Church leadership has often been confined to a select few. In fact, the idea of “calling” has often been reserved for a select class of Christians we have labeled “the professionals.” As we explore the microchurch paradigm, we will have to be more creative when we consider the question, “Who can lead?” In this podcast with Stacy Gaskins, the Microchurch NEXT team will explore the question of leadership. Stacy is part of the Underground Network’s international planting team where her primary work is to equip movement leaders. That will then plant missional hubs to empower everyday missionaries in their cities.  Locally, she is part of a home-based microchurch and does mentoring, street and club outreach with Created; a microchurch to vulnerable women in the sex industry in Tampa, Florida.

The missional conversation in the West has been snowballing for decades. Leslie Newbigin, who is considered by many to be the instigator of this conversation, posed the question in his book Foolishness to the Greeks, “What would be involved in a missionary encounter between the gospel and this whole way of perceiving, thinking, and living that we call ‘modern Western culture’?” We’ve been wrestling with that question for 40 years. Over the last two decades, pioneering efforts in the missional movement have been made with the mixed results expected of early experimentation. Now, mature forms of microchurch movements are emerging. COVID-19 has demonstrated the fragility of the predominant forms of Church, which has created a surging interest in simpler forms of the Church led by ordinary people.

Of course, microchurch is not a new form of the Church, but the most ancient one. A compelling case can be made that the microchurch is the original design within the pages of the New Testament. In addition, it is also the primary expression of the Church in the most significant disciple-making movements on the planet today, in places like India and China. Now is the time for us in the West to return to the microchurch for biblical, cultural, and missiological reasons.

Join Leadership Network this year for a series of catalytic conversations with leading practitioners. And follow this move of the Spirit that is bringing about the return of the microchurch.

To learn more at Leadership Network, visit leadnet.org and for more conversations on Microchurch NEXT click here.

To watch the conversation, visit https://mult-archive.em02.enthusiastinc.net/event/leadership-network-microchurch-next-ep-3/

The microchurch conversation continues to gain traction as predominant model churches are asking new questions about form and as next generation leaders explore new expressions of the Church. A continual question that emerges in the conversation is, “How are microchurches really any different than small groups?” In this webinar, Rob Wegner and Jeff Vanderstelt, visionary leader of Saturate and the Soma Family of Churches, work through three distinctive differences to answer that question: ecclesiology, motivation, and leadership.

The missional conversation in the West has been snowballing for decades. Leslie Newbigin, who is considered by many to be the instigator of this conversation, posed the question in his book Foolishness to the Greeks, “What would be involved in a missionary encounter between the gospel and this whole way of perceiving, thinking, and living that we call ‘modern Western culture’?” We’ve been wrestling with that question for 40 years. Over the last two decades, pioneering efforts in the missional movement have been made with the mixed results expected of early experimentation. Now, mature forms of microchurch movements are emerging. COVID-19 has demonstrated the fragility of the predominant forms of Church, which has created a surging interest in simpler forms of the Church led by ordinary people.

Of course, microchurch is not a new form of the Church, but the most ancient one. A compelling case can be made that the microchurch is the original design within the pages of the New Testament. In addition, it is also the primary expression of the Church in the most significant disciple-making movements on the planet today, in places like India and China. Now is the time for us in the West to return to the microchurch for biblical, cultural, and missiological reasons.

Join Leadership Network this year for a series of catalytic conversations with leading practitioners. And follow this move of the Spirit that is bringing about the return of the microchurch.

To learn more at Leadership Network, visit leadnet.org and for more conversations on Microchurch NEXT click here.

To watch the conversation, visit https://mult-archive.em02.enthusiastinc.net/event/leadership-network-microchurch-next/

What makes a church…a church? Three people doing Bible study over coffee? Is that church? When and how does a small group of people become a church? Rob Wegner and Brian Johnson interview Lucas Pulley, Executive Director of the Tampa Underground, about definitions of microchurches. We will explore the core commitments of these networks’ ecclesiological minimums of worship, community, and mission, and their essential role in the health and sustainability of extended spiritual families.

