Youth Ministry Unscripted: The Rooted Youth Ministry Podcast
Religion & Spirituality
About
Rooted Youth Ministry aims to advance gospel centered youth ministry by equipping and empowering youth ministers and parents to faithfully disciple students toward lifelong faith in Jesus Christ. Youth Ministry Unscripted is a real, honest, and raw part of the Rooted Family of Podcasts which also includes The Rooted Parent Podcast, The Asian American Youth Ministry Roundtable, Ask Alice, and Thanos to Theos. For more grace filled, gospel-centered, Bible saturated resources be sure to visit www.rootedministry.com.
Episodes
- The Rhythms of the Church by Joel Kim
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 unstopp…
- Science and God: Do You Have to Choose? with Katy Morgan
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…
- The Holy Spirit Empowered by Cameron Cole
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 o…
- On Fun and Games
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 crea…
- The Mission of the Church by Jim Davis
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…
- On Productivity in Youth Ministry
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 st…
- Teaching Biblical Sexuality to Teens by Jennifer Kvamme
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 e…
- Why Are You Cast Down? Hope in God by Harold Kim
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…
- Connecting with Teenagers
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 c…
- Creating a Culture of Rest in Ministry by Jonathan Holmes
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 c…
- Working with Ministry Volunteers
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 volun…
- Apologetics in Youth Ministry by Bradley Blaylock
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,…
- Holiness Without the Guilt Trip- Teaching Teens to Appreciate Faithfulness
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 ho…
- Answering Tough Questions By Jennifer Kvamme
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 frame…
- Unsung Heroes: Faithful Witnesses For the Kingdom
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, th…
- Developing Expository Messages for Youth By Mike McGarry
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 w…
- Watch Out-Keeping Our Eyes Open for the Pitfalls that Come with Youth Ministry
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 d…
- Building a Scope and Sequence for Biblical Literacy in Children’s Ministry and Parents by Tara Davis and Cameron Cole
In this workshop from the 2024 Rooted Conference in Dallas, Tara Davis and Cameron Cole emphasize the central focus of every gospel-centered children’s ministry: the Bible. They present three key approaches to help grow children’s biblical…
- Preparing Students for Life Beyond Youth Ministry
In this episode of Youth Ministry Unscripted , Josh, Isaiah, Danny, and new co-host Becca focus on a crucial season in student discipleship: senior year. They unpack why senior year is such a unique window for ministry. The hosts discuss h…
- No Such Thing As a SuperMom with Alice Churnock and Hannah Dow
In this final episode of our season Can't Do It All , Anna welcomes back Rooted podcaster Alice Churnock and introduces our brand-new executive director Hannah Dow. We invited them to talk about the (potential) overwhelm of being a mother.…
- Finding the Gospel in "Home Alone"
In this special Christmas episode of the Rooted Parent Podcast, father and veteran youth pastor Syler Thomas join Cameron and Anna to discuss about the misadventures of Kevin McAllister and his family. They talk about parenting failures, r…
- Deconstructing Without Demolishing: Walking with Students Through Doubt
In this episode of Youth Ministry Unscripted , Isaiah, Josh, and Danny dive deep into one of the most vulnerable areas of student discipleship: doubt. Drawing from Mark 9 and personal ministry experiences, the hosts explore how youth pasto…
- God, Gender, and Grace for Challenging Conversations by Jonathan Holmes
In this workshop from the 2024 Rooted Conference in Dallas, Jonathan Holmes offers a gospel-centered framework for engaging in conversations about gender. He begins with two cultural observations that shape how we think about identity toda…
- We’re Not Their Savior
In this episode of Youth Ministry Unscripted, Danny, Isaiah, and Josh dive into the subtle but dangerous “Messiah Complex” that many youth pastors wrestle with—the belief that they must save, fix, or be everything to everyone. From the wei…
- Book Awards
In this special episode of YMU, Danny hosts the 7th annual Rooted Book Awards. These Book Awards serve our listeners who might not have the time or budget to read every book out there. It includes categories of books for Youth Ministers, P…
- Youth Ministry Culture and Social Media Today
In this episode of Youth Ministry Unscripted, Isaiah, Josh, and Danny address youth ministry culture, especially as it interacts with the influence of social media. They discuss how social media impacts our students and how we as youth pas…
- Ministering to Students with Challenging Home Lives by Connie Nelson, Isaiah Marshall, Liz Edrington, and Anna Meade Harris
In this workshop discussion from the 2024 Rooted Conference in Dallas, four experienced ministry leaders—Connie Nelson, Isaiah Marshall, Liz Edrington, and Anna Meade Harris—tackle the important and complex topic of ministering to students…
- Navigating Politics and Polarization
In this episode of Youth Ministry Unscripted, Isaiah, Josh, and Danny address politics and the divide it has created in our nation and how it has impacted our youth groups. They tackle some hot-button issues and give tips on how to navigat…
- What Youth Pastors’ Families Want You to Know by Syler Thomas
In this workshop from the 2024 Rooted Conference in Dallas, Syler Thomas reflects on the complex but beautiful intersection of family and ministry. Drawing from years of personal experience, Syler shares four key insights: 1) God will use…
- Partnering with Parents
