This is healthCARE too: Exploring Faith Journeys and Church Experience among Young Adults. A Service Design Approach to Support Spiritual Health

Abstract

A few days ago, someone I had recently met asked me a simple question — one I should have thought about before. "Who are you writing for?" Hmmm… Who am I writing for?

Beyond its own thesis aim, this research turned out to be a deeply personal journey as well, a journey in the midst of what Fowler calls “stages of faith”. I sometimes wondered how much of me should be here, what has to be said and what does not, for ethical and position-ality reasons, and for the need to use specific tools over others, and then how to organise the information around this — including the limitations of a thesis structure. Even I found my-self confused about what should go where, how, and why, to keep the story coherent. Ulti-mately, that wasn't entirely achievable, and much of this journey isn't even in these pages.

So, who is this for? Primarily, I see it as for myself, since it represents a major milestone in my personal journey—both as a Christian and a beginner researcher—where self-discipline remains crucial. However, as one interviewed pastor noted, "we are all searching for some-thing — you, me, and young adults alike,” so I believe I am also writing for you, since you’ve begun reading this thesis. However, before you continue, there is something else I want to say.

While this thesis is rooted in reflections on faith, relationship with God, and religious com-munities, the role of spirituality and how Service Design—both as a mindset and as a method/toolset) might support young adults’ spiritual health, this work is not intended to engage in religious compare, judge, or criticize any faith or denomination. I have deep re-spect for the humble, caring, loving, and moral contributions of people from all cultures, and I sincerely appreciate many individuals from diverse backgrounds in my life. Although the work is written within a Christian context, I hope this rootedness is not perceived as exclu-sionary. I hold a deep respect and sense of responsibility toward the church community, rec-ognizing that researching in this context requires careful sensitivity. While I understand that my limitations and human imperfections can influence this work, I aim to honor the sacred identity and calling of the community I am researching within, aware of the profound mean-ing it holds that I may not fully grasp at this moment.

My aim in this research is not to prove one faith tradition is superior to another. Instead, I focus on exploring faith journeys within a particular Christian community and examining what a suitable foundation for designing with Christian communities could be. I hope that, in some small way, this work can contribute to future efforts aimed at human flourishing.

As Fowler (1981) writes, “liveliness and continuing growth in faith require self-examination and readiness for encounter with the faith perspectives of others.” (p. xiii). I am approaching this liveliness and growth through this initiative of faith journey mapping, which, in the words of Erik Erikson, seems like a combination of “playful seriousness and serious play-fulness”(Fowler, 1981, p. xiv). Although I experienced this within the community that feels most familiar to me, faith perspectives and journeys within this community may also differ. And since faith is a “universal feature of human living, recognizably similar everywhere despite the remarkable variety of forms and contents of religious practice and belief”(Fowler, 1981, p. 14), I hope the process of this thesis, these lines and the development of this ap-proach towards future research will be helpful to you, as you are reading it. Have you ever thought about your faith journey?

Until then, may this thesis serve as an imperfect yet honest, humble, and loving offering — an invitation to reflect, to dialogue, and to design with hearts open to both divine guidance and love for our neighbours. Given the sensitive nature of the research topic, I would like to note that some of the material may be emotionally challenging. Please engage with this text at your own pace for your well-being.

Whether you share an interest in faith, spirituality, and religion — whether you can articulate what you believe or not, whether you're active in a religious community or not, and whether you identify as spiritual and religious, spiritual but not religious, none, or have moved away—I hope that exploring this topic with curiosity and openness brings you something meaningful within these pages. Something that speaks to you, personally. To your own path.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”—Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)