Podcasts about rooted ministry

Did you know that nearly 70% of youth who grow up in the church don't return after high school? Well, we certainly want to change those numbers…as does our friend Cameron Cole! Cameron is a father, author, and the founding chairman of Rooted Ministry, a ministry we believe in wholeheartedly. In this episode, Cameron talks about helping kids build faith that lasts. If you have kids of any age, this conversation with our friend Cameron is a must-listen! Rooted Parent Podcast Heavenward: How Eternity Can Change Your Life on Earth The Jesus I Wish I Knew in High School Gospel Catechisms for Young Children and Teenagers Baby's Hug-a-Bible: A Soft and Cuddly First Introduction to Favorite Bible Stories . . . . . Grab your tickets today for the Raising Capable Kids Conference with David Thomas, Sissy Goff and special guests! Sign up to receive the monthly newsletter to keep up to date with where David and Sissy are speaking, where they are taco'ing, PLUS conversation starters for you and your family to share! Go behind the scenes and watch our podcast on YouTube! Download a copy of the Raising Boys and Girls Feelings Chart. Connect with David, Sissy, and Melissa at raisingboysandgirls.com. . . . . . If you would like to partner with Raising Boys and Girls as a podcast sponsor, fill out our Advertise with us form. A special thank you to our sponsors: Function currently has a waitlist, but they are offering my audience the chance to skip it! Head to functionhealth.com/RBG or enter code RBG when signing up to skip the waitlist! Hiya Health: Receive 50% off your first order. To claim this deal you must go to hiyahealth.com/RBG. This deal is not available on their regular website. KiwiCo: Get up to 50% off your first crate at kiwico.com, promo code RBG. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this main session talk from the 2024 Rooted Conference in Dallas, TX, Cameron Cole unpacks the story of Daniel 7. In his talk, Cameron discusses the constant chaos of the world, the certain stability of God, and the sustainable safety of the gospel. Cameron Cole is the founding chairman of Rooted Ministry. He is the co-editor of Gospel-Centered Youth Ministry: A Practical Guide (Crossway, 2016) and The Jesus I Wish I Knew in High School (New Growth Press). Cameron is the author of Therefore I Have Hope: 12 Truths that Comfort, Sustain, and Redeem in Tragedy (Crossway, 2018) and  Heavenward: How Eternity Can Change Your Life on Earth (Crossway, 2024). Cameron is married to Lauren and together they have four children, one of whom lives in heaven.Rooted Resources: Purchase the Rooted Daniel CurriculumHow the Book of Daniel Helps Us Lead Our Children to Live Counterculturally by Jason EngleFollow @therootedministry on Instagram for more updates Register for Rooted 2025 Conference in Chicago  Follow @therootedministry on Instagram for more updates andSubscribe to Youth Ministry Unscripted wherever you listen to podcasts

How the gospel/gospel-centered youth ministry can reach Asian American youth. Cameron Cole (Founder & Chair, Rooted Ministry), Clark Fobes (Associate Pastor, First SF Baptist Church) Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ydK7eMzit_w Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesolanetwork/ Our new book: A Letter to the Asian American Church: https://sola.network/book Donate to SOLA Network: https://sola.network/donate/

Single parents are a vital part of the body of Christ, and understanding their relationship with the church is important. Single parents navigate a myriad of challenges, from seeking support within the local church to feeling understood and embraced. While churches aspire to support solo parents, they often grapple with the best approaches to do so effectively. In the continuing conversation with Anna Meade Harris, the author of God's Grace for Every Family, she gives insight into practical ways churches can care for single parents, giving insight into the following: The struggles single parents experience Challenges and needs of fatherless children Meaningful ways family, friends, and churches can support the single-parent family Anna Meade Harris is a single mom of three young adult sons. She is the Senior Director of Content at Rooted Ministry, co-host of the Rooted Parent podcast, and a member of Church of the Cross in Birmingham. Other Resources: The Challenges of Single Parenthood Part One Podcast Episode 110 with Anna Meade Harris God's Grace for Every Family Biblical Encouragement for Single-Parent Families and the Churches That Seek to Love Them Well by Anna Meade Harris Mom, you are not alone!  Join our private Facebook group for more encouragement and community: https://bit.ly/widowmom  For more information and helpful resources, check our website: PerspectiveMinistries.org & follow us on Instagram @PerspectiveMinistries.

Discover the diverse journeys of single parents raising children due to various circumstances like death, divorce, desertion, adoption, or being unmarried. Despite facing unique forms of loss, they encounter shared challenges. Anna Meade Harris, the author of God's Grace for Every Family: Biblical Encouragement for Single-Parent Families and the Churches that Seek to Love Them Well, reminds us that God is there and His grace is enough. In this compelling episode, Anna offers invaluable perspectives on: Embracing your family's unique path, even when it differs from God's original design. Discovering the boundless love and grace of God in the absence of an earthly father. Confronting and overcoming the fears that often plague single parents. Navigating the complex journey of grieving various forms of loss within single parenthood. Anna Meade Harris is a single mom of three young adult sons. She is the Senior Director of Content at Rooted Ministry, co-host of the Rooted Parent podcast, and a member of Church of the Cross in Birmingham, AL. Mom, you are not alone!  Join our private Facebook group for more encouragement and community: https://bit.ly/widowmom  For more information and helpful resources, check our website: PerspectiveMinistries.org & follow us on Instagram @PerspectiveMinistries.

Partnering with parents is an essential part of biblical youth ministry. But "family ministry" can sometimes assume a certain type of family - namely, mom and dad with kids living independently. But 1/3 of kids in America today are living in a single-parent household. In this episode, we'll hear from Anna Meade Harris about her new book, "God's Grace for Every Family: Biblical Encouragement for Single Parent Families and the Churches That Seek to Love Them Well."  Discussion Includes: Could you share about your own family experience and how that led to your new book? What are the different reasons for single parent households and how does that affect the way they engage with the church?  Your book reads, “thirty percent of families in the US are led by a single parent. Nearly nineteen million children have one parent in the home. Although roughly thirty verses in the Bible declare how God wants his church to treat widows and the fatherless, by and large the church does not know what to do with families like mine.” (p.15) Why do you think that's the case, and what's that mean for youth workers who are listening to this conversation?  Here's another quote that really hits home, “Although the majority of custodial single parents are moms, single parenting is not a women's issue, it's a family of God issue.” (p22) Could you share a few examples of what it looks like for a church to come together and be the family of God?   What recommendations do you have for ministry to teenagers of single-parent households?  Are there any good resources you'd recommend on ministry to single parent families?  Anna Meade Harris is the Senior Director of Content for the Rooted Ministry and the mom of three adult sons. God's Grace for Every Family: Biblical Encouragement for Single Parent Families and the Churches That Seek to Love Them Well, releasing March 2024 through Zondervan.  Recommendations Mike McGarry, Lead Them to Jesus: A Handbook for Youth Workers (ch.37, “Supporting Single-Parent Families”)  Blaire Linne, Finding My Father: How the Gospel Heals the Pain of Fatherlessness Henri Nouwen, The Wounded Healer  Claressa Moll, Beyond the Darkness: A Gentle Guide for Living with Grief and Thriving after Loss DivorceCare Ministry  Join YPT's Facebook group: @youththeologian (make sure you answer the membership questions) Follow YPT on Twitter: @youththeologian Follow YPT on Instagram: @youththeologian YPT's ebook, Youth Ministry is Theological Ministry, is a free download for subscribers. This book captures the essence of Youth Pastor Theologian in one ten-chapter book, written by six different contributors from across America, Mexico, and the UK.  Note: some of the links above feature Amazon Affiliate links, which bring a small financial benefit to YPT. We use these credits to develop the free resources you enjoy. Thank you for your support.

