Our Story

By Bill Gaultiere © 2009, 2010

The story of God calling my wife Kristi and I to start the 501c3 nonprofit ministry of Soul Shepherding begins at a moonlit path on the ocean in Laguna Beach in 1986.  Yes, it’s a romantic beginning!  Though we didn’t know it at the time, we can now see that God’s call to ministry was part of our engagement.

At that time on the beach I sensed the Lord saying to me, “Hold out your hand for Kristi and step out onto the moonlit path on the ocean.  Come to me and you will serve me together.”

We are psychotherapists and spiritual directors.

As psychotherapists since 1987 we have been offering “Christian Soul Care” (integrating Christian spirituality and psychology) to help people overcome their struggles in life, relationships, and faith.  We have offered counseling, writing, speaking, and training for all kinds of people, including pastors and other ministry leaders and caregivers.

I have served as an ordained pastor on a part time basis at the Crystal Cathedral for 15 years. And from 2006 to 2008 Kristi and I helped give leadership to the planting of Pathways Church in Irvine, CA. We have led seminars, groups, retreats, and spiritual mentoring at a variety of churches.

We’ve been mentored by Ray and Anne Ortlund and Dallas and Jane Willard.

In 2003, through being mentored by Ray Ortlund over a number of years, I discerned that the best use of our careers for the Kingdom of God was to invest ourselves in the lives of the pastors and leaders who minister to other people.  When Kristi and I went on retreat with Ray and Anne Ortlund they laid their hands on us and anointed us for ministry.  I was so bold as to pray for a “double anointing” of the Holy Spirit that operated in Ray’s “Renewal Ministries” for pastors and leaders!

In 2005 Kristi began meeting with Jane Willard for prayer, counseling, and mentoring.  And in 2007, after Ray Ortlund died, I began meeting regularly with Dallas Willard.  Prior to this time I had interacted with him in some group settings.  Since 2003 Dallas has been the key mentor for both Kristi and I through his spiritual formation books and classes (via CD).  We have spent literally thousands of hours learning from Dallas.

We started leading groups for spiritual mentoring of leaders.

Also in 2005 I began leading the first “Soul Shepherding Group” for pastors.  And I started to meet for conversation and prayer with a number of pastors one-on-one – not only in our therapy office, but in our home, a coffee shop, or on a walk.

Whether the focus is counseling, spiritual mentoring, or soul friendship it has been remarkable to see how God has used these interactions to facilitate greater soul health and spiritual vitality in the lives and families of these pastors.  Additionally, I have been able to help them to implement a variety of expressions of spiritual formation ministry with people in their churches.

In 2007 we completed a two-year certificate program in Spiritual Direction, Formation and Leadership from the Leadership Institute.

In 2007 Kristi and I partnered in offering spiritual formation mentoring for husbands and wives who were serving together as ministry leaders.  And Kristi began offering spiritual mentoring to women leaders.  In 2010 she expanded this by stating new groups for pastors’ wives.

We submitted ourselves to a Board of Directors as unto Christ.

In 2009 Kristi and I took the faith step of gathering a team of advisors to confirm that God was calling us to start Soul Shepherding as 501c3 donor supported ministry of Christian formation and counseling for pastors and leaders.  Five of these people (John and Margaret Snyder, Michael Risley, Ed Salas, and Betty Southard) became the Soul Shepherding, Inc. Board of Directors.

We meet monthly with our Board of Directors as a spiritual formation community. We devote the first half of our meetings to abiding in Scripture and prayer and sharing in conversation.  Then we discern God’s leading and decide on next steps for the ministry of Soul Shepherding.

Kristi and I submit to the leadership of the Board of Directors (which we are not on). They are responsible for the budget and governance of the ministry.

Your Investment in Soul Shepherding Makes a Big Difference!

Pastors, pastor’s wife, missionary, or other ministry leaders experience tremendous stress. And many burn out or blow out. You can help prevent this!

God has called and prepared us to help nourish their soul, deepen their intimacy with Christ, provide a safe haven when they’re hurting or stressed, and support their renewal when they’re discouraged. The needs for this ministry are greater than our time, given the other work we do to support our family. So we are raising support for me to be full time with Soul Shepherding by the end of 2010.

Soul Shepherding provides a way for you to partner with us by investing in the lives and ministries of pastors and other ministry leaders. We provide them with needed counseling, spiritual mentoring, retreats, and mission trips and you provide prayer and financial support.

The ministry of Soul Shepherding can also encourage your growth in Christ so that your light shines brighter for him. This is why we freely share the articles and resources of this website with the hundreds of people that make use of it each week. And it’s why we are glad to talk with you or include you in many of the Soul Shepherding seminars, groups, and retreats that we offer.

Tax-deductible donations from individuals like you are the main source of revenue for Soul Shepherding. Other sources of revenue include fees (on a sliding scale) for therapy and spiritual direction, honorariums, and resources.

Thank you!