The Baers | Our Story
Nearly since they met in 2003, they have been compelled by Christ’s love to give away their lives on Jesus' mission. From the beginning, they rolled up their sleeves and served the underserved, impoverished, addicted, and the "least of these" in a variety of church and parachurch settings. From 2011 to 2018, they led a storefront ministry in Aurora, Illinois, offering free healthcare alongside a Christ-centered recovery fellowship. Their ministry philosophy was hard forged along the way, but ultimately turned to an interest in street-level or practical theology, biblical counseling, and the care of souls. For their own hearts and for the sake of those they served, they sought to know what it means to live in light of Scripture. When they relocated to the Pacific Northwest in 2019 to be near their children and grandchildren, the Lord did something they weren’t quite expecting. As part of developing a fledgling biblical counseling ministry in their local church, they developed a groups-based model of counseling (at their pastor’s request) at Gospel Life Church in Puyallup, Washington. The SoulCare Group Workbooks are a fruit of that labor.
Churches began asking if they could use this curriculum, but they didn’t know how to do it. It seemed God wouldn’t let them keep the work to themselves, so they published them. There are now nine SoulCare Group Workbooks in the series. The first three will be released in October 2026, with plans to release three more each year through 2028. SoulCare Groups have become their life’s work.
Our Bios
Gary
Gary’s heart for SoulCare was born out of a thirty-year battle with a variety of addictions. In the early 2000s, Gary miraculously “came to his senses,” as the prodigal in Luke 15. After seven rehabs and a few attempts to take his own life, Jesus met him in his darkness and set him on a new trajectory. Since that radical encounter with the Lord, Gary has been compelled to share with those in need, the grace God has so freely given him. Gary later earned a BS in Biblical Studies from Moody Bible Institute, an MA in Evangelism and Leadership from Wheaton College, and completed the certification courses from CCEF’s School of Biblical Counseling. He currently serves as a biblical counselor, trainer, and group leader for the Biblical Soul Care ministry at Gospel Life Church while also working full time in Information Technology for World Vision-US.
Linda
Linda comes to the biblical counseling field after a thirty-year career in orthopedic and manual physical therapy. She earned her MA in Biblical Studies from Wheaton College and completed all three certificates from CCEF’s School of Biblical Counseling where she now serves as an Online Instructor. At her local church, she is part of the Biblical Soul Care ministry team and serves as Director of Women’s Counseling, training and encouraging others to serve in their growing soul care ministry.