Amber Hood

Director & Founder

Roots & Wings began as a dream in my heart not long after I began home-schooling my two young kiddos. Like His usual dealings with me, the Lord laid it all out to me years before it actually came to fruition. We were to further root the students in Chirst and His Word as well as provide opportunities for ministry that were outside their comfort zones – giving them the chance to take their growing faith for a ride. Creative arts would simply be the vehicle. And what a fun and rewarding vehicle it is!!!

My personal love affair with the arts began in college when I went to a performance of Godspell at Azusa Pacific University. In the same performance, I laughed so hard I cried and was moved so deeply that I cried even more. It opened something in me. I heard the Spirit say, “You can do that! Why are you not up there doing that?!” Never during my four years of college theater did I harbor hopes of doing it professionally. It was just something I loved that afforded me a break from my philosophy and biblical studies classes.

Stacy Babb

Assistant Director, Prop Master & Scenic Designer

Maria Jung

Assistant Music Director, Official Photogapher

Jeannine Davis

Community Relations & Marketing, Web Designer, Tech Coordinator

Amber Hood

Director & Founder

Roots & Wings began as a dream in my heart not long after I began home-schooling my two young kiddos. Like His usual dealings with me, the Lord laid it all out to me years before it actually came to fruition. We were to further root the students in Chirst and His Word as well as provide opportunities for ministry that were outside their comfort zones – giving them the chance to take their growing faith for a ride. Creative arts would simply be the vehicle. And what a fun and rewarding vehicle it is!!!

My personal love affair with the arts began in college when I went to a performance of Godspell at Azusa Pacific University. In the same performance, I laughed so hard I cried and was moved so deeply that I cried even more. It opened something in me. I heard the Spirit say, “You can do that! Why are you not up there doing that?!” Never during my four years of college theater did I harbor hopes of doing it professionally. It was just something I loved that afforded me a break from my philosophy and biblical studies classes.

Turns out I spent eight years in New York working with the Salvation Army doing theater professionally all over the US and even internationally. There was always something new to perform, create, direct, write, teach… I remember thinking so often, “How do I get paid to do this?! How is this my life?!” I didn’t go to school for theater and, yet, I was afforded copious opportunities that many artists would haven given their right arms to have. And it wasn’t art for art’s sake; it was art that was created for the purpose of building God’s kingdom!
God made it clear when it was time for me to leave that work and move to Atlanta to get married and start a family. It didn’t surprise me when he dropped the vision of Roots & Wings into my heart. It would not begin for another seven years. I knew that it would take several stars aligning – mostly the leaders who God would move to do it with me. He set up a dream team of ladies whom I adore!

Now it’s our third season. I still can’t believe it. We’ve weathered many growing pains as we figured out the nuts and bolts of what this is all supposed to look like and where we all fit. In the meantime, our students have grown in their faith and in their art. We have ministered in homeless shelters, assisted living facilities, rehabilitation centers, and are set to go to a daycare center for disabled adults this year. The kids came up with that awesome idea. We are even planning a mission trip to Bungoma, Kenya in July of 2026. God is on the move and we are stoked to be a part of it!!!