Interested in being trained within the Reformed & Confessional Classical Theistic tradition? Check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Davenant Hall⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Use code gggtrinity24 for $25 off Trinity Term! Make a one-time or recurring donation on our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Donor Box profile here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Join us in the mission of introducing Reformed Theology across the world! Please help support the show on our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon Page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!   WELCOME TO BOOK CLUB! Anna Meade Harris has been a single mother to three sons since the death of her husband in 2010. She is the Senior Director of Content at Rooted Ministry and co-host of the Rooted Parent Podcast. She loves to write and speak about the goodness of God. A graduate of Wake Forest University with a double major in English and History, Anna holds a master's degree in English Literature. A member of Church of the Cross in Birmingham, Alabama, Anna loves reading, dancing, hiking, chocolate, and the Crimson Tide. She also loves the outdoors and can't decide which state is prettier: Alabama or Idaho.? We want to thank Zondervan for their help in setting up this interview and providing us with the necessary materials for this interview with Anna!   ⁠Purchase the book(s) here:⁠ ⁠⁠The Return of the Kingdom: A Biblical Theology of God's Reign⁠⁠   Have Feedback or Questions? Email us at: guiltgracepod@gmail.com Find us on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@guiltgracepod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@guiltgracepod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find us on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Guilt Grace Gratitude Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Please rate and subscribe to the podcast on whatever platform you use! Looking for a Reformed Church? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠North American Presbyterian & Reformed Churches --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gggpodcast/support

Every youth pastor knows they should prioritize partnering with parents, but it's really hard to do for a variety of reasons. This is especially true for younger youth pastors. Let's talk about what partnering with parents looks like and how you can get started.  What are some biblical reasons partnering with parents is more than important… it is absolutely necessary.  What are some reasons you've seen or heard that make it difficult for youth workers to meaningfully partner with parents?  What are some questions youth workers should be asking themselves to honestly evaluate their ministry to parents? How can these new or young youth leaders partner with parents?  Anna Meade Harris is the Senior Director of Content for the Rooted Ministry and the mom of three adult sons. God's Grace for Every Family: Biblical Encouragement for Single Parent Families and the Churches That Seek to Love Them Well, releasing March 2024 through Zondervan.  Join YPT's Facebook group: @youththeologian (make sure you answer the membership questions) Follow YPT on Twitter: @youththeologian Follow YPT on Instagram: @youththeologian YPT has published an ebook that's a free download for subscribers! Youth Ministry is Theological Ministry captures the essence of Youth Pastor Theologian in one ten-chapter book, written by six different contributors from across America, Mexico, and the UK. 

Do you have hope for the future? Part of having hope in the future is investing in its people--our kids. Veteran Pastor of Student Ministries Josh Newton joins us today to talk about students, the church, and what we need to know about our kids. Josh is wise, humble, and full of gospel grace for our kids and their families. He deals with misconceptions, gives valuable advice for parents, and discusses some of the bright spots with teens today. He also peels back some of the Bumper Stickers kids (and adults!) like to hide behind, and he paints a vision for how student ministry can thrive in the church today.  Josh is Pastor of Student Ministries at The Orchard Church in the Chicagoland area. He is also a part of Rooted Ministry (www.rootedministry.com).   #faith #god #youthministry #studentministry #parents #church Follow us on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/bumperstickerfaith  Find us on Instagram @bumperstickerfaith Won't you please consider becoming part of the BS Crew? To find out more and join, go to https://www.patreon.com/bumperstickerfaith.   Feel free to comment and be sure to share. Thanks for listening. Our website: www.bumperstickerfaith.com   Join the BS Crew: https://www.patreon.com/bumperstickerfaith   Find us on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bumper-sticker-faith/id1607763646   Or Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1OZgz7PIQPEmMKSaj75Hc7   Music is by Skilsel

About the Episode: This podcast is encouraging to many of us who are busy with the ways the world seeks to fulfill us but seek rest in the Lord. The culture around us seeks for everyone to do more and more while not counting the costs. There can tend to be an innate sense of wanting to feel limitless, and along with that comes immense pressure to "keep up." How do we move from what the culture says is possible to how we are meant to live as believers trusting in the Lord? These women share their process as they think through which activities their families participate in. They share how fear is a motivation behind too many activities and their desire to have freedom from that fear. If you are struggling with issues related to anything, please don't hesitate to reach out to deeplight@pcpc.org or 214-224-2500. About Our Guests: Lindsey Sheppard and her husband, Clayton, have been married for almost 17 years. They have an eleven-year-old son, a nine-year-old daughter, and a six-year-old daughter. Sara Hale loves being married to her husband, John, and being the mother of their two children. She is a member of PCPC who says "hello" to Aunt Carol, who watches the services from California each week. Kristen Hatton is a Christian author, speaker, and Licensed Professional Counselor Associate supervised by Kari Stainback, LPC-S. She has written three books for teenagers, one specifically addressing adolescent girls' struggle for identity and worth, and her latest book for parents, Parenting Ahead (April 2023 release date). In addition, she started a ministry for parents called Redemptive Parenting that includes The Redemptive Parenting Podcast. But after nearly 25 years of mothering and lay counseling stirred her desire for further training to better walk alongside those dealing with such issues as stress, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and relational issues that she commonly encountered, Kristen returned to school for a Master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Liberty University. As a professional counselor, Kristen works primarily with teen girls, young adult women, parents, and families. While she naturally operates from a biblical worldview integrating faith in counseling, Kristen gladly meets all clients where they are, for she believes the most important aspect of counseling is in the therapeutic relationship. Furthermore, because Kristen does not see counseling as a one-fit-for-all, she draws from several counseling modalities, including family systems and cognitive behavioral therapy. Kristen and her husband have three adult children and a son-in-law. Outside of work, Kristen is active in her church and enjoys being outdoors, traveling, entertaining, writing, and watching football. Her writing can be found at kristenhatton.com as well as on the Rooted Ministry website and in LifeWay magazine's ParentingTeens magazine. About Our Host: A graduate of Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Mark Davis came to PCPC as our Youth Pastor in 2003 and became our Senior Pastor in 2009. He and his bride, Kristina, met at a Young Life Camp in 1988 and have five amazing kids: Kara (and husband, Drew, and granddaughter Haddie), Madalyn (and husband, Jack), Cayden, Esther Kate, & Samuel. Resources: PCPC counseling department https://pcpc.org/care/ Email us at DeepLight@pcpc.org or Call 214-224-2500, and we will connect you with others who can walk alongside you. (music license ASLC-14EAD3E0-84F34F4276)

Mental health struggles are increasingly common, and yet it remains difficult to know how to minister to students who are living with anxiety and/or depression. How can youth workers think biblically and theologically about mental health diagnoses and respond with wisdom and grace?  Liz Edrington has served at North Shore Fellowship in Chattanooga, TN in full-time ministry for 8 years and is an adjunct professor at Covenant College. She's a regular contributor to the Rooted Ministry and is the author of Anxiety: Finding the Better Story.  Discussion Includes:  What's important for youth workers who have never struggled with their mental health to know about mental health?  A basic framework for thinking biblically and theologically about mental health diagnoses.  Why do you think anxiety and depression is so common, and how do you encourage youth workers to care for these students?  You recently published a 30 Day Devotional for teenagers about anxiety and finding a better story. What do you mean by “finding the better story” and could you share a little about the book?  How do you speak gospel hope to students who are struggling with depression?  Order Liz's book, Anxiety: Finding The Better Story (a 31 day devotional for teenagers)

Dr. Mike McGarry has heard just about every question students ask.  In addition to being a youth pastor, he's the founder/director of Youth Pastor Theologian, an organization committed to training youth workers to practice theology in youth ministry. Mike is the author of A Biblical Theology of Youth Ministry; Lead Them to Jesus; and his latest book, Discover: Questioning Your Way to Faith. Mike is also a regular contributor to LeaderTreks and the Rooted Ministry, and cohosts the podcast Thanos to Theos, which covers comics, the gospel, and youth ministry. He is married to his wife, Tracy, and they have two youth group-aged kids. And the McGarrys live in Norton, Massachusetts.  To contact Mike or to find out more about his ministry, go to https://youthpastortheologian.com or on social media @youththeologian. -------------------   If you want to help us transform the lives of even MORE MEN for God's glory, please take a minute to leave us a helpful REVIEW on iTunes: http://www.rmcpodcast.com and SHARE this podcast with any young man (or men) you're mentoring or discipling. And make sure you don't miss an interview episode by signing up for our Man-to-Man eNewsletter at http://www.RealMenConnect.com, and grab your FREE copy of the Real Men Victory Tracker.    Are you stuck? Want to go to the next level in your marriage, career, business, or ministry?  Then maybe it's time you got a coach. ALL CHAMPIONS have one. Let me coach you to help you strengthen your faith, improve your marriage, spiritually lead your family, achieve more, balance your time, grow your ministry, or even stop an addiction. Click here for details: http://www.RMCfree.com    Talk with Dr. Joe 1-on-1: Want to talk to the host? Time slots are limited, but Dr. Joe takes on a few Breakthrough Calls a week to personally help you with your personal life, work, and family challenges.  The call is FREE, but slots are limited to ONE call only.  NO RESCHEDULES.  Just click on the link below and select the BREAKTHROUGH CALL option to set up an appointment: https://TalkwithDrJoe.com   Also join us on: Join the Real Men 300: http://www.RealMen300.com Facebook Group: http://www.realmenuniversity.com/ YouTube: http://www.RealMenTraining.com Facebook: @realdrjoemartin Instagram: @realdrjoemartin Twitter: @professormartin

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 life of the church, join us for Rooted 2023 in Franklin, TN, November 2-4. Growing Young by Kara Powell, Fuller Youth InstituteReciprocal Church: Becoming a Community Where Faith Flourishes Beyond High School by Sharon KetchamMilestones podcast

