Stay tuned for Rooted’s newest Bible-based curriculum launch, a study for teenagers on sexuality and gender—coming in February 2025. Sign up for Rooted’s weekly newsletter and be the first to learn more.  See the link in the bio to read! #rootedministry #youthministry

"Footprints: How Jesus Uses Youth to Carry Us from Division to Unity (an Interview with Isaiah Brooms)" #rootedministry #parenting #youthministry #bible

"Limitations and Blessings: Finding Joy in God’s Provision Amid Financial Struggles" by Katie Polski #rootedministry #parenting #youthministry #bible #scripture #worship #faith #gospel #spirituality #hope #church

"For one of my children there was a 3-year period straddling primary and secondary school when bedtime often meant tears. During lengthy, heartbreaking conversations, my child begged to not go to school. Though much time was spent clarifying the law on attendance, my child’s problem was not primarily legal. The words that kept on putting a dagger through my heart were, “I have no friends.” Through these conversations I learnt that naming children in the class like a desperate form of bingo really did not help; nor did organising playdates or sleepovers; nor did conversations with the teacher, or other parents, or even those other children themselves. I know that there are bigger crises in the world, but this one seems to be common in families. It comes in many forms: not enough friends, not the right kind of friends, not good enough friends, mean friends, bad-influence friends, no Christian friends, or mean Christian friends. Yet this pain should not surprise us. Even before the Fall, it was the single aspect of creation that needed fixing. After creating the world, God said, “It is not good for man to be alone” (Gen. 2:18). We are not made for loneliness. Our children’s different God-given characters mean that they cope and flourish in very different ways, and some may struggle to make deep friendships. But they will need a friend, as we all do. Enjoying Jesus’ Friendship School can be claustrophobic, causing daily intense, dark emotions. In those moments, we need to help our children tell themselves the better story. The need for friends runs deep, but their greatest need (a relationship with the God who made them) has already been met. The death of Jesus provides the best enemies-to-friends story ever (Rom. 5:10). Now there is peace instead of hostility and mercy instead of judgment. Children know how often friendship is based on what we can get from each other: “I’ll be your friend if you invite me to your party, or give me your sweets, or let me copy your homework.” How wonderful to be able to tell them that friendship with Jesus is not bought, earned, or deserved. It is a free gift, rooted in the unchanging grace of God (Rom. 3:22-24). They need these new messages to fill their heads. They have value and significance not because of how many friends they have, but because they have been fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of the living God (Ps. 139:14; Gen. 1:27). They can know that they are precious not because of the number of parties they get invited to, but because Jesus has invited them to spend eternity with him (John 14:1-3). The longing for friendship we all have —a desire to be seen, an ache to be valued, and a longing to be known intimately—is fulfilled most in Christ. No human relationship can fill that gap. The best thing to do with that longing is to let it prompt us to turn to Jesus. Can we explain this to our children? Can we help them see that their tears show how much they need Christ when they are lonely? And can we reassure them with his promise that he is with us always (Matt. 28:20), even though we can’t see or touch him right now? Children may find more immediate comfort in a parents’ hug than in the idea that Jesus is invisibly present in the playground, and it’s absolutely right that we keep showing them ourlove and care in whatever ways we can. But the consistency and certainty of a parent’s love is only a limited reflection of God’s love and presence. Let’s not try and make ourselves the answer to their loneliness, but keep reminding them that the ruler of the universe loves them even more than we do and is with them even when we aren’t. Reflecting Jesus’ Friendship Jesus defined friendship as sacrificial love and deep sharing of ourselves (John 15:12-15). Christian friendship is about giving before it is about receiving. So we need to work through how to be good friends to others, rather than constantly feeling let down by others. Rather than searching for reasons why no one likes your child, find the moments when they care for others well. Jesus sees their love for others, even when those others don’t include them or invite them to their party. Are there corners of their lives where you see friendship happening well, such as in church, on holiday, in your community, or with relatives? Point these moments out, and remind them that God is delighted by their efforts to reflect his character. Sanctification in Loneliness I learnt that these fine arguments may not be enough for our children when they’re sitting in a canteen eating lunch alone. I have heard countless creative stories of how children cope: playing Legos in the corner of a classroom, locking themselves in a loo, and reading a book in the corner of the playground. I feel blessed to have known a very sweet 8-year-old at our church, who had no friends for most of her primary school years. She was lovely, godly, patient, and chatty (while still leaving plenty of time for others). I could not understand. That was more than 20 years ago. I saw her last week. She had lost none of her bubbly charm and had plenty of friends. I still don’t think it was her fault. I still don’t understand. Her struggle gave her parents many opportunities for gospel conversations, and I believe that it was part of God’s good plan for making her the compassionate woman she is today. Parent’s Opportunity in Children’s Heartache Friendship issues can be deeply painful for our children. Through the tears, let’s look for opportunities to bring them to Jesus, reminding them of his gracious love and constant presence. And if we feel helpless in the face of a problem we cannot fix, let’s take comfort in the promise God speaks to us and to our children, “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you” (Heb. 13:5)." "Ministering to Our Lonely Children" by Ed Drew

