Youth Ministry Unscripted: The Rooted Youth Ministry Podcast

In this episode of YMU, Rebecca, Josh, Isaiah, and Danny consider Rooted’s pillar of relational discipleship and how it inspires us to connect with teenagers in our churches. The hosts share insight about when the youth minister needs to connect with students personally and how to engage ministry volunteers in this important work. They offer some effective ways to connect with teenagers relationally.

Rooted Webinar: Creating a Culture of Gospel Welcome in Youth Ministry

What Does Relational Discipleship Actually Look Like?

Watch Rooted’s Past Training Videos and Webinars  

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Hosted by: Danny Kwon, author of Teenagers and Mental Health; Becca Heck, M. Div. from Reformed Theological Seminary; Isaiah Marshall, Rooted's Director of Ministry Development; and Josh Hussung, M. Div. in Pastor Studies from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

In this workshop from the 2024 Rooted Conference, Jonathan Holmes unpacks what it means to pursue true rest in ministry. Framed around four key movements—the problem with rest, the answer to rest, how to rest personally, and how to build cultures of rest—this session offers practical and theological insight for leaders who want to lead from a place of peace rather than burnout.

Jonathan Holmes is the Founder and Executive Director of Fieldstone Counseling. He previously served for fifteen years on the pastoral teams of Parkside Church and Parkside Green. Jonathan graduated from The Master’s University with degrees in Biblical Counseling and History and his MA from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He is the author and contributor to a number of books including, The Company We Keep, Counsel for Couples, Rescue Skills, and Rescue Plan. He and his wife, Jennifer, have four daughters.

When The Fire Goes Out: Finding Comfort in Ministry by Isaiah Marshall

Caring for Your Soul as a Youth Minister by Mark Upton

Burnout: The Cost of Caring by Christina Maslach

Every Good Endeavor: Connecting Your Work to God's Work by Timothy Keller 

Register for Rooted 2026 Conference in Nashville

Follow @therootedministry on Instagram for more updates!

Hosted by: Danny Kwon, author of Teenagers and Mental Health; Becca Heck, M. Div. from Reformed Theological Seminary; Isaiah Marshall, Rooted's Director of Ministry Development; and Josh Hussung, M. Div. in Pastor Studies from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

In this episode of Youth Ministry Unscripted, Rebecca, Josh, Isaiah, and Danny discuss the topic of recruiting and serving with volunteer youth leaders. They cover what makes a good youth leader, mistakes they have made with ministry volunteers, and advice they would give to fellow youth ministers in leading volunteer teams. If you’re looking for help and support to care for the lay leaders on your team, this conversation is for you!

Practically Speaking, How to Train Your Volunteers by Seth Stewart

Youth Minister, You Need to Empower Lay Leaders by Justin Talbert

Ask Rooted: How Do You Train and Empower Lay Leaders in Your Youth Ministry? Part I and Part II

Purpose Driven Youth Ministry by Doug Fields

Follow the YMU podcast and download it wherever you find your podcasts.

Hosted by: Danny Kwon, author of Teenagers and Mental Health; Becca Heck, M. Div. from Reformed Theological Seminary; Isaiah Marshall, Rooted's Director of Ministry Development; and Josh Hussung, M. Div. in Pastor Studies from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

In this workshop from the 2024 Rooted Conference, Bradley Blaylock explores the role of apologetics in youth ministry—not just as content, but as a teaching posture. He outlines approaches to help leaders raise apologetic issues naturally, equipping students to think biblically about their faith.

Bradley serves as a Professor of Theological Studies at Highlands College in Birmingham, AL. He and his wife live in Birmingham with their adorable children. Bradley is a PhD student at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary studying the Philosophy of Religion.

Two Simple Shifts for Teaching Apologetics in Youth Ministry by Bradley Blaylock

Youth Pastor, Your Students Need Apologetics by Bradley Blaylock

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Register for Rooted 2026 Conference in Nashville

Hosted by: Danny Kwon, author of Teenagers and Mental Health; Becca Heck, M. Div. from Reformed Theological Seminary; Isaiah Marshall, Rooted's Director of Ministry Development; and Josh Hussung, M. Div. in Pastor Studies from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

In this episode of Youth Ministry Unscripted, Isaiah Marshall, Josh Hussung, Danny Kwon, and Becca Heck wrestle with how to teach holiness without drifting into guilt, shame, or moralism. Grounded in Scripture, the conversation reframes holiness not as behavior modification, but as a joyful, relational response to the gospel. The hosts explore how youth ministries can unintentionally slip into legalism, how to speak about sin without leaving students feeling hopeless, and how relational discipleship creates space for grace, confession, and growth. With honesty, humor, and pastoral wisdom, this episode offers youth leaders practical ways to model holiness anchored in Christ’s finished work, not performance.

