Youth Ministry Unscripted: The Rooted Youth Ministry Podcast

In this workshop from the 2024 Rooted Conference in Dallas, veteran youth pastor Justin Wong reflects on how culture—through wars, elections, and even music—has shaped youth ministry over the years. He offers honest encouragement for the weary youth worker, while highlighting both the challenges and the unique opportunities that come with serving the next generation.

Justin has served in youth and family ministry for over 23 years. He holds degrees from Houston Baptist University, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is married to Tina, and together they have two daughters, Ella and Mia.

Rooted Resources:

Lessons Learned During My First Year of Youth Ministry: Leadership Takes Time by Taylor Sutton

The Joy and Crown of Youth Ministry by Clark Fobes

Making Space for Encouragement in Youth Ministry by Ericson Joubert 

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Register for Rooted 2025 Conference in Chicago

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, Jimmy Kim explores the heart of family ministry—what it is, why it matters, and how churches can cultivate it in their own context. With over 20 years of experience across youth, college, and family ministry, Jimmy offers a practical and gospel-centered approach for churches of all sizes and backgrounds.

Jimmy serves as the Executive Director of Family Transformation at Perimeter Church near Atlanta, GA. He’s a husband to Shin and dad to two soccer-loving kids. His ministry journey spans both immigrant and multiethnic church contexts, with academic roots at the University of Maryland, Washington Bible College, Atlanta Christian College, and Reformed Theological Seminary.

Rooted Resources:

How to Start a Family Ministry in Your Church by Andy Cornett

Resources for Family Ministry (Rooted Roundup)

Perspectives on Family Ministry: 3 Views by Timothy Paul Jones

Follow @therootedministry on Instagram for more updates 

Register for Rooted 2025 Conference in Chicago

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, Josh, and Danny talk about the youth ministry "summer high." They describe the positive and negative aspects of the annual "summer high," and discuss how to counteract the negatives. Our hosts also discuss transitioning from great summer ministries into the fall and beyond, developing programs for cohesive year-round ministry to students.

Follow @therootedministry on Instagram for more updates!
Follow and subscribe to Youth Ministry Unscripted wherever you listen to podcasts.
Join us at the Rooted 2025 Conference.

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, we discuss the changes that occur in youth ministry during the summer months. The rhythm of ministry shifts, the workload changes, and the importance of building relational connections with students are all important factors in thinking about our summer. We also talk about the challenges of maintaining programming consistency and the unique opportunities that summer presents for youth workers to connect with students. 

Ask Rooted: What Does Relational Discipleship Look Like During the Summer?

Resources for Summer Youth Ministry Planning (Rooted Roundup)

Summer Resources

Maximizing Summer Youth Ministry: Balancing Activity and Rest

Follow @therootedministry on Instagram for more updates!
Follow and subscribe to Youth Ministry Unscripted wherever you listen to podcasts.
Join us at the Rooted 2025 Conference!
 

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 insightful workshop from the 2024 Rooted Conference in Dallas, Dr. Danny Kwon explores how to cultivate a youth ministry culture that embraces intergenerational integration. He unpacks why connecting generations within the church is vital to discipling students for a lifelong faith in Jesus, and offers practical steps for how you can implement intergenerational ministry in your unique context.

Danny Kwon, Ph.D., is the Senior Director of Youth Ministry Content and Cross-Cultural Initiatives at Rooted Ministry. Prior to joining Rooted, Danny served for 29 years as the Youth and Family Pastor at Yuong Sang Church, a bicultural and bilingual Korean-American congregation outside Philadelphia. He is married to Monica, a Christian counselor and psychologist, and together they have three children.

Rooted Resources:

Book Review ‘Faith Beyond Youth Group’ by Kara Powell, Brad M. Griffin, and Jen Bradbury by Danny Kwon

When Intergenerational Integration Feels Impossible by Skyler Flowers

Follow @therootedministry on Instagram for more updates 

Register for Rooted 2025 Conference in Chicago

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, Isaiah, and Danny discuss the critical role of volunteers in youth ministry. They talk about recruiting and retaining volunteers, the various roles they can fill, and effective strategies for building relationships with them. We need to care for and connect with our volunteers, as well as provide clear expectations and ongoing communication to ensure a successful team experience. 

