Rooted Conference

In this first main talk from the Rooted 2023 conference in Franklin, Tennessee, Cameron Cole opens up the Sermon on the Mount to reveal the path down into suffering, the path up into the love of Jesus, and the path out into healing and comfort of the gospel. "As counterintuitive as it sounds, the path into the blessed life of hope, joy, peace, and love first involves feeling very hard things." Fol...

In this workshop from the Rooted 2022 Conference, Liz Edrington talks breath, bodies, and being in process. Starting with the understanding that some anxiety is a very normal part of being human, Liz explores common questions that youth pastors and parents have about the anxious teenagers in their care. A trained counselor, Liz is the Fellowship Groups & Young Adults Director at North Shore Fellow...

Head pastor Chris Polski brings to bear his 15 years as a student pastor and many more as a head pastor. Here he defines an intergenerational youth ministry as one that "sees, acknowledges, and strategically integrates generational representatives into its overall approach to youth and student ministry." In this talk from Rooted 2022 in Kansas City, Polski provides listeners with practical help an...

In this talk from Rooted 2022 in Kansas City, Jared Wilson sets out to define Gospel Centrality, and then outlines for listeners what it means to live a gospel-centered life. Wilson defines gospel centrality as:  1. The whole Bible is about Jesus,  2. People change by grace, not by law,  3. The gospel is the grounds for our validation.  With gospel centrality as the "marrow of our ministry," Wilso...

The word "deconstruction" has become at best a buzzword and at worst a bogeyman in Christian culture, but most of us struggle to know exactly what it is and what this apparent trend means for teenagers. In this podcast, Barnabas Piper affirms the way God designed us to be thinking beings and encourages us not to get caught up in complex arguments, but to take doubters to Jesus.  "Under the authori...

In this conversation from the Rooted 2022 Conference, Josh and Anna talk about the buzzword "countercultural," and what it looks like to disciple our children to follow Jesus rather than following cultural norms. They will examine common attitudes parents adopt towards the prevailing culture in 21st century America, and how we as moms and dads can break free from fear, passivity, and anger and lea...

The challenge of middle school ministry is real, but in this talk, Vince Greenwald offers enthusiasm and zeal for this potentially fruitful time of student ministry. Hear how Vince addresses issues like short attention spans, immature behavior, and low expectations, and turns these things into opportunities for growth. You'll especially want to tune in to hear about "walking in the light time" and...

In this important talk, Rooted founder Cameron Cole illuminates the importance of equipping parents to disciple their children. You'll hear about the spiritual lives of parents, how parents perceive the role of the church, developing parental ability to have spiritual conversations, and more. Tune in for a podcast full of practical tools for ministering to parents, even if you don't have kids or t...

Clinical therapist Chris Ellman speaks to youth pastors and parents on the topics of addiction, trauma, and shame. Sharing practical ways to talk to teenagers about pornography. Elmman also offers some hallmarks of addiction and demonstrates the importance of community in the healing process.  "The remedy of shame is that we have to share our stories... When we share our stories, we are putting ou...

Listen in as Amanda Smith shares her story, exhorts youth pastors and parents to continue in biblical discipleship, and encourages us from the Scripture to persevere with our teenagers in love and hope. Amanda Smith is Director of Outreach at Redeemer Kansas City in Kansas City, MO.  "God calls us to pick up our cross and follow him. When cultures and ideologies teach teens to avoid pain, we need...

Rooted Parent Steering Committee member Luke Paiva addresses the painful reality that so many parents confront: we cannot control whether or not our children accept Christ as their Lord and Savior. He offers practical advice, but even more, Paiva offers hurting parents the comfort of our good and loving Savior.  "We are not the Savior. It is our joy in our Savior, and our trust in our Savior, live...

In this thought-provoking talk from Rooted 2022, Dr Anthony Bradley shares what he has learned from years of teaching college students: young men are struggling. What can be done to help them continue to grow and develop in faith, community, and relationships? Dr. Anthony Bradley was most recently professor of religious studies and director of the Center for the Study of Human Flourishing at The K...

"God has written your child's story. You are not the author of your child's story. This doesn't mean that you're not actively involved, but you're not the author." Katie Polski, a fifth-generation pastor's wife (and so obviously, a pastor's kid) speaks from experience growing up a PK and then raising her own pastors' children. She provides seven principles to help diffuse the tension between minis...

