“The purpose of a soul care conversation is to help people enjoy God so much that their consuming desire in all their relationships is to reveal the God they have so supremely enjoyed.” - Larry Crabb.
Soul Care is a modern way of referring to a Christian ministry that is both ancient and recently revitalized in the American church, called spiritual direction. This traditional name can be misleading, as the goal of spiritual direction is to help you focus (“direct” your attention) on the Holy Spirit and to your own spirit’s experience of God in the midst of your life. At first glance, you might think spiritual direction means that you are asking us to access the direction of the Spirit on your behalf, like a medium. But nothing could be further from the truth! Traditional spiritual direction is a spiritual companionship and exploration together of how the Holy Spirit is at work in your life. Other terms in modern use are “Soul Friend”, “Spiritual Conversation”, and “Sacred Companionship”. For simplicity, we have used the term “Soul Care”.
During your soul care conversation, you might consider questions such as:
Who is God to me? Who am I to God?
What do I desire in my relationship with God now? What do I believe God desires from/for me?
What image and ideas do I currently have about God?
How have I been personally experiencing God the Father, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit?
Do I feel close to/far from God right now, and why?
Where am I in my life right now, and where is God in it for me?
Does there seem to be something keeping me from a deeper relationship with God?
What does God want for my life? How does that connect with the larger story of human history God is telling?
Where is God inviting me to take a step, or to wait?
Are there aspects of my life where God seems absent?
Where is God bringing about healing or transformation in my life and community?
There is no set agenda in soul care conversations, and you are free to consider whatever aspect of your relationship with God you wish, whether joy or struggle, confusion or insight, feeling “movement” or feeling “stuck”, emptiness or fullness.
How Soul Care Works – Once or Ongoing
