In this episode of The Being Formed Podcast, Adam is joined by spiritual director and retreat guide Kim Van Natta for a conversation about a new initiative from LifePoint Resources called the Sacred Way Community.

Together, they explore the growing hunger many people are experiencing for a more relational and experiential life with God, especially in a cultural moment marked by exhaustion, disillusionment, disconnection, and spiritual uncertainty. They discuss the difference between merely learning about God and learning how to be with God, and why intentionally small, immersive, and formational communities can become sacred spaces of healing, growth, and transformation.

Adam and Kim also unpack the vision and rhythm behind The Sacred Way Community, an 18-month cohort journey centered around relational spiritual formation, shared retreats, contemplative practices, and authentic community.

This conversation is an invitation to slow down, listen deeply, and consider where God may be inviting you into deeper formation and a more sustainable way of following Jesus.

• Kim’s personal journey into spiritual formation and relational discipleship
• Why transformational growth happens best in authentic community
• The growing spiritual hunger beneath disillusionment and deconstruction
• What we mean by “The Sacred Way”
• Relational spirituality and secure attachment with God
• Why retreats and immersive experiences matter
• The difference between information-based learning and transformational knowing
• What spiritual transformation actually looks like in everyday life
• Why slower, smaller, and more intentional communities matter right now
• Personal reflections on being with Jesus and becoming people of love

Kim Van Natta is a spiritual director, Ignatian retreat guide, and the founder of Transforming Experiences. Her work centers on helping people cultivate deeper awareness of God’s presence through spiritual direction, contemplative practices, creation-based experiences, and relational spiritual formation.

Kim is helping lead the development of The Sacred Way Community and will serve as the first Director of this new initiative through LifePoint Resources.

The Sacred Way Community is an 18-month journey of relational spiritual formation designed for those longing for a deeper, slower, and more authentic life with God.

The journey includes:

• Seven retreats over 18 months
• Ongoing relational connection and spiritual companionship
• Contemplative practices and guided formation
• Space for honesty, discernment, healing, and transformation
• A community-centered approach to becoming more deeply rooted in the love of God

Our first cohort is scheduled to begin in September 2027.

To receive updates and learn more as plans continue to unfold, visit: LifePoint Resources or email: swcLifePoint Resources

As you listen to this conversation, where do you sense an invitation toward deeper formation in your own life? What has been stirring in you?

The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources, a nonprofit ministry devoted to making soul care accessible to all. Through spiritual direction, retreats, webinars, and formational community, we help you cultivate a deeper, more sustainable life with God. www.lifepointresources.org

If this episode resonated with you, consider sharing it with a friend, colleague, or leader who may be interested in joining the Sacred Way Community.

In this episode of The Being Formed Podcast, Adam Ormord (Founder and President of LifePoint Resources) sits down with retired Navy chaplain and author Gregory Woodard to explore the inner life of leadership. Drawing from years of experience in ministry and the military, Greg shares how leadership that lasts is not built on competence alone, but on a life that is rooted, attentive, and formed from within.

Together, they explore the drift many leaders experience - remaining effective on the outside while becoming disconnected, isolated, and unhealthy on the inside - and why so many leaders struggle to finish well.

Greg introduces a framework of four essential rhythms - relational, spiritual, emotional, and physical—that help leaders cultivate a more sustainable and integrated life.

This conversation moves from Greg’s personal story, to practical insights for leaders today, and ultimately to the deeper invitation of becoming the kind of person who leads from the soul.

• Greg’s journey from Navy chaplaincy into a new season of spiritual formation
• Why leadership often becomes disconnected from the inner life
• The hidden cost of burnout, isolation, and unprocessed emotion
• The four rhythms that sustain healthy leadership: relational, spiritual, emotional, and physical
• Why emotional awareness is essential - not optional - for leaders
• How identity and calling unfold over time, rather than being quickly discovered
• What it means to “finish well” in leadership
• Simple, meaningful steps toward cultivating a life of leadership from within

Greg Woodard is a retired Navy chaplain who served for over two decades, walking alongside individuals and leaders in some of life’s most challenging and formative moments.

He is the author of Leadership from Within: Navigating the Path Toward Soul-Driven Success, a book that invites leaders to cultivate a sustainable and integrated life through intentional rhythms of soul care.

Learn more: www.gregwoodard.com

• Leadership begins beneath the surface
• Formation over performance
• Integration of the inner and outer life
• Paying attention to the soul as a leadership practice
• Sustainability and finishing well

As you listen, you might take a moment to notice:

Where in your life are you leading from the outside in… rather than from within?

And gently consider:

What might it look like to pay attention to your soul - not to fix anything, but to be present to God there?

• Leadership from Within: Navigating the Path Toward Soul-Driven Success – Greg Woodard
• Stop Chasing Work-Life Balance: Four Rhythms for Sustainable Leadership Integration - Greg Woodard

The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources, a nonprofit ministry devoted to making soul care accessible to all. Through spiritual direction, retreats, webinars, and formational community, we help individuals and leaders cultivate a deeper, more sustainable life with God. www.lifepointresources.org

If this episode resonated with you, consider sharing it with a friend, colleague, or leader who might be carrying more than they realize.

In this conversation, Adam sits down with spiritual director and author Deborah Gregory to explore what it means to experience God not just in our thoughts, but in our bodies, our movement, and the ordinary rhythms of daily life.

Drawing from her new book Spiritual Wayfinding, Deborah invites us into an embodied spirituality that integrates attentiveness to God with the wisdom of the body and the realities of how we are actually formed.

Together, they explore how walking can become a form of prayer, how our nervous systems shape our awareness of God, and how practices of movement and attention can open us to deeper discernment.

This conversation offers a timely invitation to become more present, to lift our eyes and our gaze, and to begin noticing God in places you may have overlooked.

• Deborah’s personal journey into embodied spirituality
• How relearning to walk reshaped her understanding of life with God
• The connection between Ignatian spirituality and embodied awareness
• How the body and nervous system influence our experience of God
• Why walking can be a powerful form of prayer and discernment
• The role of neurodivergence in expanding our understanding of spiritual formation
• Simple ways to begin practicing awareness of God in your everyday life

As you finish this episode, consider taking a walk.

Notice your body. Notice your surroundings. Notice what’s happening within you.

And ask: “God, where are You in this moment?”

Deborah Gregory is a spiritual director specializing in Ignatian spirituality, an award-winning documentary filmmaker, and the host of The Betwixt Podcast. Her holistic approach to Christian formation bridges ancient wisdom and modern neuroscience, helping people experience God through both body and soul.

Drawing from her experience in a neurodiverse family, Deborah is passionate about cultivating an inclusive spirituality that honors the wisdom of the body and supports those navigating a neurotypical world.

She leads retreats, trains spiritual directors, and lives in Central Florida with her husband and two daughters.

• Spiritual Wayfinding by Deborah Gregory: Purchase on Amazon
• Deborah Gregory's website: https://www.flourishspiritualdirection.com/
• The Betwixt Podcast

The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources. It is a space for honest, thoughtful conversations about spiritual formation, leadership, and the interior life. Hosted by Adam Ormord, Co-founder and President of LifePoint, each episode invites listeners to slow down, pay attention, and participate more fully in the life of God.

Anne shares from her own story, including a pivotal season that led her into deeper healing through therapy, spiritual direction, and contemplative practices with God. Together, Adam and Anne explore the impact of sexual trauma, the difference between truth and toxic shame, and what it means to rediscover God’s presence in places that once felt unsafe.

