Every year one million young persons cross the threshold into the complex and uncertain world of adolescence they become heirs to the whirlwind of social upheaval and changing values in-herited from the generations of their parents and grandparents. Surrounded by adults with whose life perceptions they cannot relate, today's youth are having difficulty finding their role in the Christian community. How the church can reach out to these young men and women with an understanding ministry attuned to the culture of the '80s is the basic theme explored by Barbara Hargrove and Stephen Jones. The first section of this book will help pastors, leaders, and parents understand the world in which today's youth live and the characteristics of their generation. Hargrove discusses differences between the generations of the '40s, '60s, and '80s, the problems and options with which today's youth are attempting to cope, the nature and influence of peer groups, and the struggle of adolescents to develop personal identity amid a bewildering array of ideologies. Her suggestions will help churches stimulate positive interaction between these three distinct generations. This in-depth study of the characteristics and problems of today's youth provides an excellent foundation on which a church may evaluate its needs for this im-

portant ministry.