I like how Barker marks that youth are “ambivalently valued.”  Coming from Youth Ministry as well as still being youthful (?) I think I find myself in a very interesting place in the church.  On one hand, youth are viewed as our future.  But few resources are poured into them.  I often wonder if the purpose of Youth Ministry is sometimes to homogenize and make the kids like the adults (in the good ways!).  END REQUIRED POST
Today, however, my pastor spoke and said he wanted to get behind the youth, saying that God was using us (and he is!) to bring about change in the church.  He was proud of it and supportive.  It was awesome to see we can make a difference.  Comparing this to the youth subcultures mentioned in the book, perhaps Christian youth can make it their mission to not necessarily follow the footsteps of the parents nor rebel against the perceived parental culture, but make strives for God’s kingdom.