In this episode, the guys talk about the second entry in the Miles Morales animated Spiderman adventure, Across the Spiderverse.  They talk about the important themes in the movie, and all of the things that stood out to them in this incredible film.Contact us on Twitter @ThanosToTheos, Instagram @ThanosToTheos, or email us at thanostotheos@gmail.comIf you want to respond to any of our hosts, you can reach us on Twitter:Mike McGarry: @revmcgarryClark Fobes: @fobesmanKevin Yi: @kevinhyi

In this episode, the guys do a deep dive on the third season of the Mandalorian, and how youth pastors can connect the themes of this third season to our faith.  There are so many vectors for us to talk about the themes of acceptance, religious beliefs, community, and faith.  We hope that our episode is helpful in giving you tools for opening up conversation with your students about the things that they're watching. Contact us on Twitter @ThanosToTheos, Instagram @ThanosToTheos, or email us at thanostotheos@gmail.comIf you want to respond to any of our hosts, you can reach us on Twitter:Mike McGarry: @revmcgarryClark Fobes: @fobesmanKevin Yi: @kevinhyi

In this episode, the guys share their thoughts about Antman and the Wasp: Quantumania, the state of the MCU, and how important good storytelling is.  They also take a moment to shine a light on some great storytelling that's happening right now. Contact us on Twitter @ThanosToTheos, Instagram @ThanosToTheos, or email us at thanostotheos@gmail.comIf you want to respond to any of our hosts, you can reach us on Twitter:Mike McGarry: @revmcgarryClark Fobes: @fobesmanKevin Yi: @kevinhyi

In this very special Clark-less episode, the guys try to do a decent show without him.  As much as we want to pat ourselves on the back, it's a little lacking in something.  But they try their best to do some recaps of the content that came out in 2022, and also talk about what it looks like to do year end youth ministry evaluation, along with discussing some of the challenges coming up ahead.Contact us on Twitter @ThanosToTheos, Instagram @ThanosToTheos, or email us at thanostotheos@gmail.comIf you want to respond to any of our hosts, you can reach us on Twitter:Mike McGarry: @revmcgarryClark Fobes: @fobesmanKevin Yi: @kevinhyi

In this episode, the guys sat down around a beautiful Christmas tree to talk about the greatest present of all: Kevin.  Kevin Bacon of course, and the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special.  Then they shift gears to talk about another great gift, the Star Wars Disney+ series, Andor.  Lastly, they also announce the winner of the Thanos To Theos Listener Questions giveaway!  We hope that you guys all have a very Merry Christmas!! Thank you so much for being one of our cherished listeners this year!00:00:00 Introduction00:01:44 Giveaway Winner00:02:53 Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special00:13:08 Andor00:26:39 Infinity Stones Ranking00:32:10 Theos Topic00:53:08 Post-Show (Avatar 2 Predictions)Contact us on Twitter @ThanosToTheos, Instagram @ThanosToTheos, or email us at thanostotheos@gmail.comIf you want to respond to any of our hosts, you can reach us on Twitter:Mike McGarry: @revmcgarryClark Fobes: @fobesmanKevin Yi: @kevinhyi

Youth Ministry is theological ministry. But what's this actually mean, and what's it look like? Kevin Yi joins the podcast to share what he's learned about theologically grounded youth ministry. This episode features the following discussion: You live in Southern California surrounded by many flagship attractional churches. Without being unnecessarily critical, could you share how that's shaped your own convictions about the role of theology and the gospel in youth ministry?  Can you walk us through how you decide whether or not it's worth digging into a theological question or if that'd be a distraction from teaching the big idea of the text?  What have you learned the hard way about teaching theologically? How can youth workers teach theologically without posing as theology professors in the youth room? Mike and Kevin co-host another podcast along with Clark Fobes, called Thanos to Theos - a podcast about comics, culture, theology, and youth ministry. Thanos to Theos is part of the Rooted Ministry podcast network. Even if you aren't into comics or superhero movies, it'll help you launch into meaningful conversations with students in your ministry.  Kevin Yi is the College and Young Adults Pastor and Education Director at Church Everyday in LA county. He's also the Video Producer for the Rooted Ministry and a contributor to The Gospel I Wish I Knew in High School.  Visit Youth Pastor Theologian's website Join YPT's Facebook group: @youththeologian (make sure you answer the membership questions) Follow YPT on Twitter: @youththeologian Follow YPT on Instagram: @youththeologian Please consider sharing YPT's podcast and our articles with your friends, and leave a rating/review on your podcast subscriber. You can contact us with any questions and recommend both topics and guests on our website's Submissions Page.

In this episode, the guys sit down to talk about their experiences at the Rooted 2022 Conference and why Mike wasn't there.  We're also soliciting questions for a Q&A episode that we'd like to do, so please submit questions via Twitter, Instagram, or email and you'll be entered in to win a Thanos to Theos shirt!  We also do our final thoughts on the complete first season of She-Hulk along with our Infinity Stones ranking.  For our Theos topic, we talk a little bit about Jennifer Walter's identity crisis and end up talking a lot about what to do with the different social and popularity disparities we see in youth group.00:00 Introduction00:01 Rooted 2022 Conference Recap15:37 Giveaway Details! 17:05 She-Hulk Season 127:31 She-Hulk Infinity Stones Ranking31:40 Theos TopicContact us on Twitter @ThanosToTheos, Instagram @ThanosToTheos, or email us at thanostotheos@gmail.comIf you want to respond to any of our hosts, you can reach us on Twitter:Mike McGarry: @revmcgarryClark Fobes: @fobesmanKevin Yi: @kevinhyi

In his workshop at the 2021 Rooted Conference, Skyler Flowers addressed the main reason that Rooted Ministry was founded, namely, tackling the issue of the 'dechurched', those who used to be faithful attenders but who no longer go to church. Some left casually; some were casualties. Learn about the problems the students in your youth group have with belief, belonging, and behavior. Resources:Skyler Flowers at RootedThe Jesus I Wish I Knew in High School bookThe Rooted Conference

This week we are joined by Cameron Cole. Cameron is the Director of Children, Youth, and Family at Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham, Alabama. He's also the founding chairman of Rooted Ministry, which is all about equipping parents and youth leaders for gospel-centered ministry. Among other things, Cameron is the co-host of the Rooted Parent Podcast, and an editor of the books Gospel-Centered Youth Ministry and The Jesus I Wish I Knew In High School, which came out last year.  In our conversation with Cameron, we get the opportunity to talk about the importance of leading with the gospel in conversations with the next generation. 

In this episode, the guys are joined by a very special guest, Jared Kennedy.  He's the author of Keeping Your Children's Ministry on Mission: Practical Strategies for Discipling the Next Generation, The Beginner's Gospel Story Bible, and number of children's Bible board books as well like God Wins: Walls, Giants, and Enemies Fall.  He's also an editor for the Gospel Coalition.  Jared joins us to do a full discussion and breakdown of the MCU Disney+ series, Ms. Marvel.  This is a great conversation about the most “faith-filled” show in the MCU, so get ready for a really interesting and relatable discussion about family, meaning, identity, and faith.00:00 Introduction23:08 Ms Marvel31:03 Infinity Stones Ranking40:59 Theos ConnectionsWe would love your feedback, input, or questions for future episodes!Contact us on Twitter @ThanosToTheos, Instagram @ThanosToTheos, or email us at thanostotheos@gmail.comIf you want to respond to any of our hosts, you can reach us on Twitter:Mike McGarry: @revmcgarryClark Fobes: @fobesmanKevin Yi: @kevinhyi

Here it is, the long awaited Thor: Love and Thunder episode!  We appreciate everyone's patience as it took awhile for us to get this episode out.  But as a bonus for waiting so long, we decided to talk about the biggest movie of the year, Top Gun: Maverick as well!  So in this mega two for one episode, the guys talk about their reactions to both of these movies as well as some "Theos" connections worth discussing.02:24 Thor: Love and Thunder35:06 Top Gun: MaverickContact us on Twitter @ThanosToTheos, Instagram @ThanosToTheos, or email us at thanostotheos@gmail.comIf you want to respond to any of our hosts, you can reach us on Twitter:Mike McGarry: @revmcgarryClark Fobes: @fobesmanKevin Yi: @kevinhyi  

In this episode, the guys talk about their brief reactions to the first 3 episodes of the Ms. Marvel Disney+ series.  Then the guys get to the main topic by talking about the latest Star Wars Disney + series, Obi Wan Kenobi.  They explain their Infinity Stones ranking for the show and discuss ministry connections related to the youth pastor of the Star Wars Universe, Obi Wan Kenobi.  01:27 Ms. Marvel Reactions21:39 Obi Wan KenobiContact us on Twitter @ThanosToTheos, Instagram @ThanosToTheos, or email us at thanostotheos@gmail.comIf you want to respond to any of our hosts, you can reach us on Twitter:Mike McGarry: @revmcgarryClark Fobes: @fobesmanKevin Yi: @kevinhyi 