• How shame takes root and distorts identity
• The difference between truth and toxic shame
• Anne’s personal journey of healing through the “desert”
• The role of silence, solitude, and contemplative prayer
• How anger, grief, and the body are part of the healing process
• What it looks like to rebuild trust with God, yourself, and others
• The importance of safe people and compassionate presence
• What healing and freedom can look like over time

This episode touches on themes of trauma. While no graphic details are shared, you may notice something stirring as you listen. You are invited to go at your own pace. You can pause, step away, or return later. You are in control of how you engage with this conversation.

• Not Alone by Anne Richardson: Purchase on Amazon
• Anne Richardson’s website: https://www.annemarierichardson.com
• Learn more about LifePoint's Webinar on April 28, 2026: Accompanying Survivors of Sexual Trauma

• Website: https://www.lifepointresources.org
• Spiritual Direction, Formational Mentoring, Retreats, and other Soul Care offerings
• The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources.

In this episode of The Being Formed Podcast, Adam Ormord is joined by author, coach, and teacher Dustin Kleinschmidt to explore the deeper realities of the spiritual life, especially for those who feel disillusioned, tired, or unsure where God is in the middle of it all.

Dustin brings a rare kind of honesty shaped by decades of pastoral ministry and his own lived experience with burnout, anxiety, disappointment, and the eventual unraveling of expectations. Together, they talk about what happens when doing “everything right” doesn’t lead where we thought it would, and how the wilderness may not be a detour, but the very place where God meets us.

This conversation doesn’t offer sound-bite answers or quick resolutions. Instead, it offers something more needed: companionship, language for what many feel but struggle to name, and permission to walk with God in the tension.

If your faith has ever felt more like wandering than arriving, you’re not alone.

• Why the wilderness is not just a season, but the terrain of the spiritual life

• What happens when faithfulness doesn’t lead to clarity or relief

• The hidden cost of expectations in ministry, leadership, and everyday life

• Burnout, anxiety, and disillusionment in Christian spaces

• The difference between honest faith and performative spirituality

• How to resist spiritual bypassing and make room for emotional honesty

• What it means to experience God’s presence without immediate answers

• Finding language for the tensions we carry but often can’t articulate

• The important role of a safe community as we navigate the wilderness

Dustin Kleinschmidt is a longtime pastor and the author of The Wilderness Way. Over the past twenty-five years, he has served in nearly every pastoral role - from student ministry to lead pastor to church planter - giving him a unique perspective on the realities of ministry and faith.

Shaped by both personal struggle and firsthand experience of the challenges within church leadership, Dustin writes and speaks for those who feel spiritually homeless, disillusioned, or exhausted by the pressure to have it all together. His work offers an honest, grounded invitation to follow Jesus in the tension of real life.

Take a few moments in quiet and consider:

• Where does your life feel unresolved right now?

• What expectations - spoken or unspoken - are shaping how you interpret this season?

• What would it look like to notice God’s presence here, without needing to change anything?

You might pray:

“God, meet me here. Not when this is over… but here, in the middle of it.”

• The Wilderness Way by Dustin Kleinschmidt: 

• Dustin’s website: https://www.dustinkleinschmidt.com/

• Follow Dustin on Substack: https://www.dustinkleinschmidt.com/

The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources.

Together, they explore what it means to be trauma-informed in the ministry of soul care. Rather than offering quick solutions or spiritualizing pain, trauma-informed approaches invite patience, safety, and deep listening, recognizing the ways trauma lives in our bodies, our relationships, and even in our experience of faith.

In this conversation, Dave helps us understand how spiritual direction can become a safe place for the soul, where wounds are gently acknowledged, and healing can begin to unfold at a compassionate pace.

Whether you are a spiritual director, pastor, caregiver, or someone seeking healing in your own life, this conversation offers wisdom, hope, and practical insight into the sacred work of healing from the inside out.

Adam and Dave discuss:

• What it means to be trauma-informed in spiritual care

• How trauma affects our bodies, relationships, and experience of God

• The importance of safety, consent, and compassionate presence in soul care

• Why spiritual direction can be a powerful space for healing

• How neuroscience and spiritual formation can work together in the healing journey

• The role of patience and gentle listening in accompanying wounded

Dr. Dave Janvier is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, Certified Sex Therapist, and Spiritual Director. He is the founder of SIIMDA Soul Care, where he provides trauma-informed counseling, spiritual direction, and training for those seeking integrated healing of body, mind, and spirit.

His work brings together clinical insight, neuroscience, and spiritual formation to help individuals and leaders experience deeper levels of healing and wholeness.

Resources:

• Visit SIIMDA Soul Care to learn more: https://www.siimdasoulcare.com/
• Dr. Dave's Substack: https://drdavejanvier.substack.com/

The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources.

This is not an episode about spiritual achievement or getting Lent “right.” It’s an invitation to live under the loving gaze of God, where formation happens not through pressure, but through consent.

Along the way, Adam reflects on:

• Letting go of control and learning to consent to reality

• Why God’s knowing comes before our clarity

• How Psalm 139 reshapes the way we understand spiritual growth

• Why small, faithful steps are often the most transformative

Inspired by insights from Jacques Philippe's Interior Freedom, this episode challenges the notion that peace comes from control and instead invites listeners to a deeper trust in God’s nearness and patience.

This episode is especially suited for listening during a walk, a quiet morning, or a moment of stillness.

Highlights

8:25 Download "A Simple Pause" App for free from www.sfsaz.org/asimplepause/

10:00 Listen to a section of Rachel Joyce's The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry (pp.37-38).

28:00 A Lenten Prayer and Blessing

The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources.

Kyle is the coauthor, along with John Coe, of the newly released book When God Seems Distant. Together, they explore a reality many Christians experience but rarely feel permission to name: what happens when prayer feels empty, spiritual disciplines stop “working,” and God seems strangely distant.

Rather than offering techniques to fix or push through these seasons, this conversation invites listeners to consider a surprising possibility, that spiritual dryness is not a failure of faith, but often a deeper work of formation.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why many Christians are unprepared for seasons of dryness and desolation

• How “trying harder” can actually get in the way of genuine transformation

• What God may be doing when effort, willpower, and habit modification fall short

• The concept of spiritual development and why later seasons of faith often feel confusing and disorienting

• How Scripture and the Christian tradition speak honestly about God’s intentions for our faith formation

Kyle closes the episode with a prayer for those currently walking through a season when God feels distant. If you find yourself in a desert season in your spiritual life, this episode is an invitation not to fix yourself or rush to the other side, but to trust that God is present and at work even in the desolate places.

If this conversation is hitting close to home for you, please consider purchasing Kyle Strobel's and John Coe's brand new book, "When God Feels Distant," on Amazon. Also, reach out to one of the Spiritual Directors at LifePoint Resources. We are here to help you navigate all the seasons of your life, including desert seasons, with God.

Kyle Strobel is a theologian, author, and professor (Talbot School of Theology, Biola University) who has spent decades teaching and writing about Christian spiritual formation and life with God. His work bridges deep theological reflection with the lived experience of following Christ over the long haul.

Adam Ormord is a spiritual director, retreat leader, and the president of LifePoint Resources. He hosts The Being Formed Podcast, a space for deep conversations about Christian spiritual formation, soul care, spiritual direction, and life with God.

The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources.

Todd shares his journey into spiritual direction, the heart behind Headwaters of Hope, and his conviction that deep rest—sometimes as simple as long, unhurried sleep—is often the first step toward healing and renewal.