Of all the five pillars of gospel-centered youth ministry, Intergenerational Integration has long been a particular distinctive of Rooted Ministry. It's not easy to do! This diverse panel will share their experiences in different contexts, of different ways, to integrate children and teenagers into the daily life of the local church.  Resources: To hear more about integrating students into the lif...

In this valuable workshop, Liz gives youth pastors and parents some tools for helping teenagers who may be struggling under the burden of depression or the impact of trauma. A longtime youth leader, Liz Edrington serves as the Fellowship Groups and Young Adults Director at North Shore Fellowship in Chattanooga, TN, and has an M.A, in counseling from Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, FL. Re...

Following up from her excellent 2021 conference talk, Kendal Conner shares how her experience working with Muslims as a missionary equipped her to teach and disciple this generation of American teenagers. Many teenagers do not share either the language or the narratives that were once commonplace; Kendal shows how, through the power of story, sharing biblical narratives helps us reach students who...

In this excellent talk from Rooted 2022, Barnabas Piper talks about how, despite growing up in a loving home that was saturated with intentional training in God's Word, he did not have "reality with God." For many students, doubt doesn't take the form of outright disbelief, but rather a vague lip service to facts that have no genuine shaping influence. If doubt can take a person away from God or t...

In this insightful and convicting workshop from Rooted 2022, Tucker Fleming unpacks the ways in which social media (and big tech) have fooled us into believing that these platforms are far more benign than they actually are. Fleming urges us to think about the ways social media allows us to hide our messy true selves, and even craft false versions of ourselves. He advises: digital management not d...

In this main session talk from Rooted 2022, Kendal Conner explores how the last chapter of 1 Peter answers the question: "If suffering is certain, which is what we learn from 1 Peter, what does it look like to clothe ourselves in humility while we face the suffering that is before us?" After spending 10 years working in youth ministry, Kendal Conner currently serves as a Groups Minister at Redeeme...

Examining 1 Peter 4:1-19, author and speaker Dr. Michelle Reyes discusses how Christians suffer at the hands of non-believers, the ways that the believing community should care for each other as fellow suffering Christians, and how to find hope in the midst of suffering. Resources:  Join us at Rooted 2023 in Franklin, TN In November! 1 Peter 4:1-19 Follow us @rootedministry on Instagram. Join us f...

Dr. Anthony Bradley, a college professor at The King's College in NYC, teaches an undergrad course to freshmen every year. He is well acquainted with Gen Z students who are fresh out on their own, apart from home and youth ministry. Dr. Bradley shares his insights on Gen Z according to the guidance in Peter's first letter and admonishes listeners to prepare teenagers to suffer knowing that the suf...

In this very special episode of the Rooted Conference podcast, you will hear Rooted staff and steering committee members discuss the five pillars of gospel-centered youth ministry: gospel centrality, theological depth through Biblical teaching, relational discipleship, partnering with parents, and intergenerational integration. Moderator Davis Lacey will engage with Rooted founder Cameron Cole, Ch...

In this important talk from the Rooted 2022 Conference, Clark Fobes addresses how youth pastors and parents can disciple teenagers to suffer well in a culture that is hostile to Jesus and those who love him. Resources: Join us for Rooted 2023 in Nashville! Living Hope for Teenagers in Exile by Skyler Flowers 1 Peter: An Open Letter to Exiles by Elisabeth Elliott Teaching God's Heart for Men and Wo...

This talk from Rooted founder and Chairman Cameron Cole was recorded at the October 2022 conference in Kansas City. He encourages parents to prepare children for living in a hostile culture. If our children understand that following Christ means contradicting the culture, and we equip them to do this well, they will bring glory to God's name.  Resources: 1 Peter: An Open Letter to Exiles by Elisab...

In the opening talk of Rooted 2022 in Kansas City, Jared Wilson unpacks the opening verses of 1 Peter, a book whose themes resonate powerfully with contemporary believers. Wilson offers three hopes: the gospel grounds us in God, the gospel guards us from death, and the gospel grips us with glory. Jared Wilson is Assistant Professor of Pastoral Ministry and Author in Residence at Midwestern Baptist...