These blog postings have not been an effort to berate or belittle the field of youth ministry’s efforts regarding adolescent faith formation. Even the materials from the National Study on Youth and Religion are not designed to rate youth ministry as ineffective. The study had concluded that for Catholic youth, participation in youth group, religious education, or being a Catholic school student results in an increase in religious practices and a decrease in at-risk behaviors.

Dr. Christian Smith in Soul Searching indicates in his conclusions that religious congregations and other religious organizations are uniquely positioned in the array of social institution operating in the United States to embrace youth, to connect with adolescents, to strengthen ties between adults and teenagers.” However, “it will not happen automatically. It will require intentionality and investment.”