Mike Bowden serves as the Soul Care Facilitator for ESDA and leads spiritual retreats all over the world. In this episode, Adam Ormord and Kelly Arabie of Grafted Life Ministries interview Mike about his experiences abroad as a missionary with TEAM and his own journey in caring for his soul.

Join us for a very personal discussion, as Mike’s heart was awakened to longings for more in his relationship with God, and eventually, a deeper intimacy with Christ through the ministry of spiritual direction.

This transformative experience also led Mike to training as a spiritual director and the desire to create sacred spaces for others.

"People aren’t always used to someone caring for the soul, so in a way, as we create a holy space, we are holding the soul for someone, so that they can receive and listen...

“Sitting with someone and have them feel safe, without pretending, without denying
what is going on inside them, watching God at work—all those bring great joy.”

In this conversation, we get a glimpse of what community can look like, seeing people come to know God in deeper, real, honest, authentic, relational ways.

Resources Mentioned:

• ESDA Gathering 2023 – “Holding the Soul: Exploring God’s Design for Transformation”
• The Other Half of Church – Michel Hendricks

The Grafted Life Podcast is provided by Grafted Life Ministries, helping people build deeper relationships with God and each other.

Casey Tygrett is our guest on this episode of the Grafted Life Podcast. Adam Ormord and Kelly Arabie of Grafted Life Ministries talk with Casey about his latest book, The Gift of Restlessness. Casey is a pastor, speaker and the director of spiritual direction practice for Soul Care, a ministry which helps church and nonprofit leaders restore health to their souls.

Resources Mentioned: Soul Care website (https://soulcare.com) – Spiritual Direction Practice, Becoming Curious, As I Recall (re-released in winter 2024 as The Practice of Remembering), The Gift of Restlessness, https://www.caseytygrett.com

Quote: “Dissatisfaction becomes the spiritual director of our souls,” writes Joan Chittister, “without the dissatisfaction of the soul, how would we ever find our way to more?” The Gift of Restlessness, p14

The Grafted Life Podcast is provided by Grafted Life Ministries, helping people build deeper relationships with God and each other.

Adam Ormord and Debbie Swindoll are joined by Danny Mullins in the final episode of our series, “Exploring God’s Design for Transformation.” Danny provided a workshop on Immanuel Prayer for the 2023 ESDA Gathering in Phoenix. Sharing his personal story, Danny gives insight into the ministry of Immanuel Prayer and how experiencing God’s love changes us.

Resources Mentioned: At His Feet Ministries (https://dannymullins.org), Into the Silent Land (pg 16) by Martin Laird, Sustainable Faith (https://sustainablefaith.com) Jim Wilder’s website: Jim Wilder - Life Model Works, Karl Lehman’s website: Getting Started | Immanuel approach

The Developing Mind by Daniel Siegel, The Light Has Come by Lesslie Newbigin, The Solace of Fierce Landscapes by Belden Lane, This Here Flesh by Cole Arthur Riley, Jesus and the Disinherited by Howard Thurman

The Grafted Life Podcast is provided by Grafted Life Ministries, helping people build deeper relationships with God and each other.