Undergraduate Research

Undergraduate Research

Cheyenne King – Student Researcher

Cheyenne King worked as a student researcher for the Sacred Roots Thriving in Ministry Project at Taylor University. Her research focused on letters that key figures in Church history have written to one another, the impact of spiritual classics on missionaries, and how spiritual classics have moved throughout continents.

Saint Benedict and Taylor's Life Together Covenant

Sydney Dolson and Elijah Gutierrez explore the connections between Taylor University's Life Together Covenant and Benedict of Nursia's monastic rule, "The Rule of Benedict."

Dolson, Sydney, Elijah Gutierrez, and Hank Voss. "Saint Benedict and Taylor's Life Together Covenant." Poster, Upland, IN, May 10, 2024.

Origin of Taylor University's Life Together Covenant

Gavin Privett explores the connections between Taylor University's Life Together Covenant and Dietrich Bonhoeffer's book "Life Together."

Privett, Gavin and Hank Voss. "Origin of Taylor University's Life Together Covenant." Poster, Upland, IN, May 10, 2024.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Benedict of Nursia

Lelia Duncan explores the relationship between Benedict of Nursia's Rule, Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Life Together, and Taylor University's Life Together Covenant.

Duncan, Lelia, and Hank Voss. “Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Benedict of Nursia.” Poster, Upland, IN, May 10, 2024.

Saint Columbanus and Holiness in Community

Elise Wixtrom discusses Saint Columbanus' sixth-century, Celtic take on monastic living and communal holiness.

Wixtrom, Elise, and Hank Voss. “Saint Columbanus and Holiness in Community.” Poster, Upland, IN, May 15, 2023.

A Flourishing Kingdom: Rev. Dr. Don Davis and Ministry Among the Poor

Kaitlin Burden examines Dr. Davis' theological definition of "poor" as well as five barriers facing congregational leadership development among the poor.

Burden, Kaitlin, and Hank Voss. “A Flourishing Kingdom: Rev. Dr. Don Davis and Ministry Among the Poor.” Poster presented at the LIFT Conference, Upland, IN, January 16, 2023.

Dr. Don Davis and Scripture Engagement

Symon Cater identifies the ways the Urban Ministry Institute encourages and facilitates Scripture engagement.

Cater, Symon, and Hank Voss. “Dr. Don Davis and Scripture Engagement.” Poster presented at the LIFT Conference, Upland, IN, January 16, 2023.

Dr. Don Davis and the Christian Artist

Summer Davidson discusses the artwork utilized by the Urban Ministry Institute's Capstone Curriculum and other resources.

Davidson, Summer, and Hank Voss. “Dr. Don Davis and the Christian Artist.” Poster presented at the LIFT Conference, Upland, IN, January 16, 2023.

Rev. Dr. Don L. Davis and Church Planting

Ben Gerig identifies and describes Dr. Davis' P.L.A.N.T. method of church planting.

Gerig, Ben, and Hank Voss. “Rev. Dr. Don L. Davis and Church Planting.” Poster presented at the LIFT Conference, Upland, IN, January 16, 2023.

Don Davis on Scripture Engagement Through Scripture Memorization

Joseph Humrichous explores Dr. Don Davis' experience with the spiritual discipline of Scripture memorization.

Humrichous, Joseph, and Hank Voss. “Don Davis on Scripture Engagement through Scripture Memorization.” Poster presented at the LIFT Conference, Upland, IN, January 16, 2023.

Dr. Davis and the Great Tradition's Contribution to Leadership Development Among the Urban Poor

Danae Passero identifies how retrieving the wealth of knowledge and insights contained in the "Great Tradition" can inform congregational leadership development today.

Passero, Danae, and Hank Voss. “Sacred Roots: Dr. Davis and the Great Tradition’s Contribution to Leadership Development among the Urban Poor.” Poster presented at the LIFT Conference, Upland, IN, January 16, 2023.

Dr. Don L. Davis and Urban Ministry: Establishing the Urban Ministry Institute (TUMI)

Simeon Ploeger recounts Dr. Davis' founding of the Urban Ministry Institute.

Voss, Hank, and Simeon Ploeger. “Dr. Don L. Davis and Urban Ministry: Establishing the Urban Ministry Institute (TUMI).” Poster presented at the LIFT Conference, Upland, IN, January 16, 2023.

Rev. Dr. Don Davis and a Theology of Race

Mitch McGeath examines Rev. Dr. Don Davis' theology of race.

McGeath, Mitch, and Hank Voss. “Rev. Dr. Don Davis and a Theology of Race.” Poster presented at the LIFT Conference, Upland, IN, January 16, 2023.

Aubree Anderson reports on the impact of nineteenth-century Methodist evangelist Phoebe Palmer.

Anderson, Aubree, and Hank Voss. “Sacred Roots Thriving in Ministry: Phoebe Palmer.” Poster presented at the Taylor University Celebration of Scholarship, Upland, IN, December 5, 2022.

