Adolescence is a time during which children have the opportunity to grow into adulthood. In the Western world, responsible adulthood implies becoming independent. In the rest of the world, responsible adulthood implies becoming interdependent. In either case, the Christian family and community have the opportunity and duty to guide adolescents into Christian womanhood and manhood, often assisted by youthworkers. Both Biblical and cultural paths are explored as strategies for guiding adolescents in culturally-appropriate youth ministry practices. The Rev. Daniel C. Jessen (B.A., M.A., M.Div., Ed. D.) is a semi-retired American missionary serving with Ripe for Harvest World Outreach. For sixteen years, he was a professor of family and youth ministry at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (Hamilton, MA, Boston, MA and Charlotte, NC). Other academic experience includes professorial roles at Northern Illinois University and Wheaton College Graduate School, as well as seminary-level lecturing in Armenia, Canada, Mexico, the Netherlands, Nigeria, the Philippines and Singapore. Prior to his academic career, Dr. Jessen was active in youth ministry for thirteen years as a writer, editor and curriculum specialist with Christian Service Brigade (USA.)."Dr. Dan," as he is often called, has seen youth ministry around the world as he and his wife, Nancy, have ministered globally in forty-one countries on six continents. Additionally, he has experienced American-style youth ministry at close range from the perspectives of leader, Bible teacher, camp director, discipler, writer/editor, leadership trainer, parent and grandparent.