Students do not need more noise — they need relationships strong enough to hold real questions, real struggles, and real growth.

In this episode of the Deep Roots Leadership Podcast, Jerry Welch talks with student minister Ford Rigney about what it really looks like to care well for students and their families. From the importance of meaningful relationships to the growing need for emotional and spiritual support, this conversation highlights how student ministry goes far beyond programming. Ford shares why trust, presence, and intentional discipleship matter so deeply in the lives of middle school, high school, and college students — and how the church can come alongside families in ways that are personal, practical, and rooted in Christ.