This conversation is an invitation to slow down, return to the Source, and rediscover hope at the headwaters of our lives.

In this episode, Todd and Adam explore:

• Todd’s journey into spiritual direction and coaching

• The story and meaning behind the name Headwaters of Hope

• Why rest—real rest—is essential for leaders and caregivers

• What happens when leaders finally slow down enough to listen

• The role of retreats in returning people to God, to themselves, and to what truly matters

Learn more: https://www.headwatersofhope.org

Read Todd's Article: Headwaters of Hope (published in Presence Journal, September 2023)

The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources.

In this episode of The Being Formed Podcast, Adam Ormord sits down with Debbie Swindoll — founder of Grafted Life Ministries and the Christ-Centered Spiritual Directors Association (CSDA). Together, they explore the difference between information-based discipleship and true spiritual formation that leads to transformation into Christlikeness.

Debbie shares her heart for the church, her concerns about the current state of discipleship, and her hope for a more relational, Spirit-led approach to formation. The conversation weaves together theology, lived experience, and pastoral wisdom, inviting listeners to reflect on their own journey of life with God.

They also celebrate CSDA’s 15-year journey — a global community of over 1,000 spiritual directors committed to Christ-centered spiritual direction, shared theological grounding, and ethical practice through a common code of conduct.

This episode is a gentle yet clarifying invitation: to slow down, to notice God’s presence, and to allow transformation to emerge from relationship rather than effort.

• The difference between knowing about God and living life with God

• Why many discipleship models struggle to produce lasting transformation

• How spiritual formation offers a more faithful and sustainable path

• Debbie’s group study, Life With God, and how churches are using it

• The vision and impact of the Christ-Centered Spiritual Directors Association (CSDA)

• Why theological grounding and community matter deeply for spiritual directors

• Where Debbie finds hope for the future of the church

• The practices that continue to form Debbie’s own life with God

• Grafted Life Ministries: https://www.graftedlife.org

• Christ-Centered Spiritual Directors Association (CSDA): https://www.graftedlife.org/csda/home/

• Life With God study by Debbie Swindoll (available via Grafted Life)

This conversation invites us to reconsider what we mean by discipleship — not as mastery of content, but as apprentices participating in a shared life with God. May it encourage you to listen more deeply, trust the slow work of the Spirit, and remain open to the ongoing formation happening in you.

The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources.

Centered on Angie’s book, Rooted Revolution: Embracing the Mess and the Mystery, this episode explores what happens when Jesus returns to the center of our lives—and how that re-centering opens the way for freedom in our relationship with Christ, within ourselves, and with others.

Special Bonus: At the 24:20 mark of the conversation, Adam shares his own prayer called “Somewhere in the Middle.” Be sure to listen to this part of the episode as a gentle reminder to return to what matters most.

• Why Jesus must be at the center of our churches and our formation
• How freedom flows from a rooted life in Christ
• Returning to love, presence, and wholeness
• The mess and the mystery of relational community

Rooted Revolution: Embracing the Mess and the Mystery by Angie Day Peters (Purchase on Amazon)

Learn more and connect with Angie at Unedited Life.

#BeingFormedPodcast #LifePointResources #SpiritualFormation #SoulCare #RootedRevolution #UneditedLife #AngieDayPeters #SomewhereInTheMiddle #AdamOrmord

The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources.

• Author of many books on spiritual formation, soul care, and leadership health
• Founder (with his wife Gwen) of The Potter’s Inn, a ministry that profoundly influenced Adam’s own life and the formation of LifePoint Resources
• Longtime retreat leader and spiritual guide
• Writes regularly on Substack

• Greening: Poems in the Unfolding of Our Lives Stephen W. Smith (Purchase Hardcover and Kindle on Amazon)
• Potter's Inn (PottersInn.com)
• Steve’s Substack (Read and engage with Steve's latest work)

• How poetry opens the heart to God in unique ways
• Navigating seasons of transition and inner resurgence
• The spiritual symbolism of pilgrimage
• The urgent need for slowness in our chaotic world

The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources.

Conversation with Niecy LoCricchio Adam first welcomes author and spiritual director, Niecy LoCricchio, whose new book—The Journey of Christmas Love: A Coloring Nativity Adventure and Advent Calendar for Families—invites children and adults alike into a creative, contemplative journey through the story of Jesus’ birth.

CLICK HERE to purchase The Journey of Christmas Love on Amazon.

Bonus Conversation with Lynn Biskner (plus FREE Resource) Adam and Lynn Biskner (Spiritual Direction Coordinator and Volunteer Writer for LifePoint Resources) reflect on what it means to wait with hopeful anticipation during Advent and how this season can be a gentle invitation to slow down and listen more deeply.

The subject of our conversation is the FREE Advent Retreat, written by Lynn Biskner, called “Advent: The Dawn of New Creation.”

CLICK HERE to download LifePoint's FREE Advent Retreat.

Connect With Us

• Subscribe to The Being Formed Podcast wherever you listen.
• Learn more about LifePoint Resources and opportunities for soul care.

The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources.

Cyd Holsclaw & Geoff Holsclaw, PhD, are coauthors of Does God Really Like Me? and codirectors of the doctor of ministry in spiritual formation and relational neuroscience at Western Theological Seminary. They are the cofounders of the Center for Embodied Faith and cohosts of the Attaching to God podcast. Cyd is a coach, pastor, and spiritual director, integrating embodied neuroscience and spiritual practices. Dr. Geoff Holsclaw is a pastor and a visiting professor of theology at Western Theological Seminary.

• The intersection of attachment theory, neuroscience, and spiritual formation — how our relational wiring (to God, self, others) shows up in our faith life.

• Their new book Landscapes of the Soul: How the Science and Spirituality of Attachment Can Move You into Confident Faith, Courage, and Connection (2025) — key themes: the four “landscapes” (jungle, desert, war zone, pasture) as metaphors for how we live spiritually and relationally

• How to discern where we are (habits, patterns, unconscious strategies) and how to move toward secure attachment with God.

• Pause and ask: Where do I feel emotionally/spiritually – in a pasture, jungle, desert or war zone?

• Reflect: What survival strategy (anxious, avoidant, fearful) is at work in me?

• Consider: How might God be inviting a new “terrain” of secure attachment — what embodied practice (breathing, contemplative silence, relational prayer) might help shift me?

• Read the Holsclaws’ book and explore their podcast for deeper integration.

• Book: Landscapes of the Soul - Amazon

• Website / Center: The Center for Embodied Faith (Geoff & Cyd Holsclaw) — Center for Embodied Faith

• Podcast: Attaching to God: Neuroscience‑informed Spiritual Formation — https://www.embodiedfaith.life/podcast

The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources.

Afrika is the author of Open Windows, Open Minds: Developing Antiracist, Pro-Human Students, and her TED-Ed talk Four Ways to Have Healthy Conversations About Race has reached hundreds of thousands of viewers. Her widely shared essay, A Letter to White Teachers of My Black Children, continues to inspire and challenge educators around the world.

Afrika’s ministry and writing invite us into healing and flourishing through the way of Jesus and the practice of shalom. We explore how racial healing and spiritual formation belong together, and what it looks like to live into wholeness, reconciliation, and flourishing in our everyday lives.

Connect with Afrika:

• Website: afrikaafenimills.com
• Missio Alliance: An Invitation to Racial Healing as Spiritual Formation
• TED-Ed Talk: Four Ways to Have Healthy Conversations About Race
• Book: Open Windows, Open Minds
• Substack: Shalom Seeds

If this episode encouraged you, share it with a friend and subscribe to The Being Formed Podcast for more conversations about spiritual formation and flourishing.

