I am not sure if inconsistencies in formatting and font are in the document or due to an upload error, but the distortion was a bit distracting. The tone of the article is a bit informal. It should be written in the third person. The punctuation needs to be cleaned up throughout as well.

The sections on the beliefs of the SBC and the Catholic church don't seem necessary. They don't seem to play a role in providing a foundation for what is to come, and if they were to be a pillar of the argument, they are not presented in adequate detail. I would support any specific scriptural issues directly with scripture. 

I agree with a lot of what Molly stated. The formatting is distracting and the article informal and would be better suited written in third person. 

That being said, the focus appears to be valid, important, and relevant, especially within the context of Christian education and the broader discourse on moral and ethical education. The value of the manuscript lies in its comprehensive examination of Christian service, which provides insights for educators, policymakers, and researchers interested in promoting character development and moral education in educational settings. The findings and conclusions are important and meaningful, as they contribute to our understanding of how Christian principles can inform teaching practices and curriculum design. The scope, intent, and implications of the manuscript appear to be aligned with the focus of JIR. The theoretical and empirical focus of the manuscript seems worthy of publication, as it combines theoretical discussions with practical insights and draws on relevant literature to support its arguments. The manuscript adds value to our knowledge of the field by offering a comprehensive exploration of Christian service in education and its implications for character development, virtue ethics, and institutional practices. Overall, it appears to make a significant contribution to the scholarly discourse on moral education and Christian pedagogy.

Consider restructuring the manuscript to enhance clarity and flow. Break down complex ideas into smaller, digestible sections and use clear headings to guide the reader through the content.  Ensure that each section of the manuscript directly contributes to the overall focus and relevance of the topic. Remove any tangential or unrelated discussions to maintain a cohesive narrative. Streamline the text by eliminating redundant phrases (for example: the manuscript says  "The author believes that a Christian worldview in an intentionally Christian institution necessitates building Christian character, in part, through Christian service."  In the original sentence, the phrase "in part" is redundant because stating that Christian character is built "through Christian service" already implies that it is one aspect among potentially others. Removing "in part" makes the sentence more concise without altering its meaning and avoids unnecessary repetition.

While others have noted noticeable formatting concerns, the article's message was valid and relevant. Some areas need headings to increase the flow of each section. The manuscript's focus lends a very relevant and important discussion on Christian education, especially when Christian worldviews have been altered. The section that briefly discusses secular views could be developed to highlight how the Christian institution in this inclusive era will maintain the “what” of Christian character and service.  The findings are meaningful and add to the understanding of Christian principles utilized in the curriculum. Overall, the manuscript adds to and significantly contributes to the field.

Hi,
I think the overarching themes of this manuscript are actually quite significant, valid, and relevant to this day and age. I agree with Demetra that adding appropriate headings would strengthen the overall flow of the paper and make it easier for the reader to follow. Additionally, it would be wonderful if you could add some more references to sources that bridge the gap between secular and Christian service with respect to the what, why, how, and when in terms of service-based pedagogy. I think the reference of Carter and Underwood you cited certainly does a great job of that. Lastly, it would be nice if you could explain in more detail the connection between the oxymoron of intentional spontaneity and the when of Christian service, in addition to the anecdote regarding Soulforce, which was a wonderful example. Thank you for your contribution and best of luck with its publication!

The formatting is distracting, as it was for others. For me, it is the bold, italic type words - not necessary. I found the focus of his paper is valid and relevant. I regularly teach a course on servant leadership and a section of the curriculum requires students to explore other religions in the context of a worldview. Aguillard’s paper included an overview of these religions from a different viewpoint. I did appreciate the references and the chart in the Appendix that was conducted during the early stages of the pandemic. It would be interesting to conduct a survey now. I think many of the answers would change to a higher percentage of Americans believing in God’s Word. Overall, the author did add content that is valuable in teaching students about Christian values and why they are important.

The focus and topic of the manuscript are important and relevant for today’s educators. The examples give us pause for reflection about how our Christianity can be expressed strongly, yet subtly, which is very important for educators working within secular schools. I would like to see some context for the reported percentages within the narrative. Adding some information about who was surveyed, when, by whom etc…would help to strengthen the points. I would have liked to see more emphasis on integrating the framework into preservice education and curriculum.  APA formatting and documentation should be addressed.

I loved the example of the football team demonstrating spontaneous Christianity. I enjoyed reading this paper and the great reminder and motivation it provides! 

The manuscript adds significant value to the our field. It does focuses on Christian education and addresses the importance of maintaining Christian character   The findings of the manuscript contribute meaningfully to the understanding of Christian principles in the curriculum. I alsonoticed formatting issues but hopefully that can be fixed easily. One of my favorite verses in the Bible is Galatians 5:13 so I was glad to read that sited. Overall, nice contribution to the field. 

Excellent points were raised about teaching being of service. Very good organization of breaking down the "what", "when", "why" and "how" since they are all distinctly different. The concepts from Carter and Underwood are excellent. What we send out into the world as Christians is how it is reflected back to us. This approach encourages us to understand that we are not at the center - practicing humility is key. 

Also, excellent notation from Linda Darling-Hammond regarding how one cannot separate nurturing and teaching as the two are intertwined and interrelated. Service learning cultivates a sense of purpose and place in the world. 

Some of these comments about the formatting seem like worthwhile considerations to note. In addition to checking on formatting details, I think these topics are pertinent in today’s society, especially in a Christian teaching environment. I am relieved to see a scholar bring attention to these topics. You do a great job outlining the main ideas of your paper with grounded support!

I also agree with previous comments about humility with a Christian teaching philosophy. As educators, at some point in life, we were the ones being educated as students. So, it is paramount to remember how it feels for those who are students now in higher education.  

You've got plenty of comments about the formatting, and I'm sure you'll work on fixing that. However, the formatting did not take away from the message of the paper. There are also some comments regarding the third person and if you're writing in APA style, you are to use first-person pronouns to describe your work and your reactions. This is covered in section 4.16 of the 7th edition of the APA style manual. "Do not use the third person to refer to yourself. Writers are often tempted to do this as a way to sound more formal or scholarly; however, it can create ambiguity for readers about whether you or someone else performed an action" (American Psychological Association, 2019, para. 2).  I appreciate how you organized the paper into the what, when, why, and how. Your findings are very relevant to Christian education.