In this premiere episode of Youth Ministry Unscripted, Isaiah, Josh, and Danny talk real, honest, and raw about gospel-centered youth ministry. The guys talk about ministry failures and how the gospel has shaped them through the hard times. They will stress the importance of youth leaders having places to be real, honest, and raw about the difficulties of ministry. They will also share their greatest joys in ministry, as well as the best post youth group snack they ever had. 

Follow @therootedministry on Instagram for more updates and

Subscribe to Youth Ministry Unscripted wherever you listen to podcasts

In this episode of the Rooted Parent Podcast, Melissa Kruger, the Director of Women’s Content at The Gospel Coalition, joins Cameron and Anna to discuss her new book Parenting With Hope: Raising Teens for Christ in a Secular Age. Written from her own experience of raising teenagers, Parenting With Hope encourages parents to seek the Lord’s wisdom as they parent out of the basic guiding principles of Scripture. Listen in as Cameron, Anna, and Melissa discuss the power of prayer, the value of weekly church attendance, and the most common idols parents face. Finally, you’ll hear them share some tools that can help parents cultivate a home where faith can flourish and parent out of the hope of the gospel. 

• Parenting With Hope: Raising Teens for Christ in a Secular Age by Melissa Kruger
• Age of Opportunity: A Biblical Guide to Parenting Teensby Paul David Tripp
• The Teenage Brain: A Neuroscientist’s Survival Guide to Raising Adolescents and Young Adults by Frances E. Jensen
• The Price of Privilege: How Parental Pressure and Material Advantage are Creating a Generation of Disconnected and Unhappy Kids by Madeline Levine
• Check out more Rooted resources on prayer here 
• Check out more Rooted resources on church here

Follow @therootedministry on Instagram for more updates and

Subscribe to Youth Ministry Unscripted wherever you listen to podcasts

In this episode, Danny hosts Rooted’s 6th annual book awards. He sits down to talk with Tracy Yi, Chelsea Erickson, Natalie Lett, and Tim Franks to discuss their selections for the 2024 Rooted Book Awards. Listen to hear their topic picks; the categories include best new books for youth ministers, parents, teenagers, and Bible teaching.

Here are your 2024 Book awards panelists: 

Chelsea Kingston Erickson is Editor of Youth Ministry Content and the Director of Publishing for Rooted. She previously served as a youth pastor in New England churches for 13 years. She and her husband, Steve, live north of Boston and are parents to Wells and Emmett. Chelsea holds an M.Div. from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, where she is currently pursuing a Master of Theology (Th.M.) in Old Testament Studies. She is passionate about teaching teenagers biblical theology and helping them learn to study Scripture for themselves.

Tim Franks hails from the West Coast, California and Colorado. He graduated from Moody Bible Institute in 2005 and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2009. He married his wife Alicia in 2010. Tim and Alicia adopted Michael, Marlayna, and Maicee in 2020. He previously served in student ministry in Phoenix, AZ and Wilson, NC. He began serving at Eureka Bible Church as Associate Pastor in July 2017. Pastor Tim is an avid reader, loves watching and playing sports, and traveling to new places (especially historical sites).

Natalie Lett serves as student ministry coordinator at Church of the Cross in Birmingham, AL. She is a graduate of University of Alabama and holds a Master’s Degree in Education from Wake Forest University. 

Tracy Yi is a mom of 3 and has served alongside her husband, Kevin, in youth ministry for over 16 years. She and Kevin now serve college and young adults ministry at Church Everyday in Southern California. 

Timestamps:

[0:00]  Welcome and Intro- Danny and Chelsea

[3:49]  Best New Books for Parents - Tracy

[10:08] Best New Books for Youth Workers- Tim

[19:32] Best New Books for Teenagers- Natalie

[30:05] Best New Books for Bible Teaching-Chelsea

[44:30] Books from Rooted

Follow @therootedministry on Instagram for more updates and

Subscribe to Youth Ministry Unscripted wherever you listen to podcasts

Closing out this series on overcoming disappointments in youth ministry, Danny talks with Kerry Trunfio, the Director of Children, Youth, and Family Life Ministry at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Topsfield, MA. Listen in as Kerry shares why she believes intergenerational integration to be an essential part of youth ministry, as well as some practical ideas for youth ministers who want to incorporate their students into the greater life of the church. Most especially, Kerry reminds us of how the gospel provides encouragement even in the midst of disappointing seasons where intergenerational integration doesn’t seem to be producing fruit. 

Links:

• Check out more Rooted resources on intergenerational integration here. 
• Join us for our 2024 Conference in Dallas, TX!

Follow @therootedministry on Instagram for more updates and

Subscribe to Youth Ministry Unscripted wherever you listen to podcasts

In this episode, Danny sits down with Jennifer Ting to discuss the importance of partnering with parents in youth ministry. Jennifer, a new mother and long-time youth pastor, is currently pursuing a Doctor of Ministry in Ministry to Emerging Generations from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Tune in to hear Jennifer and Danny discuss why parents are so vital in the discipleship of teenagers, practical ways youth ministers can incorporate parents into their ministries, and how the gospel provides hope and encouragement in the face of disappointing season with parents.

Resources:

• Check out more Rooted resources on partnering with parents here. 
• Join us for our 2024 Conference in Dallas, TX!