Chapter Markers — Ep38: Sowing the Seeds of Shalom (with Afrika Afeni Mills) Total length: ~1:02:07

• 00:00:00 — Welcome & Introduction
• 00:04:35 — Afrika’s Story and Early Inspirations
• 00:12:42 — Defining Shalom: More Than Just Peace
• 00:21:18 — Education, Justice, and Planting Seeds of Change
• 00:34:05 — The Power of Community and Collective Work
• 00:46:11 — Challenges Along the Way: Resistance and Hope
• 00:55:27 — Practical Ways to Sow Seeds of Shalom Today
• 01:00:15 — Closing Reflections & Blessing

The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources.

Our host, Adam Ormord (LifePoint Resources), sits down with Bill & Kristi Gaultiere (Soul Shepherding) to discuss their brand new book, "Deeply Loved: Receiving and Reflecting God's Great Empathy for You."

Bill and Kristi Gaultiere have been counseling and ministering to people for 30 years and are the authors of Journey of the Soul and Healthy Feelings, Thriving Faith. Bill is a psychologist and Kristi is a marriage and family therapist. They are AACC leaders and have served in private practice and church ministries.

They are the founders of Soul Shepherding, a nonprofit ministry to help believers discover their next steps for growing in intimacy with Jesus, emotional health, and loving relationships.

In their new book, Deeply Loved (Revell, Sept. 2025), Bill and Kristi weave together engaging true stories with compelling insights from Scripture and modern psychology to help readers:

• Grow in self-empathy and calm emotional triggers
• Learn how to release worries, comfort hurts, and overcome distress
• Practice the "four A's of empathy" for yourself and others
• Engage Bible-based empathy practices to know you are deeply loved by Jesus

Visit soul shepherding.org to learn more.

The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources.

Join Adam Ormord as he sits down with New York Times bestselling author and spiritual director, Emily P. Freeman.

In this episode, Adam and Emily explore the art of decision-making and discernment as well as the profound impact of change in our lives. Emily shares insights from her book and discusses the importance of trusting oneself and God in the journey of life.

Emily P. Freeman is the New York Times bestselling author of six books, including How to Walk into a Room: The Art of Knowing When to Stay and When to Walk Away.

Emily received her masters in Christian Spiritual Formation and Leadership from Friends University where she also serves as a residency lecturer. As a spiritual director, her most important work is to help create soul space and offer spiritual companionship and discernment for anyone struggling with decision fatigue. Her nationally ranked podcast, The Next Right Thing, has more than 28 million downloads and she regularly offers perspective and clarity through her weekly newsletter, The Soul Minimalist.

#SpiritualFormation #DecisionMaking #EmilyPFreeman #Podcast

The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources.

On today's episode, Adam Ormord (President and Founder of LifePoint Resources) remixes a former episode (Episode 16) to remind us of the very serious issue of burnout and the invitation to follow Jesus into freedom.

Sean Nemecek is the author of The Weary Leader’s Guide to Burnout and the Executive Director of PIR Ministries. Sean served as a pastor for 18 years prior to joining PIR. Now he works as both a spiritual director and ministry coach — specializing in coaching people through burnout and helping organizations develop an anti-burnout culture. He is all about helping people feel seen, heard, and known in the welcoming presence of our loving God.

It's critical to continue this conversation of soul health as we recognize an even more elevated state of anxiety and exhaustion affecting so many people in our communities and churches today.

“Burnout is an experience of intense anxiety, shame, and often, grief that shows up as anger, but it’s the shame piece that causes us to isolate from people. The only way to overcome shame is for it to be witnessed in community of compassionate, empathetic, and understanding people.”

“Recovery is what happens when our ministry flows out of our life with God...to be so filled up with the love of God that it begins to naturally spill out of us into the lives of others around us.”

"The Weary Leader’s Guide to Burnout: A Journey from Exhaustion to Wholeness" is Outreach Magazine's 2024 Leadership Resource of the Year. It also won a Silver Medalion Award (2024 Christian Book Awards Finalist in Ministry Resources). Learn more at www.wearyleadersguide.com.

You can engage with Sean Nemecek at several online locations: Seannemecek.com; The Pastor's Soul (Blog); Facebook, Twitter, Threads, and Instagram: @pastorsoul.

#SoulHealth #UnionWithChrist #SpiritualDirection #Weary #Leader #Burnout #Freedom #InteriorFreedom #SeanNemecek #AdamOrmord #LifePointResources

The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources.

Marilyn Vancil is a renowned author, teacher, and spiritual director known for her deep insights into the Enneagram and its application in personal and spiritual growth. Marilyn has dedicated her life to helping individuals discover their authentic selves and live with intention and purpose.

Her books, including "Self to Lose, Self to Find" and "Beyond the Enneagram," explore the transformative power of understanding one's Enneagram type and embracing a journey of spiritual exploration. Marilyn's work is characterized by her compassionate approach and her commitment to guiding others toward wholeness and freedom.

Resources Mentioned:

• Self to Lose, Self to Find (Marilyn Vancil)
• Beyond the Enneagram (Marilyn Vancil)
• Suscipe Prayer (St. Ignatius of Loyola)

Key Topics: Understanding the "Posture of a Pilgrim" in daily life; How the Enneagram aids in spiritual transformation and self-discovery; The journey from adapted self to authentic self

#PilgrimPosture #SpiritualJourney #Enneagram #MarilynVancil

The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources.

Jim Powell is the Lead Pastor of Palm West Community Church in Sun City West, Arizona. Prior to this, he served for 21 years as the Lead Pastor of Richwoods Christian Church in Peoria, Illinois. Jim is also the founding director of the 95Network, a nonprofit dedicated to equipping and encouraging small to mid-sized congregations.

He studied one year at Columbia International University in South Carolina, later earning a B.A. in Theology and Religious Studies from Quincy University and an M.A. in Theology and Philosophy from Lincoln Christian Seminary.

Jim is a widower; his wife of 35 years passed away in September 2024. He has two sons, Timothy (25) and Trevor (21). He’s also an avid pickleball player.

Jim is the author of Dirt Matters: The Foundation for a Healthy, Vibrant, and Effective Congregation, and is a frequent speaker at conferences and ministry events. His work has been featured in Leadership Journal, Outreach Magazine, Christianity Today, Guideposts, Christian Standard, ChurchLeaders.com, and more.

In today's episode, Jim and Adam share personal stories and reflections revealing the deep connections formed with fellow pilgrims and the spiritual practices that came alive on the Camino. Discover how the Camino became a path of restoration and renewal, offering lessons in presence, the power of community, and the simple joy of walking every day with God.

Whether you're seeking inspiration in your daily walk with God or contemplating your own pilgrimage, may you say "yes" to the invitation to embrace the journey with Jesus and find meaning in every step.

#CaminoDeSantiago #JourneyWithJesus #Pilgrimage #BuenCamino #CaminoFrances #LifePointResources #Adam Ormord #JimPowell

The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources.

Adam Ormord welcomes Bryan and Rachel Hehr to the table for a conversation about the many resources and offerings of CURATE Ministries, a spiritual formation and soul care ministry.

Bryan and Rachel launched CURATE in 2018 while serving in various ministry contexts in California. They now reside in Colorado Springs (CO) and work together to develop the wide-reaching resources and programs of CURATE, all the while raising two young children.

