This week, Cory begins a two-part interview with Michael Rojas, a local leader in Kansas City. Michael spends his time ministering to those with similar backgrounds and experiences as himself. Check out Michael's incredible journey from gang life and incarceration to disciple-making and ministry among people in those same communities.

Cory and Brian interview Stacy Gaskins of the Tampa Underground. Stacy is the Director of Translocal Movements for Tampa Underground. She has been a part of that network of missionaries and microchurches from the early days and regularly coaches missionaries who are engaged in unique contexts across her city. Stacy will share how Tampa supports helping leaders discover their own calling and begin to engage their own context.  

Cory and Brian set up the second observation from the Two Four Eight research on disciple-making movements in urban contexts: Emphasize Affinity Group Engagement in Cities. This is a topic we are passionate about in the Kansas City Underground. Our focus comes primarily through an emphasis on discovering your masterpiece mission. We always ask, "To whom have you already been sent?" and "Where do you have a reason to exist?"

Cory and Brian interview Zephan Allenbrand, a Hub Leader resident with the Serve Hub of the KC Underground. Zephan is also a committed missionary leader in Gardiner, along with his wife Taylar. Together, they seek to make disciples and see a microchurch emerge and, by God's grace, a Hub for that part of the city as well. Zephan shares how he made the paradigm shift to a discovery and obedience-based approach, how that has affected the way he points people's hearts toward Jesus, and the freedom he experiences in disciple-making because of this shift.

"We're not trying to determine what people need to hear now. We're here to learn from God and then respond to what he says."

Cory and Brian interview Breanna Wiebe, the ongoing coaching director of the KC Underground, about obedience and discovery-based disciple-making. This interview will explore Breanna's experience in her network of relationships and her experience developing coaching teams. The principles of discovery and obedience are important at the micro and macro levels. 

"Complacency is not our friend." - Bre

For the next few weeks, we interview different leaders, both locally and globally, on how they've leaned into discovery-based learning and obedience-based disciple-making in their context. This week we get some time with a global leader, Steven Steinhaus (name changed for protection). Steven and his family have been planting the gospel with unreached people groups for decades.

"It feels forced when you tell people what to do and what to believe."    

We're back to our series on exploring the 15 common insights among urban disciple-making movements. These insights were discovered through a series of interviews by a global organization called Two Four Eight. This week, Cory and Brian introduce the first insight, "Foster Obedient Lifestyles through Discovery Learning." This won't be something brand new for listeners of the podcast. However, we try to highlight some important points that were discovered by the Two Four Eight team as a reminder of the new paradigm in which we exist. We're not here to share more content but to encourage obedience to the truths we're hearing as we learn to listen to the voice of the Spirit and join Jesus in disciple-making in the everyday stuff of life. 

"Discovery-based learning is a pattern interrupt!"     

Cory and Brian interview Frank Viola on his book Insurgence. This book is a robust exploration of the gospel of the Kingdom of God. The Gospel message communicated within this work is one that works against a cultural understanding that is primarily legalistic or libertine. Frank Viola is a conference speaker, blogger, and bestselling author. He helps serious followers of Jesus know their Lord more deeply so they can experience real transformation and make a lasting impact. 

Cory and Brian interview Michael Sherwin of Two Four Eight. Michael was a primary driver behind the study of global movements and the process to discern the common insights among these disciple-making networks. Michael shares his own story of discovering the disciple-making movement world and the why this study felt so important. 

"We never graduate, as leaders, from being carriers of the gospel."   

Here's the link to the Two Four Eight research: ⁠https://twofoureight.org/resources/⁠

Cory and Brian unofficially officially introduce a brand new series exploring Movement Insights within an urban context. Two Four Eight, a mission organization, released their findings around a study on mission strategies for cities. By 2050, 70% of the world's population will live in an urban context. We have to begin thinking about how our strategies must shift in light of this reality. Over the coming months, we will explore the fifteen key observations from Two Four Eight. 

Here's the link to the Two Four Eight research: https://twofoureight.org/resources/