Subject Area
Religion
Abstract
Adolescence is a formative period in which young people seek meaning, identity, and belonging while navigating a complex array of cultural, social, and developmental pressures. In suburban American contexts, these pressures are intensified by competitive academic environments, demanding extracurricular commitments, and pervasive societal expectations that equate worth with achievement. Drawing from my experience as a youth minister in suburban United Methodist churches, this dissertation examines how such forces shape the spiritual and personal development of 15- to 18-year-olds and explores the Church’s role in guiding adolescents through this landscape with wisdom and care.
Grounded in the Christian tradition and informed by biblical wisdom, this project argues that adolescents are capable of profound spiritual maturity and that the Church is uniquely positioned to help them cultivate identities rooted not in performance but in Christ-centered connection. By engaging primary literature in Christian spirituality and integrating insights from theology, psychology, sociology, and history, this dissertation proposes a spiritually grounded framework for youth ministry in suburban Protestant contexts. Central to this framework is the reframing of success through the lens of Christian discipleship and the integration of spiritual disciplines that nurture attentiveness to God, foster discernment, and support adolescents in interpreting the influences that shape their lives.
This work contends that spiritual disciplines and contemplative practices offer adolescents essential tools for navigating the pressures of suburban life and for understanding their lives as part of a larger pilgrimage toward God. Ultimately, this dissertation seeks to equip youth ministers and leaders of suburban Protestant churches to serve as faithful companions in this journey, empowering young people to develop spiritual connectivity to the Divine and discern God’s voice amid the competing narratives of their cultural environment.
Degree Date
Spring 5-2026
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
D.Min.
Department
Doctor of Ministry
Advisor
Frederick D. Aquino
Second Advisor
Rebekah Miles
Third Advisor
Dallas J. Gingles
Number of Pages
155
Format
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License
Recommended Citation
Weaver, Abigail R., "Partners in Pilgrimage: Transforming the Journey of Adolescence by Guiding Teenagers Toward Faithful Lives, Redefining Success, and Cultivating Connection to God" (2026). Doctor of Ministry Projects and Theses. 58.
https://scholar.smu.edu/theology_ministry_etds/58
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Academic Advising Commons, Biblical Studies Commons, Child Psychology Commons, Christianity Commons, Curriculum and Instruction Commons, Developmental Psychology Commons, Educational Psychology Commons, Educational Sociology Commons, Family, Life Course, and Society Commons, Place and Environment Commons, Practical Theology Commons, Regional Sociology Commons, Religious Education Commons, Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons, School Psychology Commons, Secondary Education Commons, Sociology of Culture Commons, Sociology of Religion Commons