The missional conversation in the West has been snowballing for decades. Leslie Newbigin, who is considered by many to be the instigator of this conversation, posed the question in his book Foolishness to the Greeks, “What would be involved in a missionary encounter between the gospel and this whole way of perceiving, thinking, and living that we call ‘modern Western culture’?” We’ve been wrestling with that question for 40 years. Over the last two decades, pioneering efforts in the missional movement have been made with the mixed results expected of early experimentation. Now, mature forms of microchurch movements are emerging. COVID-19 has demonstrated the fragility of the predominant forms of Church, which has created a surging interest in simpler forms of the Church led by ordinary people.

Of course, microchurch is not a new form of the Church, but the most ancient one. A compelling case can be made that the microchurch is the original design within the pages of the New Testament. In addition, it is also the primary expression of the Church in the most significant disciple-making movements on the planet today, in places like India and China. Now is the time for us in the West to return to the microchurch for biblical, cultural, and missiological reasons.

Join Leadership Network this year for a series of catalytic conversations with leading practitioners. And follow this move of the Spirit that is bringing about the return of the microchurch.

To learn more at Leadership Network, visit leadnet.org and for more conversations on Microchurch NEXT click here.

To watch the conversation, visit https://mult-archive.em02.enthusiastinc.net/event/what-is-a-microchurch/

Guest: VRTiger, Lead Pastor, Oasis Church VR

Web3 technology is said to be ushering in the “age of experiences.” Gamers use this technology for incredible simulations, and communicators and educators are using virtual experiences as opportunities for learning. What does this mean for preaching? How can virtual reality solidify the educational impact of our metaverse churches?

Let’s bring VRTiger into the conversation. As lead pastor of a metaverse church plant called Oasis Church VR, VRTiger is a creative director by day, and a worldbuilder by night. Building new worlds almost weekly, VRTiger designs his sermons to become an experience, taking people into the environments taught in the Bible. Part of the sermon is a monologue where VRTiger is preaching live, flying in front of a virtual 90-inch screen. The other part of his sermon? Walking a VR world where the audience discusses and experiences different scenes like the crucifixion on the hill of Golgotha or the biblical tabernacle in Leviticus, all built in virtual reality.

So jump into this special Metaverse Church NEXT show—filmed entirely in Microsoft’s AltSpace VR—to experience these worlds through Jeff’s eyes and better understand the potential of sermons offered in virtual reality.

Explore and understand the future of the metaverse church. We’ll examine aspects of the meta mission field, the Church in the metaverse, even what discipleship and multiplication can look like in the metaverse. Through the interviews hosted on Metaverse Church NEXT we’ll address the technical, theological, and tactical approaches that churches are wrestling with today in virtual reality, augmented reality, and even innovation in general. Metaverse Church NEXT broadcasts Wednesday, 12:30 p.m. Eastern.

To learn more at Leadership Network, visit leadnet.org and for more conversations on Metaverse Church NEXT click here.

To watch the conversation, visit https://mult-archive.em02.enthusiastinc.net/event/the-sermon-experience-in-virtual-reality/

Guest: Michael Beck, Director, Fresh Expressions

The more we examine successful digital and metaverse churches, the more evidence we see that healthy expressions are more micro in size than mega, which really starts to ask the question: what would a microchurch look like in the metaverse? As highly relational as microchurch strategies are in physical neighborhoods, would that same philosophy work in Web3 technologies like virtual reality? Can your VR avatar be that relational?

Let’s bring into the conversation Michael Beck. Michael has been championing fresh expressions of church for years now, even launching a micro-expression of church in virtual reality. Living Room Church VR has been running in Microsoft’s AltSpaceVR platform for a while now, and has been having success building relationships with the people of the metaverse. Are these leading to opportunities to spread the gospel into the metaverse mission field? Are these ideas scalable? What does multiplication look like?

So. Many. Questions. So let’s get started on this conversation of how microchurch works in the metaverse, right here on Metaverse Church NEXT.