"Our mission and purpose is to walk alongside individuals and communities with the aim of growing in the fullness of Christ. Our hope is that we help you to curate your heart in order that you may experience God’s fullness and be transformed into the image of Christ."

Among their many experiential and relational offerings, CURATE guides married couples through the Ignatian Exercises. Here's a brief description from their webpage:

"The Ignatian Exercises are a deeply transformative journey, used for centuries by followers of Jesus who desire to walk more closely with Him. Experiencing the Ignatian Exercises with your spouse is an opportunity to cultivate spiritual intimacy with one another as well as to deepen your own connection to Jesus."

If you are interested in learning more about the Ignatian Exercises for couples, or about CURATE's brand new Spiritual Direction Training Program, Poema, please visit www.curateministries.org.

The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources.

In this episode, Adam Ormord (host) is joined by guest, Trevor Hudson, to discuss his latest book, "In Search of God's Will: Discerning a Life of Faithfulness and Purpose."

Trevor is an author and an ordained minister in the Methodist Church of Southern Africa. After spending forty years doing pastoral ministry in a local congregation, he now gives his time to lecturing, teaching, and writing in the areas of spiritual formation and spiritual direction. Trevor is married to Debbie and together they have two married children.

Trevor’s journey as a pastor in South Africa has been nothing short of incredible, including sharing a prison cell with Desmond Tutu. Trevor is a prolific author and a lifelong pilgrim on the Jesus Way. He’s a faithful apprentice of Jesus who has much to teach us about discernment as a way of life with God.

Please take a moment to leave a review, and be sure to share this podcast episode with those in your circle of influence.

You can purchase Trevor's latest book, "In search of God's Will," here. Also, read more about the simple yet profoundly transformative practice of Examen here.

The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources.

Scott is an anglican priest, spiritual director, and member of the Executive Leadership Team at Barnabas International. Scott is also the author of "The Uninvited Companion: God's Shaping Us in His Love Through Life's Adversities."

The conversation delves into the theology of suffering, emphasizing the paradox of a loving God amidst human pain, and the necessity of endurance and awareness of God's presence in the middle of our suffering. Scott shares his profound journey through suffering, beginning with his battle against dengue fever and the subsequent health challenges he faced. He reflects on the silence of God during his darkest moments and how he learned to find God's presence in that silence.

Scott discusses the paradox of suffering as a means of redemption and spiritual growth, emphasizing the importance of understanding the 'Dark Night of the Soul.' He explores the spirituality of suffering, the relevance of Jesus' suffering, and the role of spiritual direction in navigating pain.

The conversation culminates in the significance of naming loss and grief as essential steps in the healing process, ultimately leading to a deeper understanding of God's love and presence in our lives.

A special thanks to Matt Etter for sharing his song, "It's the Scars," and granting us permission to share it with our global podcast audience. (Writing credit to Matt Etter, Amy Clemens, and Randy Morrison.)

The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources.

In this episode of the Being Formed podcast, Adam Ormord engages in a heartfelt conversation with Joe Chambers, exploring the themes of soul care, the importance of storytelling, and the journey of personal and spiritual growth.

Joe shares his experiences as a pastor, the significance of being present for others, and the transformative power of stories in healing. The discussion also touches on the challenges of ministry, including the necessity of setting boundaries.

In this conversation, Joe Chambers shares insights from his Sacred Journey Retreats, emphasizing the importance of creating a welcoming environment for participants. He discusses the themes of identity, vocation, and the rising significance of grief in spiritual journeys.

We're all on a journey. Chambers introduces the concept of the Critical Journey, using the metaphor of rapids to illustrate the challenges faced in faith. He also highlights the role of prayer during difficult times, particularly in navigating spiritual rapids, and reflects on the ongoing journey of faith and the understanding of life and death.

Resources:

• Visit Field Notes on the Jesus' Way to read and subscribe to Joe's blog.
• Read "Praying Through Spiritual Rapids" by Joe Chambers (March 20, 2025).
• Send an email to joseph.o.chambers@gmail.com to find out more about The Sacred Journey Retreat.
• Learn more about Soul Care Intensives at Crossroads Counseling of the Rockies in Buena Vista, CO.

Corrections:

• The quote, "Tell all the truth but tell it slant," is the first line from a poem with the same title, written by Emily Dickinson.

The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources.

Our guest on The Being Formed Podcast is Melissa Sievers, a Transformational Coach, a Spiritual Director, and a cherished member of the Soul Care Team at LifePoint Resources.

Passionate about helping individuals cultivate inner lives filled with peace, joy, and rest, Melissa finds deep fulfillment in companioning those seeking a more abundant life. Other key themes in her work include serving church and ministry leaders, supporting sabbaticals, pursuing discernment in vocational transitions, navigating burnout, and creating healthy life rhythms.

Melissa Sievers and Adam Ormord unpack the uniqueness of Transformational Coaching through the lens of John 10:10 and the game-changing statement of Jesus, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." (NIV)

What do we mean by transformational coaching? How does coaching fit under the umbrella of soul care? What is the posture of coaching, and how does it differ from a spiritual direction relationship? What would it look like for you to move toward a deeper discovery of what's actually happening beneath the surface and move to lasting change? We do our best to answer these questions and more on today's podcast episode.

Melissa Sievers and the team at LifePoint can help you discover clarity and courage to transform your life in ways that lead to flourishing from the inside out and experience life to the fullest!

Learn more about Transformational Coaching and request a complimentary discovery call today.

The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources.

Ken Shigematsu lives in Vancouver with his wife, Sakiko, and their son, Joey. He is senior pastor of Tenth Church (www.tenth.ca) in Vancouver, British Columbia, one of the largest and most diverse city-center churches in Canada. Before entering pastoral ministry, he worked for the Sony Corporation in Tokyo, Japan.

Ken's first book, "God in My Everything," was an international bestseller. It was selected as the Word Guild 2014 Christian Living book of the year and received honorable mention for the Grace Irwin Prize, Canada's largest literary award for Christian writers.

Ken's second book was "Survival Guide for the Soul: How to Flourish Spiritually in a World that Pressures Us to Achieve." It received the Word Guild 2019 Christian Living book of the year award.

Ken is the recipient of the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal awarded to Canadians in recognition of their outstanding contribution to the country and the author of the international bestseller God in My Everything, which was released in 2023.

Even with all of his accolades and awards, Ken is one of the most humble and generous leaders out there. He shares his own story with genuine openness and vulnerability and invites others to do the same, as you will hear in this conversation.

The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources.

The tables are turned on this episode of The Being Formed Podcast as our host, Adam Ormord, is interviewed by Brandon Booth (host of The Signpost Inn Podcast). Brandon is a spiritual director, author, retreat leader, and the co-founder of SignPost Inn Ministries.

Signpost Inn's mission is to walk alongside you in this chaotic and distracting life, offering compassion and resources to help lift your gaze to Jesus and sustain your attention on his loving presence.

Our conversation is based on a 2024 article, written by Adam, entitled "We All Look to You." It's an invitation to look to someone bigger than ourselves, bigger than even our best human vision of flourishing. It’s an invitation to look to God, not to politicians, preachers, or podcast hosts. The more we look to God, the more we notice God, and the more we notice God, the more we see the greatness of God’s Kingdom in this present moment - here and now, yet not fully revealed.

The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources.

Casey Tygrett has been involved in the work of spiritual formation for nearly 25 years. Through various positions in churches, seminaries, and para-church organizations, his work in writing and speaking have aligned to create content that is wise and helpful for the journey of life and faith. 

