Youth Ministry Unscripted: The Rooted Youth Ministry Podcast

In this episode of Youth Ministry Unscripted, Josh Hussung, Danny Kwon, and Isaiah Marshall discuss how to build a youth ministry year with purpose rather than simply filling a calendar with events. The conversation explores intentional planning, discipleship priorities, common mistakes leaders make during planning season, and practical ways to create a ministry year that helps students grow in th...

No one can do children’s ministry alone. How does a children’s ministry staff shoulder the weight of discipling the people under their care? There is an art to recruiting, placing, supporting, and developing serving partners to care well for our children and families. We also want them to become an integral part of a discipleship ministry team and find a place of belonging themselves. In this work...

In this main stage message from the 2025 Rooted Conference, Chelten Carter walks through Acts 11:19–30 and 13:1–3 to reveal how God multiplies His Church. He emphasizes that multiplication is inevitable because persecution cannot stop it, people will be perplexed by it, and God’s power is displayed through it. This message encourages leaders to trust God’s unstoppable work as He continues to grow...

In this session, Rebecca, Josh, Isaiah, and Danny discuss how to best handle crises in their ministries. Youth ministers often play the first responder role, and it’s crucial to think proactively of how to handle a crisis well, whether it be with a student, a family tragedy, or leadership.  Resources: Ministering to Students in Crisis - Rooted Ministry Dr. Gordon Bals on Discussing Grief with Teen...

In this main stage message from the 2025 Rooted Conference, Liz Edrington walks through Acts 10:10–20, 27–28, and 34–36 to show how God works to deepen unity among His people. She highlights how we often prefer what is familiar, while Christ is leading us toward His Kingdom. Through this passage, Liz reveals a pattern of how God deepens our relationship with Him in order to unify us with others, c...

In this episode of YMU, Danny, Isaiah, Josh, and Rebecca discuss how various books and authors have deepened their faith, as well as books they most recommend to youth ministers and students. With schools out for the summer, having extra resources such as reading suggestions for students, is a great way to continue to minister to your students and leaders even if many of them are traveling for the...

In this main stage message from the 2025 Rooted Conference, Syler Thomas walks through Acts 9:15–16 to explore the role of suffering in the life of the Church. Centered on the call of Paul, Syler highlights three key truths: - At the core of our faith is a suffering Savior. - If God’s chosen instrument was called to suffer, we too should be prepared. - How the Church responds to suffering sets her...

In this episode of YMU, Rebecca, Isaiah, Josh, and Danny discuss the very practical topic of rooming assignments for retreats and mission trips, as the summer youth ministry retreat and mission trip season approaches. They discuss various perspectives of how to handle rooming assignments with teenagers, as well as how to handle when students are not happy about who they are rooming with at a retre...

In this main stage message from the 2025 Rooted Conference, Joel Kim walks through Acts 2:42–47, revealing how Christ builds his Church. He highlights three key themes from the passage: extraordinary growth, ordinary means, and the unstoppable work of God. Joel Kim serves as President of Westminster Seminary California, where he has taught New Testament since 2005. An ordained minister in the Pres...

Katy Morgan is a Senior Editor at The Good Book Company and the award-winning author of The Songs of a Warrior and The Promise and the Light . She loves helping children and young people grow in knowledge and love of Jesus, and volunteers in the youth work at her church, King’s Church Chessington in Surrey, UK. She holds a master's degree in classical Greek literature from Cambridge University.  ...

In this main stage message from the 2025 Rooted Conference, Cameron Cole walks through Acts 2:1–24, highlighting three essential ingredients of lasting change revealed at Pentecost: the Holy Spirit in us, the Word of God within the story of God, and the gospel proclaimed in personal terms. His central message is both humbling and hopeful: people can’t change themselves—but God can change people. T...

There is so much more to youth ministry than pizza parties and “Chubby Bunny.” But is there a place for fun and games in youth ministry? Danny, Josh, Becca, and Isaiah discuss the role that games can play in youth ministry, namely, to create and build community. They can also pave an important path relationally for gospel-centered conversations.  Mike McGarry on Theology of Fun and Games Tips for...

In this main stage message from the 2025 Rooted Conference, Jim Davis walks through Acts 1:6–11, highlighting the Church’s clear and compelling mission. Drawing key observations from the text, he equips and encourages leaders to depend on the Spirit and faithfully join God in the work he is doing in the lives of students. Jim Davis is the Teaching Pastor at Orlando Grace Church (Acts 29) and a Cou...

In this episode of Youth Ministry Unscripted, Josh, Becca, Isaiah, and Danny talk candidly about productivity as a key component of gospel-centered youth ministry. Productivity is not about chasing results or proving worth, but faithful stewardship of the limited time we’ve been given. The hosts highlight common obstacles like constant crises, unclear expectations, misalignment with broader church...

In this workshop from the 2024 Rooted Conference, Jennifer Kvamme outlines six essential foundational truths that youth leaders must teach to prepare students to think biblically about sexuality. With clarity and conviction, this session equips leaders to ground teens in God’s design while engaging today’s cultural challenges with grace and wisdom. Jennifer has served in youth ministry at Centenni...

In this reflective workshop from the 2024 Rooted Conference, Harold Kim walks through Psalm 42, offering encouragement and hope for those in seasons of spiritual dryness or discouragement. The session follows three movements: The Condition – what it means to be spiritually cast down The Causes – what might lead us there The Cure – how Scripture points us to hope in God This session is a heartfelt...

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 relational...

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...

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 you...

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 hi...

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 leg...

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...

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 Nort...

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.   ...

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 m...