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 your family to bless your ministry, 2) God will use your ministry to bless your family, 3) You must intentionally define healthy boundaries for your family, 4) When sharing about your kids, get their permission—and give them space to just be kids, especially if they’re in your youth group. This practical and heartfelt talk is filled with wisdom for anyone navigating ministry while raising children. Syler Thomas is a native Texan and has served as the student ministries pastor at Christ Church in Lake Forest, Illinois, since 1998. He writes for YouthWorker Journal, with additional work published in Leadership Journal and the Chicago Tribune, and is the co-author of two books. He and his wife, Heidi, are parents to four children. The Value of Presence in Youth Ministry by Shaun McDonaldWhat Does Relational Discipleship Actually Look Like? - Rooted MinistryCreating Space for Teenagers to Play in Youth Ministry   Follow @therootedministry on Instagram for more updates.Follow and subscribe to Youth Ministry Unscripted wherever you listen to podcasts. Hosted by: Danny Kwon, author of Teenagers and Mental Health; Becca Heck, M. Div. from Reformed Theological Seminary; Isaiah Marshall, Rooted's Director of Ministry Development; and Josh Hussung, M. Div. in Pastor Studies from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.