Entering Their World: A Qualitative Look At The
Changing Face Of Contemporary Adolescence
Chapman R. Clark

               Chap Clark summarizes an ongoing ethnographic study of the culture and world of the middle adolescent in the context of a public high school campus in north Los Angeles county, California. Clark examines his own research observations in light of a wide variety of current research on the state of adolescents today. He concludes that while some researchers, such as Mike Males, believe adolescents have never been in better shape, there is ample qualitative evidence to seriously challenge that view.

Is The Sonlife Strategy The Strategy Of Jesus? Replicating
Dann Spader's Study Of A Harmony Of The Gospels
Mark H. Senter III

               Mark Senter uses Sonlife's own materials and Thomas & Gundry's The NIV Harmony of the Gospels to evaluate Spader's initial study of the ministry of Jesus and the Sonlife ministry strategy that he created as a result. Senter seeks to determine the validity of Sonlife's claims by trying to replicate Spader's study method. He explains his assumptions and findings, and ultimately concludes that Spader's methods are not the methods of Jesus.

A Response To Senter's "Is The Sonlife Strategy The Strategy Of Jesus?"
Dann Spader

               Dann Spader's response to Mark Senter's article. Spader points out what he believes are flaws in Senter's study and explains his own guiding principles for studying the life of Christ.

The Place Of History In Youth Ministry Education
Thomas E. Bergler

               Tom Bergler recounts a panel discussion that occurred at the October 2001 Youth Ministry Educators' Forum in Chicago which centered around the importance of using youth ministry history to spark discussion in the classroom. Bergler also discusses some history texts which youth ministry educators could use and suggests ways to incorporate the study of history into a youth ministries curriculum.

Factors Influencing Vocatioal Changes Among Youth Ministers
Jonathan Grenz

                Jonathan Grenz shares his study of members of the National Network of Youth Ministries and explores issues related to the career patterns of current and former youth ministers. While this study seems to dismiss the much quoted 18-month tenure of youth ministers, it shows that many change churches after only a few years. The reasons for leaving a church include inadequate salaries, greater opportunities for successful work in a new position, conflict with senior pastors, unhealthy spiritual environment within the church, and disillusionment with their present local church.

The Youth Ministry Education Debate:
Irrelevant Theorists vs. Mindless Practitioners
David Livermore

               Dave Livermore challenges the current state of formal youth ministry education. Combining his personal research and observations, the author criticizes the dichotomy between theory and practice, and suggests specific aspects of academia that need to be rethought.