Playing the Long Game: Five Suggestions for Retaining Volunteers in Your Youth Ministry by Ryan Wood

Serving Your Youth Volunteers by Josh Hussung

Asian American Youth Ministry and Volunteers: Expectations and Hardships

Three Reasons Why Empty Nesters Are the Best Youth Volunteers by Tracey Rector
 

Resources for Volunteer Development

Follow @therootedministry on Instagram for more updates!
Follow and subscribe to Youth Ministry Unscripted wherever you listen to podcasts.
Join us at the Rooted 2025 Conference!

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, veteran youth leader Vince Greenwald shares the essential values of the church, and the youth ministry where he serves. While acknowledging that what students need, more than anything, everytime they gather, is the gospel. But the additional elements of offering a safe environment- defined as “every student needs a place where they can stop trying to be impressive and start being known” - and time allow students to flourish in the manner and timeline the Lord has decreed. Stay tuned for his six questions at the end to help you discern if the gospel, safety, and time are central values in your ministry to teenagers.

Romans 1:16

1 Corinthians 3:6

1 John 1:7

Rooted Resources:

What Is Gospel-Centered Youth Ministry? by Chelsea Kingston Erickson

The Slow Process of Growth by Josh Hussung

The Long, Slow Work of Gospel Formation by Kendal Connor

Depend, Believe, and Obey: Unleashing the Power of the Gospel by Dave Hart

Gospel Catechisms for Young Children and Teenagers

Follow @therootedministry on Instagram for more updates 

Register for Rooted 2025 Conference in Chicago

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 honest and hope-filled episode of Youth Ministry Unscripted, Isaiah, Josh, and Danny tackle a topic often overlooked in youth ministry: preparing students for suffering. As high school graduates transition into adulthood, our youth ministries must do more than celebrate. We must disciple them with a theology of suffering rooted in Christ. The hosts share personal stories, biblical wisdom, and practical strategies for equipping students with a faith that endures beyond the youth room. From reframing popular Bible verses to discussing God’s presence in pain, this conversation is raw, real, and necessary.

Rooted Resources on Suffering

 Tish Harrison Warren, “Working, Watching, Weeping”
 

Fear Factor in Parenting: We Dread Seeing Our Children Suffer, with Tish Harrison Warren
 

Tish Harrison Warren, “Why Are You Downcast? What the Promises of God Are (and Are Not) in Suffering”
 

Fear Factor in Parenting: When Our Asian American Children Face Racism with Owen Lee, Tracy Yi and Kevin Yi

Follow @therootedministry on Instagram for more updates!
Follow and subscribe to Youth Ministry Unscripted wherever you listen to podcasts.
Join us at the Rooted 2025 Conference!

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 TX, Mike McGarry dives deep into the topic of delivering expository messages for youth. Mike begins by discussing the difference between expository teaching and biblical teaching. He provides a helpful definition of expository teaching and gives us a framework for how to faithfully teach God’s word the way God’s word is written and show our youth how it applies in all spheres of life. 
 

Mike McGarry is the Director of Youth Pastor Theologian, has served as a Youth Pastor for 18 years in Massachusetts, and has two youth group aged kids at home. He earned his D.Min. from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and has published three books – most recently, “Discover: Questioning Your Way to Faith.” Mike is committed to training youth workers to think biblically about what youth ministry is and to training them to teach theologically with confidence. Purchase the Rooted Daniel Curriculum

How the Book of Daniel Helps Us Lead Our Children to Live Counterculturally by Jason Engle

Youth Pastor Theologian Podcast with Mike McGarry

Follow @therootedministry on Instagram for more updates 

Register for Rooted 2025 Conference in Chicago

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, Josh, and Danny unpack how the culture of a youth ministry’s leadership team profoundly impacts the faith of students. They reflect on why students are more shaped by what leaders model than what they say, and explore how authenticity, humility, and spiritual health within the leadership team can either build up or break down student faith formation. The trio also gets real about vulnerability boundaries, how to handle team drama, and practical rhythms that help leaders stay grounded in their own walk with Jesus. If you're leading a team or discipling students, this conversation is full of honest wisdom and helpful guidance.

Follow @therootedministry on Instagram for more updates.
Follow and subscribe to Youth Ministry Unscripted wherever you listen to podcasts.
Join us at the Rooted 2025 Conference!

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.