Countering Mission Drift in a Faith-based Organization: An Interdisciplinary Theological Interpretation Focused on the Case Study of World Vision's Identity Formation

This book presents the case study of World Vision as a useful contribution in the discussion of mission drift, a common phenomenon facing faith-based organizations. Mission drift has been categorised as a drifting away from the organization’s founding mission, purpose and identity. Practical theological interpretation is undertaken in this case study. There are four phases involved in this approach: design, collection, analysis and recommendation.
In the first phase, design, the key terms of the dissertation are explicated. One key model used is the identity formation model of organizations. In the second phase, collection, the actual collection of the empirical research is documented. Empirical research was done in two separate locations where World Vision worked in: Papua New Guinea and Nepal. In the third phase, analyzing, the findings of the empirical research are analysed firstly using the identity formation model, and more normatively, through the use of the normative practice model. In the final phase, recommendations are made in light of the analysis. These recommendations are also framed using the identity formation model with content and process recommendations given.

Peirong Lin (PhD) is an affiliated researcher at the Evangelische Theologische Faculteit, Leuven, Belgium as well as the HR Director and Research Coordinator for the World Evangelical Alliance's Department for Theological Concerns in Bonn, Germany. She has studied in university institutions in three different continents majoring in different academic disciplines. Inspired by her practitioner background in different international Christian organizations, she recently defended her dissertation (March 2018) on countering mission drift in faith-based organizations. Native to Singapore, Peirong grew up in a multi-cultural and religious context. She is passionate about how Christian values can positively influence society. She is married and based in Bonn, Germany.