SoCal SoulCARE

A sacred space for pastors and Christian nonprofit leaders to experience rest.

Applications for the 2026-27 SoCal SoulCARE cohort are open!

Discernment Questionnaires must be submitted by March 31, 2026

Click below to apply or keep reading for more info.

Apply for the Cohort

SoCal SoulCARE is a nine-month, retreat-based experience for leaders who long to lead from abundance—not scarcity. Through monthly retreats, spiritual direction, and daily prayer practices, participants slow down, reconnect with God, and rediscover stillness in the midst of leadership.

About SoCal SoulCARE

SoCal SoulCARE is a formational journey rooted in a simple conviction: leaders who give deeply need safe places to receive deeply. This journey invites pastors and Christian nonprofit leaders into a slower rhythm where God’s love and their belovedness become anchoring realities—so leadership flows from fullness, not depletion.

SoCal SoulCARE is not a conference or content-heavy program. It’s a retreat-based pathway of renewal that integrates teaching, reflection, spiritual direction, community, and rest. The nine-month, curated experience helps reawaken our senses; inviting us to attend to our deep need for connection and live out of our truest identity. Receiving rather than achieving.  

SoulCARE’s History

In 2008, WellSpring launched its first SoulCARE cohort in Menlo Park. In 2017, WellSpring licensed the content to Denver Seminary and The Abbey, resulting in the formation of The Praxis. In 2024, WellSpring launched a pilot cohort in Southern California, giving rise to SoCal SoulCARE.

And, in 2025, WellSpring launched its second Northern California cohort in Livermore. Over the course of the past 18 years, nearly 700 leaders have participated in SoulCARE; enhancing their well-being, expanding their resilience, and experiencing rest through the replenishing gifts and invitations offered within.

SoCal SoulCARE helps change lives – and reshape leadership.

Who We Serve

SoCal SoulCARE is for leaders who give deeply—and need a safe space to be honest. The experience is designed for pastors and nonprofit leaders who carry the weight of leadership and may find themselves feeling lonely, disconnected, weary, and overwhelmed.

SoCal SoulCARE offers a private, supportive space to slow down and reconnect with God, self, and others—without pressure or performance.

Each year, we welcome a small, intentional cohort into a journey of personal renewal through:

  • Once a month, from September through May, the cohort gathers in person in a setting marked by beauty and spaciousness. Each retreat includes invitational teaching, personal reflection, group spiritual direction, and a shared meal. The pace is intentionally slower—creating room to listen to God, notice your own soul, and be present without pressure to produce. Retreats range from a half-day (Oct, Nov, Dec, Feb, Mar, Apr), to a full day (Jan), to two-day overnight retreats (Sept and May).

  • Each participant meets regularly with a trained spiritual director who provides a confidential, one-on-one space to reflect, process, and discern. Spiritual direction is not about fixing or advising—it’s about paying attention to God’s presence in your real life and leadership. It’s a place to be honest, ask deeper questions, and receive care without expectation.

  • Between retreats, participants are invited into simple, guided prayer practices that align with each month’s theme. These practices are designed to be sustainable, not overwhelming—helping you integrate what you’re learning into daily life. Over time, these rhythms cultivate a deeper “with God” life that strengthens both your inner life and outward leadership.

  • Life and leadership are not meant to be walked alone. Building upon WellSpring’s 18 years of experience and learnings, SoCal SoulCARE cultivates a small, intentional cohort; encouraging leaders to build trust and a shared language, pillars of spiritual friendship. There is laughter, shared meals, and moments of deep honesty; inviting participants to experience the gifts of collaboration and community—remembering that they are not competitors, but companions in the work of God.

How It Works

Step 1: Notice a Desire or Longing Within
Are your heart, body, soul, and relationships longing for a different rhythm?

Step 2: Examine and Explore Your Capacity and Others’ Support
Do you have the margin, freedom, and encouragement to participate fully?

Step 3: Complete and Submit our Discernment Questionnaire
Express your interest in participating in our SoCal SoulCARE cohort.

Step 4: Enter into a Mutual Discernment Process with our Team
SoCal SoulCARE isn’t a program you sign up for—it’s a journey we discern together. Participation is limited and cohorts are intentionally curated. Each applicant walks through a discernment process with our SoCal SoulCARE leadership team to ensure the experience is a fit for your current season of life and leadership.

Step 5: Begin the Journey
Receive and embrace the gifts of monthly retreats, spiritual direction, formational prayer practices & rhythms, and authentic community.

Investment,
Costs
& Funding

Participation in SoCal SoulCARE requires surrender and intention; an investment of one’s whole self (heart, mind, and calendar) in a manner in which we remain unhurried, right-sized, grounded, and engaged.

SoCal SoulCARE is currently offered free of financial charge for participants as a gift and metaphor of God’s extravagant love. The primary cost to participants is time: an expectation to attend each retreat, honor monthly individual spiritual direction appointments, and engage fully in daily prayer practices and the overall experience. 

SoCal SoulCARE is funded by generous and generative individuals and organizations, passionate about leader wellbeing and community flourishing. 

2026-27 SoCal SoulCARE Retreat Dates

  • Wednesday, September 9 – Thursday, September 10

    8a-8p; Overnight Retreat

  • Tuesday, October 6

    3-8p


  • Tuesday, November 3

    3-8p


  • Tuesday, December 1

    3-8p


  • Thursday, January 7

    8:30a-4:30p

  • Tuesday, February 2

    3-8p

  • Tuesday, March 2

    3-8p

  • Tuesday, April 6

    3-8p

  • Wednesday, May 12 – Thursday, May 13

    8a-8p; Overnight Retreat

Apply to Join the Cohort

Applications must be submitted by March 31, 2026.

Each SoCal SoulCARE cohort has limited spaces available.

Please Note: Our SoCal SoulCARE Discernment Questionnaire should auto-save your progress if you need to fill it out over the course of a couple of days. We recommend, however, that you copy, paste and save your answers into a local file on your computer, providing you with a backup of your responses.

Click to Apply

Questions?

Do you have questions? If so, we’d be happy
to engage them with you.

Contact Us

  • Give to SoCal SoulCARE

    Would you like to invest the well-being of our Southern California leaders and the people, churches, non-profits, and communities they serve? Partner with us in creating space for them to rest and receive; developing healthy, holistic, sustainable rhythms and practices. All donations are tax deductible.

    GIVE

SoCal SoulCARE is offered by the Long Beach Church Collective through a licensing partnership with WellSpring.