Live from Houston Youth Symposium

0:00Hey everybody, welcome to another episode of the Asian American Youth Ministry Roundtable, sponsored by Rooted Ministries. We are back with you guys and we have an exciting topic today because it's not just a topic that we're just going to talk about, but it's something that we live through. And so with me, I have two my buddies, Dorothy. Why don't you introduce yourself and let our good listeners and people a little bit more who you are. Yeah, sure. Hi everyone, I'm Dorothy Lau. I am the Youth Director at the Chinese Bible Church of Maryland in Rockville, Maryland. And this is going on just there for seven years in a DC metropolitan, but Midwest girly at heart and it is currently still sunny, but it's been a huge cold snap in the DM the last two weeks. So a lot of the areas are still covered in snow and the kids had school off the week of the whole snow storm

1:02and I'm just like, if it was a Midwest, we still have to go to school. Awesome. Cool. Terrence, what about you? Where are you? It's just snowing over there. Awesome. Yeah, we're going to start off with that. I mean, my app shows 78 degrees today. So yeah, it's freezing, man. Let me get my jacket on right after this. I'm Terrence J. I'm the family pastor at the first Chinese Baptist Church of Maryland in Southern California. And yeah, everyone is cold. Everyone that I talk to you is freezing and it's been pretty sunny and warm and pleasant here. So no complaints at all. That's awesome. Appreciate you flexing your climate over there in Cali, but I appreciate that. I'm Justin, everybody. From Houston, Texas, doing student ministries and families for the last couple of decades. Love it. Still want to continue to advocate for the Southern Ministry. I think for all of us who have been on this podcast, we just see the need for healthy biblical gospel centered local church ministries.

2:07Especially in the ethnic churches. And so hopefully today's and all the other episodes are a benefit to help churches and also families to become better and more faithful followers of Christ. But with that, let me intro our topic. We just came off of something called the Houston Youth Symposium. It's something that some of my buddies, oh, look at that. For you guys who are not watching, Terrence just held up a pamphlet that our friends stand created. But it's something that our friends created. Sorry, Houston Symposium is an event that my friends and I, we started back maybe 15 years ago. And it was the intention of bringing together leaders, and parents, and local church folks to do a one day training. And they kind of ballooned out of that. And so we've been going strong, had to go break during COVID, but now is strong.

3:10This year we had rooted to come out as well. And we also had our rooted friends. Terrence and Dorothy fly in from all over the country to do this. And so real quick, I wanted to get your pre opinions of the conference. And so Terrence, I'll go with you. Before you came in to the symposium, I know you went last year, but what was your, what did you know about this? What did you expect? What was kind of the first reactions coming into the symposium? Well, I had always heard about the camaraderie and partnership that happened in various cities in Texas. And knowing that you were out there in Houston, and this was something that you've been heavily invested in, I was expecting it just to be a really meaningful and wonderful time of churches coming together and people being able to serve together. But having gone last year and then expecting to come here again, I had been exposed to just the extent by which you guys help each other and the friendships among the churches.

4:10And so I was really looking forward to it, knowing that this would be our repeat coming back again and having rooted and being more intentionally inserted into the program, but also having some friendships that were established last year that we could catch up on and also being able to make and establish new ones. And so I wanted to at this weekend, definitely wanted to see you Justin, definitely wanted to serve with Dorothy and obviously work together with Danny, but then looking forward to reconnecting with the churches and the people again. Yeah, awesome. And then what was your role specifically this year's symposium, Terrence? I was part of our team for sure communicated beforehand. I gave a short message in the beginning when we joined together and then I taught a workshop as well in the afternoon. Yeah, you did a great job. So if people get your notes later, you just email us and then we'll send you Terrence's notes and we'll have a special counseling session with him as well. So what is happening here? Yeah, it's just free prioritizing.

5:10Dorothy, I know you flew in. This is your first time at the symposium. What are your pre-thoughts coming in and what you expect that it meet expectations that it not meet expectations? What's it like for you? I think that overall, I just try to not have too many expectations. Maybe the superficial part of me is like, I just don't want to be disappointed if I have expectations. But on the other hand, I think if I were to frame that positively as I was just very open to see, to observe and to participate in how the region is able to partake in youth ministry together and to equip their volunteers as much as to encourage one another. That is something I've been really, really trying to inculcate or to instill in the mid-Atlantic states region. And I wanted that to proliferate more in the Maryland parts. Just because within my church alone, there are not taking denomination into account. There's like 20 some churches within a 50 mile radius.

