In this paper we present an analysis of WhatsApp interactions in youth care. In family-style group care young people temporarily live in the family of professional foster parents (PFP), while they regularly visit their birth parents (BPs). Our data consist of instant messaging conversations between 11 pairs of PFPs and BPs during two months. Using Conversation Analysis (CA), we focused on the social interaction between BPs and PFPs, achieved in and through multi-modally constructed sequences of updates - responses.

In their missionary endeavors, many Christians today may well experience a gap between articulating traditional beliefs (handed down ‘cognitive truths’) and a desire to live as a Christian in their ordinary, daily life, focusing on embodiment, practical action, or doing. This leads to resistance or insecurity with respect to engaging in apologetic dialogue or conversations about being a missionary church.

Missiology has always been inspired by soteriology, that is, Christian views of salvation. However, little is known about the actual soteriological beliefs of missionary practitioners. This article is an explorative qualitative study of soteriological beliefs among Dutch Protestant ministers who work in pioneer settings (N=20) and established churches (N=40). Our research shows that, contrary to what might be expected, these two groups (termed ‘pioneers’ and ‘pastors’) are very much alike with regard to their soteriological beliefs.

In a micro-analysis of two cases from the Netherlands, Instant Messaging conversations between birth parents and professional foster parents were studied. The study reveals there are three types of activity in Instant Messaging: aligning dialogues, exhchange of information, and relationship building. Aligning dialogues are the most common. These are aimed at coordinating (daily) matters around the youngster’s situation. Following aligning initiations, the conversations may change into the two other activity types: (background) exchange of information and relationship building.

Blue-collar workers often have disadvantageous health statuses and might therefore benefit from a combination of individual and environmental workplace health promotion interventions. Exploring stakeholders’ perceived facilitators and barriers regarding the combined implementation of these interventions in blue-collar work settings is important for effective implementation. A qualitative study consisting of 20 stakeholder interviews within six types of organisations in The Netherlands was conducted.

Veel kerken willen in onze tijd open geloofsgemeenschappen zijn. Ze willen zich niet opsluiten in het eigen gelijk en zich niet afschermen van de omgeving. Tegelijk willen ze ook niet verwateren en helemaal gaan samenvallen met hun omgeving. Ze zoeken dus een weg tussen grensbewaking en grensvervaging. In dit themanummer van het tijdschrift Inspirare (2022-4) wordt bijbels-theologisch en praktisch-theologisch naar dit spanningsveld gekeken. Verschillende onderzoekers van de Christelijke Hogeschool Ede hebben aan dit nummer meegewerkt.