How Rooted Changed Everything
It’s hard to make the best year of my life fit on a page, but I’ll give it a shot. Rooted was truly the greatest gift I’ve ever received. I originally chose to go to Rooted because I wanted to deepen my faith, but I had no idea how much it would truly shape me. The friendships I made, the content we studied, and the way I saw God woven through everything - it was all incredible.
Community was one of the biggest blessings. I still remember flying into Philadelphia and driving up to Mount Bethel, full of nerves. My mind was racing: What if I hadn’t made the right decision? What if I won’t find any friends? What if… what if… what if?
But the second I arrived, those worries melted away. We connected so quickly - not just as friends, but as family. It became clear that these were the kind of people that I wanted in my life forever. Our conversations, shared meals, times of learning, and the way we encouraged each other all made that obvious.
We were such a wonderfully diverse group - different backgrounds, denominations, and worldviews - which made our conversations rich, engaging, and sometimes challenging. But those differences never divided us. If anything, they deepened our friendships. I quickly realized: This is what God-designed community looks like. Being surrounded by that kind of love gave me a glimpse of what heaven might feel like.
The learning style at Rooted also surprised me. In high school and college, so much of what you learn is just for a test grade. But at Rooted, we learned simply for the sake of learning. And that made all the difference.
Every person took something different from each class. Each teacher brought their own unique perspective. The teaching was so personal and varied. Learning never felt like a chore. It felt like opening a new window to see more of God.
Rooted also challenged me - in the best way. It pushed me to consider other worldviews, to confront my own blind spots, and to let go of things that were damaging my relationship with God. It showed me how little I know, how big God is, how much I want to learn, and how deeply I want to grow.
Rooted helped me break down walls so I could engage the Bible and people better. It helped me see myself and others through God’s eyes. It helped me become curious about God’s Word. It didn’t feel like just a book anymore - it felt like a conversation with God.
I saw more of my sin, but also more of His grace. On our weekly hikes, I felt smaller - in awe of God’s creation. In our conversations, I saw more of His gifts in others. Through our service, I became more aware of people’s needs and how I could meet them. Rooted challenged me and opened my eyes to so much, and that was truly a blessing.
When the year ended, I remember sitting in silence on the flight home - sad, confused, and wrestling with God. I had just received this incredible gift… but now what? How do I bring this into “real life”? How do I take this gift and bring it to other people? How do I just go back to normal life again?
Then I remembered something we talked about - we’re all ministers, no matter where we go.
My faith journey didn’t end when I left Rooted. If anything, it had only just begun.
Are you considering a gap year with Rooted? We would love to hear from you.
Elizabeth Larson
A Rooted gap year graduate with a heart for ministry from Billings, MT. Raised in a family of pastors and missionaries, she’s excited to grow her faith, build community, and follow God’s call into future ministry.