n this episode of Youth Ministry Unscripted, Isaiah, Josh, and Danny discuss the frustrations and the blessings of partnering with parents in your youth ministry. There is a huge potential for Gospel impact when youth ministry leaders and…
- "Impacting the Spiritual Lives of Parents So They Can Lead Their Teenagers" by Dr. Richard Ross
In this workshop from the 2024 Rooted Conference in Dallas, Dr. Richard Ross asks a crucial question: What can youth ministers do to invest in the spiritual lives of parents? With wisdom and clarity, Dr. Ross shares practical strategies to…
- Youth Ministry Through the Years
In this episode of Youth Ministry Unscripted, Isaiah, Josh, and Danny look back over the decades of their time in youth ministry. A lot has changed since the 90s and early 2000s. Listen to this discussion about the huge opportunity we have…
- What Difference Does the Imago Dei Make? By Mike McGarry
In this thought-provoking workshop from the 2024 Rooted Conference in Dallas, Mike McGarry explores how a proper understanding of the Imago Dei —the image of God—shapes our identity and discipleship. Arguing that much of today’s cultural c…
- Modeling a Healthy Relationship During the Election by Jason Woodruff
In this insightful workshop from the 2024 Rooted Conference in Dallas, Jason Woodruff explores how Christians can cultivate biblical boundaries around the news and politics they consume. He outlines six practical ways to build a spirituall…
- When the Fruit Isn’t There: Faithfully Leading Without the Results You Hoped For
In this episode of Youth Ministry Unscripted , Isaiah, Josh, and Danny get honest about the quiet discouragement youth leaders often carry– when the seats are empty, the students are disengaged, and the fruit just isn’t showing up the way…
- Faith in Exile: Teaching Daniel to Students by Kendal Conner
n this workshop from the 2024 Rooted Conference in Dallas, Kendal Conner equips youth leaders with practical tools for teaching the book of Daniel to students. With warmth and clarity, she offers encouragement for navigating this complex b…
- Who Shepherds the Shepherd? Why Every Youth Minister Needs a Ministry Tribe
In this episode of Youth Ministry Unscripted, Isaiah, Josh, and Danny unpack why all youth ministers need a tribe. Not just to survive—but to thrive in the call God has placed on our lives. The three discuss the power of peer relationships…
- Consuming News in the TikTok Era. Who Can You (And Your Teens) Trust by Jason Woodruff
In this workshop from the 2024 Rooted Conference in Dallas, Jason Woodruff explores how today’s media landscape—especially platforms like TikTok—has changed the way we consume news. He walks through the history of news dissemination, expla…
- Parenting Ahead with Kristen Hatton
In this workshop from the 2024 Rooted Conference in Dallas, Kristen Hatton unpacks the five P's of parenting to help parents become more self-aware, stay motivated toward their children, and lead their homes with gospel-centered purpose an…
- Helping Unengaged Teenagers
In this episode of Youth Ministry Unscripted, Isaiah, Josh, and Danny discuss the continual and important issue of unengaged students. From students on your youth ministry rosters who do not attend, to those who do attend but are not fully…
- The Eras Tour - Navigating Longevity in Gospel-Centered Youth Ministry With Justin Wong
In this workshop from the 2024 Rooted Conference in Dallas, veteran youth pastor Justin Wong reflects on how culture—through wars, elections, and even music—has shaped youth ministry over the years. He offers honest encouragement for the w…
- Communicating the Importance of Family Ministry with Jimmy Kim
In this workshop from the 2024 Rooted Conference in Dallas, Jimmy Kim explores the heart of family ministry—what it is, why it matters, and how churches can cultivate it in their own context. With over 20 years of experience across youth,…
- The Summer High
In this episode of Youth Ministry Unscripted , Isaiah, Josh, and Danny talk about the youth ministry "summer high." They describe the positive and negative aspects of the annual "summer high," and discuss how to counteract the negatives. O…
- Making the Most of Summer
In this episode of Youth Ministry Unscripted , we discuss the changes that occur in youth ministry during the summer months. The rhythm of ministry shifts, the workload changes, and the importance of building relational connections with st…
- Nurturing a Youth Ministry (Culture) that Fosters Intergenerational Ministry with Danny Kwon
In this insightful workshop from the 2024 Rooted Conference in Dallas, Dr. Danny Kwon explores how to cultivate a youth ministry culture that embraces intergenerational integration. He unpacks why connecting generations within the church i…
- Recruiting and Training Volunteers
In this episode of Youth Ministry Unscripted, Josh, Isaiah, and Danny discuss the critical role of volunteers in youth ministry. They talk about recruiting and retaining volunteers, the various roles they can fill, and effective strategies…
- Gospel+Safety+Time with Vince Greenwald
In this workshop from the 2024 Rooted conference in Dallas, veteran youth leader Vince Greenwald shares the essential values of the church, and the youth ministry where he serves. While acknowledging that what students need, more than anyt…
- Faith That Endures: Preparing Students for the Hard Roads Ahead
In this honest and hope-filled episode of Youth Ministry Unscripted, Isaiah, Josh, and Danny tackle a topic often overlooked in youth ministry: preparing students for suffering. As high school graduates transition into adulthood, our youth…
- Developing Expository Messages for Youth with Mike McGarry
In this workshop from the 2024 Rooted Conference in Dallas TX, Mike McGarry dives deep into the topic of delivering expository messages for youth. Mike begins by discussing the difference between expository teaching and biblical teaching.…
- More Is Caught Than Taught: How Leadership Culture Shapes Student Faith
In this episode of Youth Ministry Unscripted, Isaiah, Josh, and Danny unpack how the culture of a youth ministry’s leadership team profoundly impacts the faith of students. They reflect on why students are more shaped by what leaders model…