Back from the Rooted Conference, which was an amazing couple of days in Birmingham! Since I am watching the closing 2012 Olympic ceremonies… I cannot help but use a British expression to state that I am “absolutely shattered!” The Conference was great and the teaching could not have been better. Ray Ortland did the main messages all of which were straight from Romans 8 focusing on a theology of adoption with an overall emphasis on grace. These were deeply encouraging, challenging, thoughtful, and applicable. Ray is a very straightforward communicator as a pastor and theologian. His messages will be posted on the Rooted site soon and I commend them to all.
The Grace of Present Adoption (Romans 8:1-16)
The Grace of Future Adoption (Romans 8:17-30)
The Impossibility of Defeated Grace (Romans 8:31-39)
Mary Wilson was the “plenary” speaker. As one who spent some time in youth ministry, now does women’s ministry, and is a gifted and well trained Bible teacher, her warm and personal style included lots of application to ministry. Her teaching on II Samuel 9 particularly gripped my attention as it’s a story not many unpack the details of to see the nature of God through.
I’ll try to get some notes up here before long and will link to the messages when they are posted. What was equally of value for attendees of Rooted was the chance to interact and get to know like minded youth ministry folks. Everyone I spoke to conveyed a deep appreciation for the existence of a conference for youth ministry that seeks to feed our souls, get us thinking theologically, and move forward in gospel centered youth ministry. People came from far and wide. I had great conversations with a young man from Vancouver Washington who took the prize for longest distance traveled to attend. I also had some great conversations with the youth pastor at Redeemer Presbyterian Church in NY who serves under Tim Keller. Others I spoke to were from Texas, Indiana, Virginia, and many more places. I think I heard that 15 states were represented which is amazing in a small conference of I think about 65 people. (not sure the final numbers)
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