Posted by Matt Markins in 
Last night we had time to catch up with Dr. Richard Ross for a quick meal. I left our time with him wanting more…feeling a little cheated because an hour and fifteen minutes, just wasn’t enough.
Although he is a professor of student ministries at Southwestern Seminary, he spends many Sunday’s and Wednesday nights helping parents restore relationships with their teenagers all across the country. I don’t have time to share the stories he shared with us, but I can say that we share a common passion. The life transformation stories he shared with Ron Hunter and I nearly left me in tears.
You see the average Christian parent today doesn’t know how to authentically communicate with their teens, to affirm them, and to lead them. Wounds happen, walls get built up, and it’s just too much work. So let the distance and emotional scars begin. He has found a way to heal and correct this process, and it’s completely biblical! I wish every youth minister across the country would listen to him and implement what he is saying.
If we would integrate his message into our ministries, we could live out D6 like never before. But if we don’t bridge the gap, healing won’t begin, and our students will not listen, and they will not own their faith (in mass numbers).
I will forever treasure the time that I spent with him last night.
Dr. Ross will be speaking at D6. I hope you will come listen to him and have the chance to meet him.
Matt,
I have had the privilege of hearing Dr. Ross speak on two occasions, and I yearn for more. You are right, he has a great way of communicating with youth and teaching parents how to build authentic relationships with their teens. I love to hear him and I am looking forward to hearing him at D6.