The wildfires in Los Angeles have destroyed thousands of homes and displaced even more people. Our hearts are devastated for everyone affected. We’re especially praying for the friends we’ve made through Soul Shepherding who find themselves both experiencing and ministering through trauma.

Join us for this episode of Soul Talks as Kristi talks with Terry Fouche — a Sr. Spiritual Director with Soul Shepherding and pastor in a neighborhood hit hard by the Eaton fires. You’ll be drawn to go deeper into the compassionate heart of Jesus as Terry shares how emotional honesty, lament, and empathy have shaped him and his community during these challenging times.

Resources for this Episode:

• Attend a Soul Shepherding Institute Retreat
• Healthy Feelings, Thriving Faith: Growing Emotionally and Spiritually Through the Enneagram
• Meet with a Soul Shepherding Spiritual Director
• Donate to Support Soul Shepherding and Soul Talks

All of us find ourselves in conversations  — with both Christians and those who don't know Jesus — who feel it's unloving, judgmental, and arrogant to share the truth of Christ with others. It's sad when somebody's belief system keeps them from trusting the Good Shepherd more deeply. We often feel lost because we don't know the best way to love and care for them. 

Join us for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi teach you how to confidently hold the truth about Jesus while simultaneously relating to others with empathy and humility. You will be encouraged to see that building your life on the foundation of Christ will both mature the way you think and help you grow in compassion for others.

Resources for this Episode:

• Journey of the Soul: A Practical Guide to Emotional and Spiritual Growth
• Healthy Feelings, Thriving Faith: Growing Emotionally and Spiritually Through the Enneagram
• Earn a Certificate in Spiritual Direction
• Donate to Support Soul Shepherding and Soul Talks

Right now, there’s a war happening between darkness and God’s kingdom of light. Difficulties like financial hardship, sickness, loss, and relational tension can make it challenging to live in genuine peace. But all of us can train in Jesus’ easy yoke to experience the comfort of leaning into Abba’s providential care. 

Tune in for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi wrestle through the fully integrated process (thoughts and emotions) of trusting God deeply when your circumstances feel desolate and disorienting. They’ll equip you with practices (like The Apprentice Prayer and emotionally honest conversation) to cultivate a heart that rests in God before, during, and after hardship. 

 Resources for this Episode:

• Your Best Life in Jesus’ Easy Yoke: Rhythms of Grace to De-Stress and Live Empowered
• Meet with a Soul Shepherding Spiritual Director
• Attend a Soul Shepherding Institute Retreat
• Donate to Support Soul Shepherding and Soul Talks

The new year is typically a time to “leave the old behind” and “look forward to the new.” But it’s easy to become so future-oriented that you miss Jesus’ presence with you here and now! That’s why it’s powerful to reflect and rejoice in Christ before you turn the page to next year. 

Join us for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi share the heart of genuine gratitude — being thankful for who Jesus is and not only what he does. They’ll equip you with a practical discipline that will transform the way you find closure and step into new seasons with hope, focus, and a healthy soul. 

 Resources for this Episode:

• Attend a Soul Shepherding Institute Retreat
• Meet with a Soul Shepherding Spiritual Director
• Donate to Support Soul Shepherding and Soul Talks

Followers of Jesus carry the joy and power of his presence everywhere they go! This means we can cheerfully spread his mighty love to others during ordinary moments of everyday life. But opposition like hurry, stress, or over-earnestness can cause us to miss Jesus’ warm smile toward us and those around us. 

Tune in for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi unpackage the miracle of the indwelling presence of Jesus’ Spirit and encourage you to live every moment in friendship with him. Your heart will come alive as you learn to joyfully and powerfully participate in your Best Friend’s work.

Resources for this Episode:

• Surprising Joy: A Journey with Jesus for Advent
• Attend a Soul Shepherding Institute Retreat
• Donate to Support Soul Shepherding and Soul Talks

Many of us only skim the surface when it comes to spiritual growth because we don’t know how to relate to Jesus personally. Yet an under recognized and undervalued part of growth in Christlikeness is immersion in Jesus’ presence. Engaging your senses through spiritual practices like Gospel meditation helps you come face to face with Jesus and embrace his cleansing, healing, and growth.

