jerry and Gregg and his wife Laurel with enormous feelings of
affection for their faithful Christian walk which brings peace, prayer, joy, and love to my
work. My adorable grandchildren, Brooklynn Joy and Zacary Dean have brought
unspeakable joy carrying me through the hardships of this process. I know that completing
this task would not have been possible without the generous and caring support of my church
family and friends and I want to thank you all.
I would especially like to thank Jim Furrow for his leadership and challenge to my
academic growth given throughout this project by serving as the chair of my committee. I
would also like to thank Janice Strength for her encouragement given with truth and grace and
Ray Anderson's integration of theology and psychology which has focused my insights . You
all represent the outstanding spiritual and academic commitment of faculty in the Marriage and
Family Division and at Fuller Theological Seminary.
I especially want to thank the Dean of Talbot School of Theology, Dennis Dirks whose
prayers and financial support made this achievement possible. I also want to thank my new
colleague and friend, Stephen Piesner who was a faithful reader and mentor of my work.
Finally, a special thanks to all my colleagues at Talbot and support staff who are committed to
my passion for the restoration and character development of Christian leaders.
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