Saint Irenaeus of Lyons and the Modern-Day Evangelical

Gabe Bruner and Sarah Kelley investigate the writings of Irenaeus of Lyons and report their findings for evangelicals today.

Bruner, Gabe, Sarah Kelley, and Hank Voss. “Saint Irenaeus of Lyons and the Modern-Day Evangelical.” Poster presented at the Taylor University Celebration of Scholarship, Upland, IN, December 5, 2022.

The Works of Athanasius for a New Generation

Colin C. Davis assisted contributing editor Jeremy Treat in translating Athanasius' The Life of Antony and On the Incarnation.

Davis, Colin C., and Hank Voss. “The Works of Athanasius for a New Generation.” Poster presented at the Taylor University Celebration of Scholarship, Upland, IN, December 5, 2022.

A Tale of Three Congregations: Building Resilience in Congregations in Disadvantaged Neighborhoods

Makaela Brass and Zara Escamilla consider the impact of Covid-19 on congregations through three case studies utilizing Sacred Roots' framework for flourishing.

Brass, Makaela, Zara Escamilla, and Isaac Voss. “A Tale of Three Congregations: Building Resilience in Congregations in Disadvantaged Neighborhoods.” Presented at the Student Congress on Racial Reconciliation, Costa Mesa, CA, October 14, 2022.

Equipping Bivocational, Under-Resourced Congregational Leaders

Isaiah Swain briefly outlines Sacred Roots' strategy for using the Sacred Roots Spiritual Classics to equip congregational leaders in the domains of Biblical Studies, Theology and Ethics, Christian Ministry, and Global Missions.

Swain, Isaiah, and Hank Voss. “Sacred Roots Spiritual Classics: Equipping Bivocational, Under-Resourced Congregational Leaders.” Poster presented at the Taylor University Celebration of Scholarship, Upland, IN, December 2, 2021.

Fifty Influential English Spiritual Classics

Jayden Wilhelm identifies fifty especially influential Christian spiritual classics using Sacred Roots' spiritual classic database.

Wilhelm, Jayden, and Hank Voss. “Fifty Influential English Spiritual Classics.” Poster presented at the Taylor University Celebration of Scholarship, Upland, IN, December 2, 2021.

Gregory of Nazianzus and Scripture Engagement

Sam Wolowski explores Gregory of Nazianzus' view that Scripture engagement ought to be done with the guidance of the Holy Spirit and in the context of spiritual friendship.

Wolowski, Sam, and Hank Voss. “Gregory of Nazianzus and Scripture Engagement.” Poster presented at the Taylor University Celebration of Scholarship, Fort Worth, TX, December 2, 2021.

Diving Deeper into Global Missions

Cheyenne King identifies the historical use of Christian spiritual classics in global missions. She also explores two case studies: the spread of John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress across Africa and the impact of Madame Guyon's A Short and Easy Method of Prayer on Watchman Nee and Christian mysticism in China.

King, Cheyenne, and Hank Voss. “Sacred Roots Thriving in Ministry: Diving Deeper into Global Missions.” Poster presented at the Taylor University Celebration of Scholarship, Upland, IN, December 12, 2020.

Historical and Theological Foundations for Christian Ministries

Nathaniel Peters created educational resources for the history and current status of evangelical theology.

Peters, Nathaniel, and Hank Voss. “Historical and Theological Foundations for Christian Ministries.” Poster presented at the Taylor University Celebration of Scholarship, Upland, IN, December 12, 2020.

Undergraduate Research: A Liberal Arts Education

Kiersten R. Mackintosh identifies the benefits and downfalls of undergraduate research for students and faculty, describes best practices for its implementation, and analyzes why undergraduate research is a necessary pedagogical tool in liberal arts education.

Mackintosh, Kiersten R. “Undergraduate Research: A Liberal Arts Education.” Poster presented at the Taylor University Celebration of Scholarship, Upland, IN, December 12, 2020.

Love and Friendship in Ambrose, Augustine, and Aelred

Trayvon Estey discusses several ways in which love and friendship impacted his spiritual journey.

Estey, Trayvon, and Hank Voss. “Love and Friendship in Ambrose, Augustine, and Aelred.” Poster presented at the Taylor University Celebration of Scholarship, Upland, IN, April 26, 2019.

Equipping Under-Resourced Urban and Rural Ministry Leaders

Loyal Juraschek and Lucas Hagen share the vision and strategy of Sacred Roots.

Juraschek, Loyal, Lucas Hagen, and Hank Voss. “Sacred Roots Thriving in Ministry: Equipping Under-Resourced Urban and Rural Ministry Leaders.” Poster presented at the Taylor University Celebration of Scholarship, Upland, IN, April 26, 2019.

Calvin and the Spiritual Classics: Lessons for Congregational Leaders

Isaiah Swain identifies the Christian spiritual classic authors with whom John Calvin interacts in his Institutes of the Christian Religion.

Swain, Isaiah, and Hank Voss. “Calvin and the Spiritual Classics: Lessons for Congregational Leaders.” Poster presented at the Taylor University Celebration of Scholarship, Upland, IN, April 26, 2019.