Rooted Gap Year Begins

The Rooted Gap Year program is off and running and I couldn’t be more thankful for the way things have started. We have eight incredible young adults from all over the country who have come to be discipled, to live in community, and to serve the Lord, as they serve one another and those in the communities that we travel to. I have loved listening to the discussions that these students have had around the campfires and in the classroom with our different intensive teachers. So far this year we have had classes on Understanding the Gospel (God’s metanarrative), Godly Relationships, Spiritual Formation, and Being a Missionary.

We had the chance to go and help people in the Asheville, North Carolina, area to clean up after Hurricane Helene, and also take a moment to stop working, that we might listen to and pray for the people whose lives have been so devastated. What I am most surprised by is how much of the learning takes place out of the classroom and in situations that no one would plan into a program but which God uses to grow us, humble us, and mature us.
I am excited about the conversations that I am having currently with students asking about next year, while at the same time, we’re working with the students from this year. This was never intended to be a one year endeavor, but a start to a program that by God’s grace will continue to expand in numbers here at Tuscarora and in new locations around the country.

Rev. Roger Viksnes, Director of Rooted

I’m from Jamestown, North Dakota. When I heard Tuscarora would be starting a biblical training gap year program, I was very interested. At the time, I was working at Inspiration Point and doing their internship program. I did have some reservations about doing another gap year but despite my doubts and hesitations, I knew that God was calling me there, and so I went. Since being here, it has been a complete confirmation that this is where God wanted me. So far in the program we have discussed the metanarrative of Scripture, how to see Christ’s typologies all through the Old Testament, biblical ways to deal with relationships, and how to grow in spiritual disciplines.

I’m from Mount Bethel, Pennsylvania. I am thrilled to be coming back to my hometown for the year and I cannot wait to see how God will be working in and through the Rooted program and its participants. The concept of Rooted intrigued me when I first started hearing about it. To come alongside other young adults to spend a year focusing on our relationships with the Lord, in fellowship with one another, sitting under various teachers, and to serve together in various capacities, free from the stresses of rigorous academic schedules or busy work schedules—it sounded like a once in a lifetime opportunity to me! I am very excited to see what God has in store for us in the months to come.

I decided to join Rooted this year to grow in my faith and be among a community of like-minded believers. Earlier this year, I had been taking a break from school and working a part-time job. My father is the senior pastor of our local house church, and my parents spoke to Roger about Rooted during Tuscarora’s Pastor Prayer Summit. As soon as they got back home and told me about it, I was intrigued. I had just started getting more invested in my faith and was praying for a path of purpose. Rooted presents an opportunity to grow more than I could imagine. It felt like a call from God to join. I’m thrilled to be here and excited to see what God has in store for me.

I get to be part of Rooted this year! My dad, grandpa, and uncle are all pastors and my family were missionaries for my early childhood, so I’ve gotten the unique opportunity to grow up surrounded by Christianity. To make a long story short, I’ve seen God work in incredible ways, and I want so dearly to share those stories with others. I want to work in ministry in my future, and having a place like Rooted to grow and solidify my faith is invaluable. I’m so excited for the community, the study, the growth, and the fun I’ll get to experience this year!

I was raised in the church but I never felt truly connected to God until a year ago. When it came time to register for college classes, I was really procrastinating. I didn’t feel ready to go to college, but I was unsure what other options I had. I talked to my pastor and he urged me to look into Rooted. After a couple weeks of hesitation, I decided to join the program, knowing that it would be an awesome opportunity to learn more about the faith, deepen my relationship with God, strengthen my foundation in the Lord, and see what his calling is for me before I go off to college. I’m excited to see how the Lord will work in me and use me to display his love to others over the course of the year.

I joined the Rooted program because, as I was trying to decide what I wanted to do after high school, I wasn’t really sure what to do. My pastor at my home church recommended that I look into Rooted. As I researched, I knew that God was urging me to go despite my concerns, and I’m so glad that I did.  I’m so excited for this year as I get out of my comfort zone, foster new friendships, and grow in my relationship with the Lord.

I just graduated high school and I did not at all plan on Rooted. I had everything set up for college, until I realized in July that God was instead calling me to learn more about him. Being called to spend the year at Rooted—and then accepting the call—was actually how I finally allowed myself to surrender and be saved. Now that I’m here, I know that I’m going to look back on Rooted as one of the best decisions of my life. I’ve learned and accomplished more in these past three weeks than I might have in a year at home. It hasn’t even been a month yet; there’s so much more learning and adventure to look forward to.

I grew up in the Lutheran Brethren and have become very familiar with Tuscarora through the years, having served as a counselor at their summer camp the past few years. When I first heard my father was planning a gap year program, I was reluctant about the idea. As the start time got closer, my other plans that I had for myself started to fall away, and the Rooted program started to seem like the way God was leading me. The past few weeks have been a great experience learning new topics and growing in faith and fellowship.