Healing Body, Soul, and Spirit
Healing Body, Soul, and Spirit: A Conversation with Pastor Chip Henderson
We often think about health only in terms of the body—what we eat, how we exercise, or whether we’re fighting off disease. But as Pastor Chip Henderson, senior pastor of Pine Lake Church in Mississippi, shares in this powerful conversation, true healing is much deeper. It’s about aligning body, soul, and spirit.
From Reluctance to Calling: Pastor Chip’s Story
Growing up as a pastor’s son, ministry wasn’t on Chip’s radar. He went to college to become an orthodontist but soon discovered that path wasn’t for him. A Bible study changed everything. Leading others into scripture opened his eyes to his true calling: helping people encounter God through His Word.
Fast forward nearly 25 years, and Chip has become a trusted voice across multiple Pine Lake Church campuses, guiding people toward spiritual growth and wholeness.
We Are Spiritual Beings in a Physical Body
One of Pastor Chip’s central teachings comes from 1 Thessalonians 5:23—that we are preserved spirit, soul, and body.
- The Body – Our temporary “tent” or temple, meant to be cared for but not idolized.
- The Soul – Our mind, will, and emotions—where wounds, agreements, and old patterns live.
- The Spirit – The eternal part of us, awakened by the Holy Spirit.
“We don’t live from the outside in—we live from the inside out. Transformation begins in the spirit and soul and flows into the body.” – Pastor Chip Henderson
The Hardest Work: Soul Surgery
Physical healing often gets the spotlight, but Chip emphasizes the importance of what he calls “soul surgery.”
- Past wounds, unspoken agreements, and unhealed trauma shape our present behaviors.
- Without addressing the root causes in the soul, physical patterns—like addiction, defensiveness, or anger—keep resurfacing.
- True transformation happens when the Holy Spirit works through skilled counselors, therapists, or spiritual mentors to bring healing from the inside out.
“There’s no healing without revealing. You can’t fix what you can’t see.” – Pastor Chip Henderson
The Role of Neuroplasticity and Renewing the Mind
Modern science calls it neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to rewire itself. Scripture calls it the renewing of the mind (Romans 12:2).
Pastor Chip highlights how past trauma can cause automatic responses. For example, being cut off in traffic may trigger the same reaction you had as a wounded child. Healing requires going back to that root memory with God’s help to change the response.
Daily Disciplines: Doing the Work
Pastor Chip describes his daily “work” in three dimensions:
- Spiritual Work – Daily prayer, scripture study, and journaling through tools like the L3 Journal (now also available on the Pine Lake app).
- Physical Work – Exercise and caring for the body as an instrument for God’s service.
- Soul Work – Counseling, vulnerability, and unpacking past wounds in order to walk in freedom.
Healing in Community
Whether in health or faith, isolation keeps us stuck. Healing accelerates in safe, supportive community.
- Vulnerability with trusted people breaks the power of shame.
- Accountability helps align beliefs and actions.
- Connection is often the opposite of addiction.
As Pastor Chip reminds us: “Men are defenseless against the prayers of their wives. Community and connection are where breakthrough happens.”
Congruence: Aligning Beliefs and Actions
Kelly and Lori shared that in functional medicine, many patients struggle with incongruence—believing one thing but living another.
Chip relates this to Paul’s words in Romans 7: “Why do I keep doing what I don’t want to do?”
The solution? Stop white-knuckling and invite the Holy Spirit into the struggle. True change flows from surrender, not striving.
Key Takeaways from Pastor Chip
- You are a spiritual being having a temporary bodily experience.
- Soul health is essential for physical and emotional healing.
- Community is powerful—healing happens when you’re known.
- Daily disciplines matter—renewing your mind in scripture anchors lasting change.
- God is a redeemer—He gives beauty for ashes and hope for the brokenhearted.
Final Word of Hope
Chip’s closing message is simple but profound:
“You are not worthless. You are not beyond hope. God loves you so much He gave His Son for you. Transformation is possible—body, soul, and spirit.”