Casey earned his Master of Divinity degree and Doctor of Ministry in Spiritual Formation degree from Lincoln Christian Seminary (Lincoln, IL). He completed the Tending the Holy spiritual direction training program in 2015, and since then has been providing spiritual direction to individuals both privately and through the ministry of Soul Care.

Casey is the author of three books, Becoming Curious: A Spiritual Practice of Asking Questions (2017) and The Practice of Remembering: Discovering the Place of Memories in Our Spiritual Life (Re-release 2024), and The Gift of Restlessness: A Spirituality For Unsettled Seasons (April 2023). The book The Practice of Remembering was awarded the 2020 Award of Merit in Spiritual Formation by Christianity Today.

Visit https://www.caseytygrett.com to discover all the good ways you can partner with God to tend to your soul.

The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources.

Keywords: spiritual direction, soul care, memory, transformation, Casey Tygrett, spiritual formation, presence, practices, church, soul, distraction, original blessing, journaling, Casey Tygrett, Adam Ormord, personal growth, faith

What if our practices of being with God, while distinct and different across the vast landscape of time and cultures, actually held far more in common than we thought? What do we have to learn from our brothers and sisters in the global church? What do we have to learn from our next door neighbors? What does love look like as the first and most important soul care practice which sets the stage for everything else?

Our guest, Dr. Barabara Peacock, is the author of "Spiritual Practices for Soul Care: 40 Ways to Deepen Your Faith," as well as the award-winning book, "Soul Care in African American Practice." She also wrote Psalm 119 Scriptural Journal and Called to Teach (Acronym C.A.L.L.E.D. means Commissioned As Leaders, Learners, Educations and Disciples).

Dr. Peacock is passionate about the disciplines of prayer, spiritual direction (soul care), lectio, and visio divina. In 2013 she founded Barbara L. Peacock Ministries. This ministry is committed to providing safe spaces for encounters with God. More recently, she founded Peacock Soul Care where she offers training in spiritual direction, spiritual formation, and writing your spiritual autobiography.

Dr. Peacock grew up in Whiteville, NC, where she attended elementary school. She graduated from West Columbus High School, Cerro Sordo, NC. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from North Carolina Central University, Durham, NC; her Master of Arts Degree from Princeton Theological Seminary in Princeton, New Jersey; and her Doctor of Ministry degree from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary, South Hamilton, MA. Her doctoral focus was Spiritual Formation for Ministry Leaders.

Dr. Barbara Peacock is a trustworthy guide through the landscape of spiritual formation and soul care as she honors a current iteration of a much older movement which has been around for thousands of years. From the time when Jesus woke early in the morning to be alone with his Heavenly Father, through the years of the Desert Fathers and Mothers, through the Middle Passage of slave ships bound for the shores of North America, through the 20th century, and right up until today, Barbara looks back, looks forward, and looks around for signs of faith, hope, and love. She is a much-heralded and much-needed voice for the Church today.

Correction: The author of "Joy Unspeakable" is Barbara Holmes.

Bonus Content: In response to Adam's curious off-air question about the song of her soul, Barbara offered to sing her response. May this conversation stir a song in you. May you hear the Singer, the Voice of Love, singing a song over you to simply be loved. This is the beginning, the center, and the end of all our spiritual practices.

The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources.

Rebekah and Adam unpack the harder parts of their journey together, including the pain, trauma, and inward "soul work" that God compassionately initiated at God's own pace. All the parts of their story helped prepare them for a shared ministry that is deeply intimate and restorative. Truly, God's Spirit is bringing beauty out of ashes.

May this episode be a reminder to all who listen that God is always with you, always loving you, always delighting in you, and always inviting you on a journey marked not by failure but by faith, hope, and love. Even when it seems like your path has reached a dead end, take heart, God is never finished loving you and calling you into deeper intimacy. The journey with Jesus is still at hand.

If you would like to speak to Adam, Rebekah, or any of the soul care team members at LifePoint Resources, please visit our about page or fill out this contact form and we will get in touch with you.

The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources.

Adam Ormord welcomes pastor and author, AJ Sherrill, to The Being Formed Podcast for a conversation about slowing down and savoring the gifts of Advent and Christmas in ways that will lead not to exhaustion but to transformation.

AJ Sherrill has led churches across the country from Southern California to New York City. He now pastors Saint Peter's Church in Charleston, South Carolina. Sherrill has taught doctoral courses on preaching and the enneagram at Fuller Theological Seminary. Rediscovering Christmas is his latest book. Visit him at ajsherrill.org, Instagram.com/aj_sherrill and X.com/ajsherrill.

Visit LifePoint Resources to learn more about our Advent and Christmas Soul Study. We will be reading and reflecting on AJ's book, Rediscovering Christmas.

Praise for Rediscovering Christmas

“Rediscovering Christmas draws us into the mystery and messiness of the birth of Jesus Christ in our broken world. Skillfully weaving together his faithful excavations into the biblical text, deep digging into the customs of first-century Judaism, and keen sensitivity to the challenges Christ-followers face today, AJ invites us to place one foot in the ancient Christmas story and our other foot in our own everyday lives. Thus, he both helps us to attend faithfully to the timeless message of the Christmas drama and guides us into those practices that bring our lives more in tune with its central character.” (Trevor Hudson, minister in the Methodist Church of Southern Africa and author of In Search of God’s Will)

“If you want a thoughtful, informed, challenging, world-shifting, life-shaping interruption that might reintroduce the presence of God in this earthly journey, where the secret of the ordinary is that it was meant to be the vessel of the divine, this is your book and AJ is your guide.” (John Ortberg, founder of BecomeNew.com)

The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources.

• The Art of Pilgrimage, by Phil Cousineau
• A Pilgrim's Guide to the Camino de Santiago (Camino Francés), by John Brierley

Our host, Adam Ormord, welcomes Lori Shoults and Cheri Hudspith (Co-Directors of Practice Collective) to The Being Formed Podcast to discuss the Ignatian Journey and the life-changing invitation to join Jesus on the way.

Their story is not unlike yours. God is always present, trying to get your attention, moving you into places of deeper trust and surrender. Are you ready to take the journey?

Resources mentioned in today's episode:

1. The Ignatian Journey
2. The Ignatian Adventure (Kevin O'Brien, SJ)
3. Article: Suppose We All Presupposed?

Also recommended:

• Article: Mary and the Prayer of Indifference (Ruth Haley Barton)
• Practice: Prayer for Indifference (from Trinity Church)
• Seeking God: Finding Another Kind of Life with St. Ignatius and Dallas Willard (Trevor Hudson)
• A New Liturgy No. 6: The Examen

The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources.

Mindy Caliguire is the founder and president of Soul Care (soulcare.com), an organization that exists to cultivate soul health among leaders and those they serve. Mindy works with Christian leaders in ministry and marketplace environments, serving individuals and organizations around the world and through the Soul Care Collective, an online community. Mindy and her husband, Jeff, make their home in Boulder, Colorado.

The subject of Mindy's conversation with Adam Ormord (the host of The Being Formed Podcast) is her latest book, "Ignite Your Soul: When Exhaustion, Isolation, and Burnout Light a Path to Flourishing."

Mindy also referenced two helpful resources in the conversation:

• "Not the Way It's Supposed to Be: A Breviary of Sin" by Cornelius Plantinga, Jr.
• "Living in the Vision of God" by Dallas Willard

The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources.