6:11And so the fact that I only know like four more directly, well, because I'm not part of the pastors monthly cohort, which that's just a bunch of gentlemen in that. So anyways, I think my lack of connection with a lot of local Chinese churches in the DMV, the DC Maryland Virginia area, is how should I say something that I yearn for. And not just amongst the pastors, but just people who serve in vocational ministry. And so to go to Houston and to be a guest to lead a workshop at the symposium, it was a taste test. And I am definitely open to returning not just because of hospitality, but I think there's such a strong culture that has been built in supporting those who serve as much as those who are being served. And I think that's a really wonderful and beautiful thing that is really a highlight of the gospel is Jesus did not come to be served, but too served.

7:11And how how can we also do that for each other. So it was it was a fun time. Great hanging out also Danny was there. So it wasn't just me and Terence. So are sure. So the leader was leading was leading the way as well. Yeah. But thank you again for the hospitality, Justin. It was a really wonderful time. No, it's the barbecue man. It's the barbecue. That's it. I don't know who else is at the cell. Yeah. I mean, we were able to like when you guys came in the day before the symposium, we all went out. And I think the request was barbecue. And so we made sure to comb the list. Actually, I've never been to the place before, but it was definitely worth it. So for you guys who are listening and you're still like, what is the symposium just real quick? This is again, something that we created 15 years ago, but we what we saw and what Dorothy alluded to was we just, I mean, as early on, we didn't know how to do youth ministry, at least what it looked like. And so we wanted to kind of get together. So we just shot out a, hey, if you want to meet up once a month, let's talk about it. And so we established that just with youth pastors. And I think you guys can do that in your regions.

8:16And then what we developed from that is not only a friendship, but also a sharing of resources. And then what came out of the sharing of resources was, hey, we, we want to have an internal training for our leaders, but also we want to bring some of our parents and leaders together in the city. And let's do it all at once, not just for the content, but also for the camaraderie and also the fellowship. And so that's what the symposium came out of, it's really easy. I mean, parents gave a quick little plenary. We did a plug for rooted or whatever sponsors you guys want to do. And then we had two sets of workshops. And so people could kind of choose. And this year, I think we had about 130 folks, all right. Yeah, so we have an 130 about five or six churches from the Houston area and then a church from Austin, Texas, which is about three hours away, drove in that morning. I believe to come and attend. And so I think it's easily accessible, easy way to kind of do this is a little bit of planning, but we are appreciative of Fort Bend Community Church to host us.

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10:30So what we're going to do that's special with this episode is we're going to actually sign off in a little bit and we're going to let you hear a couple of testimonies and experiences live at the event. And so we have representatives from youth to working and to parents and volunteers and they'll share their stories live at the symposium for you guys. And so for our segment right now is the intro. We're just going to give our final thoughts and encouragement and then we'll sign off but Dorothy, final thoughts for our listeners. I would say if you've been listening to this podcast for a while then you know that I'm a huge proponent of you know the tagline pastors need friends too. And fellowship, camaraderie are highly valued and they're very significant in the life of a minister and even those who were lay persons too. But if you have the opportunity to just start with a few friends to get together and say, hey, how can we get better equipped. I would really, really urge and empower you to do so. I think that it's a wonderful work of God and it's spiritual fruit that's born when something that starts as small as a mustard seed can flourish into a community or into a network that really just started with a conviction or something on your heart that the Lord.

11:57God has put on there and if that means community wonderful like a monthly coffee time or accountability or or something of the sort or even quarterly doesn't have to be every month but hopefully that can grow into something that serves you as much as your context and it can be contagious in a way that really demonstrates the gospel and the joy of following Jesus even when it's hard. What I loved about the symposium this time around especially having then developed some friendships the year before it was the partnership between the home and the church. It was wonderful to meet parents there and to see that they were invested in that they saw that they themselves have a role to play in the lives of their kids but then also even when their kids have outgrown youth ministry or maybe you know have aged out from that that they're still there. You know they're still mentoring they're still invested in those relationships and then of course to see you know that the pastors working together encourage you and another building each other up.

12:59I just really enjoyed you know what was put on display it was something that was helpful to remind me but then also you know to help me to pray for all the churches and Houston in terms of what is happening there. So that we see in a generational integration so that we see in the gospel being in the center of youth ministry and leading to true transformation and change in our hearts of students and also putting I think the right type of hope and expectations for volunteers for parents for pastors it's not just about programs it's not just about attendance dollars those things are helpful their tools but at the end of the day we point people to Jesus and we point the next generation to Jesus consistently so that the Holy Spirit does what he does and the church is built up. So I just love seeing it on display and it was a privilege to have been a part of it so thank you so much Justin for including us and inviting us in for sure it was awesome. Dorothy everyone thinks I actually yeah sorry when Terence was talking about just the different components of those who are involved in the partnership between the church and the family.

