Kel Mitchell opens up about what caused his turn from actor to youth pastor, saying “God was with me” throughout his personal trials.

EurWeb reports that Mitchell, who became a youth pastor in 2019 and is currently promoting his new devotional book Blessed Mode, talked about his life experiences on TODAY‘s third hour. He told viewers that he dealt with mental health issues and various other personal issues. “It’s a lot of ups and downs in life and a lot of emotional walls that a lot of people need to break through,” he said.

“[T]hat’s what happened in my life. In those times, God was with me, and he was always there helping me get through,” he continued. “In my times of going through depression, suicidal thoughts, all these different things, and working on shows at the same time, God was there.”