Join us for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi reflect on a recent time of feeling saturated in Jesus’ presence while watching Handel’s oratorio, Messiah. You’ll be drawn to know and experience Christ more fully — participating in his joy, suffering, and ministry as a wounded healer. They then empower you with practical ways to go deeper with Jesus through spiritual practices. 

 Resources for this Episode:

• Ignatian Meditation Guides
• Surprising Joy: A Journey with Jesus for Advent
• Attend a Soul Shepherding Institute Retreat
• Donate to Support Soul Shepherding and Soul Talks

It's easy to miss the many ways Papa God reveals his abundant love for us through Jesus. Focusing only on “major” themes when reading the Gospels (although this is good) can cause us to miss the “minor” yet meaningful ways Jesus expresses Abba’s heart.  Thankfully, practicing slow and prayerful Scripture meditation helps us know and embrace God's desire for us.

Tune in for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi share their recent Advent meditations from the life of Joseph. You will walk away confident that Abba sees, hears, and pursues you because of his gentle and relentless love.

 Resources for this Episode:

• Surprising Joy: A Journey with Jesus for Advent
• Attend a Soul Shepherding Institute Retreat
• Donate to Support Soul Shepherding and Soul Talks

Do you feel disconnected from the Christmas Story? It’s easy to feel like Mary, Zechariah, or the Innkeeper are “characters” or “super saints” far removed from real life in God. But diving into the ancient context and practicing prayerful meditation will help us find our story within the Advent Story. 

Join us for this episode of Soul Talks as Kristi talks with A.J. Sherrill — lead pastor, teacher, and author of Rediscovering Christmas: Surprising Insights into the Story You Thought You Knew. Your heart will be filled with longing as you gain a deeper understanding of the Nativity and how it transforms your relationship with Jesus today.

Resources for this Episode:

• Rediscovering Christmas: Surprising Insights into the Story You Thought You Knew
• More Resources from A.J.
• Donate to Support Soul Shepherding and Soul Talks

Does the responsibility of decision-making leave you feeling overwhelmed or anxious? As life and ministry move forward, all of us face the reality that there's too much to carry without Jesus. This is when we can learn to lean on Immanuel who wants to journey with us, help shoulder the heavy load, and lead us in making decisions. 

Tune in for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi share how they practice trusting the Spirit's work through stressful ministry situations and growth. You'll learn to depend more deeply on Abba through faith-stretching circumstances as you become aware of how he's leading you and come to trust he's also guiding those around you. 

Resources for this Episode:

• Surprising Joy: A Journey with Jesus for Advent
• Attend a Soul Shepherding Institute Retreat
• Donate to Support Soul Shepherding and Soul Talks

Did you know that Jesus delights in the little child inside of you? It might be hard for some of us to believe that he wants to make us smile and laugh like an elated youngster during the holidays. But our Savior continues to pursue us out of his deep desire to bring us home into playful joy and secure trust. 

Join us for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi share their reflections from a visual meditation on the Christmas Story. You will feel drawn to experience the depths of your Papa’s heart for you through the childlike experience of Jesus. Plus, they share practical ways to connect with Abba through the heart and eyes of a young one during the holidays. 

Resources for this Episode:

• Surprising Joy: A Journey with Jesus for Advent
• Visual Devotion Card Bundle
• Donate to Support Soul Shepherding and Soul Talks

Any close relationship can bring us pain or grief when those we love make choices that are opposite of what we desired. This is especially true for parents with adult children. Thankfully, we can learn to trust our Perfect Father to teach us how to transition into a new season of parenthood.

Tune in for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi create a safe space to explore the relational dynamics with your adult children. You’ll be encouraged to trust Jesus to surround your kids with wounded healers, pray for relational restoration, and practice patience as part of your own apprenticeship to Jesus. 

Resources for this Episode:

• Meet with a Soul Shepherding Spiritual Director
• Healthy Feelings, Thriving Faith: Growing Emotionally and Spiritually Through the Enneagram
• Donate to Support Soul Shepherding and Soul Talks