Explore and understand the future of the metaverse church. We’ll examine aspects of the meta mission field, the Church in the metaverse, even what discipleship and multiplication can look like in the metaverse. Through the interviews hosted on Metaverse Church NEXT, we’ll address the technical, theological, and tactical approaches that churches are wrestling with today in virtual reality, augmented reality, and even innovation in general. Metaverse Church NEXT broadcasts Wednesday, 12:30 p.m. Eastern.

To learn more at Leadership Network, visit leadnet.org and for more conversations on Metaverse Church NEXT click here.

To watch the conversation, visit https://mult-archive.em02.enthusiastinc.net/event/michael-beck-on-how-microchurch-works-in-the-metaverse/

Guest: DJ Soto, Lead Pastor, VR/MMO Church

Let’s get a sneak peek of the future. Actually, it’s not really the future; it’s already here. Web3 is typically defined as the third generation of online services. Let’s use some fun words: artificial intelligence, virtual reality, augmented reality, blockchain, bitcoin… the future is already here. What does your church look like through the web3 lens?

For the conversation we’re bringing in DJ Soto, Lead Pastor of VR/MMO Church and arguably the Bishop to the metaverse. As the pioneer to church in the metaverse, DJ has been doing virtual reality church for years now. And while many find VR controversial, acceptance of a metaverse ecclesiology has allowed DJ to progress further down the road, addressing many of these web3 context through his VR/MMO Church. By the way, MMO is “Massive Multiplayer Online” video games. So, DJ is multiplying churches not only in virtual reality, but in role playing games like Final Fantasy, Rust, Black Desert online, and others.

Freaking out? Don’t. Jump on the Metaverse Church NEXT and join us in a conversation on what your church could look like tomorrow, and what steps you should be taking today.

Explore and understand the future of the metaverse church. We’ll explore aspects of the meta mission field, the Church in the metaverse, even what discipleship and multiplication can look like in the metaverse. Through the interviews hosted on Metaverse Church NEXT we’ll address the technical, theological, and tactical approaches that churches are wrestling with today in virtual reality, augmented reality, and even innovation in general. Metaverse Church NEXT broadcasts Wednesday, 12:30 p.m. Eastern.

To learn more at Leadership Network, visit leadnet.org and for more conversations on Metaverse Church NEXT click here.

To watch the conversation, visit https://mult-archive.em02.enthusiastinc.net/event/web-3-0-and-the-future-church/

Guest: Pastor Brock, Founder, 4X Christian Fellowship

What does evangelism look like in the metaverse? Those in the know talk about the opportunities in this massive metaverse mission field to relationally connect with people and share Jesus with others in virtual reality.

Is the metaverse culture receptive to conversations on faith? This is really the heart of the issue. With the cultural shift toward decentralization that’s partly a result of the metaverse, there is an increased value in individuals sharing about Jesus (both in physical space and in the metaverse mission field).

Enter William Willenbrock into the conversation. Known in the metaverse as Pastor Brock, Bill has a nine-to-five job as a hospital chaplain. Not a very “metavers-y” job, but in the evenings Pastor Brock runs a ministry where he has personally shared Jesus in the metaverse with over 2,000 people. No virtual stage, no podium. Straight up conversations with people in the metaverse.

How do people receive the gospel in the metaverse? In 2022, is an organic approach to the metaverse mission field effective? Let’s dig in with metaverse missionary Pastor Brock.

Explore and understand the future of the metaverse church. We’ll examine aspects of the meta mission field, the Church in the metaverse, even what discipleship and multiplication can look like in the metaverse. Through the interviews hosted on Metaverse Church NEXT we’ll address the technical, theological, and tactical approaches that churches are wrestling with today in virtual reality, augmented reality, and even innovation in general. Metaverse Church NEXT broadcasts Wednesday, 12:30 p.m. Eastern.

To learn more at Leadership Network, visit leadnet.org and for more conversations on Metaverse Church NEXT click here.

To watch the conversation, visit https://mult-archive.em02.enthusiastinc.net/event/the-metaverse-missionary/

Guest: Jason Poling – Lead Pastor, Cornerstone Church

Jason Poling was probably the first pastor in America to pastor a physical church as well as a church in the metaverse. As Lead Pastor of Cornerstone Church in Yuba City, Jason felt the tensions that small churches face. Through the leading of some of his elders and key volunteers, tried virtual reality, and several months later launched a church in the metaverse.

