This National Student Leadership Research Project proved to be an immensely fulfilling adventure, largely because it allowed us to synergize our roles as minister-mentors and researcher-teachers. Bringing along a research team around such shared experiences has made possible a level of fulfillment that will be difficult to match.

This study provides some robust findings largely because of the multi-level strength of the research design and analysis. When quantitative and qualitative date combine to support conclusions, our confidence levels increase dramatically. These types of designs seem well-suited to research in the field of youth ministry.

The study also has limitations of generalization derived largely from the convenience nature of the sample which was researched. Purely urban contexts, ethnic and multi-ethnic groups, and some important para-church groups were under-represented in this research.

As a final, global observation, we would note that, while there are some incredibly exciting ministries to youth “out there”, it was not a snap to locate those youth ministries which have a history of developing their student leaders for effective peer evangelism. Our hope is that this research can positively change this state of affairs.

Footnotes

• [1]Some of the best contributions follow: 

• In Penetrating the Campus (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1993), 

• St. Clair and Naylor include a chapter entitled "Mobilizing Students to Reach Their Campus." 

• Cordeiro wrote a chapter called "Developing Student Leadership" in the Dausey edited book, 

• The Youth Leader's Sourcebook (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1983). 

• Sonlfe's teaching on this matter is philosophically developed in The Sonlife Strategy by Spader (Wheaton, IL: Sonlife, 1993) and practically coached by Garda (ed.) in How to Begin Your Ministry Team (Wheaton, IL: Sonlife, 1996). 

• Johnston's effort, Developing Student Leaders (El Cajon, CA: Youth Specialties, 1992) is a significant, though largely practical work. 

• Finally, recent efforts by Boshers, Student Ministry for the 21st Century, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1997)

• Fields, Purpose-Driven Youth Ministry (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1998) both include important discussions about student leadership.