In this special episode of Thanos to Theos focused on youth ministry applications, the guys get together to talk about leading through change.  We've all been through so many different kinds of adjustments in the last few years, and this conversation is focused on what we've seen in our respective ministries, how we've led through various changes, and what we've learned in hindsight.  With a particular emphasis on what it looks like to become more gospel-centered, we hope that you will be encouraged as you hear about the challenges and blessings that the hosts experienced in shaping their youth ministries to be more gospel driven.Links:Lead Them to Jesus book reviews by Rooted Ministry and The Gospel Coalition. The Jesus I Wish I Knew book review by Mike McGarry at Christianity Today. Contact us on Twitter @ThanosToTheos, Instagram @ThanosToTheos, or email us at thanostotheos@gmail.comIf you want to respond to any of our hosts, you can reach us on Twitter:Mike McGarry: @revmcgarryClark Fobes: @fobesmanKevin Yi: @kevinhyi

In this spoiler spectacular, the guys talk about Dr. Strange and the Multiverse of Madness.  Does it live up to the hype?  Was it too scary for Mike?  The guys also take some time to unveil the new Thanos to Theos Infinity Stones ranking system.  Lastly, we discuss the series (or season) finale of Moon Knight, and as always, take you through some analysis of these stories from a gospel lens.    01:05 Moon Knight Finale  16:53 Moon Knight "Theos" Analysis  30:21 The New Rating System  31:57 Moon Knight Rating  34:18 Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness  53:54 Dr. Strange 2 "Theos" Analysis  01:11:08 Dr. Strange 2 Rating 01:18:07 Post Show - Did we find a plothole?!? Links:Youth Pastor Theologian article about Moon KnightInterview with one of the directors of Moon KnightRooted Ministry articles about heaven:https://rootedministry.com/blog/what-we-do-know-about-heaven/https://rootedministry.com/blog/heaven-is-not-a-place-on-earth/Rooted Ministry Conference Podcast about Heaven:https://rootedministry.com/podcast/rooted-podcast-robby-holt-on-glory-grace-and-heaven/Contact us on Twitter @ThanosToTheos, Instagram @ThanosToTheos, or email us at thanostotheos@gmail.comIf you want to respond to any of our hosts, you can reach us on Twitter:Mike McGarry: @revmcgarryClark Fobes: @fobesmanKevin Yi: @kevinhyi 

Kyle, Linda, and Matt invite Cameron Cole on as a guest to discuss Rooted Ministry. Cameron offers helpful insights on "Killing the Bear", how to use C.I.A. when teaching the Bible to students, and he also reminds us we have "one shot, one kill." Cameron encourages us to have grace-filled, gospel-centered, and biblically-saturated youth ministries.

Cameron Cole has been the Director of Youth Ministries at the Cathedral Church of the Advent since December of 2005, and in January of 2016 his duties expanded to include Children, Youth, and Families. He is the founding chairman of Rooted Ministry, an organization that promotes gospel-centered youth ministry.Show Notes: Philippians 3:8-21Register for the 2022 Rooted Conference

And we're back! Welcome to the 5th season of Thanos to Theos! Ok we're just kidding.  We took an extended break because the MCU took an extended break, but we're back with our thoughts and analysis on the first 5 episodes of Moon Knight.  We also take a bit of time to discuss the new "The Batman" movie, and the DC HBO Max show, Peacemaker.  Did Clark enjoy any of the DC movies/shows?  Was Moon Knight too scary for Mike?  Does Kevin use the word "interesting" too much?  And is it just us, or does Harrow kind of look like Mark McGrath from the 90's band Sugar Ray?00:03:21 Peacemaker00:04:31 The Batman00:06:57 Moon KnightContact us on Twitter @ThanosToTheos, Instagram @ThanosToTheos, or email us at thanostotheos@gmail.comIf you want to respond to any of our hosts, you can reach us on Twitter:Mike McGarry: @revmcgarryClark Fobes: @fobesmanKevin Yi: @kevinhyi

We spend our teen years figuring out where we belong. Pandemic isolation and an uptick in social media use has made this more difficult for today's teenagers, according to Anna Meade Harris. Harris is the editor-in-chief of the Rooted Ministry blog, and author of a February 2022 Gospel Coalition article “Breaking Social Media's Grip on Teens.”  “I think what happens,” Harris says in this Inside Out podcast, “is that teenagers think that they know people through their social media posts, but the actual fact is that we can't know people until we have spent time in their presence.”   Adults in a teen's life can help break the grip of social media and guide teens toward richer, in-person relationships.   It starts with putting down our own phones and talking, face-to-face.   “I think we start in our homes, prioritizing face-to-face, personal interaction, doing things together,” Harris says.   And while we're engaging in attentive, in-person relationships, we can assure them that disagreements are normal, even as we model for them how to manage conflict.    “We can talk about apologies, we can walk through forgiveness, we can approach the hard topics in our homes openly,” she says.   Harris talks about practical ways to do this in our 17-minute Inside Out podcast. We hope you'll listen.   Read the article that inspired the conversation here. Learn about Anna Meade Harris and read more of her writing here.  Harris will be part of a panel discussion on this topic for the 2022 Gospel Coalition Women's Conference in June 2022.

Charlotte Getz is Director of Publishing Projects for Rooted Ministry. She is also the co-author of Unmapped: The (Mostly) True Story of How Two Women Lost at Sea Found Their Way Home and a frequent contributor to the Mockingbird Blog. Show Notes: Ezekiel 37J-Curve: Dying and Rising with Jesus in Everyday Life, by Paul MillerRegister for the 2022 Rooted Conference

Listen in on this spoiler-saturated episode where we discuss The Book of Boba Fett and hear Mike's epic "theosification" of the themes in this show.  We talk about what it looks like to keep the main thing the main thing in our youth ministry planning, as we all know how hard it can be to keep things on track as we plan for our ministry calendar.  What did you think of the Book of Boba Fett?  What are some of the ways that you've been able to keep things on track in your youth ministry? We would love your feedback, input, or questions for future episodes!Contact us on Twitter @ThanosToTheos, Instagram @ThanosToTheos, or email us at thanostotheos@gmail.comIf you want to respond to any of our hosts, you can reach us on Twitter:Mike McGarry: @revmcgarryClark Fobes: @fobesmanKevin Yi: @kevinhyi

Dr. Russell Moore joins this wide ranging podcast episode as we discuss the dual role of comic book stories as a mirror (which shows us who we are) and a map (which normalizes and reinforces certain values). He takes us to school about why Superman is so heroic and shares insight into how youth workers and parents can help their kids develop cultural discernment. We would love your feedback, input, or questions for future episodes.Contact us on Twitter @ThanosToTheos, Instagram @ThanosToTheos, or email us at thanostotheos@gmail.comIf you want to respond to any of our hosts, you can reach us on Twitter:Mike McGarry: @revmcgarryClark Fobes: @fobesmanKevin Yi: @kevinhyi

Listen in on this spoiler-saturated episode where we discuss Spider-Man: No Way Home and the Hawkeye series. As Spider-Man: No Way Home continues to dominate the box office and the hearts of Marvel fans, there are some who wonder what all the fuss is about. So, we address some of the critiques while sharing what we loved about it, especially the central theme of redemption. Then we transition to talk about the Hawkeye series, why it was so refreshing, and what we enjoyed about Clint and Kate's mentor/mentee relationship.00:02:18 - Spiderman:No Way Home Discussion00:43:38 - Hawkeye series DiscussionWe would love your feedback, input, or questions for future episodes.Contact us on Twitter @ThanosToTheos, Instagram @ThanosToTheos, or email us at thanostotheos@gmail.comIf you want to respond to any of our hosts, you can reach us on Twitter:Mike McGarry: @revmcgarryClark Fobes: @fobesmanKevin Yi: @kevinhyi

In this live-show from the 2021 Rooted Conference, we're joined by Becca Heck to discuss an obvious question - “Why would a ministry like Rooted host a podcast about comics?” The four of us discuss the meaning and value of comics and reflect on the power of myth when it comes to the big questions of life, meaning, purpose, etc. We wrap up by sharing a few examples of ways that comics (and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, in particular) has helped us initiation spiritually significant conversations with students.We would love your feedback, input, or questions for future episodes.Contact us on Twitter @ThanosToTheos, Instagram @ThanosToTheos, or email us at thanostotheos@gmail.comIf you want to respond to any of our hosts, you can reach us on Twitter:Mike McGarry: @revmcgarryClark Fobes: @fobesmanKevin Yi: @kevinhyi

