Jeff Vanderstelt is the visionary leader for the Soma Family of Churches and the lead teaching pastor at Doxa Church in Bellevue, Washington. When he isn’t preaching or mentoring church planters, he and his family share life with their missional community. Following Mark Driscoll’s resignation in 2014, Jeff has headed the care and leadership of Doxa Church, a new church plant born out of what was Mars Hill Bellevue. He is the author of Saturate: Being Disciples of Jesus in the Everyday Stuff of Life.

We had a wonderful conversation with Jeff about his current role, the mission of Soma, the challenges of transition, and leading a new congregation.

Best Quotes

“You never really get to start anything new because you’re always dealing with people with a past.”

“I’m learning most from the people I’m trying to lead so I can care for them well and understand their situation.”

“How is the leadership health of our people?”

“Does this feel like a safe, grace-filled culture to share our struggles?”

“There’s a difference in having an organization commitment to disciple making and in training up your people to be disciples who make disciples.”

“We mourn our brokenness and rejoice in the grace of the gospel in the midst of it.”

“Forget the biblical requirements for elders, what is this person known for?”

“If you say you’re on mission but you don’t mention Jesus you’re on someone else’s mission.”

“I think it should be a goal that we talk about Jesus on a daily basis; that should be one of the metrics we’re aiming for in our own personal development.”

“When you walk into a church they already have a language. They’re the same words but they have their own meaning.”

“We’re measuring failure as a success because it means you tried.”

“My wife is the best person to give me feedback because she is the most affected by my poor or strong leadership.”

“The most important thing is character development and the only way to get character development is to have people you let speak into your life who get to tell you the truth about what they see.”

“Competencies will come, but if your character doesn’t get developed that will be the one thing that takes you out any way.”

Recommended Resources

Saturate by Jeff Vanderstelt

Counterfeit Gods by Tim Keller

Every Good Endeavor by Tim Keller