In Week 2 of our March series, Forming Leaders Before Leading Students, hosts Brent & David dive into an often overlooked but incredibly important topic for youth leaders: emotional health.

Ministry formation isn’t just spiritual and theological — it’s emotional too. In this episode, Brent & David talk about why youth leaders can’t disciple students past their own emotional maturity and how our inner emotional world quietly shapes the way we lead.

Together they explore:

Why identifying emotional triggers matters in ministry
The difference between reacting and responding in leadership moments
How unresolved pain can unintentionally influence the way we lead
Why students need emotionally steady and regulated adults
The powerful example of the emotional life of Jesus

This conversation is an invitation for youth leaders to reflect honestly during this Lenten season and consider how emotional maturity plays a role in healthy, sustainable ministry.

Because the truth is simple:
Unprocessed emotions eventually become public leadership problems.

If this episode encouraged you, we’d love your help sharing it with others. Consider posting this episode — or your favorite episode of the podcast — on social media and tagging us on Instagram or Facebook using @talkstudentmin. Your share helps other youth leaders discover the conversation and reminds them they’re not leading alone.

Instagram: @talkstudentmin
Facebook: @talkstudentmin
YouTube: Student Ministry Conversations
Website: www.studentministryconversations.org

Brent Aiken
Instagram & Facebook: @heybrentaiken

David Pruitt
Facebook: @dpruitt
Instagram: @pruacoustic

Thanks for listening to Student Ministry Conversations, where Brent & David talk about the real challenges, growth, and calling of serving the next generation.

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