Date of Award

Summer 2026

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Ministry (DMin)

College

Barnett College of Ministry & Theology

Department

Department of Christian Ministries and Religion

Primary Advisor

Dr. Jamie Stewart

Second Advisor

Dr. Bethany Torres-O'Brien

Third Advisor

Dr. Jeremy Sims

Abstract

Human beings are created in the image of God, formed through relationship with Him, and empowered by the Holy Spirit to participate in His mission. Yet personality and spiritual gifts are often considered separately, leaving believers with fragmented language for understanding who they are, how they have been formed, and how they are called to serve. Psychology offers meaningful insight into patterns of thought, emotion, behavior, and relationship, while theology grounds identity in divine creation, spiritual formation, and Spirit-empowered purpose. When these perspectives remain divided, believers may understand parts of themselves without recognizing how those dimensions work together within the larger framework of God-given design. At the center of this study is the conviction that personality and spiritual gifts may be integrated in ways that help believers connect identity in Christ, participation in ministry, and faithful service in everyday life. Drawing from biblical theology, historical and contemporary perspectives on psychology and theology, and research concerning personality, spiritual gifts, and Christian formation, the study examines how Christian adults perceive these dimensions within their own lives. A quantitative survey design was used to explore participants’ understanding of personality and spiritual gifts, their desire to learn how these dimensions function together, and whether greater perceived understanding predicts increased interest in integration. A researcher-created, fivepoint Likert-type survey was administered electronically to 1,119 Christian adults, and participant responses were evaluated using descriptive statistics, one-sample t tests, linear regression, and comparative effect-size analyses. The findings reveal both meaningful awareness and a continuing desire for deeper vii understanding. Participants expressed interest in learning how personality and spiritual gifts may work together to make a difference in the world around them, and greater perceived understanding significantly predicted greater interest in further integration. Psychology and personality integration reflected the strongest participant response, suggesting that personality may provide accessible language through which believers begin broader conversations concerning identity, relationships, giftedness, and calling. These findings point toward an opportunity for churches to move beyond using personality and spiritual gift assessments primarily for volunteer placement. When situated within spiritual formation, these tools may become resources for discipleship, vocational discernment, ministry participation, and everyday mission. The hope is not merely that believers discover where they fit within the church, but that they more fully understand who they are in Christ, how they have been empowered by the Spirit, and how their God-given design may be faithfully expressed in the church, workplace, home, and world around them.

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