Campus Location
Abilene Campus (Residential)
Date of Award
Fall 12-2018
Document Type
Thesis
Department
Communication
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Committee Chair or Primary Advisor
Lauren Lemley
Second Committee Member or Secondary Advisor
Joe Cardot
Third Committee Member or Committee Reader
Monty Lynn, Lynnette Sharp Penya
Abstract
Missions, especially short-term trips, are becoming more and more controversial. As short-term missionaries interact in the field, they take pictures depicting the poverty, lack of resources, and overall sense of destitution around them. These photos have helped generate income, as many Christians who see the photos as part of updates on mission work they supported come to see themselves in a position of “savior” because they have resources to give to “those in need.” Evangelism is a critical component of Christianity; however, how people evangelize and how they communicate about that evangelism is equally critical. By analyzing both the church and corporate missions reporting of Experience Life Church, Noonday, and Sseko through their use of logos, ethos, pathos, ethical storytelling, and pity appeals, this thesis addresses the questions: how do churches use mediated platforms to persuade by promoting sustainable missions, and how do ethical businesses use their platforms to persuade by promoting sustainable missions?
Recommended Citation
Cate, Bailey, "The Rhetoric of Missions Reporting" (2018). Digital Commons @ ACU, Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 118.
https://digitalcommons.acu.edu/etd/118