Teresa Roberts
9 min read ⭑
“Today, there are so many influences trying to shape our kids — video games, pop culture, music, celebrities, coaches and more. The reality is that our kids are being discipled by something or someone. The question is this: Are we guiding them toward Jesus?”
Teresa Roberts has dedicated decades of her life to serving children and families. As the Professor of Ministry and Christian Formation, the Program Director of Children’s Ministry, and a vice president at Ozark Christian College, Teresa is an expert in children’s spiritual formation training with more than 25 years of ministry experience. She’s also authored a book on the subject called “Raising Disciples: Guiding Your Kids into a Faith of Their Own.”
In this interview, Teresa shares how a simple meal at the Magic Noodle led to life-changing events, how she draws inspiration to step out of her comfort zone from “emotionally-driven dramas with strong female lead characters,” and how the Holy Spirit invigorates her work in two very opposite ways.
QUESTION #1: ACQUAINT
There’s much more to food than palate and preference. How does a go-to meal at your favorite hometown restaurant reveal the true you behind the web bio?
My favorite hometown spot is Magic Noodle, a cozy Thai restaurant here in Joplin, Missouri. Some might find it surprising — a Thai place in the heart of small-town Missouri — but it holds a special place in my life. You can’t miss it: an orange building with a big concrete sculpture featuring a massive noodle bowl, chopsticks and a bright orange, tiger-striped shrimp. Inside, the owner, Kai, greets me by name, guides me to a table and checks if I’m sticking with my usual: shrimp Pad Thai and an unsweet iced tea. Sometimes, I switch things up and order fresh spring rolls, especially if Kai says the mangos are in season, so I’ll order her mango and sticky rice dessert.
It’s the same spot where, seven years ago, I sat across from my then-friend (now husband) and said, “So, I like you.” His reply: “I know.” That moment was a pivotal point in our friendship, which eventually led to our wedding five years ago, catered by our favorite restaurant. Magic Noodle remains our go-to for date nights, family dinners and even casual lunch meetings. It’s a place full of memories and comfort — a true staple in my life.
Fabio Lange; Pexels
QUESTION #2: REVEAL
We’ve all got quirky proclivities and out-of-the-way interests. So, what are yours? What so-called “nonspiritual” activities do you love and help you find spiritual renewal?
I love emotionally-driven dramas with strong female lead characters — something Netflix seems to know all too well, given how often it recommends them to me. I have to admit, it’s a little unsettling how well Netflix has me figured out! But there’s a reason these stories resonate so deeply with me. I see myself in these characters, and I often imagine how I’d handle the challenges they face. Could I navigate the tricky diplomatic waters between two superpowers like Elizabeth McCord (played by Téa Leoni) in “Madam Secretary?” Could I juggle the cultural expectations of upper-class British society with the same grace as a heroine in a Jane Austen novel? Could I speak truth to power as boldly as C.J. Cregg (played by Allison Janney) in “The West Wing?” I like to think so! These women inspire me to lead with confidence, grace and a bit of daring.
Sure, I may never find myself in high-stakes negotiations, but I do face challenges and conflicts in my own life and work. These strong female characters remind me that I’m still growing in the gifts God has given me. They encourage me to step out of my comfort zone because it’s in those uncertain moments where real growth happens.
QUESTION #3: CONFESS
Every superhero has a weakness. Every human, too. We're just good at faking it. But who are we kidding? We’re broken and in this thing together. So what’s your kryptonite and how do you hide it?
I have this deep need for people to like me. Okay… maybe “need” is a bit strong, but it’s tough to silence that little voice in my head that whispers, “You are not enough if you don’t have people’s approval.” I’ve been this way for as long as I can remember. It’s not just about making people happy or doing what they ask; I go out of my way to anticipate their needs and try to make their lives easier before they even ask. My husband often reminds me that this comes from a good place — that God has gifted me with compassion and a desire to serve others.
But if I’m being honest, it often leaves me feeling over-extended, over-tired, over-anxious and sometimes under-appreciated. Most people wouldn’t know that about me, though, because I’m good at projecting competence. I’m the one who makes sure tasks get done on time and with precision. I’m reliable, the go-to person for problem-solving and projects.
