In the latest Craft & Character episode Steve Carter interviews Spiritual Directors Bill & Kristi Gaultiere about the soul journey every pastor and follower goes on to experience more intimacy with Christ. Bill & Kristi run www.soulshepherding.com and have a heart to help people discover the pathway towards emotional honesty, spiritual maturity and how to handle those dark nights of the soul. Bill & Kristi also work with pastors around taking a sabbath break and how to best structure that so your heart, mind and soul can experience true replenishment.
Bill is a psychologist (PhD; PSY12036 in CA) and ordained pastor, specializing in ministry to pastors. He and Kristi are the authors of Journey of the Soul, which was #1 on Amazon in Christian Counseling. He was personally mentored for many years by Dallas Willard and Ray Ortlund Sr. His earlier book Your Best Life in Jesus’ Easy Yoke tells the story of his spiritual renewal from anxious living and burnout and introduces the message and way of Soul Shepherding.
As a Spiritual Formation Pastor, he has served in a mega-church and a church plant. He’s also trained over 1,000 lay counselors and taught courses in Christian psychology and spirituality at the graduate school level. He and Kristi train pastors and other men and women in ministry in their Soul Shepherding Institute and Spiritual Direction certificate program. Bill has been speaking in churches and conferences since 1987 and especially enjoys speaking with Kristi. You can listen to their weekly Soul Talks podcast or read their weekly Soul Shepherding blog.
Kristi is a psychotherapist (Psy.D.; LPC4 and MFT29887 in CA) and spiritual director for women in ministry and pastors’ wives. She co-leads Soul Shepherding with Bill. She was personally mentored by Jane Willard and Dr. Jan Stoop.
As a pastor’s wife, mother, and ministry professional, Kristi offers empathy and wisdom from her experience personally and as a therapist who has spent many thousands of hours caring for people. Kristi enjoys speaking, training, teaching, consulting, counseling, and retreat leading with Bill, as well as recording their weekly Soul Talks podcast.
Steve Carter is the Lead Pastor at Christ Church of Oak Brook and is helping to champion the Preaching Institute to equip pastors on how to preach hospitable and transformational messages. Steve hosts the Craft and Character Podcast, which ignites preachers to grow in their craft while always intentionally working to have their character lead the way. He has also authored two best-selling books, Grieve, Breathe, Receive, and The Thing Beneath The Thing. Steve lives outside Chicago with his wife, Sarah, and their two kids. When Steve isn’t hanging around with his family, friends, or church community, you will probably find him watching a University of Michigan football game.
