The KC Underground Podcast

In this conversation, Brian, Cory, and Gary Kendall discuss the importance of collaboration and unity within the church to reach and impact a city. We highlight the need for a citywide vision and the role of prayer, compassion, evangelism, Bible engagement, and multiplication in achieving gospel saturation. We also discuss the collaborative response of the Church of Kansas City to the recent trage...

In this conversation, Brian and Norris Williams discuss the importance of empowering insider leaders in disciple making movements. Norris shares his background and how he got involved in disciple making movement principles. He emphasizes the need to listen to God and have a posture of humility when entering new places. Norris also highlights the importance of identity and pruning in bearing fruit....

In this conversation, Brian and Cory discuss the importance of prioritizing inside leaders in urban disciple making movements. They highlight the complexity of cities, which are made up of millions of cultures and subcultures. They emphasize the need to find and raise up leaders who belong to these various subcultures and can effectively reach their own people. The conversation explores the role o...

In this conversation, Zach Duke shares his journey of faith and leadership development. He emphasizes the importance of modeling servant-hearted leadership and passing on the ministry to others. Zach highlights the need for leaders to prioritize intimacy with Jesus and trust in His goodness. He also discusses the tension between organic and intentional growth in leadership development. Zach encour...

In this episode, Cory, Brian, and Hudson discuss servant-hearted leadership in the context of Share the Hope, a ministry in Kansas City. Hudson shares his background, including his transformation from a criminal lifestyle to a follower of Christ. He talks about his journey of becoming a leader in Share the Hope. Hudson emphasizes the need for leaders to let go of control and go with the flow, allo...

Cory and Brian introduce observation number six: Develop Servant Hearted Leaders Who Replicate. The strategy that Two Four Eight suggests in light of this observation is that urban disciple-makers should prioritize developing leaders like Jesus. While this seems obvious, we often miss the target on how we actually develop leaders.

In this episode, Cory interviews Cynthia Anderson. Cynthia has been a global catalyst for disciple-making movements for multiple decades. She is a deep well of wisdom for those pursuing movements of disciple-making. We dig a little deeper in the idea of investing in one-on-one disciple-making relationships that multiply by exploring the question of who we should mentor. To learn more from Cynthia,...

Cory and Brian interview Michael Sherwin of Two Four Eight. Michael was a primary driver behind the study of global movements and the process of discerning the common insights among these disciple-making networks in urban contexts. We wanted to have Michael back to explore more deeply this particular topic of "one-on-one vs. group disciple-making." We explore how our western individualis...

Cory and Brian introduce Observation #5 from Two Four Eight's research on disciple-making in urban contexts: Invest, One-On-One in Disciple-making Relationships That Multiply. This is an interesting topic as we are strong proponents of group disciple-making and coaching. We explore this observation and what it can teach us as we seek to make disciples in the everyday stuff of life.

Cory and Brian interview Lee Wood, a global disciple-making catalyst. Lee has been committed to launching and sustaining disciple-making movements since 2013. He's done this in the context of Tampa, Florida, and in many global cities as well. Lee shares insights he's discovered in these diverse contexts and how they support the everyday leader. 

Cory and Brian interview Danielle Best, a disciple-making leader in New York City. In the previous episode, we began to explore the observation made by Two Four Eight that in urban movements, a potential strategy is to invest heavily, intentionally, and long-term into those they disciple. Danielle and her family have leaned into the realities and complexities of this observation in one of the worl...

Cory and Brian set up the fourth observation from the Two Four Eight research on disciple-making movements in Urban Contexts. The fourth observation states that "Urban disciple-makers should seek to invest heavily, intentionally, and long-term into those that they disciple." "Let's not equate disciple-making with conversion. 

Today we wanted to invite you to consider financially partnering with the Kansas City Underground. This is not something that we have made a practice with this podcast, nor will we regularly do this into the future. We did want to take this moment, this year, to invite you to consider a one-time or recurring gift to the KC Underground on Giving Tuesday. Thanks for your continued support for the wo...

Cory and Rick Bush continue with our interviews with leaders engaging the broken, poor, and marginalized. This interview will specifically exore how and why God is moving among the homeless/houseless population in Kansas City.  "If you think you are going to reach someone for Christ, you are mistaken. The Holy Spirit is already at work ahead of you." -Rick Bush

Cory and Brian interview Chris Conrad. Chris is one of the key leaders in Share the Hope, but he also actively serves the homeless communities in Kansas City. Chris knows what it's like to be an outsider and an insider among both of these networks. He brings a unique and important perspective to the posture we should take as we "go" among the broken, marginalized and poor. 

Cory and Brian set up the third observation from the Two Four Eight research on disciple-making movements in urban contexts. The third observation states that the most significant momentum in urban spaces appears to be among the broken, marginalized, and poor. These are tough words that often end up creating labels and categories that dismiss people. We want to fight against that. We also want to...

Cory and Brian welcome back Rob Wegner to wrap up our conversations around focusing on affinity groups in disciple-making movements in urban contexts. In this episode, we'll revisit why we should focus on affinity groups, stories that demonstrate how this plays out practically within the Underground, and how we can begin to discover our calling.

This week, Cory wraps up a two-part interview with Michael Rojas. This week, Cory and Michael dive deeper into his miraculous story and further discuss how God is using him to reach others like himself. This on-the-ground testimony highlights the 2nd observation of urban movements: emphasize affinity group engagement in cities.

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...

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 &...

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...

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...

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 f...

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 podca...