There’s a complicated relationship between emotions and faith. And if we’re honest, as youth ministry leaders, sometimes it can be tempting to leverage our students’ emotions to help them make big faith and life decisions. But is that necessarily a bad thing? Join us this week as we talk about how we can avoid accidentally emotionally manipulating our students, and what it looks like for our students’ emotions to play a healthy role in their lives and faith going forward.
EPISODE RECAP
- How podcast guests Candice Wynn, Brett Talley, and Stuart Hall have seen emotions handled poorly in different church environments (2:35)
- When emotions are not considered a good thing (8:05)
- What happened to make emotions so complicated (20:15)
- Tools we can give students to help them be able to better use discernment (32:05)
- Practical tips to talk about emotions in a healthy way (40:10)
- Tools youth leaders can use to equip their students to help them discern the emotions they have (49:54)
QUOTES FROM THIS EPISODE
To develop into a well-rounded follower of Jesus, a student has to be in touch with their emotions. —Stuart Hall Click To TweetWhen we try to convince students their emotions aren’t valid or healthy, we’re helping them create unhealthy patterns that can cause more issues down the road. —Brett Talley Click To TweetIf we don’t help students tend to their emotions now, we risk them becoming emotionally constipated adults. —Candice Wynn Click To TweetWe're doing students a disservice if they become so accustomed to engaging God through the thunder that they don’t know how to hear God when He speaks in a still, small voice. —Candice Wynn Click To TweetAs youth leaders, we need to remember that the Spirit of God is doing the work in our students, not us. —Stuart Hall Click To Tweet
RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE
Resource: XP3 Middle School curriculum
Resource: XP3 High School curriculum
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VOICES IN THIS EPISODE
SARAH ANDERSON
Sarah is a writer and communicator who has been involved in ministry since 2003. In 2007, she joined the XP3 high school team where she now works as a lead writer and content creator. She also a contributing writer to the Parent Cue blog. Sarah lives in Roswell, Georgia, and is a big fan of her husband, her two boys, Asher and Pace, and, in her weaker moments, McDonald’s french fries.
BRETT TALLEY
Brett is an XP3 Orange Specialist with Orange after spending 11 years in full time ministry. He’s been married to his amazing wife since 2004. They have three amazing and hilarious kids who constantly keep them busy and laughing. He loves baseball, golf and makes amazing turkey melt sandwiches (if he has the time and ingredients, otherwise they’re just average).
CANDICE WYNN
Candice Wynn currently serves as an Orange Students Specialist. After graduating from Florida A&M University and the Candler School of Theology at Emory University, Candice became an ordained itinerant elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Since then, she has served as both a Youth and Next Generation Pastor for over 13 years in the Southeast. Candice is infatuated with all things urban and artsy. As such, she and her husband, Maxim, often spend their weekends creating graffiti art, baking cupcakes with their two children, Mason and Sunni, or sneaking off for a date—when they can find a sitter.
STUART HALL
Stuart Hall is an influential leader who speaks to thousands of students, leaders, coaches, and parents each year. Stuart has coauthored three books: The Seven Checkpoints: Seven Principles Every Teenager Needs to Know, MAX Q: Developing Students of Influence, and Wired: For a Life of Worship, Leaders Edition. Stuart also laughs incessantly, serves as a volunteer high school varsity girls basketball coach, and loves his wife and three kids.
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