Yet this people-pleasing tendency can sometimes lead me to look for affirmation from others instead of resting in the truth that God loves me and that God’s love is enough.
QUESTION #4: FIRE UP
Tell us about your toil. How are you investing your professional time right now? What’s your obsession? And why should it be ours?
I’ve been serving in children’s ministry for over 30 years, walking alongside thousands of kids and their parents on their journey toward Jesus. And while on that journey with them, I’ve continued learning — both from those experiences and through the world of academia. After years of working and refining an idea to help parents and children’s ministers partner together in discipling kids toward Jesus, I finally put pen to paper and wrote “Raising Disciples: Guiding Your Kids into a Faith of Their Own.”
This book is for parents who want to help their kids follow Jesus but may not know where to start. There are plenty of books on parenting and raising kids to love Jesus, most often sharing one’s personal experiences as a parent. But each parent’s journey is different. My approach is a bit unique. With three decades of experience in children’s ministry and years spent training future ministers as a college and seminary professor, I’ve combined child development research with what Scripture teaches us about discipleship.
Drawing from Jesus’ model of discipleship with his 12 followers, I’ve identified a seven-stage discipleship pathway that begins in infancy and continues through adolescence. It provides parents with clear discipleship markers, along with practical steps at each age and stage of a child’s life. The first 13 years are especially crucial for discipleship, and we need to make the most of every moment to help our kids find their identity in Jesus.
Today, there are so many influences trying to shape our kids — video games, pop culture, music, celebrities, coaches and more. The reality is that our kids are being discipled by something or someone. The question is this: Are we guiding them toward Jesus?
QUESTION #5: BOOST
Cashiers, CEOs, contractors or customer service reps, we all need grace flowing into us and back out into the world. How does the Holy Spirit invigorate your work? And how do you know it's God when it happens?
The Holy Spirit invigorates my work in two ways — when things come easily and when they don’t come easily at all.
Some days, I sit down to write — a message for a group of adults, a lesson for kids or a lecture for students — and the ideas just flow. That happened recently while preparing material for an upcoming workshop. I sat down and, within an hour, I had the outline of the content along with supporting Scripture, stories, illustrations and ideas to engage with the audience. I still need to do some refining in the coming weeks, but for that hour I was in sync with the Holy Spirit. The work came easy.
But there are other days when it feels like I’m shadowboxing — swinging at the air, trying to pin down ideas that refuse to come together. There were sections in my book that took days and days of wrestling to get words on a page, only to end up getting deleted altogether. I’ve spent weeks on a 30-minute chapel sermon, searching for the right direction and changing the outline numerous times. The format for a lecture has sometimes eluded me because the pieces aren’t quite fitting together.
In those moments, I often find myself needing to talk things out with someone else. I’m blessed to have a husband who reflects ideas back to me as we walk the neighborhood. I have two brothers who love theological discussions and advising their older sister. The Holy Spirit is there in the conversations and in my struggle. For it is in those moments that ideas are refined and I can more clearly articulate what I truly believe.
QUESTION #6: inspire
Scripture and tradition beckon us into the rich and varied actions that open our hearts to the presence of God. So spill it, which spiritual practice is workin’ best for you right now?
I have a chair. Now, we have a lot of chairs in our house, but this one is just for me. I found it at IKEA (because, of course, I did)! It’s low to the ground and fits my 5-foot-3-inch frame perfectly. It has a high, wing-back design that I can lean my head against. It sits by a window in my bedroom, overlooking a beautiful open field behind the house. Deer often wander through, and I sometimes catch hawks chasing squirrels. It’s a peaceful, idyllic view that keeps me grounded and draws my mind toward the magnificence of God.
I start most of my days in that chair — usually quite early in the morning. Sometimes, I sit and think about the day ahead, and other times I reflect on moments from the day before. I’ll read Scripture — right now, I’m journeying through the Psalms — and have a conversation with God. Sometimes I talk a lot; sometimes, I just sit quietly. But since the rest of my day is usually filled with tasks, people, noise and activity, that time — no matter how long or short — is essential for me to be still, be quiet and remember that he is God.