What is it like to pastor people in the metaverse? Is it different than physical? What types of people are you meeting in the metaverse? Does metaverse replace or even compete with physical church? These are the types of questions we’ll get into.

To be honest there aren’t that many lead pastors of both physical and metaverse churches. Let’s take a moment here and learn some lessons on what the metaverse church can look like.

Explore and understand the future of the metaverse church. We’ll examine aspects of the Meta mission field, the Church in the Metaverse, even what discipleship and multiplication can look like in the Metaverse. Through the interviews hosted on the Metaverse Church NEXT we’ll address the technical, theological, and tactical approaches that churches are wrestling with today in virtual reality, augmented reality, and even innovation in general. 

To learn more at Leadership Network, visit leadnet.org and for more conversations on Metaverse Church NEXT click here.

To watch the conversation, visit https://mult-archive.em02.enthusiastinc.net/event/leadership-network-metaverse-church-next/

Welcome to the Leadership Network Podcast. This podcast offers weekly, focused sessions on what is NEXT for the church and its leaders. As leaders, we can get “zoomed in” on our day-to-day, when we often need to “zoom-out” and have vision for the big picture. Leadership Network Podcast helps us look past the now to see what is NEXT.

Guest: Michael Uzdavines – Metaverse Pastor | Cornerstone Yuba City/VR

To kick off the first episode of the Leadership Network Podcast, we begin a series on Metaverse Church NEXT. We’re bringing in Michael Uzdavines, probably the only person in America with the job title “Metaverse Pastor.” Michael is a pastor at Cornerstone Church Yuba City, a smallish church in Northern California that has developed a huge passion for the metaverse, even launching a complete church campus in VR. Learn Cornerstone’s story, and what it’s like to pastor, shepherd, and disciple people in the metaverse.

Metaverse Church NEXT

Explore and understand the future of the metaverse church. We’ll examine aspects of the Meta mission field, the Church in the Metaverse, even what discipleship and multiplication can look like in the Metaverse. Through the interviews hosted on the Metaverse Church NEXT we’ll address the technical, theological, and tactical approaches that churches are wrestling with today in virtual reality, augmented reality, and even innovation in general.

To learn more at Leadership Network, visit leadnet.org and for more conversations on Metaverse Church NEXT click here.

To watch the conversation, visit https://mult-archive.em02.enthusiastinc.net/event/leadership-network-metaverse-church-next-ep-1/

Welcome to the Leadership Network Podcast. This podcast offers weekly, focused sessions on what is NEXT for the church and its leaders. As leaders, we can get “zoomed in” on our day-to-day, when we often need to “zoom-out” and have vision for the big picture. Leadership Network Podcast helps us look past the now to see what is NEXT.

Guest: Michael Uzdavines – Metaverse Pastor | Cornerstone Yuba City/VR

To kick off the first episode of the Leadership Network Podcast, we begin a series on Metaverse Church NEXT. We’re bringing in Michael Uzdavines, probably the only person in America with the job title “Metaverse Pastor.” Michael is a pastor at Cornerstone Church Yuba City, a smallish church in Northern California that has developed a huge passion for the metaverse, even launching a complete church campus in VR. Learn Cornerstone’s story, and what it’s like to pastor, shepherd, and disciple people in the metaverse.

Metaverse Church NEXT

Explore and understand the future of the metaverse church. We’ll examine aspects of the Meta mission field, the Church in the Metaverse, even what discipleship and multiplication can look like in the Metaverse. Through the interviews hosted on the Metaverse Church NEXT we’ll address the technical, theological, and tactical approaches that churches are wrestling with today in virtual reality, augmented reality, and even innovation in general.

To learn more at Leadership Network, visit leadnet.org and for more conversations on Metaverse Church NEXT click here.

To watch the conversation, visit https://mult-archive.em02.enthusiastinc.net/event/leadership-network-metaverse-church-next-ep-1/