Scripture & Themes Referenced

Leviticus 11:44 – “Be holy, for I am holy”

1 Peter 1:16 – Holiness as a call rooted in God’s character

Isaiah 6 – God’s holiness and moral perfection

Matthew 5–7 (Sermon on the Mount) – Holiness of heart, not just behavior

1 Thessalonians 5:14 – Responding differently to the idle, weak, and discouraged

Relational Discipleship – Walking with students over time, not managing behavior

Gospel-Centered Holiness – Living from acceptance, not for acceptance

Biggie Size Your Grace in the Pursuit of Holiness by Andy Cornett

Discipling Teenagers in the Meaning of the Law by Chelsea Kingston Erickson


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Follow and subscribe to Youth Ministry Unscripted wherever you listen to podcasts.

Watch the episode on Youtube!

Register for Rooted 2026 in Nashville.

Hosted by: Danny Kwon, author of Teenagers and Mental Health; Becca Heck, M. Div. from Reformed Theological Seminary; Isaiah Marshall, Rooted's Director of Ministry Development; and Josh Hussung, M. Div. in Pastor Studies from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

In this workshop from the 2024 Rooted Conference, Jennifer Kvamme equips youth leaders to respond wisely and faithfully to the difficult questions students often ask. She addresses three common questions and presents a four-principle framework for navigating challenging conversations with grace and clarity.

Jennifer has served in youth ministry at Centennial Church in Forest Lake, MN, for 20 years. She’s the author of More to the Story: Deep Answers to Real Questions on Attraction, Identity, and Relationships. She and her husband, Greg, have three children.

Resources:

More to the Story Deep Answers to Real Questions on Attraction, Identity, and Relationships by Jennifer Kvamme

When Your Teenager Has Doubts and Questions by Kyle Bjerga

Encouragement for Parents: When Kids Ask Tough Questions  by Steve Eatmon

Answering Our Teenagers’ Hard Questions About Culture by Rooted

Follow @therootedministry on Instagram for more updates 

Register for Rooted 2026 Conference in Nashville

Hosted by: Danny Kwon, author of Teenagers and Mental Health; Becca Heck, M. Div. from Reformed Theological Seminary; Isaiah Marshall, Rooted's Director of Ministry Development; and Josh Hussung, M. Div. in Pastor Studies from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

In this episode of Youth Ministry Unscripted, Josh, Danny, Isaiah, and Becca dive into the often-overlooked legacy of Black Christians in church history. As Black History Month invites the church to celebrate diversity in God’s kingdom, the hosts explore why many faithful Black voices remain hidden from mainstream narratives—and what youth pastors can do about it. From early church fathers in North Africa to the American civil rights era, this conversation challenges us to broaden our understanding of church history and elevate voices that have long been sidelined. Listeners will walk away encouraged to disciple their students with a deeper awareness of the global, multicultural body of Christ—and equipped with practical ideas for building more inclusive youth ministries. 
 

Resources and Mentions

Talking to Your White Kids About Black History Month - Rooted Ministry

Relational Discipleship in the Black Church - Rooted Ministry  

Richard Allen – Founder of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church

Lemuel Haynes – First ordained African American minister in the U.S.

Howard Thurman – Theologian and mentor to Martin Luther King Jr.

Fannie Lou Hamer – Voting rights activist and devout Christian

James Cone – Father of Black Liberation Theology; The Cross and the Lynching Tree

The Edmondson Center (at RTS Atlanta) – Recommended by Becca for their year-long certificate program on church history and theology (directed by Karen & Carl Ellis)

Bus Ride to Justice – Isaiah’s experiential trip with students to key civil rights locations (Birmingham, Montgomery, Selma, Tuskegee)

Follow @therootedministry on Instagram for more updates!

Follow and subscribe to Youth Ministry Unscripted wherever you listen to podcasts.

Hosted by: Danny Kwon, author of Teenagers and Mental Health; Becca Heck, M. Div. from Reformed Theological Seminary; Isaiah Marshall, Rooted's Director of Ministry Development; and Josh Hussung, M. Div. in Pastor Studies from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

In this workshop from the 2024 Rooted Conference in Dallas, Mike McGarry helps us deliver expository messages for you. What does it mean to teach the Bible expositionally to students? In this episode, Mike defines expository teaching and why it matters. You'll learn how to align your message with the main idea of the biblical text and walk away with four essential questions to guide your prep. 