Summer Joy Gross (MDiv, Virginia Theological Seminary) is the author of "The Emmanuel Promise: Discovering the Security of a Life Held By God." Summer is an Anglican priest, retreat leader, and spiritual director whose work is guided by the belief that our stories can be transformed by God's invitation to make his love our home base. She is associate faculty of spiritual formation and the art of spiritual direction at the Healing Care Ministries' spiritual direction school.

Summer walks with hundreds of people into a secure attachment with the Father through podcasts, videos, retreats, and groups of various sizes. With her warm and compassionate style, Summer sets a table for those who have heard sermons on Sunday about abiding in Christ but who are hungry for its reality.

Summer invites you to come awake to He who desires to draw you close, cup your face in His hands, and convince you your adoption is not just a sheet of paper, not just a seal for heaven, but a commitment of His constant care and connection.

Order "The Emmanuel Promise" here, and learn more about Summer's ministry, The Presence Project, at www.athirstforgod.org.

The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources.

Abigail is an author, speaker, coach, and trainer who is passionate about helping leaders get equipped to help others move forward. Abigail is the Development Director for Thrive Ministry, which replenishes and supports women serving cross-culturally by resourcing them and caring for their souls. She also runs a business, Equipping for Impact, which trains and inspires people to use coaching skills in their homes, churches, communities, workplaces, and everywhere they go.

Abigail has a Bachelor of Communications Education and Masters in Theatre in Directing. She is a Certified Professional Life Coach and accredited with the International Coaching Federation (ICF). She co-wrote Authentic Conversations with her husband, Scott. They live in Arvada, CO and have 4 daughters. When she carves out space to care for her soul, she loves reading, seeing plays, getting coffee, taking walks, and connecting with family and friends.

The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources.

"It's my goal that people really experience their union with Christ, the depth of security they have with Him, and the freedom to minister out of God's love." - Sean Nemecek

Sean Nemecek is the author of The Weary Leader’s Guide to Burnout and the West Michigan Regional Director for Pastor-in-Residence Ministries. Sean served as a pastor for 18 years before joining PIR. Now he works as both a spiritual director and ministry coach — specializing in coaching people through burnout and helping organizations develop an anti-burnout culture. He is all about helping people feel seen, heard, and known in the welcoming presence of our loving God. In his spare time Sean enjoys gardening with his wife, Amy. He also enjoys learning, cooking, woodturning, and cheering for the Chicago Cubs.

"The Weary Leader’s Guide to Burnout: A Journey from Exhaustion to Wholeness" is Outreach Magazine's 2024 Leadership Resource of the Year. It also won a Silver Medalion Award (2024 Christian Book Awards Finalist in Ministry Resources). Learn more at www.wearyleadersguide.com.

You can engage with Sean Nemecek at several online locations: Seannemecek.com; The Pastor's Soul (Blog); PIR Ministries; Facebook; LinkedIn; Twitter, Threads, and Instagram: @pastorsoul.

The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources.

Steve Smith is the co-founder of Potter's Inn, a Christian ministry devoted to the work of spiritual formation and the care of the soul. He's the author of several books and small group guides, including The Lazarus Life, Soul Custody, The Jesus Life, and Inside Job. Steve and Gwen have been married since 1980 and have four grown sons and 14 grandchildren.

Steve regularly writes on his Substack page, Potter’s Inn with Stephen W. Smith, where he recently posted an article entitled "Deep Listening Might Save Us. His article is vulnerable and honest, as evidenced in today's podcast.

 "So many words—too many words is a form of abuse to the soul, I believe. I use the word abuse intentionally. Why abuse? Because abuse is not just what is done “to”us—abuse it also what is withheld from us. When we are not heard, then the message we get is, “I don’t matter.” That’s not the truth. Listening validates that the one speaking matters." (Steve Smith, Deep Listening Might Save Us, July 29, 2024)

(26:55) Adam recites the lyrics of a song called "let me listen." Text by Charles Anthony Silvestri / Music by Dan Forrest. 2022. (Watch & Listen on YouTube Here.)

(48:12) Steve offers a short practice to help us consider the value of Deep Listening. Build an acrostic of the word LISTEN based on what listening looks like to you. Steve's example: "E" means Eyes fixed; "N" means Now is the moment. Adam's example: "N" means No phone on the table. Do this exercise in community and discuss ways to practice deep listening together.

If you'd like to share your LISTEN acrostic with our LifePoint community, send an email to info@lifepointresources.org. 

The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources.

Our host, Adam Ormord, welcomes Brian Fisher (soilandroots.org) to The Being Formed Podcast for an important conversation on the topic of discipleship. Brian is the founder of Soil and Roots, a non-profit ministry helping to form and support small communities that actively listen to the stories and experiences of one another, thereby cultivating deep discipleship together.

Brian spent his early career in various executive roles in both for-profit companies and non-profit Christian ministries. He has spoken around the United States on issues such as cultural engagement, media, bioethics, and apologetics.

Brian is the author of various published articles and books, including his latest book, Soil and Roots: Cultivating Deep Discipleship. He’s also the host of the Soil and Roots Podcast, available on your favorite podcast streaming platform.

Visit the Soil and Roots website to learn more about starting a Greenhouse in your community.

The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources.

We're delighted to welcome Melody Leeper, Program Manager of Renovaré's Listening Groups, to the podcast. Melody does a phenomenal job explaining the growing community of participants from many countries around the world who are finding their way to online and in-person monthly listening groups.

Renovaré Listening Groups are a formational experience like no other in the Church today. Imagine coming together with one intention - to listen to God, to one another, and to your own heart. The Renovaré website further explains what participants will experience in a group.

Participants in Renovaré's Listening Groups...

• Experience the freedom of listening without having to respond, fix, or correct one another
• Offer generous and unhurried space to share without interruption, questions, or advice
• Forgo fear of others’ judgment and impression management
• Learn to discern the voice of God in community
• Share honestly about their journey with God
• Favor God’s voice over their own
• Welcome prayerful silence
• Give and receive prayer

We hope you enjoy this conversation and prayerfully consider joining a Listening Group. Visit Renovaré to learn more and sign up for a free "Drop-in Group."

Also, visit LifePoint Resources to read Melody's beautiful poem entitled "Yes."

Resources Mentioned

• Celebration of Discipline (Richard Foster)
• The Making of an Ordinary Saint (Nathan Foster)

The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources.

- Who do you say that I am?

- What is your name?

- Where are you?

- What do you want?

- What do you have in your hand?

These five questions provide a framework for formational mentoring, a ministry of soul care which stands apart from a typical mentoring relationship, life coaching, or even a spiritual direction relationship.

"Formational mentoring has an emphasis on a posture that's seeking intimacy with God."

Becky Dietz is the Formational Mentoring Director at LifePoint Resources. She's also a writer, speaker, and retreat leader with many years of church and para-church ministry experience, both in rural and urban settings. Becky’s undergraduate work focused on Christian Education, and she holds a Masters degree in Christianity and Culture from Knox Theological Seminary.

Becky writes formational resources which help Christians from many cultures pursue and protect personal sacred spaces and rhythms. She loves to facilitate groups – large or small – where people are invited to understand and enjoy deeper friendship with God.

Visit LifePoint Resources to learn more about Formational Resources and connect with Becky Dietz.

The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources.

Steve Macchia is a thought provoking author and is the Founder and President of Leadership Transformations, Inc. LTI focuses on the spiritual formation needs of leaders and the spiritual discernment processes of leadership teams in local church and parachurch ministry settings nationwide. He is also the Director of the Pierce Center for Discipleship-Building at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

Visit stevemacchia.com to purchase your copy of Steve's recent book, "The Discerning Life: An Invitation to Notice God in Everything."

