From the Cross to Our Kids' Hearts: Teaching Emotions God's Way

In this powerful Easter-season episode, Jed talks with Pastor Sheldon Lee Stovall, a licensed counselor and pastor, about his new faith-based Sunday school series, "Faith and Feelings: God's Ways for Every Age." Drawing from years of working with dozens of children each week, Pastor Sheldon shares how he saw so many kids struggling with fear, loneliness, sadness, anger, and hopelessness—without parents or schools having the language or tools to help them. This burden led him to create age-appropriate lessons for K–4, 5–8, and 9–12, all built around Scripture, prayer, and practical emotional skills. He explains how his teacher/parent guides highlight trigger words and emotional red flags—like "Nobody would care if I was gone" or "I wish I wasn't here"—so adults can recognize when a child might be in serious trouble. Pastor Sheldon also describes simple, faith-centered coping tools such as guided "God-breath" exercises for anger, interactive games for younger kids, journaling and role plays for teens, and testimonies from real kids to remind young readers they are not alone. Throughout the conversation, he connects emotional regulation with spiritual formation and talks candidly about the alarming suicide rate among young people, the impact of social media and drugs, and why parents need to slow down, listen, and intentionally build a spiritual foundation at home. In the final portion of the episode, Jed welcomes Korey Henkel, Senior Director of Marketing Communications at Centricity Records and editor of the children's book "Beloved," inspired by Jordan Feliz's song. Corey shares how the book helps kids understand they are deeply loved by their parents—and even more deeply loved by God.