Follow @therootedministry on Instagram for more updates and

Subscribe to Youth Ministry Unscripted wherever you listen to podcasts

In this episode, Danny sits down with Josh Newton, the Pastor of Student Ministries at The Orchard Evangelical Free Church in Barrington, Illinois to discuss the challenges and joys of engaging in relational discipleship with students. Danny and Josh discuss some practical ways youth leaders and volunteers can dig deeper into the lives of students, as well as offer gospel encouragement for youth ministers who feel disappointed with how they’ve navigated relational discipleship. Whether you are in a fruitful or frustrating season with relational discipleship, we hope you’ll be blessed by Danny and Josh’s wisdom in this episode. 

Resources:

• Check out more Rooted resources on relational discipleship here. 
• Join us for our 2024 Conference in Dallas, TX!

Follow @therootedministry on Instagram for more updates and

Subscribe to Youth Ministry Unscripted wherever you listen to podcasts

In this episode, Danny sits down with Stephen Yates, the Assistant Pastor to Students at Intown Community Church in Atlanta, GA. Steve also is a visiting instructor at his alma mater, Covenant Theological Seminary and is currently working on his PhD in youth ministry. You’ll hear Danny and Steve discuss what it means to do theological depth well in youth ministry, as well as how youth pastors can apply their theological teaching to their own personal lives. Listeners will be encouraged with the reminder that even when some of our teaching seems to fall flat with students, God is still at work. 

Resources:

• Stephen's previous conversation on the Rooted Youth Ministry Podcast
• Check out more Rooted resources on relational discipleship here. 
• Join us for our 2024 Conference in Dallas, TX!

Follow @therootedministry on Instagram for more updates and

Subscribe to Youth Ministry Unscripted wherever you listen to podcasts

How do you know if your ministry is gospel-centered? In this episode, Danny sits down with Mike McGarry, a former youth pastor and Director of Youth Pastor Theologian, to help answer that question. In today’s episode, Mike and Danny discuss the “nuts and bolts” of gospel-centered youth ministry and why it’s so important for our students. You’ll hear them share how youth ministers can trust the sufficiency of Jesus, even when they fail to do gospel-centered youth ministry perfectly. 

Resources:

• More resources on gospel-centered youth ministry here
• Join us for our 2024 Conference in Dallas, TX!
• Youth Pastor Theologian 
• Gospel-Centered Youth Ministry: A Practical Guide  
• Lead Them to Jesus: A Handbook for Youth Workers

Follow @therootedministry on Instagram for more updates and

Subscribe to Youth Ministry Unscripted wherever you listen to podcasts

Rooted introduces a new podcast focused on youth ministry in an Asian American context. It features a rotating panel of youth ministers who will talk about issues affecting Asian American youth and anyone ministering to them, whether in the home or in the church. This episode is a sample of what you will hear. The first full episode is available now at RootedMinistry.com/Podcasts. Or subscribe to the Asian American Youth Ministry Roundtable wherever you listen to podcasts. 

Dorothy is the youth director at the Chinese Bible Church of Maryland (Rockville, MD) in the Washington D.C. metropolitan. She is passionate to serve the Lord through discipleship, musical worship, administration, and multimedia. Dorothy is a massive foodie, enjoys cooking for loved ones, and delights in trips to her home city of Chicago.

Huey Lee has been serving the local church in the youth ministry context for over 15 years, and holds a Masters of Divinity from Biblical Theological Seminary. He currently serves as a Pastor of Youth Ministry at Christ Central Presbyterian Church in Centreville, VA. He is married to his beautiful wife, Alice, and they are parents to 4 sons: Matthew, Ethan, Christian, and Lucas. He loves reading, Korean food, a good cup of coffee, and the growing pains that come with learning to play golf.

Justin serves as the Pastor of Youth at Chinese Baptist Church in Houston, Texas. He has worked with students, parents, and families for the past 23 years. He graduated from Houston Baptist University with a biology degree and later received his Masters of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is currently finishing his Masters of Theology and Doctorate of Education from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is married Tina and they have two girls, Ella and Mia.

Terrence serves as the Family Pastor at First Chinese Baptist Church, Walnut, located in Los Angeles County with the largest Asian population in the US. He has grown up in the immigrant church and believes unashamedly in its role to fulfill Jesus’ call to make disciples across all cultures and generations. He is gladly married to Regina and forever growing as a father of three children from middle school to college. He will go out of his way to cheer on LA sports (Lakers, Dodgers, UCLA Bruins) and to engage in a meaningful conversation.

Follow @therootedministry on Instagram for more updates and

Subscribe to Youth Ministry Unscripted wherever you listen to podcasts

In this episode, Danny sits down with Vince Greenwald, the assistant pastor at Immanuel Church Nashville. Listen in as Danny and Vince discuss the joys and challenges of “equipping the saints for the work of ministry” with their youth volunteers. You’ll hear Vince explain how the truth of the gospel helps him navigate disappointments with youth volunteers, what he’s learned from his past mistakes, and about the importance of clear expectations with youth volunteers, all for the sake of better serving and loving the students in our ministries. 

Resources:

• Join us for our 2024 Conference in Dallas, TX!
• Order Anxiety: Finding the Better Story by Liz Edrington today! 

Follow @therootedministry on Instagram for more updates and

Subscribe to Youth Ministry Unscripted wherever you listen to podcasts