13:59I was very pleasantly surprised in the symposium to see that they were student leaders and attendants and how awesome that is because I've been trying so hard. I've been trying so hard to do trainings for student leaders but everyone just has different schedules but like this was really carved out time for them to to get trained and something that was really moving for me is seeing you know some student leaders as young as like freshman and sophomore who said we really want to change the culture of our youth group and I have not seen a lot of onus of youth ministries among students well I haven't seen a lot of youth leaders period outside of the DMB but I think just having that amount. I think just having that amount of ownership and a youth ministry is is very key to its its adaptation its growth it's it's flourishing and so this was really encouraging just to see young people partake in this so it's not just for youth ministers and parents it was for students to and that's so inclusive in in the body of Christ to include them in that process.

15:00Yeah awesome great thoughts guys this event is really easy to put on I'm not saying that it's easy in terms of logistics I there's a lot of work that goes in but in terms of how to do it I mean you can do this grab a couple of people and do this in your area if you need kind of the template for it I mean you can ask Dorothy and Terrence for myself for some of those insights and yeah just wherever you're at training together does help. And I mean it's it's cross church discipleship too and so the stronger you guys connect and when your students from different churches see that that there's collaboration versus competition that's a win for everybody so just can't keep that in mind and then just persevere like again we've been doing this for 15 years there's some years where it's tough but continue to be persistence and you watch what the Lord will do because you don't know when he's going to move out what generation in which era so just be continuing to trust that the Lord knows his timing and within churches and so with that let me say farewell I can't wait for you guys to hear the testimonies that we're about to put on right after this but that enjoy the testimonies everybody all right have fun.

16:20Everybody we're at the Youth Symposium 2026 here at Fort Bend Community Church we are excited we're about halfway done today we just finished lunch with me I have Carrie I'm let him introduce himself where he's from what church what's up there. Hey I'm Carrie I'm from the West using Christian shirts and my friendly the youth decandering so how many symposiums have you been to this is my second symposium yeah okay what's different about this one the last one or is it the same or last one was at my church so I felt a little more stressed about the event going on but thanks for FBCC for hosting this one I can just show up and just be an attendee. So when you guys were when you guys knew we were throwing this symposium on we did y'all want to bring like was it more students more parents were leaders what's the what's the possible beyond that yeah we just wanted to bring everyone involved in our youth ministry are youth leaders and our students that they had a great time last year so a lot of them wanted to come but some couldn't make it but they really wanted to which I know we did workshops earlier which one did you go to and any thoughts on the

17:36workshop yeah I want to door these workshop oh it's great hearing about her experience at the church she grew up at and at the church she serves at now and the difference between those and how we need to use the context of those churches to to I kind of focus our attention yeah focus our ministries cool man well thanks for being here look forward to more ministry experiences from Carrie but until then we got some more interviews for you guys talk to you soon thanks for hey everyone with me I have brother Daniel and I'm so grateful to see that we have younger folks who are getting involved in youth ministry and here to get equipped the fact that they're here means they're wanting to learn and if there's one thing I cannot teach it's desire so I can you share more about yourself Daniel your church how you serve sure my name's Daniel I just graduated college in the past May so I was 22 years old and I serve as a youth worker in the youth group and also a sunny school and then I also

18:42lead worship and there's a couple youth on my team oh my gosh I'm a worship leader too we should jam sometime hopefully when we're in the same state again are you going to be at impact no I'll be at T camp oh dang it okay okay apparently I'm the speaker at impact but that's okay what have been some big insights or encouragements from being here the symposium this is your first was it this is my first symposium I think one thing is just like how awesome it is to see how many people there are here who are wanting support into the youth and really like be a part of their growth their spiritual growth in their walk with Jesus and then I was just in your workshop and I think one of the biggest takeaways was like how deeply people desire relationships not just with each other but like also with God and just realizing that like me as a youth leader I get to be a part of helping people feel like they're welcome fostering community and just recognizing that they're in a safe place where they can feel loved and just recognize that love doesn't come just for me but also comes from God and really it's God's love pouring through me

