Practical Theology in Motion: Reflections of a New Scholar

 About PTM

Practical Theology in Motion: Reflections of a New Scholar

lcome. This blog is my open journal—a space where I reflect, wonder, and share as I learn, unlearn, relearn, and continue on this journey of becoming and flourishing.

Here, I trace my exploration in Practical Theology and Christian education: rising, burning, renewing, and continuing—like the phoenix—always in motion, always reaching toward God’s horizon of hope, understanding, and optimism.

Practical Theology in Motion is my space for honest reflection and for living out faith in real time. I write as a new scholar who is not only studying theology but also discovering how it meets everyday life—in worship, in community, and in the rhythms of daily practice. At times, I may also invite guest writers to reflect and wonder alongside me, so that this space becomes a shared journey of voices and experiences.

Whether you are a student, a worshiper, a seeker, or simply curious about the intersections of faith and practice, I welcome you to join me. Together, we can reflect, learn, and grow—step by step, motion by motion.

Ayodele John Alonge, PhD
Student, Practical Theology with Education concentration
Georgia, US

Flames of Renewal: Spiritual Practices in Motion

 Flames of Renewal: Spiritual Practices in Motion

As I move through the Master of Arts in Practical Theology program at Columbia Theological Seminary, I now see spiritual disciplines as sacred rhythms that refresh my soul, mind, and body, rather than strict duties. These practices help me stay rooted in my faith, keep my spirit steady, and make me more aware of God’s presence in my life. They also support a balanced and healthy life, caring for both my spiritual and physical well-being.

Blogging and journaling have become especially meaningful to me. On my first day in the program, I started a reflective blog called Practical Theology in Motion, which serves as my open journal and a place to explore new ideas. Each week, I write about what I am learning, unlearning, and relearning as I grow. Writing feels like both a prayer and a mirror, helping me see how God is quietly shaping me through study, community, and service.

Walking and exercise also help me feel centered and restored. Whether I am on the treadmill or outside, I use that time for active meditation by listening to audio Bibles, Christian podcasts, or uplifting worship music. Moving my body becomes a way to renew my spirit, and the steady pace of walking often leads me into prayer. During these times, Scripture sinks deeper into my heart, turning everyday activity into a sacred experience.

I have also started practicing intermittent fasting for both spiritual and health reasons. Fasting gives me time for reflection, prayer, and gratitude. It helps me discipline my body, clear my mind, and remember that spiritual strength often comes from simplicity and letting go.

All of these practices work together to help me let go of distractions, renew my focus, and become more aware of God’s grace each day. They remind me that spiritual growth is not a final goal, but an ongoing journey toward wholeness in Christ.

Rising Toward Purpose: Vocational Discernment in Motion

  Rising Toward Purpose: Vocational Discernment in Motion

At this point in my life, I see my calling as a blend of education, communication, care, and theology, all working together to serve God’s renewing work. As a lecturer and a professional in library, information, and communication, I have taught and mentored many young people. The Master of Arts in Practical Theology (MAPT) program at Columbia Theological Seminary has transformed my perspective on education. Now, I see it not just as sharing knowledge, but as helping to transform lives.

My early experiences with Christian education still shape my sense of calling. Family devotions, Sunday school, the Boys’ Brigade, and singing in the church choir taught me that real education is about building character, not just learning facts. As John Ruskin wrote, education is “leading human souls to what is best and making what is best out of them.” This idea now guides my work. I want to help others find meaning, healing, and purpose.

Today, I sense God calling me to bring my background in Library, information and communication studies into dialogue with theology — using new media, digital storytelling, and creative expression to make the gospel more accessible in contemporary culture. In a world where screens often shape belief, I feel drawn to help the Church harness these tools for discipleship, worship, and pastoral engagement.

My journey is also leading me toward Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE), where I am learning to listen deeply, care with compassion, and walk with others through pain and change. This feels like a new chapter in my vocation, as I transition from the familiar world of academia into new areas of faith formation and spiritual care.

Each experience in teaching, research, reflection, and care ministry has been a refining flame, preparing me for service at the intersection of faith, formation, and transformation. I pray to remain open to the Spirit’s renewing fire, rising again and again to let my life, words, and work reflect the enduring light of God’s grace.

Faith Rising: My Statement of Hope and Renewal

 

Faith Rising: My Statement of Hope and Renewal

“Even from the ashes, faith learns to fly again.”
— Inspired by Isaiah 61:3

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I believe in One God,
holy and eternal —
the Breath behind all beginnings,
the Artist who paints light into dust
and calls beauty out of ashes.

