When Notre Dame football players leave their locker room to take the field, they pass by a sign that reads “Play Like a Champion Today.” Every player taps that sign as they run by, as a reminder of all it took to prepare for the game, and what it will take to win it. Now, as lifelong Alabama fans, it pains us to speak well of the Fighting Irish, but they are on to something with this ritual reminder. If parents were to paint a similar sign and hang it over their bedroom door, what reminders might we need as we start the day with our families? We’d like to propose a few short truths that would ..read more

One of my most striking youth group memories happened during the sign-up period for an upcoming mission trip in my third year as a youth minister. A student who had participated in a trip the previous summer kept saying to me and to other students, “I can’t wait to go back…I miss the feeling.” While her words seemed innocuous at first, I started to wonder why she was so fixated on a feeling from our time serving together. Finally, out of love and care for this student, my wife and I sat down with her to find out what she meant.   In the course of our conversation, we began to discern that ..read more

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. Here you’ll find articles, podcasts, and videos to support you in gospel- centered discipleship and interpreting youth culture. While most are gospel focused, others are included because they include a message of common grace. (The opinions presented in these articles do not necessarily reflect the position of Rooted Ministry.) At the end, you’ll find Rooted resources compiled from the last month’s new offerings. We hope this resource is helpful! G ..read more

I had been working at my church for three years when Jeremy Lin was drafted to my home team, the Houston Rockets during the 2011-2012 season. Young Asian Americans like me got to see one of  “our own” ascend to the heights of super-mythical powers. The Asian community in Houston already had a famous player, Yao Ming. But Jeremy Lin felt even more familiar. Granted, he was a Harvard graduate, an NBA player, and made $25 million. But he was a Christian!  In those years, the life advice handed down to teenagers by Asian parents and pastors was often, “Be like Jeremy Lin.” As a young adu ..read more

As we celebrate the launch of our Founding Chairman Cameron Cole’s new book: “Heavenward: How Eternity Can Change Your Life on Earth“, we hope you will enjoy some previously published resources on the topic of heaven. We hope these articles and podcasts encourage you as you consider the “glory to be revealed” in our eternity with Jesus. Articles: What We Do Know About Heaven by Anna Meade Harris “Meditating on the inexhaustible overflow of joy I will experience in heaven – knowing that the reality of it surpasses my capacity to dream – magnifies the hope I rejoice in here, today.” Heaven is No ..read more

My oldest son was a star football player on his high school team. He twice was MVP of the defense, won numerous league and state football awards, and was recruited to play Division 1 college football. I loved going to watch him play on Fridays and cheer him on from the stands.  However, despite all these accolades, one thing always troubled me. I noticed that when his team ran onto the field like a thundering herd, he would always walk out last by himself. When the team huddled up on the field for the pregame speech, he would always be outside the large team huddle. When other players on ..read more

Youth ministry is arguably one of the most rewarding positions in the church. We get a front row seat to seeing the power of the gospel at work in the lives of our students. A student who rarely speaks shares something deep and profound in a small group that visibly impacts the whole room. We watch as students face and conquer their giants, whether it be the fear of public speaking or choosing to live out faith in Christ despite social rejection from peers. We may even witness a student’s profession of faith in Jesus Christ that moves us and our leaders to tears. There is immense pleasure in p ..read more

One day driving carpool to one of-so-many sports practices, I listened as my son chatted with his best friend in the back seat. My son declared that as an adult he would be dividing his time between New York and Denver because he would be playing shortstop for the Yankees and point guard for the Nuggets. His friend was concerned that his plan to play for the San Diego Chargers and the Memphis Grizzlies would prove hectic because professional football and basketball seasons overlap.  I loved the days when my boys thought all their dreams were not only possible, but probable. When puberty d ..read more

At a recent church gathering, I met someone I had never met before. For the sake of this article, I’ll call her Jayne. After some brief introductions, Jayne confessed that she had served in the youth ministry for a while but is now burnt out. So, she currently attends services and leaves quietly afterwards.  What happened next really surprised me. A current youth group volunteer approached Jayne and greeted her with immense warmth and fondness. I jumped at the chance to ask, “How do you know each other?” The two women began to reminisce about how Jayne had served in youth ministry as her ..read more

It’s no small task to talk to your child about sexuality, relationships, and gender with a biblical framework. In an increasingly complicated landscape, parents would be wise to equip themselves— and their kids— with encouraging, practical resources that point them to the deeper truth of God’s good design for sex, gender, and relationships. Enter Jennifer M. Kvamme’s excellent new book, More to the Story: Deep Answers to Real Questions About Attraction, Identity, and Relationships.  Though written for teenagers, Kvamme’s book is also an excellent resource for parents. She navigates teenag ..read more