When we combine God’s word, simple breathing, and a specific need, we discover an effective, engaging, and powerful way to pray— forming a habit that will fill small moments throughout our day with meaningful spots of prayer.

Join us for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi share how practicing breath prayers can help you release stress into the Father’s hands.  You will learn techniques you can practice regularly to nourish and strengthen your union with Jesus, and use for intercessory prayer.

Resources for this Episode:

• Breath Prayer Guides
• Soul Shepherding Network
• Your Best Life in Jesus’ Easy Yoke

In leadership we experience different kinds of suffering, including loneliness, opposition, and spiritual attacks. Shepherding others involves following Christ into his way of blessing and also his suffering. Yet our Risen Savior walks with us through our trials, comforting us with his empathy, presence, and purpose.

Tune in to this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi unpack some of the challenges of leadership. You will be encouraged to find enduring joy even in painful times of leadership because you are not alone—you serve with Jesus and the God of all grace, and can find support from fellow soul shepherds who understand your suffering.

Resources for this Episode:

• Soul Shepherding Institute
• Soul Shepherding Network
• Sr. Spiritual Directors
• Sr. Coaching

Many of us have experienced emotional, physical, or sexual abuse ourselves, or care for people who have these wounds. The cycle of abuse can be emotionally and relationally trapping, but the good news is that it can be reversed.

Join us for this episode of Soul Talks where Bill and Kristi unpack the dynamics of the cycle of abuse. You’ll learn the necessary steps to break this cycle, increase your own awareness of the needs of those around you, put words to experiences of abuse, and help bring healing and freedom to those who are hurting.

Resources for this Episode:

• Soul Shepherding Institute
• Soul Shepherding Network
• Sr. Spiritual Directors
• Soul Shepherding Coaching

We are blessed by our pastors who faithfully serve—loving us well, visiting hospitals and homes, counseling, teaching, and preaching. It’s a challenging time to represent Christ formally as a pastor. Often pastors carry the weight of expectations and responsibilities that many of us don’t see or understand.

Tune in for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi share encouragement for those in pastoral leadership. You’ll receive insight to understand the challenges pastors face and learn practical suggestions to support and uplift your own pastors.

Resources for this Episode:

• Soul Shepherding Institute
• Sr. Spiritual Directors
• Soul Shepherding Coaching
• Sabbatical Guide

Trauma can come in many forms, and all of us have experienced soul wounds. Masking our trauma under addictions—to include busyness— denies and delays the healing the Lord can bring us. We can find courage to face our trauma through connectedness with one another, and connectedness with the redemptive heart of God!

Tune into this episode of Soul Talks, where Kristi talks with Evan & Jenny Owens, founders of Reboot Recovery, and authors of Healing What’s Hidden. You will find practical and accessible tips for overcoming trauma in your own life and turning your pain into purpose.

Resources for this Episode:

• Reboot Recovery
• Healing What’s Hidden
• Journey of the Soul
• Soul Shepherding Network

What is your source of motivation? Our culture tells us to focus on self-motivation, but Jesus tells us the ultimate power and purpose for our lives comes from our connection with God.

Join us for Best Soul Talks as Soul Shepherding’s Director of Operations and Programs, Jessica Stong, shares one of her favorite episodes—229 EQ: The Energy You Need. Bill and Kristi show how you can increase your emotional intelligence—focusing on the importance of activation and motivation— through greater intimacy and responsiveness to Jesus.

Resources for this Episode:

• Soul Shepherding Institute
• Emotional Intelligence: 5 Steps with Jesus to Better Living & Leading

So much of our lives focus on what we do for God. Yet burnout in ministry is common when we depend on our own strengths, natural gifts, and abilities instead of depending on Jesus. While this often leaves us feeling distant from God, there is hope!

Join us for Best Soul Talks as Soul Shepherding’s Director of Operations and Programs, Jessica Stong, shares one of her favorite episodes— 207: How to Love and Lead WITH Jesus. Bill and Kristi offer deep personal and biblical insight and practical tools to help you step into life with Jesus, where his love and delight restore your soul.

Resources for this Episode:

• Soul Shepherding Institute
• Sr. Spiritual Directors
• Soul Shepherding Coaching
• Sabbatical Guide

Workaholism and people-pleasing are well-worn paths that inevitably lead to burnout. Jesus offers a different way! Being overly busy can steal your peace and joy, and it affects those around you. But following Jesus’ way of working brings renewed peace and strength when we set aside time for what is most important instead of just what is most urgent.

Join us for Best Soul Talks this week as Sr. Spiritual Director and Coach Jessica Stong shares one of her favorite episodes— 299: The Unbusy Person.

Bill & Kristi extend an invitation to live “unbusy” and “learn the unforced rhythms of grace” (Mt. 11:28-30 MSG) Jesus demonstrated in his life and ministry.

Resources for this Episode:

• Sabbatical Guide
• Sr. Spiritual Directors
• Abandonment To Divine Providence by Jean-Pierre De Caussade
• Your Best Life In Jesus’ Easy Yoke by Bill Gaultiere
• Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis

Feelings of failure in ministry and life are far more common than we may realize. Whether we are “feeling” as though we failed, or we have in fact failed at something, in Christ, failure is not fatal! 

Join us for Best Soul Talks this week as Dave Rimoldi shares one of his favorite episodes— Failure is Not Fatal. Dave supervises the Soul Shepherding Spiritual Direction Training program and is a Sr. Spiritual Director and longtime pastor.

In this vulnerable, honest conversation, Bill and Kristi look at what it means to receive empathy from Jesus in our failures and how beautiful the redemption is when we trust him.

Resources for this Episode:

• Sr. Spiritual Director Dave Rimoldi
• Sr. Spiritual Directors
• Soul Shepherding Coaching
• Soul Shepherding Leadership Coaching