He is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit —
three in one,
a circle of love without end.
(Genesis 1:1; Isaiah 61:3; Matthew 28:19)

I believe in Jesus Christ,
God clothed in humanity,
born of the Virgin by the Spirit’s power.

He walked among us with compassion’s flame,
healed the broken,
lifted the weary,
and carried our sorrow to the cross.

But the story did not end in silence.
On the third day, He rose —
the first fire of resurrection,
declaring that death is never final.
(John 1:14; Luke 24:6; Philippians 2:8–9)

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the refining fire of God’s breath,
stirring embers into flame.

The Spirit whispers truth,
awakens courage,
and kindles love in restless hearts.
(Acts 2:1–4; John 14:26; Romans 8:26–27)

I believe in the Holy Bible,
the Word that burns but does not consume,
a lamp for our steps,
a light for our path,
a living voice guiding us home to Christ.
(2 Timothy 3:16–17; Psalm 119:105)

I believe in the Church,
the living body of Christ —
rising and falling,
yet never forsaken.

Called from weariness to worship,
from division to unity,
from complacency to mission.
(Ephesians 4:4–6; 1 Corinthians 12:12–13)

I believe in humanity,
formed in the image of God —
to love, to serve, to tend the earth,
to walk humbly in grace and justice.

Though sin mars the mirror,
Christ restores its reflection,
making all things new.
(Genesis 1:27; Micah 6:8; 2 Corinthians 5:17)

And I hold to the promise of Romans 8:28 —
that all things, even ashes,
can be shaped into beauty by His hand.

For endings are beginnings in disguise,
and every fall holds a seed of rising.

 Like the phoenix,

faith burns, refines, and soars —
a living flame that renews both heart and world.

For joy is not a destination,
but a voyage through fire and grace.
And in this sacred journey,
I choose gratitude.
I choose hope.
I choose to rise again.
(Philippians 1:6; 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18)

From Ashes to Renewal: The Phoenix Metaphor for Practical Theology

 From Ashes to Renewal: The Phoenix Metaphor for Practical Theology

I understand Practical Theology as a phoenix-like journey — a living cycle of death, transformation, and rebirth. Like the mythical bird that bursts into flames only to rise renewed from its ashes, Practical Theology captures the rhythm of faith that is continually refined through reflection, practice, and renewal.

To me, Practical Theology is about exploring how faith is lived, experienced, and expressed in real life. It connects belief with action, Scripture with culture, and theory with practice. Instead of viewing theology as merely abstract knowledge, it encourages us to seek God’s presence and truth in the everyday moments of ministry, service, and community life.

The phoenix metaphor shows me that faith is not something fixed; it changes, grows, and becomes stronger. In this way, Practical Theology is a process of renewal, where the church and its people reflect on what has lost its energy, let go of what no longer brings life, and find new ways to live out their faith.

Reflecting on my experiences with ECWA Chapel in Ibadan, Nigeria, as well as within RCCG in the Netherlands and The Gideons International, I observe this phoenix pattern clearly. Faith communities frequently encounter challenges, particularly in engaging and retaining younger generations. However, through prayer, mentoring, and renewed dedication to service, these communities can experience revitalization.

I do not claim that the phoenix metaphor fully captures the depth of Practical Theology; rather, it gives me a vivid starting point. It helps me see theology as faith in motion — dynamic, resilient, and responsive to God’s ongoing work in the world. As I continue my studies, I hope to refine and expand this understanding and these insights that reveal how God’s Spirit continually brings life from the ashes.

 

Faith In Motion: Methods For Living Practical Theology

 

 Faith In Motion: Methods For Living Practical Theology

      The Practical Theology program at Columbia Theological Seminary, I expected to learn theories, frameworks, and theological terms. Instead, I found an invitation to let theology shape my everyday life. Practical Theology challenged me not just to understand faith, but to live it out and let my beliefs guide how I respond to the world.

Among the various approaches we studied, Osmer’s Four Tasks of Practical Theology had a profound impact on my way of thinking.  At first, I understood it primarily as a conceptual model. But when I applied it to a real theology challenge, the method came alive in meaningful and surprising ways.

For my project, I examined a concern in my home church, ECWA Chapel Ibadan: the gradual disconnection of young people after they leave for university. Over the years, I have seen many dedicated youths slowly drift away from church life as they face new social settings, academic demands, and more independence.

I used Osmer’s Four Tasks to guide a process that involved both reflection and action:

Descriptive-Empirical Task: I observed and listened to understand how and why youth engagement decreased over time.

Interpretive Task: By reading scholars like Turbi Luka Reuben and Esteban Quiyono, I realized the problem was not poor teaching, but a loss of community support and accountability.

Normative Task: Scripture and ECWA tradition reminded me that discipleship lasts a lifetime, and the church’s responsibility continues even when members move to new places.