The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources.

Brandon and his wife, Liv, run a retreat house in Colorado and provide hospitality through various retreats, spiritual direction, and masterfully crafted resources all designed to help people grow confidence in Christ's unfailing love, and help them to think wisely about theology, prayer, spirituality and more. Brandon and Liv offer spiritual friendship and support so that no one has to journey alone.

This episode is about learning to engage in more fruitful conversation primarily through practicing curiosity and active listening. As we learn to listen without cynicism and over-analysis, we become more open to the riches of relationship and friendship offered by the other.

This is true of our relationship with God.

Spiritual direction is a place and space where we are offered the gifts of curiosity and active listening. It's a place to pay attention to God's loving voice within. If you are seeking spiritual direction, please visit LifePoint Resources and connect with one of our spiritual directors.

Also visit Brandon Booth's website at www.signpostinn.org to connect with him as a spiritual director or to register for an upcoming retreat.

Brandon's book, Changing the Conversation, is available for purchase here.

The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources.

Ann van der Merwe currently works as an Adjunct Instructor of Humanities at Southern New Hampshire University. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance from the University of Illinois and an MA and PhD in Musicology from The Ohio State University. She has two published books on music, both focusing on American popular music in the early twentieth century. She is also a lifelong follower of Jesus who has shared her love of music, writing, and the divine gift of human creativity in a variety of other ways, both in ministry and in life.

Two curated playlists for your practice of listening (from Ann):

Rest: I curated this playlist as an invitation to rest - to Sabbath, to being rather than doing, to relaxing both physically and spiritually, to trusting in and asking for God’s provision. The word “rest” appears throughout, and the sonic palette is intentionally restful as well. The songs collectively also reflect on and refer to a variety of Scripture passages inviting us to rest.

Rest - Andrew Osenga I Am - Jill Phillips Come Away - Jason Polley Come To Me (Acoustic) - Jadon Lavik Rest Easy - Andrew Peterson Take Five - The Dave Brubeck Quartet Fill My Cup - Andrew Ripp Give It A Rest - The Arcadian Wild Rest - The Gray Havens Lilies & Sparrows - Jess Ray Rest (Postlude) - Jess Ray

How Long?: I curated this playlist as a musical lament - a way to share grief, pain, impatience, frustration, and longing for the Kingdom. The words “How Long” appear frequently, and even when they are absent, the sentiment remains. Musical style varies more widely here, which intentionally reflects the range of emotions that accompany lament as well as our unique human expressions of lament.

Sunday Bloody Sunday - U2 (Songs of Surrender Version) How Long? - Bifrost Arts The Reckoning (How Long) - Andrew Peterson My Soul Waits - Bethany Barnard Come Back Soon - Andrew Peterson O God, Will You Restore Us? - Bifrost Arts The Year of the Locust - Andrew Osenga The Dark Before the Dawn - Andrew Peterson Waiting – Andrew Osenga “40” - U2 (Songs of Surrender Version)

The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources.

Debbie Schuster is the Director of Deepen, a two-year course of study designed for individuals who desire to grow in their own spiritual lives as well as to cultivate the spiritual lives of others in a cross-cultural setting. Grounded in multiple streams of Christian spirituality, the course offers a balanced learning environment blending spiritual formation with skills development through experiential, developmental and group activities.

A trained, practicing spiritual director for over 20 years, Debbie previously served as adjunct faculty and staff at Talbot School of Theology and the Institute for Spiritual Formation. Currently residing in Málaga, Spain, she is part of the SentWell multi-disciplinary member care team, providing services for cross-cultural workers serving around the world.

To learn more about Deepen and SentWell, visit https://www.sentwell.org/deepen. 

To meet with one of LifePoint's trained spiritual directors, visit https://www.lifepointresources.org/direction and request a consultation.

The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources.

Join Adam Ormord, the founder of LifePoint, for this short explanation of the concept of listening "softer." This podcast episode serves as the launchpad for an upcoming series of conversations broadly exploring the theme of listening as it relates to our being with Jesus and becoming people of love.

Please take a moment to rate, review, and share The Being Formed Podcast with others in your community. More reviews and ratings equal more listeners finding their way to our conversations on soul care, spiritual direction, Christian spiritual formation, and life with God.

The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources.

We, at LifePoint Resources, are grateful to help spread the word about the gift of "A Simple Pause." Here's a brief description from their website:

"A Simple Pause ministry started out of a desire to create space for ourselves and others to experience a few minutes with God each day. Caring for our souls often happens in times alone in quiet and stillness, or one on one with a spiritual director or companion, or in a group with others who are seeking to deepen their relationship with God. We serve others in those three ways: through the app A Simple Pause, in one-to-one interactions of soul care, and through events/retreats we offer in collaboration with other ministries. LuAnn Roberson, the founder of A Simple Pause, is passionate about accompanying others on that deepening journey." (from www.asimplepause.org/about-us/)

The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources.

We carry so much in our hearts, minds, and our bodies - pressures of the day, wounds from the past, hopes and concerns for the future - and we desperately need a space where we can be real in the presence of someone who will point us to God's love!

At LifePoint Resources, we are passionate about soul care for everyone! No matter your status or your story, we're here to walk with you. Adam Ormord, the host of the podcast has a background in pastoral ministry, particularly as a worship pastor in the local church. Adam regularly meets with pastors and leaders in all stages of ministry, but he will always have a place in his heart for men and women who lead their congregations in worship. 

 In response to God's leading, we're announcing plans for a new soul care initiative curated just for worship leaders. Adam welcomes Shawn Smith, a fellow soul care provider and worship leader, to the podcast to help explain the heart behind this new effort. We hope you'll listen and pass this conversation along to the worship leader in your faith community.

The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources.

How would you answer that question? What does it mean for you to be able to see the God who sees you? How has God been revealed to you through the harsh reality of your own story? How have you experienced a profound grace that others may not have noticed?

This Easter reflection will give you some space to notice and name God in the midst of your own story. Please reach out to us at lifepointresources.org if you need to process your story with someone who will help point you back to "the God who sees."

The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources.

In attempting to answer these questions, we will first ask a more general question: "What is Soul Care?" One of the most concise and practical definitions of soul care comes from Stephen W. Smith:

"Soul care takes us past the immediate and physical to what is truly important. It figures out what truly matters in life and then realigns the self to those higher priorities...Soul care involves relationships, personal spiritual growth, inner healing and change, rest and rejuvenation, and living with heaven in mind. It slows down the frenetic lifestyle to make time for the soul." (Embracing Soul Care, Copyright 2006, Kregal Publications, 31)

As a means of helping to define soul care, Adam Ormord, the host of The Being Formed Podcast, shares his personal story of hitting rock bottom in life and in ministry, and the restoration that occurred when he began to partner with God in the care of his soul.

We hope you will find this episode helpful as you consider your own journey. If you would like to process how you and God are doing, please reach out.

The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources.

In today's episode, we want to help you understand what spiritual formation means and why it matters to us. Hopefully you'll see how "being formed in the image of Christ" is more than just a lofty idea but an invitation to each and every person to experience God's love and live from a place of soul health.

We're thankful for our friends in formation at "A Simple Pause." Download their free app - A Simple Pause - in English or Spanish, and visit their website to learn more. www.asimplepause.org. 

The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources.

The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources.