Congregational Connectivity:
The Key To Keeping Youth In The Church
Timothy S. Gibson

               Youth are leaving the church at an alarming rate. Congregations must begin to address the reasons why so many adolescents exit the church, especially as they graduate high school and leave for college. This article asserts that youth ministries should begin to embrace a more ecclesiological perspective by finding ways to integrate teenagers into the body of Christ. By doing so, teenagers will come to recognize the essential nature of the church in their spiritual growth, see their importance to the church, and discover the church's relevance in today's world.  Some practical suggestions to congregations are offered.

Contemporary African Theory And Praxis Of Youth Ministry
Saneta M. Maiko

               This article defines and explains some of the theories and practices of youth ministry in Africa. It deals with the faith issues involved with youth ministry, the aspects of outreach strategies, Christian citizenship, parenting, and the paradox between youth culture and faith in Africa. Through examining African cultural background and contemporary African youth culture, the current state of youth ministry in Africa is explored.

A Comparison of Three Data Collection Survey Modes Among Southern
Baptist Youth Workers: Group-Administered, E-mail/Web, and Mail
Jay Lloyd Sedwick, Jr.

               Southern Baptist youth workers were surveyed using three distinct data collection modes to determine the differences between response rates and between subject score means and standard deviations. The data collection modes were group-administered, e-mail/web, and mail. The study also included a determination of the differences between total cost, time to complete the data cycle, and response time across the modes. The mail survey response rate was significantly higher than the e-mail/web or group-administered survey modes. The e-mail/web subject score means were significantly higher than the mail or group-administered survey modes. The mail survey total cost was higher than the e-mail/web or group-administered survey modes. The group-administered survey was completed faster than the e-mail/web or mail survey modes.

Music Preferences, Personality Style and Developmental Issues of Adolescents
Kelly Schwartz

               This study examine the personality characteristics and developmental issues of three groups of music listeners: those preferring "light" qualities of music, "heavy" qualities, and those who had eclectic tastes in music. One hundred seventy-five adolescents (97 females, 78 males; age range = 12 - 19 years, M = 16) completed an age-appropriate personality inventory and a systematic measure of music listening preference. The findings indicate that each music preference group had a distinct profile of personality dimensions and developmental issues. Thus, there was considerable support for the general hypothesis that adolescents prefer listening to music that reflect themes and qualities that match specific personalities and the developmental issues with which they are dealing.

Determining Research Needs In North American Christian Youth Ministry: A Delphi Study
Dan Lambert

               Using a three-tiered Delphi study, 191 experts were asked to participate in each of three rounds of written questioning over a six-month period. Of those contacted, 86 responded to the first round, which asked for a list of research topics from each participant. Of that number, 62 responded to round two, which had the respondents rate each research item on a 7-point Likert scale, and 61 responded to round three, which shared the group means from round two and provided an opportunity to re-rate each item if desired.
               The results indicate that there is a need for scientific study of adolescent faith development, its long-term growth or decline, and factors that directly and indirectly impact faith development, including family issues, friends, significant adults, and societal influences. Other research ideas receiving support were "big picture" issues such as youth ministry education, characteristics of effective churches, cross-cultural youth ministry issues, and family influences at large.