• The College Transition Project, a three-year study on youth transitioning to college, found that high school seniors largely point to youth pastors as their reason for going to youth ministry and as their source of support.
• According to the responses received, 162 of which were usable, 68 percent said it is "very true" or "completely true" they go to youth group because they like their youth pastor.
  • The second most popular reason was "I learn about God there," which was followed by 58 percent who said "It's fun."
  • Other reasons listed as "very true" or "completely true" by at least 50 percent of the students included "I feel comfortable there," "I've always gone to church/youth group," "It's a place where I can learn to serve," and "It feels like a real community."
  • The least likely reason students listed was that their parents make them go or that they feel guilty if they don't go.
• 70 % of Students wanted more or much more time for deep conversation in their youth groups
  • 65 wanted more mission trips
  • 65 percent wanted more accountability
  • 58 percent wanted more time to worship
  • Ranked last was the desire for more games.
  • Although 56 percent said they wanted more Bible study, the study highlighted its lower ranking among the listed changes and pointed to the little time seniors spend on reading the Bible on their own.
    • A separated questionnaire had indicated that the seniors read the Bible by themselves an average of 2 to 3 times per month.
• Earlier results from the project's first pilot phase had found that 100 percent of students who graduated from youth ministry had engaged in risk behaviors (alcohol, drugs, etc..)
• When it came to integrating their faith into their life choices, 85.1 percent agreed that it is important that God be pleased with their dating relationship
  • 81.5 percent agreed that they try to see setbacks and crises as part of God's larger plan
  • 75.9 percent said it is important that their future career somehow embody a calling from God
  • 72.2 percent said it was important to them to seek God's will in choosing what college to attend

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