In this episode, the guys talk about nerd culture and pop culture and how the acceptance of certain aspects of nerd culture show us and teach us about culture in general and how it's changing.  Walking through a variety of different nerd cultures like comic books, Pokemon, Star Wars vs Star Trek, and even Harry Potter, the guys discuss how these changes have implications in youth ministry and theology, and how as students of culture, youth works can take advantage of the "nerd culture" aspects of our popular culture among teenagers.  We would love your feedback, input, or questions for future episodes.Contact us on Twitter @ThanosToTheos, Instagram @ThanosToTheos, or email us at thanostotheos@gmail.comIf you want to respond to any of our hosts, you can reach us on Twitter:Mike McGarry: @revmcgarryClark Fobes: @fobesmanKevin Yi: @kevinhyi

In this episode, the guys catch up about their summers: Clark started at a new church, Kevin is back in youth ministry (and graduated from seminary!), and Mike released a new book, "Lead Them to Jesus: A Handbook for Youth Workers." We're ready to dig into a new season on the podcast with episodes dropping every-other week. We react to the release of Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Clark and Kevin, as Asian-Americans, share what the movie has meant for them and why it's been so meaningful to finally see an Asian-American superhero on the big screen. Don't forget to leave a review on itunes, and then drop us a line on Instagram or Twitter to let us know that you left a review, and you'll be entered into a drawing to win a copy of Mike's new book! Get a copy of Mike's new book Lead Them to Jesus: A Handbook for Youth Workers at New Growth Press, 10ofthose, and Amazon.Read Rooted Ministry's review of Mike's book here: "The Book Every Youth Worker Needs"Check out the new website: www.youthpastortheologian.comThe CPYU Youth Culture Matters Podcast that features all of your favorite hosts.Register for the Rooted Conference!We would love your feedback, input, or questions for future episodes.Contact us on Twitter @ThanosToTheos, Instagram @ThanosToTheos, or email us at thanostotheos@gmail.comIf you want to respond to any of our hosts, you can reach us on Twitter:Mike McGarry: @revmcgarryClark Fobes: @fobesmanKevin Yi: @kevinhyi

In this episode, the guys give their brief spoiler free reviews of the Black Widow movie. They promise that they will circle back around to this and give the movie a proper discussion with some special guests! Then the guys move on to discussing the universe changing implications of the Loki season finale and what it means for the MCU going forward.  And as always, how can this show be useful to discussing theology with our students?  What kinds of theological and philosophical assumptions does the show make about God and the universe? We would love your feedback, input, or questions for future episodes.Contact us on Twitter @ThanosToTheos, Instagram @ThanosToTheos, or email us at thanostotheos@gmail.comIf you want to respond to any of our hosts, you can reach us on Twitter:Mike McGarry: @revmcgarryClark Fobes: @fobesmanKevin Yi: @kevinhyi

Aaaand we're back! After a hiatus, the guys discuss the glorious Captain America 1979 movie that Mike had to watch because of his terrible predictions about The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Then we discuss the first two episodes of the new Loki series. In the end, we reflect on the theological questions the show raises for youth workers to discuss with students - about creation, God's sovereignty, human freedom, and God's will. Some basic predictions about the Loki series are made.We would love your feedback, input, or questions for future episodes.Contact us on Twitter @ThanosToTheos, Instagram @ThanosToTheos, or email us at thanostotheos@gmail.comIf you want to respond to any of our hosts, you can reach us on Twitter:Mike McGarry: @revmcgarryClark Fobes: @fobesmanKevin Yi: @kevinhyi

In this episode, the guys are joined by our friend Bryan Brown to discuss the Disney+ series, “Falcon and the Winter Soldier.”  We discuss what we liked about the show, where it could’ve been stronger. Since one of the central storylines of the show focused on race and whether or not there could ever be a Black Captain America, we discuss the show’s interaction with much of what’s happening in our culture today. The conversation wraps up by focusing on ways youth workers can discuss the show and its themes with students in our ministries.We also settle the issue of who won our F&WS prediction wager that we laid out in the last episode.  Tune in to find out who wins and what the consequences will be.  Post Credits Audio: Kevin's Facebook post about Cap's shield.We would love your feedback, input, or questions for future episodes.Contact us on Twitter @ThanosToTheos, Instagram @ThanosToTheos, or email us at thanostotheos@gmail.comIf you want to respond to any of our hosts, you can reach us on Twitter:Mike McGarry: @revmcgarryClark Fobes: @fobesmanKevin Yi: @kevinhyi

More from the Rooted Youth Ministry Podcast: Youth Ministry Q&A with Cameron Cole, Sedrick Moore, Rebecca Heck, and Kevin Yi: Rooted 2020 Conference The Youth Ministry Discipleship Opportunity that COVID-19 Has Brought with Cameron Cole and Rebecca Lankford: Rooted 2020 Conference Workshop Engaging Disability: Learn more about Engaging Disability by visiting their website! View resources provided by Engaging Disability here. 

More from Ask Alice Podcast: Ask Alice: Fostering Healthy Relationships With Food In Our Children Ask Alice: SAD (Seasonal Affect Disorder) Ask Alice: Talking to Your Kids About Current Events Ask Alice: Screen Protection for Youth

Click here to order a Parenting with Patience workbook. For listeners, Chap Bettis is offering the limited-time opportunity to access Parenting with Patience videos for free! Here are instructions for accessing the videos:1. Go to www.ApollosU.com and register for our school. Welcome!2. Choose the Individual/Small Group Course.3. Checkout and use coupon code pwplaunch. Do this immediately- this coupon code is only good during the launch period!4. That should drop the price to zero. You will not need to enter your credit card information. Your subscription is good for one year.See more from the Rooted Parent PodcastView all Rooted's podcasts here! 

More from CameronMinistry to Young Women Is Not A "Check Your Brains At The Door" EndeavorPreparing Christian Children for the Transgender Moment More from RebeccaOne Biblical Truth To Teach Students in the Aftermath of the Ravi Zacharias Report Dear Brand New Youth Minister More from KevinWhat Does It Mean To Be Human? A Biblical Response Rooted's Most Read: Sustaining Your Youth Ministry in a Global Pandemic 

In this episode, the guys debrief the rollercoaster that was WandaVision. The show was surprisingly helpful to set the stage for healthy conversations about what grief is and how Christ gives us hope in the midst of deep loss. Whose predictions about the series were closest, what did we think about the MCU’s debut of a new type of show, and what can youth workers learn from the series’ depiction of grief?We would love your feedback, input, or questions for future episodes.Contact us on Twitter @ThanosToTheos, Instagram @ThanosToTheos, or email us at thanostotheos@gmail.comIf you want to respond to any of our hosts, you can reach us on Twitter:Mike McGarry: @revmcgarryClark Fobes: @fobesmanKevin Yi: @kevinhyi

More from Rooted Parent Podcast:Rooted Parent Podcast: Talking to Your Kids About Loving Their Enemies Rooted Parent Podcast: Parents, Turn Off the News (Responsibly) Find all Rooted Ministry Podcasts Here!  More from Cameron:Preparing Christian Children for the Transgender Moment Ministry to Young Women Is Not A "Check Your Brains at the Door" Endeavor   

More from Kevin: What Does It Mean To Be Human? A Biblical ResponseRooted's Most Read: Sustaining Your Youth Ministry in a Global Pandemic Practical Tips for Doing Digital Ministry (Part 2) See all of Kevin's contributions to the Rooted blog here! More from Clark: Seeking Racial Justice: Going Beyond Social Media Solidarity Dealing with Loneliness in Quarantine and Social Distancing Dealing with the Shame of Depression See all of Clark's contributions to the Rooted blog here! More from Peter: Shame-Based Moralism Christ's Ministry Beyond a Shadow of a Doubt The Distinct Latent Treasures and Dangers of Asian American Youth Ministry  

More from Cameron: Ministry to Young Women Is Not A "Check Your Brains At The Door" Endeavor Preparing Christian Children for the Transgender Moment Youth Ministry Can't Keep Focusing on the Wrong Numbers Access all of Cameron's Rooted Contributions Here!More from Rebecca: What Do Youth Ministers Need From Parents?Mary's Song: A Call to Magnify Jesus Teaching Haggai to Students: A Call to Consider Access all of Rebecca's Rooted Contributions Here! 

More from Chelsea:Rooted's Most Read: Helping Students Redeem the Time During Quarantine Christmas with Luke: Jesus Comes to Those Who Feel Left Out Helping Teenagers Integrate the Gospel Into Their Everyday Lives See the rest of Chelsea's contributions to Rooted here! 

More from Kevin Yi: What Does It Mean to be Human? A Biblical Response Rooted's Most Read: Sustaining Your Youth Ministry in a Global Pandemic Practical Tips for Doing Digital Ministry (Part 1) Practical Tips for Doing Digital Ministry (Part 2) See the rest of Kevin's contributions to Rooted here! 

More from Anna Meade Harris:Rooted's Most Read: In-Person vs. Online: Starting Back to School in a Pandemic Rooted's Most Read: Six Truths for Parenting in No Man's Land The (Good) News for Teenagers: Our Hope is Not In A Vaccine View More From Anna here.More from Liz Edrington: Honoring Jesus Through Caring for Our Bodies What I Would Say to a Student Struggling With Body Image Loving Our Students With Depression: The God Who Sees View More From Liz Here.

In this episode the guys discuss the return of the MCU! WandaVision is here and Marvel is back. What do we like, what don’t we, and what are our predictions about where the series is heading?We would love your feedback, input, or questions for future episodes.Contact us on Twitter @ThanosToTheos, Instagram @ThanosToTheos, or email us at thanostotheos@gmail.comIf you want to respond to any of our hosts, you can reach us on Twitter:Mike McGarry: @revmcgarryClark Fobes: @fobesmanKevin Yi: @kevinhyi

Christina Edmondson discusses hope for the weary in her plenary talk from our 2020 Rooted Conference. While walking through text from Matthew 11:28-30, Christina speaks on how we can encourage each other to discuss our burdens without despair and how we can rest in the promises of Jesus Christ while enduring life's challenges.

The guys take a break from the MCU to discuss the Mandalorian and the Star Wars universe. Afterward, we dish on exegetical vs. topical teaching in youth ministry and how to ensure we lead students to think biblically about culture without allowing the culture to drive our teaching. We would love your feedback, input, or questions for future episodes.Contact us on Twitter @ThanosToTheos, Instagram @ThanosToTheos, or email us at thanostotheos@gmail.comIf you want to respond to any of our hosts, you can reach us on Twitter:Mike McGarry: @revmcgarryClark Fobes: @fobesmanKevin Yi: @kevinhyi

Join this conversation about the Netflix documentary, “The Social Dilemma.” It’s a fascinating look into the ways social media is shaping our culture, but especially how it’s affecting our teenagers. This isn’t a comics episode, but an important look into a cultural trend that’s youth workers need to engage from a gospel-centered worldview. We would love your feedback, input, or questions for future episodes.Contact us on Twitter @ThanosToTheos, Instagram @ThanosToTheos, or email us at thanostotheos@gmail.comIf you want to respond to any of our hosts, you can reach us on Twitter:Mike McGarry: @revmcgarryClark Fobes: @fobesmanKevin Yi: @kevinhyi

In this episode, the guys talk about discipleship in an age of COVID. What’s worked, what hasn’t, and how are we adjusting as quarantine continues? After that enlightening discussion, they have a fun debate over their top three and bottom three movies in the MCU. Join us as we talk ministry and relive the joys and disappoints of comic book movies.We would love your feedback, input, or questions for future episodes.Contact us on Twitter @ThanosToTheos, Instagram @ThanosToTheos, or email us at thanostotheos@gmail.comIf you want to respond to any of our hosts, you can reach us on Twitter:Mike McGarry: @revmcgarryClark Fobes: @fobesmanKevin Yi: @kevinhyi

A number of years ago, I grew distressed with the number of friends and colleagues who had left ministry amid controversy and scandal. I tried to learn what had gone wrong and how to keep it from repeating. From that study came several books devoted to helping pastors endure, especially as they learn from historical and present-day mentors who have fought the good fight.I’m grateful for Paul Tripp’s latest contribution to this cause with his new book, Lead: 12 Gospel Principles for Leadership in the Church, published by Crossway. This is one of the most bracing but also balanced books you’ll find on church leadership and the particular challenges in our day. Paul has written specifically for pastors, but this book broadens the lens to consider the whole leadership culture of a church. Because he believes we have major problems. He writes:“How many times are we going to see the same sad story of the demise of a ministry leader, and the destruction of the leadership community that surrounded him, before we recommit ourselves to God’s values and to our ambassadorial calling, and as we recommit, cry out that he would, in love rescue us from us?”Paul helps church leaders see that when he calls us to ministry, he calls us to suffer. He warns us to expect “dangerous adulation and harsh criticism.” He points us to Jesus, because the unpredictable and uncomfortable world of church leadership is not a safe place to look for identity and inner security.” Paul joins me on Gospelbound to discuss our leadership crisis in the church and how we can fight against it in the power of God’s grace. This episode of Gospelbound is brought to you by Rooted Reservoir, an online resource by Rooted Ministry. The Rooted Reservoir is packed with youth ministry curriculum, training videos, teaching illustrations, and an online community to help youth ministers disciple students toward lifelong faith in Jesus Christ. Sign up by Wednesday, September 30, and save $20 with code GOSPELBOUND at rootedreservoir.com.

What's most important about humanity never changes. We're made in the image of God and separated from our creator by our sin. We need a savior lest we fall under God's judgment. It doesn't matter where you travel or what time period you study, this story doesn't change. But every culture around the world and across the ages highlights some aspects of this story and ignores others. It's the work of cultural apologetics to discern and explain these changes for Christians seeking to walk faithfully and teach effectively across varied contexts.One of the best cultural apologists I know is Josh Chatraw, author most recently of Telling a Better Story: How to Talk about God in a Skeptical Age, published by Zondervan. Josh serves as executive director of the Center for Public Christianity and as theologian in residence at Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Raleigh, North Carolina. He's also co-author of Apologetics at the Cross, and co-editor of The History of Apologetics. Josh is one of my go-to sources on book recommendations and just overall insight on how to follow Christ in this secular age. It's a pleasure to welcome him on Gospelbound and discuss the better story, late-modern apologetics, and more. This episode of Gospelbound is brought to you by Rooted Ministry's 2020 Conference. Join Rooted on Thursday, September 24, for a one-day youth ministry conference, online or in person at a local gathering. The conference will feature worship with Sandra McCracken, encouraging speakers, instructional workshops, and fellowship with other youth ministers. Register by Monday, September 7, to get a free swag bag. To learn more and register, visit rootedministry.com/conference 

"God's sovereignty means that my son's death is not meaningless; it's not an accident. God is in control of all things, and that means that his death is meaningful."From Psalm 130 and his own personal experience of tragedy and loss, Cameron Cole addressed the process of continuing to trust in Jesus through deep, lasting pain and suffering. He emphasized the importance of a rich, biblical theology to prepare believers to suffer with great hope.  This episode of The Gospel Coalition Podcast is brought to you by Rooted Reservoir, an online resource by Rooted Ministry. Rooted Reservoir offers youth ministry curriculum, training videos, teaching illustrations, and an online community, to help youth ministers disciple students toward lifelong faith in Jesus Christ. Sign up by Wednesday, September 30, and save $20 with code TGC at rootedreservoir.com.

In this episode, the guys discuss what we can learn from the Civil War storyline regarding our posture towards one another. How do we engage with students and congregation members over cultural issues that are highly volatile, and when is it helpful to speak up? Is there such a thing as neutrality, or is everyone either a hero or a villain?Scott Saul's Article about "Stepping Away from Un-Christian Politics"Scott Saul's Latest Book: A Gentle AnswerStand to Reason Article by Alan Shlemon: How 2020 is Taking a Toll on Your SoulRooted's Podcast w/Scott SaulsKevin's Podcast w/Scott Sauls for Sola NetworkWe would love your feedback, input, or questions for future episodes.Contact us on Twitter @ThanosToTheos, Instagram @ThanosToTheos, or email us at thanostotheos@gmail.comIf you want to respond to any of our hosts, you can reach us on Twitter:Mike McGarry: @revmcgarryClark Fobes: @fobesmanKevin Yi: @kevinhyi

In this episode, the guys are joined by Rebecca Heck from Intown Community Church, a veteran youth director of over 10 years to discuss gender and representation in comics and church leadership. We would love your feedback, input, or questions for future episodes.Contact us on Twitter @ThanosToTheos, Instagram @ThanosToTheos, or email us at thanostotheos@gmail.comIf you want to respond to any of our hosts, you can reach us on Twitter:Mike McGarry: @revmcgarryClark Fobes: @fobesmanKevin Yi: @kevinhyi

In this lighter episode, the guys ponder the age-old question: "If you could have any superhero's power, who would it be and why?" But they tackle it with an interesting twist.  They also speculate on which superheroes and which superpowers would be most useful in a youth ministry context.  Here's a link to the power/suffering chart graphic we're discussing.We would love your feedback, input, or questions for future episodes.Contact us on Twitter @ThanosToTheos, Instagram @ThanosToTheos, or email us at thanostotheos@gmail.comIf you want to respond to any of our hosts, you can reach us on Twitter:Mike McGarry: @revmcgarryClark Fobes: @fobesmanKevin Yi: @kevinhyi

Designed to help anyone who loves and works with or lives with boys, All About Boys will explore the mental, physical, psychological and spiritual lives of the young men in our care. In this episode, veteran counselor David Thomas talks about the importance of helping boys figure out what they feel (and what to do with those feelings). He talks about the dangers of what can happen when boys don’t develop what he calls, “emotional muscles.” He defines four emotional Milestones and how to help boys develop them: 1. Vocabulary 2. Perspective 3. Empathy 4. Resourcefulness He shares ideas on creating space for boys to channel the physicality of their emotion, and how easily we can end up in emotional tug of war with boys who struggle to regulate.

This podcast is made available to you by the Rooted Ministry for educational purposes only, not to provide specific therapeutic advice. The views expressed are the personal perspectives of the author and do not represent the views of all counselors or the profession. This podcast does not create a counselor-client relationship and should not be used as a substitute for competent therapeutic counsel from a licensed professional in your state.

 This podcast is made available to you by the Rooted Ministry for educational purposes only, not to provide specific therapeutic advice. The views expressed are the personal perspectives of the author and do not represent the views of all counselors or the profession. This podcast does not create a counselor-client relationship and should not be used as a substitute for competent therapeutic counsel from a licensed professional in your state.

From Alice: The past week has been up and down in my office as the thought of heading back to school is starting to slap us all in the face. Where we live school starts in very early August. Just about every kid I’ve talked to has wanted to process their upcoming school schedule. So while the kids are dealing with disappointment, we’ve had some excellent parent questions this week on how to handle the let-downs our kids are facing.Here are a couple of the questions Alice will be addressing in this month’s episode:Riley Reed, a mom of three in Nashville: “My oldest daughter is 12 years old and she’s dedicated her time and energy to an incredible theater group in town. She’s put in long hours, paid for extra training and received high scores in the placement levels. However, for some unknown reason, she was not asked to advance to the upper level ensemble when a lot of her friends did. She’s sad, but honestly, I’m mad. How can I walk rightly with her through this disappointment, while I’m still hurt and frustrated too?”Virginia in Virginia: “My son is going into 3rdgrade this year and several of his friends have moved away or are going to a different school. He’s so upset that he’s already made up his mind that its going to be a horrible year. How can I help him push past his disappointment and make the most of a hard situation?”This podcast is made available to you by the Rooted Ministry for educational purposes only, not to provide specific therapeutic advice. The views expressed are the personal perspectives of the author and do not represent the views of all counselors or the profession. This podcast does not create a counselor-client relationship and should not be used as a substitute for competent therapeutic counsel from a licensed professional in your state.

In this episode of Ask Alice, licensed professional counselor Alice Churnock speaks with veteran pediatrician Stacey Gilbert, who answers questions from parents who are exploring medication as an option for their children. Dr. Gilbert dispels myths and encourages a balanced perspective on meds. With so many confusing and conflicting reports about medication, this episode of Ask Alice allows parents to hear the truth directly from a professional.Dr. Gilbert addresses the following questions:How young is too young to put a child on medication?What would cause you to start a child on meds ? What symptoms are you looking for?How long do most kids take meds and are they addictive?What is a black box warning and should that deter us from starting a kid on meds?How do medications work – what do they do for the brain?As a Christian, how can I justify placing my child on medication?On the Rooted blog , we work to address teen depression through the lens of the Gospel. Here are some articles and podcasts we hope you and the parents of your students will find helpful:Only the Gospel Will Save Teens From Their Anxiety by Seth StewartTo the Parent Struggling With a Struggling Teen by Kristen HattonParenting A Child With Major Depressive Disorder by Ingram LinkRooted Podcast: Dave Thomas on Adolescent Anxiety Rooted Podcast: Gospel Contextualization of Anxiety and Academic Pressure in Affluent Suburban and Asian American Contexts with Cameron Cole and Clark FobesIn addition, check out the Special Challenges section of our Resources tab for more Rooted articles and other resources on topics such as depression, grief, and perfectionism.This podcast is made available to you by the Rooted Ministry for educational purposes only, not to provide specific therapeutic advice. The views expressed are the personal perspectives of the author and do not represent the views of all counselors or the profession. This podcast does not create a counselor-client relationship and should not be used as a substitute for competent therapeutic counsel from a licensed professional in your state.

Suicide affects millions of Americans; it will affect nearly all of us directly or indirectly through the course of our lifetime. Our teens desperately for need for the adults in their lives to be equipped to share Biblical truth and hope whenever the topic comes up. We highly recommend Randy Alcorn’s beautiful piece, Suicide, Heaven, and Jesus- the Final Answer to Our Sorrow. Prompted by the recent suicide of beloved young pastor Jarrid Wilson, this article offers biblical consolation and hope for those grieving a suicide as well as those suffering from suicidal thoughts. Alcorn also links other resources you may find helpful, including biblical counselor Dave Powlison’s helpful booklet, Grieving a Suicide: Help for the Aftershock.In the podcast Alice recommends the resources at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention; click here.We also encourage you to check out youth ministry leader Walt Mueller’s articles: Adolescent Suicide: Number, Prayer, and a Helpful Handout… as well as Responding to Kids Who “Can’t Handle This Sucky World Any Longer.”Resources from Rooted:Alice Churnock’s extremely helpful article: If My Dad Loved Me, Why Did He Commit Suicide?Articles about Thirteen Reasons Why, the Netflix series Alice references on the podcast.Thirteen Reasons Why We Need to Have Conversations With Our Kids by Kristen HattonHope This Helps: Responding to Thirteen Reasons Why by Charlotte GetzFor the issue of self-harm, which Alice discusses but differentiates from the desire to commit suicide, please see:Understanding Self-Injury by Liz EdringtonA Call to Incarnational Ministry in the Face of Teen Self-Harm by Taylor MendozaThe number for the National Suicide Prevention Hotline is 1-800-273-8255.This podcast is made available to you by the Rooted Ministry for educational purposes only, not to provide specific therapeutic advice. The views expressed are the personal perspectives of the author and do not represent the views of all counselors or the profession. This podcast does not create a counselor-client relationship and should not be used as a substitute for competent therapeutic counsel from a licensed professional in your state.

  This podcast is made available to you by the Rooted Ministry for educational purposes only, not to provide specific therapeutic advice. The views expressed are the personal perspectives of the author and do not represent the views of all counselors or the profession. This podcast does not create a counselor-client relationship and should not be used as a substitute for competent therapeutic counsel from a licensed professional in your state.

Questions for Reflection:Melody discussed being an “elder brother” as part of her own sin. What are areas of sin that the Lord has revealed to you as you have walked through your own trauma?How did you explain the divorce to your children? Has it been difficult for you to refrain from slandering your ex?How can you use your painful experience to further the kingdom of God?Resources:Undoneredone.com – Melody and Traylor Lovvorn’s website and organization. The Lovvorns have an excellent podcast that you will find here, as well as on iTunes. Their podcast guests have included Elyse Fitzpatrick, Jackie Hill Perry, Dan Allender, and David Zahl, among many others.The Smart Step-Family: Seven Steps to a Healthy Family by Ron L. Deal.Dinosaurs Divorce: A Guide for Changing Families by Marc Brown and Laurie Krasny Brown. An excellent resource for parents of young children, this picture book works to answer the many questions children will have when they find out their parents are divorcing.Living with Your Husband’s Secret Wars by Marsha Means. For women whose husbands are caught in a web of sexual sin.This podcast is made available to you by the Rooted Ministry for educational purposes only, not to provide specific therapeutic advice. The views expressed are the personal perspectives of the author and do not represent the views of all counselors or the profession. This podcast does not create a counselor-client relationship and should not be used as a substitute for competent therapeutic counsel from a licensed professional in your state.

In this episode of “Ask Alice,” Alice Churnock reached out to many of her friends in search of COVID-19 “silver linings.” Be encouraged by the responses she reads in this episode … and be equipped to go find some silver linings of your own. This podcast is made available to you by the Rooted Ministry for educational purposes only, not to provide specific therapeutic advice. The views expressed are the personal perspectives of the author and do not represent the views of all counselors or the profession. This podcast does not create a counselor-client relationship and should not be used as a substitute for competent therapeutic counsel from a licensed professional in your state.

  This podcast is made available to you by the Rooted Ministry for educational purposes only, not to provide specific therapeutic advice. The views expressed are the personal perspectives of the author and do not represent the views of all counselors or the profession. This podcast does not create a counselor-client relationship and should not be used as a substitute for competent therapeutic counsel from a licensed professional in your state.

As summer kicks off, many teenagers will experience heightened pressure surrounding body image, leading to disordered eating for some. Thankfully, the gospel provides good news for bodies: They are created by God for good, redeemed by the Incarnation of Jesus, and awaiting a resurrection like his. In this series, Rooted writers discuss how we can help students navigate identity struggles in light of this gospel of grace.  Licensed professional counselor Alice Churnock recorded this podcast episode immediately after National Eating Disorder Awareness Week. In it, she discusses a variety of eating disorders, how males are uniquely impacted by eating disorders, and how the gospel offers good news to those who experience eating disorders. Please also see Boys, Body Image, and A Better Story. This podcast is made available to you by the Rooted Ministry for educational purposes only, not to provide specific therapeutic advice. The views expressed are the personal perspectives of the author and do not represent the views of all counselors or the profession. This podcast does not create a counselor-client relationship and should not be used as a substitute for competent therapeutic counsel from a licensed professional in your state.

This episode of Ask Alice combines Biblical wisdom with practical help for families who are spending A LOT of time together. Alice likens families to ecosystems; when every part is healthy, the whole system thrives. But we live in a fallen world, and that means sibling squabbles and strife are inevitable, starting in Genesis 4. Alice takes questions from parents, discussing what parents need to know about sibling relationships. She draws on family systems therapy to demonstrate the roles our kids come to play in families (the Hero, the Scapegoat, the Mascot, to name a few), and discusses the impact of birth order as well. She also gives concrete advice about how parents can help their children value and appreciate each other while they are still in the home together. See also: Summertime Blues: Sibling Love- or Lack Thereof by Katie Polski Sanctification By Sibling: Seven Encouragements for the Parent Who Love Them by Anna Meade Harris A Gospel Vision for Helping Your Students Love Their Siblings by Chelsea Kingston Erickson This podcast is made available to you by the Rooted Ministry for educational purposes only, not to provide specific therapeutic advice. The views expressed are the personal perspectives of the author and do not represent the views of all counselors or the profession. This podcast does not create a counselor-client relationship and should not be used as a substitute for competent therapeutic counsel from a licensed professional in your state.

In this episode of “Ask Alice,” Alice Churnock reached out to many of her friends in search of COVID-19 “silver linings.” Be encouraged by the responses she reads in this episode … and be equipped to go find some silver linings of your own. This podcast is made available to you by the Rooted Ministry…

Rooted Ministry is tremendously excited to announce a new ongoing podcast series, “Ask Alice,” featuring your questions addressed by licensed…

Rooted Ministry is tremendously excited to announce a new ongoing podcast series, “Ask Alice,” featuring your questions addressed by licensed…

How does Psalm 22 reflect Jesus' Crucifixion? In this episode, David and Seth are joined by author Cameron Cole to discuss Psalm 22, and how in our suffering, God hears and understands the pain, sorrow, and misery that comes in this life, because he suffered the loss of his son Jesus on the cross. Cameron Cole has been the Director of Youth Ministries at the Cathedral Church of the Advent for 14 years in Birmingham, Alabama, and as of January 2016, his role has developed to include Children, Youth, and Families. He is also the Founding Chairman of Rooted Ministry, an organization that promotes Gospel-Centered Student Ministry and Youth Ministry. He is also the Co-Editor of “Gospel-Centered Youth Ministry: A Practice Guide” (Crossway, 2016). He is pursuing a Masters in Divinity from Reformed Theological Seminary. Check Out Cameron Cole’s latest book, “Therefore I Have Hope: 12 Truths That Comfort, Sustain, and Redeem in Tragedy”: https://www.amazon.com/Therefore-Have-Hope-Comfort-Sustain-ebook/dp/B079XXYNYC/ref=sr11?keywords=Cameron+cole&qid=1550699021&s=gateway&sr=8-1 Visit Cameron’s Blog: https://www.rootedministry.com For more information about Spoken Gospel visit: http://www.spokengospel.com Welcome to Spoken Gospel. This is our journey to speak the gospel out of every corner of scripture. Each week author and poet David Bowden sits down with preacher and blogger Seth Stewart to address one pericope of scripture and show how it points to Jesus. We believe that the whole Bible is about Jesus. In fact, everything is about Jesus. “From him, through him, and to him are all things” (Rom. 11:36). “For by him all things were created…all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (Col. 1:16-17). Since everything in the world is about Jesus, certainly the Bible, which is his word, is about him too. “And Jesus said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?’ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself” (Lk. 24:25-27) “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me” (Jn. 5:39) In fact, we are convinced that reading the Bible without seeing how it points us to Jesus is to read the Bible with a veil over it. “For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed” (2 Cor. 3:14-16). This text goes on to say that it is the Gospel that is veiled. But when the veil is taken away by the Spirit, and we see the Gospel throughout the Bible, we don’t just get new information or discover clever connections. We actually see, “the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Cor. 4:4). Seeing Jesus and his Gospel throughout the whole Bible is not about trying to see something that isn’t really there, but trusting the Spirit of God to show us what is really there. And what is really there is the image and glory of God in Jesus. This isn’t about seeing beyond the text or through the text. It isn’t about overlooking the historical events or the author’s intent, to see something mystical and secret. It is about seeing how God operated in historical events, through authorial intent, in the texts of scripture to show us more of his glory in Jesus. That is our goal in this podcast. We will work through books of the Bible in segments. Usually these segments will be broken up by the text itself, pausing for reflection where the literature seems to tell us to stop and take account. Our hope is to make it through the whole Bible, speaking the Gospel out of every corner of Scripture. Welcome to our public experiment to test this thesis. Welcome to Spoken Gospel.

Kristen Hatton is the author of The Gospel-Centered Life in Exodus for Students, Face Time: Your Identity in a Selfie World and Get Your Story Straight. In addition to her own blog, she frequently contributes to the Rooted Ministry and Women’s enCourage blogs, and recently started Redemptive Parenting on Instagram. Kristen lives in Oklahoma with her pastor husband and is the mother of three teenage/young adult children. Learn more by visiting her website at www.kristenhatton.com.  

Check out this conversation between Julius Kim (Dean of Students at Westminster Seminary) and Rooted Ministry's Clark Fobes. Dr. Kim…

Check out this conversation between Julius Kim (Dean of Students at Westminster Seminary) and Rooted Ministry’s Clark Fobes. Dr. Kim…

Research and experience point way too often to the fact that our youth ministries and churches are failing at equipping kids to leave our youth groups with a deep, significant, and lasting faith. Too many kids graduate from high school and into the next phase of life seemingly pushing the pause or stop button on their Christian faith. Consequently, they aren’t ready to faithfully navigate the difficulties they are bound to face in life. How can we begin to take kids deeper into the Gospel? What are the steps we can take to promote spiritual maturity in our students? What are some of the key pillars of effective deep youth ministry? One youth worker has devoted his life to these matters after experiencing his own difficult adolescence, and the sudden death of his own three-year-old son. We’ll hear his story, discover how the truths of the Gospel carried him through the darkness of that time, and look to learn more about doing deep youth ministry, on this episode of youth culture matters.

Kristen Hatton is the author of Face Time: Your Identity in a Selfie World for teen girls and the teen devotional Get Your Story Straight. A third book, The Gospel-Centered Life in Exodus for Students, is coming this summer. Kristen is also a blogger, Bible study teacher and speaker for groups of parents, women, and teens. In addition to her own blog, she contributes frequently to the Rooted Ministry blog and enCourage women’s blog. She resides in Edmond, Oklahoma, with her pastor husband, and they have three teenagers. What we chat about: Kristen's idea to start a Bible study with her daughter and her friends Walking through the season of her daughter's eating disorder How to have a friend and be a friend Understanding teens and empathizing with them Talking with teens about idolatry Teens and technology Laying a foundation for the teen years Links mentioned: Face Time: Your Identity in a Selfie World DIY bath bombs Connect with Kristen: website // facebook // instagram // twitter // pinterest Episode Sponsors: RX Bar: get 25% off your first order using the promo code MSW Support the show: Shop Amazon Affiliate Link Share the Struggle! Find me on Instagram or Facebook because I want to hear YOUR thoughts on this episode!  If you've been encouraged by the show, please share it with another mom.  The struggle is real.  We might as well do this together!

In this episode of the Rooted Podcast, Cameron Cole (Founder and Chairman of Rooted Ministry) and Kristen Hatton (author of…

In this episode of the Rooted Podcast, Cameron Cole (Founder and Chairman of Rooted Ministry) and Kristen Hatton (author of…

At the 2015 Rooted Conference Cameron Cole, founding chairman of Rooted Ministry and  Director of Youth Ministries at the Cathedral…

At the 2015 Rooted Conference Cameron Cole, founding chairman of Rooted Ministry and  Director of Youth Ministries at the Cathedral…