As we honor Black History Month, we’re excited to launch a blog series titled The Gospel in Song: Theological Truths for Teenagers from Black Spirituals.  #youthministry

In view of Black History Month, Isaiah, Josh, and Danny talk about issues of race, ethnicity, and culture. #rootedministry #parenting #youthministry #bible #scripture

"Ministering to Our Lonely Children" by Ed Drew #rootedministry #parenting #worship #faith #gospel

In this episode, Cameron and Anna turn to Romans 8:12-17 to determine how the gospel helps parents let go of fear and control. #rootedministry #parenting #youthministry #interview

Welcome to Rooted's Top Ten, a curated reading list for youth ministers. Each month we find ten articles, and sometimes videos or podcasts, from various sources that we believe will encourage you in your ministry to teenagers and their families. #rootedministry #youthministry

We asked several experienced youth ministers about their goal and approach when meeting with a student one-on-one. As you’ll see, they have a lot to say! We hope their wisdom sparks insight and ideas in your own relational ministry.

"Teaching Our Kids to Build a Bigger Table" by Bob Hartman #rootedministry #parenting #scripture #worship #faith #gospel

"In my first few years of youth ministry, the students felt only a few years younger than I was, but the parents seemed somuch older. As I grew in my role, the students began to feel younger, but I still questioned what was the best way to connect with their parents. After all, I didn’t have as much parenting experience as they did, and I often wondered what they thought about me. I wanted to connect and partner with parents, but…how? How could I find time amidst the busyness of my youth ministry schedule and their own chaotic calendars? How could I best step outside my comfort zone? Despite my worries and doubts, I’ve come to realize that although many parents have busy schedules, most are willing to meet with a youth leader to discuss the most important people in their lives: their children. Thankfully, as youth workers, we don’t lead merely out of experience, but out of principle and our spiritual calling. The noun “pastor” is more important than the adjective “youth,” and instead of being a mere program director, God has called us to be a shepherd of our students. Yes, that means we minister to students directly, but it also means we prioritize the parents of these students. Connecting with, caring for, and even discipling parents may sound daunting, but it is an essential aspect of our shepherding students. Recognizing that this will look different in every context, what are some ways we can best connect with parents? Parent Connect Meetings Now serving in my second decade as a youth pastor, I have never hosted a traditional parent meeting. I’m sure they work in certain contexts, but I always suspected that most of the parents who attended would be the ones who already knew most of the information. However, I still wanted to partner with the parents in our church, and I realized I needed an organized way to reach every family. Just as schools facilitate annual parent-teacher conferences to provide individualized updates and feedback, I explored a similar concept within our church’s youth ministry, leading to the creation of what we call Parent Connect Meetings. Our Vision The goal of Parent Connect Meetings is simple: to connect youth and children's workers directly with parents of kids and teenagers at our church. Unlike large annual parent meetings, these one-on-one sessions serve as personal, intentional connection points to pray, strategize, and partner in discipling teenagers to love and follow Jesus wholeheartedly. We hope these meetings can be informational, prayerful, and encouraging. We divide them into three main parts: Updates and Logistics (First Third) Parents receive information on upcoming events and opportunities directly from the youth minister. This private setting allows for personalized questions, such as scholarship inquiries or specific event details that might not arise in group meetings. We still communicate our calendar and newsletter regularly to parents through email, but these parent connect meetings enable a personalized conversation that goes a level deeper. Prayer Requests (Middle Third) The youth minister asks the parent how he or she can pray for the teenager(s), and also