Derived from SPU’s Wesleyan/ holiness heritage, Wesleyan small groups embody a practice in Christian formation and reconciliation that exposes UFDN 1000 students to Christian community, and facilitates growth in awareness and love of self, neighbor, and God. To accomplish these purposes, participants gather weekly under the leadership of a trained facilitator to ask and answer the question, “How goes it with your soul?”
SoulCare origins
Begun in the 18th century by John and Charles Wesley, these meetings brought people together, as the Wesleys put it, “to inquire how their souls prosper; to advise, reprove, comfort, or exhort.” The groups created a space for people at any level of faith (no faith, exploring faith, new faith, mature faith) to grow in community.
What it is, and is not
SoulCare is SPU’s adapted version of these historical groups. They’re not Bible studies or prayer groups, or groups guided by a curriculum. Rather, their sole content is the state of one’s soul — your deepest self, which lies underneath surface experiences and emotions.
Start with UFDN 1000
Undergraduate students in UFDN 1000 classes participate in co-curricular SoulCare groups as an alternative learning opportunity. They learn about spiritual formation in class — and in weekly SoulCare groups. Each one-hour meeting is led by a trained facilitator under the supervision of Seattle Pacific Seminary interns and SPU staff.
Learn more about becoming a SoulCare group leader, read what others say about the leadership experience, or recommend someone for leadership.