Youth Ministry Education: Where Practice, Theology, And Social Science Intersect
Pamela Erwin

               This article looks at the significance of practice, theology, and the social sciences in the preparation and education of youth ministry students. Erwin highlights the increasing significance of social science research on the field of youth ministry and considers the challenges at effectively integrating the social sciences with theological reflection leading to informed practice.

Youth Ministry That Lasts: The Faith Journey of Young Adults
Wesley Black

               The purpose of this study was to investigate why some youth who are faithful and active in church and religious life go on to remain faithful and active in young adulthood, while many others do not. Quantitative surveys were completed by 1362 young adults aged 18-30. Qualitative group interviews were conducted with 24 groups (n=178) including both active and non-active young adults, exploring factors involved in lifestyle, relationships, and religious participation. Results indicated that relational components, family components, teen faith and practices, and young adult religious practices were associated with continued religious participation following high school graduation.

The Relationships Between Faith Maturity, Intrinsic and Extrinsic
Orientations to Religion And Youth Ministry Involvement
Barry Gane and Jimmy Kijai

               The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between faith maturity, intrinsic and extrinsic motivation and youth ministry involvement. We used data from Valuegenesis II, a North American national survey of youths attending Seventh-day Adventist schools in Grades 6-12. Analysis of variance results suggest that youths who are highly involved in youth ministry have significantly higher levels of faith maturity, intrinsic and extrinsic orientations to religion than those moderately involved or those least involved. Those moderately involved, in turn, have higher levels of faith maturity, intrinsic and extrinsic orientations than those least involved. It should be noted, however, that all three groups have low levels of extrinsic motivation. The results of this study indicate that there is a connection between exposure to youth ministry and faith maturity, and orientations to religion.

Results Of A Collaborative Research Project In Gathering Evangelism Stories
Thomas E. Bergler and Dave Rahn

               This study of the factors influencing adolescent conversions used saturation sampling of school districts to collect 70 usable interviews with teenagers who had experienced Christian conversions between 2003 and 2005. When describing their experiences, subjects most often cited the following factors: 1) Church Camp/Retreat/Special Event/Conferences, 2) Personal Turmoil, and 3) Friends Non-verbal. When asked to name the most important influence on their conversion, subjects most commonly identified the following: 1) Friends Non-verbal, 2) Friends Verbal, and 3) Parents. ANOVA tests revealed statistically significant relationships between particular influences on conversion and the following individual characteristics: family religious background, childhood religious experiences, age and gender.

The Pac-Man Syndrome: The Missing Congruence
Of Philosophy and Practice In Youth Ministry
Michael K. Severe

               Findings from a qualitative survey of youth ministers from the National Network of Youth Ministries in Illinois suggest disconnection between stated priorities and the allocation of resources and time. Administrative duties, ministry fads and program maintenance requirements undermine relational goals for these youth ministers. They generally describe a sense of powerlessness to align their time allocation with their ministry goals, suggesting the need to identify and implement a cohesive ministry philosophy. Youth ministers in the study often subordinated ministry goals to methods, creating programs that became self-perpetuating and uncontrollable and which undermined the stated purposes for which they were created. There was often a dramatic disconnect between ministry practice and philosophy as well as an inarticulate ministry philosophy and uncritical adoption of ministry strategies. The study suggests possible factors contributing to this situation and strategies to address it.