how to pray for the parent! According to Jesus, “out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45), and answers to this question provide invaluable insight into the priorities, burdens, and struggles for the whole family. Oftentimes, these prayer requests give us another view into the life of the teenager that is different from what they share in the youth ministry setting. Discussion and Growth (Final Third) Building on these prayer requests, the remainder of the meeting focuses on the teenager’s spiritual growth. Parents and youth ministers discuss the teenager’s current needs and collaboratively develop a plan to nurture the student’s relationship with Jesus. Addressing Common Questions “Isn’t this inefficient?” Yes, but the Bible is clear that ministry isn’t about efficiency—it’s about serving people where they are. These meetings provide a unique opportunity for parents and youth ministers to connect deeply, and they directly benefit the teenager’s spiritual growth. “How do you avoid meeting only with the usual participants?” Broadly, we advertise the meetings via email to all our parents, and then we go personally invite others more on the margins. This approach also helps us manage the scheduling workload. Everyone is invited through the email which means no one feels left out, but the youth worker can manage how many individual invites they send out based on how many parents sign up. “How many meetings do you hold annually?” The frequency depends on the context. At our church, with hundreds of children and students, it’s impossible to meet with every parent. Our family ministry staff aims for two parent connect meetings per month, totaling about two hours. This leads to possibly 24 parent connect meetings a year per person. Some months may exceed this goal of two meetings, while others may fall short, but this benchmark has worked well for us. Obviously, this will look different in every context depending on the size of your staff and youth group, and implementing changes like this can take years. But setting realistic and tangible goals has been hugely beneficial to our staff. “How do volunteer youth workers fit into this?” Based on your context, including your volunteer leaders in these individual parent meetings can be a great way to bridge the gap between parents and lay youth leaders. Some volunteers might simply sit in on a parent meeting, while others can be trusted to run them on their own. Whether they can attend the meeting or not, it’s often beneficial to share with specific youth leaders the things you learn from parent meetings so they can also care for those students. Adapting Parent Connect Meetings for Your Context At the end of the day, there is not a set standard for what a parent connect meeting looks like. Depending on the setting, frequency, and familiarity with the parent, these meetings will all look different. The key is to know what you want to accomplish and why. These personalized meetings with parents give opportunities for youth ministers to counsel parents, learn more about families in the church, and foster relationships that can grow for many years, even after a student graduates. For students, these parent connect meetings intentionally foster collaboration in the discipling of teenagers toward a vibrant relationship with Jesus. The good news for both the seasoned and new youth minister is that our confidence when meeting with parents doesn’t come from our experience, degrees, or expertise on certain subjects surrounding teenagers or parents. As youth ministers who desire to meet, encourage, and care for parents, our confidence comes from the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul explains that “And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified” (2 Cor. 2:1-2). Of course, you are not Paul, and teenagers are not in Corinth during the first century. Still, we share the same confidence in the gospel even when we feel out of our depth." "Youth Minister, Consider Rethinking Your Parent Meetings This Year" by Kyle Hoffsmith

"Youth Minister, Consider Rethinking Your Parent Meetings This Year" by Kyle Hoffsmith #rootedministry #parenting #youthministry #church

Welcome to the Rooted Parent Top Ten, a curated list of resources from across the web that we believe will be helpful to parents raising teenagers. #rootedministry #parenting #gospel #spirituality #hope #church