QUESTION #7: FOCUS
Our email subscribers get free ebooks featuring our favorite resources — lots of things that have truly impacted our faith lives. But you know about some really great stuff, too. What are some resources that have impacted you?
“Renovation of the Heart” by Dallas Willard. This book is so rich and thick with ideas that I have to read it slowly and stop to reflect often on Willard’s wisdom. I read it the first time when I was in grad school, and it challenged me not to think about my relationship with God as a series of tasks to be completed. Instead, it is a relationship to foster. I re-read it while working on my book, and it served as a reminder that I’m not done with my own discipleship — none of us are. That faith development is ongoing until the day God calls us home.
“The Courage to Teach” by Parker Palmer. Though it might seem that this book is just for those who find themselves in teaching professions, Palmer uses his life as a teacher to illustrate living a vocation from a place of integrity, which is a transferable principle to any job or occupation. His words were an encouragement to me in my first few years as a professor who struggled (still do) with imposter syndrome. Teaching isn’t just about content or technique. Teaching is about the teacher meeting the students where they are and engaging in the subject with them.
“The Good and Beautiful God” by James Bryan Smith. It was 7 years ago, while attending the Apprentice Gathering on the campus of Friends University, that I heard James Bryan Smith say these words: “God is particularly fond of you.” These words pierced my heart, and the tears began to flow. As someone who has lived with the inner narrative that “God is perpetually disappointed in you,” it instantly changed my perspective. That sentence describes the content of his book that reminds us of the loving, caring nature of God who loves us and likes us, too!
We all have things we cling to to survive (or thrive) in tough times. Name one resource you’ve found indispensable in this current season — and tell us what it's done for you.
“The Soul of Shame” by Curt Thompson. Guilt is healthy — it can lead us to repentance and restoration. Shame is from the accuser who seeks to destroy our souls by reminding us of what has already been forgiven. I am currently re-reading this book and listening to Dr. Thompson's Being Known podcast as I continue to grow in self-awareness and shed the shame that has plagued my heart and mind about that which God has forgiven and forgotten.
QUESTION #8: dream
God is continually stirring new things in each of us. So give us the scoop! What’s beginning to stir in you but not yet fully awakened? What can we expect from you in the future?
I want to continue to come alongside parents, children’s ministers and kidmin volunteers to help them disciple children. My book “Raising Disciples” was a first step in giving parents practical tools to apply immediately. I have begun to share these ideas in churches and at conferences and hope to continue to expand these opportunities over the next few years. You can find additional information at www.drteresaroberts.com.
In January 2025, NavPress will release a free e-version of a small group/parenting course guide that coordinates with the book. This will allow Sunday school classes, small groups and other gatherings of parents and ministry leaders to walk through the ideas from the book together. I’m really excited about this resource to help parents and churches partner together!
I am also in the beginning stages of creating training opportunities for children’s ministry leaders and praying about the best format to help further equip my former and current students in their first years of ministry as well as encourage those who have been called to ministry but don’t have the opportunity to take college or seminary classes.
Teresa explains how she sees the evidence of the Holy Spirit in her life and work in two different ways: “when things come easily and when they don’t come easily at all.” She recognizes that it is a gift from God when life flows smoothly; she also knows it's a gift from God when struggle produces growth. How do you view struggles in your life? Do you lean in and ask God about the gifts he’s hidden inside the difficulty? Ask him to reveal to you the growth that’s taking place in your heart right now in any area of struggle you’re experiencing.
Teresa Roberts is Professor of Ministry and Christian Formation, Program Director of Children’s Ministry, and a vice president at Ozark Christian College. She is an expert in children’s spiritual formation training with more than 25 years of ministry experience. Dr. Roberts holds a Master of Arts in Family and Youth Ministry, a Master of Divinity, and a Doctor of Ministry. She serves in children’s ministry at Carterville Christian Church where she attends with her husband and step-daughter.
