Link Institute's Study of Protestant Youth Ministers in America, a two-year, $173,000, study funded by Lilly Endowment, Inc., examined key issues relevant to the profession of youth ministry. It sought to provide youth workers, senior pastors, and denominational leaders with a better understanding of the youth ministry enterprise.

Some of the key issues explored are the youth minister's need for continual spiritual health, renewal, challenge and growth. Other issues addressed are the need for a clear overall vision for ministry, improving time management, discipling and mobilizing leaders, better leadership development and training, more fellowship and networking, reaching out to a growing multi-cultural society, and greater acknowledgment of professional issues (status, salary, titles, job descriptions).

As a part of the Link Institute's study, data was gathered from 13 denominational groups and parachurch organizations – Assembly of God, Episcopal, Evangelical Covenant, Evangelical Free, Evangelical Lutheran, Independent Fundamental Churches of America, National Baptist Convention, Presbyterian Church (USA), Southern Baptist, United Methodist, Young Life, Youth for Christ, and Youth With a Mission. Over 5,000 youth ministers from these denominations and organizations, who were chosen through a random, scientific sampling process, received a lengthy questionnaire. The data collected from this survey has made this project the largest-ever study of the profession of youth ministry.

This web-site is intended to complement the book by supplying two forms of raw data: demographic summary tables and item cluster/reliability tables.

Research Conducted on the Lilly-funded Study of Protestant Youth Ministers in America

The findings of this massive research project, as well as a detailed summary of our research procedure, is to be published in September, 2001, with the following bibliographic data:

Strommen, Merton and Jones, Karen and Rahn, Dave. (2001). Youth ministry that transforms: A comprehensive analysis of the hopes, frustrations, and effectiveness of today's youth workers. Zondervan/Youth Specialties Academic.