"In the changing landscape of demographics in North America, immigrant families and their teenagers present a unique context for youth ministry. Before joining Rooted, I was the youth and family pastor at a large immigrant church for 29 years, and our youth group was about 250 students. Early in those 29 years, most of the families consisted of parents who spoke their native language. Meanwhile, their teenagers were usually English-speakers, who were growing up as your average American teenager. While today more parents are English-speakers, the bicultural nature of many immigrant families means that youth workers will need understanding to serve teenagers in immigrant families, as well as their parents or caretakers. These reflections will help us better serve our immigrant families, whether you have just a few in attendance or serve in an immigrant church. Biculturalism Within Immigrant Families Generally speaking, biculturalism is proficiency and degrees of comfort with both one's heritage culture and with the culture of the country or region in which one has settled. Not only immigrants themselves but also children of immigrants are bicultural. Though children of immigrants may have been born and raised in the receiving society, they are likely to be embedded in their heritage culture when with their families. The socialization process of teenagers who are part of immigrant families is a complicated process. These teenagers reconcile two cultural environments: the original culture into which they were born and the host culture in which they find themselves. Some teenagers in immigrant families might consider themselves fully “American,” while others might identify with a bi-cultural identity or with their native identity. Ultimately, then, it is important to get to know each teenager from an immigrant family as an individual, and to not clump them into one huge category.  Who they are and the particular culture with which they identify will be different for each of them. The same can be true for their parents. You can’t assume that because someone is an immigrant, has a certain job, or speaks some English that they are or are not assimilated into American culture. Take time to get to know each family and teenager. Implications of Immigration Status I am often asked, what you do you when you do not know the exact immigration status of an immigrant family? First, there is no legal obligation to report someone you suspect is in the United States illegally. Second, it is best not to assume a person’s immigration status. Third, teachers and school authorities are not allowed to ask about the immigration status of children or their families. They can require proof of residency status in their school district, but families of immigrants have the legal right to attend a school regardless of immigration status. From a pastoral perspective, despite some differences in perspectives among Christians, it is not against the law to welcome a family into your home or to serve them in the love of Christ in various ways, even if they are undocumented. What Can You Do? The acclaimed movie “Minari” tells the story of a Korean immigrant family starting a new life on a remote Midwestern farm, where they are the only Koreans. They decide to go to church one Sunday, and a little girl approaches them, seemingly speaking gibberish (English), and reaches out her hand and heart to them. What can we do as a youth ministers when teenager from immigrant families come to our churches? First, we need to humbly recognize that we are all a product of our culture and history. Second, we need to exercise awareness of our own biases and presuppositions, formed through our own cultural context and historical background. We have values that might be different from a person’s of a different place. Finally, take an open interest in them. Recognize, be sensitive, understand, and appreciate others’ ethnic heritage and cultural context. Each teenager and family is unique. Some might need help with the English language or with understanding American culture. Others might be fully assimilated into American culture. It is important look beneath surface level. For immigrant families who have transitioned more recently to this country, I have loved and served them as a pastor by functioning as a pseudo social worker.  I have helped families and teenagers adapt to life in America, register for school, understand information from officials, and translate materials from English into their native language. And sometimes parents just need help understanding their teenagers, who have become or are becoming culturally and socially distinct from their native culture.  Being a culture translator for families can be a meaningful way to serve them and to show them the love of Jesus. Love Your Neighbor Jesus commands us to respond to his love for us by sharing it with others. Jesus says, “'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength … You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:30-31). Our Savior calls us to love all our neighbors, whatever their culture and wherever their native home. Do not hesitate to reach out to immigrants and their families. Seek to know and to care for fellow image-bearers in the love of Christ to the praise of his name." "Serving Teenagers from Immigrant Families" by Danny Kwon

"Do not hesitate to reach out to immigrants and their families. Seek to know and to care for fellow image-bearers in the love of Christ to the praise of his name." #rootedministry #parenting #youthministry #bible #scripture

Join us for our first-ever Asian American Youth Workers Training Day, where we will explore topics that bridge the gap between the heart, hands, and head of the Asian American Youth Ministry. ⁠ Learn more with the link in the bio! ⁠ ⁠ #rootedministry #parenting #youthministry

At Rooted, we love to help youth ministers contextualize the gospel for many different ethnic and geographical settings—both celebrating our culture and also challenging it. We asked Rooted writers to tell us specifically about elements of Asian American culture they have needed to address with the gospel. We hope their responses below will be helpful as you engage with teenagers and their parents. Please join us for an upcoming Rooted Webinar: Christianity and Asian American Culture on Thursday, February 6 at 1:00 p.m. EST. Panelists Clark Fobes, Dorothy Lau, Brian Ryu, and Kevin Yi will discuss how to help teenagers navigate their cultural heritage through the grace of the gospel. Sign up here.

Please join us for an upcoming Rooted Webinar: Christianity and Asian American Culture on Thursday, February 6 at 1:00 p.m. EST.

"Advice to My Younger Self in Youth Ministry—20 Years Later" by Steve Eatmon #rootedministry #parenting #youthministry #bible