19:44and out to these youth and so I really hope like that I can do that now like moving forward into ministry that I can be someone who gets to love the youth well and hope them realize that like they're in a place where they can know that God truly cares about them and other people truly care about them you didn't make that up right um no it was all from your outside yeah well I'm glad to see that there were really steps into pieces for you personally and for your ministry and are you working is it for your state sonies I'm working yeah full-time yeah let's go and the five grind my brother the fact that you still continue to serve even as you've just started working yeah I really respect the effort and the Lord sees your heart and thank you those to also serve alongside you rather they're new or they are seasoned but I'm so glad that you're here Danny you good right good morning everybody we're at the youth symposium 2026 rooted podcast going live right now I got

20:48with me one of the youth tali-tarn tell us about yourself or you're from what church we'll start at first I'm Talia I'm a nice friend and I go to Houston Chinese Church and I am part of the servant's here okay um so this is your first one yes this is my first first supposed what are your initial thoughts so far um I really like just like going to the workshop about student leadership and learning about how to make connections with the youth and just how to have good conversations and um get to know some of them better and some like tips for having conversation okay when you see like different churches come together and you see like all the leaders like how what has it make you feel are you like uh it's weird or like uh it's pretty cool or um I feel like I'm pretty excited to like learn about and meet other people who are also serving in different churches similar to mine and just like see the connections yeah okay any hot takes from uh the symposium so far or observations or whatever or something less than you learned um

21:53yeah I just like like seeing all the different range of people that are here like from young to old and just like how long they've been serving and just like how we can all come together for one purpose of serving ties cool thanks for this interview see you guys next time as we continue to do more these hey rated family if you're listening to this podcast then chances are you're someone who cares deeply about discipling the next generation whether you're a youth faster volunteer or a parent in the thick of raising kids we've got resources designed just for you I rooted we've created curriculum and courses to equip you to walk alongside children in teenagers with confidence clarity and the gospel at the center for youth ministers we offer inductive bible studies they keep Jesus front and center in every lesson with 10 options for year-long studies on books of the bible five shorter topical studies and a full scope and sequence you can map out an entire discipleship plan for students in grades six through 12 if you don't know where to start download our free

22:53scope and sequence guide and we have it forgotten our parents our family discipleship video courses are designed to equip moms and dads from birth through high school covering everything from basic parenting principles to discipling teens use them in small groups sunny school or them whether you're leading from the pulpit or around the dinner table rooted resources are here to support you every step of the way head to rootadministry.com and click on curriculum and courses to explore more and download your free resources today. Hey everyone Dorothy Lau here with the Chinese Bible Church of Maryland and we're so pleased and honored to be here in Houston at the Fort Bend Chinese Church community church on where they're hosting their youth symposium this is the second one isn't the first time we're hosting but we've had a couple we've had a few so not our first radio since 2012 that's we since 2012 really that's a legacy so with me I have a sister who is

23:58with Fort Bend on staff and let her introduce herself and her role and thoughts about preparing for the symposium and now being at the symposium okay so my name is Carolyn and I'm the youth director here at Fort Bend Community Church excited that we could be here but yes it was a journey so the first time when I was like super excited I was like oh yeah sure whoa there's no problem and then I realized wait a minute and then I realized okay no we got this we got this we have a great team and I really appreciated the opportunity to be able to host so then I thought you know what I really want all my parents to come I want all my parents to come I don't want it just to be about youth leaders yeah youth leaders are key we're appreciated I I love that and the parents though want to partner and I think there's been rule this misunderstanding like oh once uh you don't want me you don't want me and I didn't want my parents to think that and so I started reaching out to my parents messaging them one by one to say I want you to come I want you

25:00to come you need to hear this what what and I mess it's them one by one oh well this is them one by one proxy and I said like I want you to be there I'm serious and so then I realized wait okay literally like last time I said you know what this was supposed to be this concept of just youth leaders um fellowshiping with just youth leaders having this like collab and now I'm introducing a bunch of parents what have I done so now I realize you know what no we we do this together yeah you know and so I'm really excited I was really excited and I love all the parents who've made their time to come here expectant and hopeful for ministry together yeah for sure so youth ministry at least especially in this youths and locality is not just for the youth but it's for the family you know it rooted we're definitely advocating for that and we're so glad and grateful that Fort Ben has extended their kind hospitality and well is one encouragement you would give for maybe other localities or churches who are

26:00considering to host a symposium let alone to attend one what's the value of it what's the value definitely just letting your church people know that you are not just about we're not just looking down and saying it's all about youth and making them feel like oh they're all it it's also parents it is a partnership yes and we're equally like responsible both youth are responsible as well as leaders man parents to work this out together it's not just a one like oh just youth leaders it is we can't do this alone we can't do this alone any man change together and by Dorothy or many other of the rooted Asian American steering committee but thank you so much for your insights and we're glad for this partnership and friendship of course and until the next one bye hey there I'm Nick I'm with some of the participants here at use symposium in 2026 and let's see what they've learned so far why don't you introduce yourself and what is one one of the things you've learned here at symposium here today this morning so far hi my name is Josh and I attended the community building

