Deep Roots
A Great Bible Curriculum for Kids Incorporating Apologetics & Worldview Development
With the Great Homeschool Conventions (GHC) in progress as of this writing in Ontario, California, we interviewed Kim Van Vlear, Director of Development for DeepRoots Bible Curriculum. She and others from DeepRoots will have a resource table at the convention (as will Ratio Christi). At Ratio Christi Boosters, we’re always on the lookout for apologetics resources for parents and kids, which is why we’re excited about DeepRoots – it’s a Bible curriculum that incorporates apologetics and worldview development among many other integrated topics for elementary age kids! While the interview below comes from a homeschooling perspective, DeepRoots is actually made for Christian school use with many students and a teacher.
RYAN: Please tell our readers a bit about your involvement with DeepRoots and past experiences leading up to that.
KIM: Thank you, Ryan, for your interest. I serve as the Director of the 60+ member team that is developing DeepRoots. I came into this position with a strong writing background and a passion for apologetics and worldview. I wrote and taught Bible studies for adults and children. I’ve also taught worldview homeschool classes at the junior high level. My husband and I homeschooled our girls, so I have a heart for homeschoolers and teaching them how to articulate and defend their faith.
RYAN: Tell me about the other team members developing DeepRoots.
KIM: I feel so blessed to work with this amazing team! Dr. Sean McDowell, Associate Professor in the Christian Apologetics program at Biola University, has been involved from the very beginning. He brings extensive knowledge in biblical worldview and apologetics to our team. J. Warner Wallace, author of Cold Case Christianity (and Cold-Case Christianity for Kids), who recently appeared in the movie God’s Not Dead 2, is on our advisory board, as is Brett Kunkle, author of the recently published book, A Practical Guide to Culture: Helping the Next Generation Navigate Today’s World. Dr. Kennedy is a PhD field archaeologist who vets our original maps and illustrations, keeps us abreast of the latest archaeological finds, and provides photography from world-renowned digs. We have several other PhDs who specialize in various disciplines. To ensure we don’t teach above the students’ levels of understanding, grade-level teachers review all of our material, as well.
WE TRAIN THOUGHTFUL CHRISTIANS AND SHARE COMPELLING REASONS FOR FOLLOWING CHRIST
Our mission is to equip students and faculty with reasons for following Jesus. “Thoughtful” denotes a double meaning. It is both compassionate and considerate as well as rational and reflective.