When Browncroft launched its summer internship program for young adults nearly three years ago, they decided to integrate Rooted as one facet of the experience. For those unfamiliar, Rooted is a small group opportunity our church offers that explores seven rhythms “essential to a healthy relationship with Jesus.” These rhythms include daily devotion, prayer, repentance, serving the community, sacrificial generosity, sharing your story, and celebration.

My story is unique in that I didn’t make the decision to sign up for Rooted. In fact, I didn’t even know I would be taking part in it until my first day as an intern in Browncroft’s Communications Department back in 2021. On that first day, myself and the other four interns were given an overview of what the summer would look like for us. Our days would consist of learning new skills within our respective departments and then coming together for two weekly meetings—Leadership Development on Thursdays, and Rooted on Wednesdays.

Having attended Browncroft my whole life, I had heard about the implementation of Rooted a while back and knew that it was some kind of small group study. But I had been away at college the last two years and had yet to participate in it. When we were told it would be built into our internship program, I was excited to find out what it was all about and see if it was as impactful as I’d heard people say it was.

Although it’s been a few years since I went through Rooted, several things about it have stuck with me, which I think goes to show how memorable and valuable an experience it is. I remember the five of us interns sitting around a table in the Browncroft Café every week with our group leaders, Jason Harris and Josh Eisenhart. Each time we met, we would spend time going over a chapter in the Rooted guidebook and asking ourselves meaningful questions– about where we were in our faith and how we were seeking to live out the gospel in the day-to-day.

The book included reflection questions I might never have considered on my own, like what God’s purpose was for me in my present season of life, and how I was using my spiritual gifts to serve others. Rooted is intentionally designed to “go deep,” so it’s no surprise that every week I went away thinking about habits I could form (and habits I could let go of) that would better myself and my relationship with the Lord.

Even as Rooted’s thought-provoking questions and conversations were hugely beneficial for me spiritually, what I found most fulfilling about the program was the community aspect. The conversations we had allowed me to really get to know the people sitting at the table with me. There were ten sessions and seven of us (including our leaders), so we devoted the first half of the first seven sessions to sharing our life stories. This made for some serious moments, some funny moments, and some moments where I thought, “Wow, I never would have guessed that about this person!”

It’s rare to be in a setting where we are asked to tell our stories and given uninterrupted time to do so. Yet that’s the type of space Rooted is— one where we can slow down, ask the important questions, share personal struggles without fear of judgment, and grow within Christ-centered community. That’s what I loved most about it.

So while I never signed up for Rooted, I strongly encourage you to! Even if you have to make some adjustments to your schedule, I promise it will be worth it for the friends you will make and the changes you will see in your daily Christian habits if you take the content to heart. And if you’re worried about joining a group of strangers, invite a friend to do it with you! Everyone, even the most spiritually mature among us, can get something out of this experience. New groups launch Sunday, February 25^th, and sign-ups close next Thursday, February 1^st. Don’t miss out on this wonderfully enriching opportunity! Register today by clicking the button below.