27:04workshop and I learned that when it comes to a building community within your church being building committee within your youth you need to understand your priorities and your mission of your church and also understand the demographics and who is in your community who is in your neighborhood and how you can reach those people specifically and adjust your ministry to relate to them and their lives great stuff great stuff how long what's your ministry experience been like and how long have you been with your current church so far I've technically been involved in youth ministry for a long time I recently got into an official staff position just like a month ago roughly so I'm relatively new on staff but I've been involved in youth ministry for a while now thanks for sharing Josh and then now we have another participant here why don't you introduce yourself and what's been your symposium experience been like this morning so far so yeah hi my name's

28:05Jerry and I'm really glad to be here I went to the same workshop as Josh the community building workshop and I learned about we'll have different groups in the youth ministries and what we need to do is to build bridges across different like groups and sometimes it's hard but we need to figure out how to do that and what's the other questions what's what's your ministry experience like and how long have you been serving at your current church okay so I just started my youth ministry here at FBCC this is my third week here so I'm still learning the last things are very new to me but glad to be here glad to know everybody well thank you and that's a little bit of what we've learned so far at youth in symposium 2026 thanks everybody hopefully you were excited and you understood just the heart behind the symposium I'm so glad you're able to hear the testimonies and the impact that it has and so the praying for

29:07the different churches here especially in Houston Texas and just the ministry to go forth but before we close out we got a couple of announcements to refer you to I'm gonna start with Dorothy with some of some amazing announcements go ahead door yeah for sure hey all once again just wanted to plug another equipping training and fellowship opportunity networking in April is that right yes April 28th to the 29th in Brea California there's gonna be the Asian American Leadership Conference and this is a multi-organizational effort amongst Asian American churches including the Korean American Leadership Initiative Colley and then there's also the Chinese Heritage Church collective which they're having a gathering two in May but AALC is gonna be in Brea at the Living Hope Community Church can still sign up and the theme is reimagining family so rooted will have representation out there and if you come through or if you're local please stop by the booth

30:11and hopefully say hi to us here and what do you got yeah I mean rooted has so many wonderful resources that are right ahead of you and in front of you so these one day trainings the Houston symposium was one of them but we're gonna go across the nation the next couple years and so please keep your kind of eyes peeled as to where we're gonna be announcing the locations we want to go to the East Coast there's gonna be one in LA later this year and so yeah we'd love to have you there and it's not gonna be all of us that's gonna be at every single one day because we do want it to be geographically vocal but the idea is that we want to replicate many of the lessons learned and opportunities in Houston in different places around the country of course if you are an aspiring youth pastor a director or youth leader or if you're in your first three years of being a youth ministry we'd love to invite you to consider the rooted youth ministry mentorship cohort which is gonna start the summer and the reason why is because you know there's so much theory and so many wonderful principles and lessons that are shared but at the end of the day there's a grind

31:13that you go through as a practitioner and so we want to walk alongside with you to lay a foundation that is both biblical but then also to encourage you with a relationship and accountability that's pastoral so that you're able to grow because oftentimes you're just kind of focused on the things you need to do and you may or may not have that type of support and guidance in your own setting and so we'd love to invite you to consider that as well and so if you go to the Rooter website like you can find more information about that and then finally it's not too early to say the Rooter Conference is gonna be in Nashville this year in October and so we'd love to see you there in person it really we can't beat meeting one another and catching up in person i know these podcasts have connected us to many of you and we love seeing each other but it's not the same you know there's nothing better than seeing each other in real life so we hope that you consider that if it's doable and be great to catch up in Nashville absolutely thank you you too it was great seeing you guys in Texas we will definitely do it again but until now i mean until then we want to say thank you guys for tuning in real quick just want to shout out to our international

32:18listeners we appreciate you guys tuning in we see those metrics and we appreciate that let us know how we can equip you overseas i know the context and the ministries a little bit different but whatever we can do in terms of our skill set or experience or even our failures that can help you and your churches out please let us know so shout out to our international listeners until then you can find us on social media at the rooted ministry that's our handle you can find us on all the platforms that you get your streaming services but until then we are praying that you are faithful you're consistent and you are rooted in the gospel together and so talk to you guys next time later