Formed in Mission with Ashlyn Griffin
Episode Summary
In this episode of the Kansas City Underground Podcast, we interview Ashlyn Griffin, a younger leader who has been developing a new team among young adults in Kansas City. From her early days in a traditional church setting to her "come to Jesus" moment, Ashlyn shares her path of faith, mission, and the challenges of disciple-making. Join us as we explore the messy yet rewarding process of living on mission, the importance of community, and the refining fire that shapes our identity in Christ.
Key Themes & Takeaways
1. From Church Familiarity to Relational Discipleship
Ashlyn grew up around church but didn’t begin following Jesus until relational discipleship with friends.
Scripture, prayer, and friendship—not programs—became the doorway to transformation.
Both large-gathering moments and slow, personal investment played a role in her faith formation.
2. Calling, Resistance, and the Long Yes
Ashlyn sensed a call toward mission long before she felt ready.
A season of uncertainty, travel, and refusal culminated in clear confirmation while overseas.
Returning to Kansas City marked a turning point toward obedience—even without clarity.
3. Mission Is Messy (and Slower Than We Want)
Disciple-making rarely looks like the clean multiplication diagrams we imagine.
Ashlyn describes weeks filled with discouragement, doubt, emotional exhaustion, and relational complexity.
The question “How long will this take?” surfaced repeatedly—and honestly.
4. Identity Refinement in the Fire
God used the mess to expose false identities: performer, fixer, spiritual soldier.
Ashlyn wrestled with receiving her identity as a beloved daughter, not just a frontline worker.
Deep prayer, repentance, and community helped dismantle long-held internal strongholds.
5. Community as a Mirror
Walking closely with others revealed Ashlyn’s own unresolved struggles.
The same identity questions she saw in others were alive in her own heart.
Formation accelerated through communitas—shared mission and shared vulnerability.
6. Learning to Lead Without Controlling
Early disciple-making leaned toward passion-driven teaching and information transfer.
Ashlyn realized people were responding to her passion instead of encountering Jesus themselves.
Growth came through asking better questions, slowing timelines, and trusting God’s work in others.
7. Prayer as the Fuel, Not the Add-On
Mission exposes moments where hope feels absent—for both leaders and those they serve.
Prayer becomes essential not as a tool, but as relational dependence on the Father.
Disciple-making flows from intimacy, not effort.
Final Thoughts
This episode reminds us that mission is not sustained by vision, grit, or productivity—but by identity rooted in love. God forms disciple-makers not by bypassing the desert, but by meeting us there. The mess is not a detour; it is the classroom. Faithful presence, patient obedience, and deep dependence on God are what carry us through the long road of formation—and into lasting fruit.