Pragmatic Task: I formulated practical strategies, including mentorship networks, church–campus partnerships, and digital discipleship spaces, to support faith development beyond the church’s physical setting.

This process taught me that Practical Theology is not static knowledge. It is faith in motion—dynamic, relational, and continually renewed. Like a phoenix rising through cycles of reflection and action, Practical Theology brings belief and life into meaningful conversation.

Studying at Columbia Theological Seminary has given me more than academic tools. It has offered a vision of theology as a living flame—one that must continue to burn, guiding our words, choices, and actions as we follow Christ into the complexities of the real world.

 

About Me

I’m Dr. Ayodele John Alonge — a scholar, educator, researcher, and storyteller with a deep passion for connecting faith, education, technology, and the human experience. Popularly known as OptimisticScholar, my journey spans the fields of communication research, digital transformation, information science, and theology, giving me a unique perspective on how knowledge, spirituality, and innovation shape our world.

I hold a Ph.D. in Communication and Information Studies, completed under the prestigious CARTA PhD Fellowship (APHRC), where my research examined how young people in Southwestern Nigeria use social media for HIV and AIDS communication. I also hold a Master’s in Publishing and Copyright Studies and a Bachelor of Library and Information Studies.

As a Digital Transformation Researcher and Trainee at the Digital Society School, Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, my work focuses on service design, human-centered digital systems, and the ethical integration of AI into sustainable knowledge frameworks. I also serve as an organizer of the International Conference on AI and Sustainable Knowledge Systems (ICSKS 2025) hosted at Karatina University, Kenya.

Beyond the digital and academic realms, my journey extends into theology and spiritual formation, including studies at Columbia Theological Seminary, where I explore how faith informs healing, communication, and pastoral care. As both a scholar and a believer, I see learning as a sacred act — a continual rising, like the phoenix, into deeper understanding, compassion, and service.

I am the founder and writer behind OptimisticScholar.com, where I share insights on innovation, leadership, spiritual growth, and the future of knowledge in an ever-changing world.

My commitment to service and community is expressed through several leadership roles, including:

• Storyteller, Communication Officer & Campus Liaison — Digital Society school Amsterdam 2024-2025

• Membership Coordinator an chaplian  — Gideons International, Netherlands 2023-2025

• Facilitator — Wonder of Worship Youth initiative, Amsterdam 2024- til date

• Organizer — academic, faith-based, and professional events across Africa and Europe

Above all, I am blessed with a loving and supportive family who continually remind me of God’s faithfulness, grace, and enduring love. Together, we strive to live with gratitude, joy, and purpose — growing stronger through every season of change.

“Family is the first sanctuary where faith learns to speak and love learns to serve.”

📫 Connect with me:

·         LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ayoalonge

·         Facebook: facebook.com/ayoalonge

·         Twitter/X: x.com/DrAlongeAJ

Faith in Motion: Living, Learning, and Rising Through Practical Theology

 

Faith in Motion: Living, Learning, and Rising Through Practical Theology

 “Even from the ashes, faith learns to fly again.”

Inspired by Isaiah 61:3

Welcome to my E-Portfolio, a place where faith, reflection, and practice come together. This collection of writings and experiences comes from my journey in the Master of Arts in Practical Theology (MAPT) program at Columbia Theological Seminary.

When I began this program, I expected to study theological theories and frameworks. What I found instead was a living invitation  to let theology shape how I live, serve, think, and teach. Practical Theology has taught me that faith is not static knowledge but a living motion — a way of continually listening, reflecting, acting, and being renewed by God’s Spirit.

Throughout this portfolio, you will encounter the bird, the phoenix , a symbol of faith that rises, burns, and is reborn. Each page captures a moment in this ongoing rhythm of transformation:

💫 Methods of Doing Practical Theology: how Osmer’s Four Tasks became a framework for connecting faith and real-life ministry challenges.

💫 Metaphor for Practical Theology: why I see theology as a phoenix journey — a continual cycle of reflection, renewal, and rising.

💫 Statement of Belief: my Phoenix Creed — a poetic confession of faith in the Triune God, inspired by Scripture and hope.

💫 Vocational Discernment: how my calling as an educator, communicator, and pastoral caregiver is being refined through study and practice.

💫 Spiritual Disciplines: the sacred rhythms of writing, walking, and fasting that nurture my body and soul as I grow in this journey.

Through these reflections, I hope to show that theology is not confined to classrooms or pulpits. It lives in every conversation, every act of care, and every moment of honest wrestling with faith.

Like the phoenix, I continue to rise — learning, unlearning, and being remade in the light of God’s renewing grace.