Hell, TikTok & Jesus: A Father–Son War for the Soul

Most dads worry about their kids’ screen time.

I watched my 13-year-old son turn a phone, a Bible, and a TikTok account into a war for the soul.

In this powerful episode of The Suffering Podcast, I sit across from my youngest son, Jimmy Donaldson, and we dive into the suffering of youth ministry — not from the pulpit, but from the locker room, the group chat, and a teenager’s late-night doubts. I’ve walked through trauma as a cop, a survivor, and a man of faith, but nothing prepared me for the moment my own son raised his hand in church and chose Jesus for himself.

Jimmy isn’t a pastor… yet.

He’s a 13-year-old football player who lifts weights before school, grinds on his homework, and still fights the same temptations and distractions every kid does — video games, sleeping in, junk food, and fitting in. But somewhere between bike rides, chores, and Xbox, he felt something pulling him back into church. What started as a reluctant Sunday turned into a nightly routine of prayer, Bible study, and TikTok sermons.

In this conversation, Jimmy talks openly about:

What hell really is to him – not fire and pitchforks, but “everything you can want… except God.”

The crushing feeling of doubt, wondering if he’s “wasting time on something he can’t see.”

The moment the Holy Spirit hit him during worship and everything changed.

How a 13-year-old handles classmates who argue about the Big Bang, other religions, and whether Jesus is real.

You’ll hear how:

A kid who once wanted to sleep in on Sundays now leads a TikTok prayer group with his friends.

His short videos on forgiveness, temptation, and spiritual warfare ended up in the hands of pastors and congregations across the country.

His understanding of heaven, hell, and spiritual war is shaping how he faces bullying, pressure, and the constant noise of the world.

As a father, I’m watching my son walk into a different kind of fight — a war of ideas, faith, and identity — armed with a Bible, a phone, and a willingness to look different than the crowd. And I’ll be honest: hearing him say that “hell is being distant from God for eternity” and that “doubt is part of the test” hits harder than most sermons I’ve heard from grown men.

If you’re:

A parent wondering how to talk to your kids about God…

A cop or first responder trying to balance the job, trauma, and faith at home…

A teenager or young adult quietly questioning everything you’ve been told…

Or someone who’s been hurt by church, religion, or “lukewarm” Christianity…

…this episode will speak to you. Not because we have all the answers, but because we’re honest about the questions.

Stay until the end to hear:

Jimmy describe how suffering, doubt, and spiritual attacks actually strengthened his faith.

Why he believes God is a “man of war” and what that means for a generation stuck in spiritual apathy.

How his walk with God has taught him to cope with real-life pain, temptation, and disappointment, even outside a “religious” context.

This is The Suffering of Youth Ministry — not in a church building, but in real life, with a 13-year-old kid who decided to pick up his cross, open his Bible, hit “record” on TikTok…

…and step into the fight.

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This podcast discusses mental health, trauma, and personal struggle. If you or someone you know is in crisis, please seek professional help or contact your local emergency services.