Gospel Movements in a Post Christian Context

Nov 25

Episode Summary

In this episode of the KC Underground Podcast we explore the dynamics of spiritual movements in the UK and beyond. Adam and Matthew share their personal journeys and insights into the challenges and opportunities of fostering discipleship and community in a post-Christian society. Discover how grassroots efforts and a return to fundamental values are reshaping the landscape of faith and mission work.

Key Themes & Takeaways

1. Personal Journeys: Hunger, Rebirth & Calling

Adam and his wife Charlotte have been in Glasgow for 14 years with Novo, carrying a growing burden for Scotland, the UK, and Europe.
Matthew experienced a profound season of rebirth during COVID—what he calls his “apartment womb”—where God discipled him into truth and restored his identity.
For both, the longing for spiritual family and life-on-life discipleship ignited a shift toward microchurches and missional communities.

2. The ‘Second Conversion’ into Movement

Many practitioners experience a shift from church-as-we-knew-it to multiplying disciples and churches.
Adam describes holy frustration inside a service-centric church and discovering his apostolic, pioneering wiring.
His “yes” to mission led him from staff roles into the streets—and eventually into the Novo family.

3. Scotland’s Spiritual Landscape: Apathy, Isolation & Opportunity

Scotland is now less than 2% practicing Christian, functionally an unreached people group.
Old church buildings have become apartments, pubs, and event venues—mirroring a larger Western shift.
Barriers:
- Hyper-individualism
- Apathy and fear
- Post-truth culture
- Fragmented families & low belonging
Yet beneath it all lies spiritual hunger, especially among the poor and marginalized.

4. Movement in the Margins: Community, Business & Felt Needs

Adam and Matthew describe Glasgow as “the sick man of Europe”—poverty, addiction, violence, low life expectancy, and deep brokenness.
But the margins contain what affluent areas often lack: community, reliance, openness, belonging.
Matthew’s microchurch is forming a discipleship and enterprise hub in one of the city’s most vulnerable neighborhoods, using small businesses as a vehicle to:
- Meet felt needs (employment, identity, dignity)
- Build relational bridges
- Create apprenticeship-style discipleship pathways
This mirrors Jesus’ pattern: movement often starts in the margins and flows outward.

5. Identity Up for Grabs: A National Moment of Reset

The UK is experiencing a cultural struggle around identity—flags, nationalism, fear, and confusion.
But underneath the noise lies an opportunity for the Church to proclaim a deeper heritage:
- The UK’s spiritual roots trace back to Jesus, renewal movements, and communities of mission.
Matthew connects this moment to St. Columba, whose bands of missionaries planted communities across Scotland through relational disciple-making and signs and wonders.

6. What’s Next for Scotland & Europe?

Adam calls for small, faithful teams—people stubbornly committed to the harvest.
Scotland is not “hard ground”—Jesus says the harvest is plentiful.
The invitation: reclaim identity, form new teams, start microchurches, and step into a continent ready for grassroots renewal.

Final Thoughts

This episode is a reminder that God often starts big things in small, hidden places. Scotland’s story—marked by longing for family, rebuilding identity, and renewal in the margins—is a mirror of the Western world. Multiplying disciples begins with a few people saying “yes” to Jesus, rooting deeply in community, and showing up consistently among the spiritually hungry.

Whether in Kansas City or Glasgow, the call is the same: recover the simplicity of disciple-making, form spiritual families, and trust that God is stirring a new movement beneath the surface.