Mike is the Founder and Director of Youth Pastor Theologian and served as an ordained youth pastor for nearly twenty years in Massachusetts. He holds a Doctor of Ministry from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, with an emphasis on Ministry to Emerging Generations, and is the author of multiple books on youth ministry.

Rooted Resources:

Youth Pastor Theologian

Rethinking Expository Bible Teaching (Confessions of a Struggling Youth Minister) by John Gardner

Why Youth Pastors Should Teach Expository Bible Messages by Syler Thomas

Parents, Value Expository Teaching at Youth Group by Jennifer Kvamme Follow @therootedministry on Instagram for more updates 

Register for Rooted 2026 Conference in Nashville

Hosted by: Danny Kwon, author of Teenagers and Mental Health; Becca Heck, M. Div. from Reformed Theological Seminary; Isaiah Marshall, Rooted's Director of Ministry Development; and Josh Hussung, M. Div. in Pastor Studies from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

In this episode of Youth Ministry Unscripted, Josh, Danny, Isaiah, and Becca reflect on the “landmines” of youth ministry through the lens of 1 Peter 5:8: being sober-minded and watchful because the devil prowls like a roaring lion. They discuss dangers such as the “savior complex,” prideful isolation, us-versus-them attitudes toward church leadership and parents, unhealthy comparison with other ministries, and the temptation to measure success by numbers instead of faithfulness.

There is also a danger of neglecting our own souls—becoming “professional Christians” whose Bible reading is only for teaching prep, not personal communion with God. We will discuss both those “landmines” as well as how they can be avoided.

Resources:

Dangerous Calling by Paul David Tripp 

Sticky Faith by Kara Powell and Chap Clark

Follow @therootedministry on Instagram for more updates!
Follow and subscribe to Youth Ministry Unscripted wherever you listen to podcasts.

Hosted by: Danny Kwon, author of Teenagers and Mental Health; Becca Heck, M. Div. from Reformed Theological Seminary; Isaiah Marshall, Rooted's Director of Ministry Development; and Josh Hussung, M. Div. in Pastor Studies from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

In this workshop from the 2024 Rooted Conference in Dallas, Tara Davis and Cameron Cole emphasize the central focus of every gospel-centered children’s ministry: the Bible. They present three key approaches to help grow children’s biblical literacy and offer practical guidance for implementing each one in your ministry context. Whether you're a seasoned leader or just starting out, this session equips you to faithfully ground your ministry in God’s Word. 

About the Speakers:

Tara Davis serves as the Director of Nursery and Children’s Ministry at Church of the Advent in Birmingham, Alabama. A former elementary school teacher, she taught for ten years across North Carolina, Tennessee, and Alabama. Tara was named Teacher of the Year at Crestline Elementary and received the Ann Pritchard Award for Excellence in Teaching—an honor given to the top educator in the Mountain Brook School System. She holds a B.S. in Early Childhood and Elementary Education from the University of Georgia and an M.A. in Elementary Education from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Tara is married to Kyle, and they have a son and daughter.

Cameron Cole is the Founding Chairman of Rooted Ministry and serves as the Director of Adult and NextGen Discipleship at St. Peter’s Anglican Church in Birmingham, Alabama. With nearly two decades of experience in youth and family ministry, Cameron is the author of Therefore I Have Hope, Heavenward (2024), and co-editor of Gospel-Centered Youth Ministry and The Jesus I Wish I Knew in High School. He holds both an undergraduate degree and an M.A. in Education from Wake Forest University, as well as an M.Div. from Reformed Theological Seminary. Cameron and his wife, Lauren, have four children—one of whom lives in heaven.

Rooted Resources:

Family Discipleship Video Courses

Resources for Family Ministry (Rooted Roundup)

Rooted’s Scope & Sequence for Youth Ministry Bible Teaching

How to Lead Collaboration Between Youth and Children’s Ministry by Andy Cornett

Follow @therootedministry on Instagram for more updates 

Hosted by: Danny Kwon, author of Teenagers and Mental Health; Becca Heck, M. Div. from Reformed Theological Seminary; Isaiah Marshall, Rooted's Director of Ministry Development; and Josh Hussung, M. Div. in Pastor Studies from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.