As stated elsewhere, SoulCare Groups are gender-specific gatherings of 4-10 people designed to help participants connect their faith to the everyday struggles of life through biblically-rich and topically-intensive facilitated studies based on shared areas of sin or suffering. These groups gather in a safe and confidential setting designed to promote honesty, transparency, and vulnerability. Participants commit to a three-month process that includes a pattern of daily devotionals, reflective journaling, and weekly two-hour discussions aimed to deepen their relationship with God while applying God’s word to real-life challenges in practical and tangible ways.

The intimacy of these groups, and the nature of what is shared necessitates certain considerations when forming them. All groups will look different, but some of the best practices we’ve learned along the way include:

• A leader who acts as a facilitator (rather than a counselor). Hence, any lay leader (no biblical counseling experience required) with a heart for care is a viable candidate to lead a group as long as they are willing to work the material alongside of the group.

• A co-leader who either shares leading group discussion or someone willing to train up for future SoulCare Group leadership. This is also helpful in case of leader illness.

• Groups meet for twelve consecutive weeks making an early January and early September launch optimal to miss most US holidays.

• Published topics currently include: Anxiety, Grief, and Sexual Integrity. Anger, Addiction, Depression, Shame, Singleness, and Suffering will be published in 2027-28.

• It is best to purchase all other resources in advance of launch (typically three of the best biblical counseling resources available) to distribute on the first gathering (so as to ensure everyone has all materials in hand from the first meeting). You might consider charging your participants a $50 registration fee per participant to cover your costs. Partial and full scholarships are a nice offering for those with financial hardship.

• Meetings should be distraction free.

• Marketing avenues within congregations will likely vary from organic gatherings of known individuals who share a common struggle to a formal announcement/recruitment and registration process.

• Confidentiality of participant names and issues is imperative.

• These group studies are great on-ramps for soul care in congregations looking to start biblical counseling ministries.

• Women are eager for these groups. The men come more slowly. Expect more women than men to register until word about heart change filters through your church.

• Workbooks are designed to be plug-and-play. Once familiarized to the workbook, work the material alongside participants. It is not recommended to work ahead. You do not have to have the answers. Trust the resources and the work of the Spirit.

• Advise participants not to join unless they are prepared to do roughly 30 minutes per day of reading and journaling. It should replace their daily devotional time.