Gospel Movements with Taylor Smith

Nov 18

Episode Summary

In this episode of the KC Underground podcast, Cory and Brian interview Taylor Smith to explore the transformative power of community and faith. You’ll hear how Novo, a missionary sending organization, is fostering gospel movements across diverse contexts, from Dallas to Southern Africa. Taylor shares personal insights on spiritual growth, the importance of prayer, and the journey of equipping young believers to become disciple-makers.

Key Themes & Takeaways

1. A Second Conversion: From Knowledge to Power

Taylor describes his “second conversion” — moving from knowing about God to experiencing partnership with the Holy Spirit.
His time in Southern Africa exposed him to spiritual realities that reshaped his understanding of dependence, prayer, and obedience.
Returning home, he realized the same battle existed in Dallas — just hidden under busyness and comfort.

2. Activating Prayer: Training Everyday People for Spiritual Authority

NOVO’s Activating Prayer Cohort (formerly the Spiritual Authority Cohort) helps believers rediscover a biblical, experiential prayer life.
Six sessions explore what Jesus taught His disciples when He said, “Teach us to pray.”
Participants practice listening prayer, spiritual discernment, and everyday dependence on God’s voice.
The focus: not just praying more, but praying like Jesus — for the sake of others and the harvest.

3. How Revival Began in Dallas

During the pandemic, a group of empty-nesters began inviting lonely young adults to dinner.
These “supper clubs” became spaces of belonging — and soon, spaces of awakening.
The group walked through the Activating Prayer Cohort together.
- Round 1: 35 participants (14 completed).
- Round 2: 80 participants.
- Round 3: 140+ young adults.
The movement grew as participants encountered the Holy Spirit and started leading others.
“What began as loneliness became a wave of renewed intimacy with God.”

4. Building Teams, Not Just Gatherings

Instead of ending in community for community’s sake, NOVO Dallas helps believers form teams on mission.
These teams are equipped to bring God’s presence into workplaces, schools, neighborhoods, and cities.
Taylor emphasizes the Ephesians 4 model (APEST) — apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers working together.
The goal: train people for the harvest, not to keep them comfortable.

5. The Estuary Vision: Fresh Water Meets the Sea

God gave NOVO Dallas a prophetic image of an estuary — where fresh water (the local church) meets the salty sea (the harvest).
Their ministry space functions as this middle ground — a training and launching point for believers who want to step into mission.
The estuary has its own ecosystem: a mix of the organized and the organic, sacred and ordinary.

6. Lessons for Movement Leaders

Don’t build what you don’t need — let structure grow as fruit appears.
Spaces matter — new environments help people imagine new paradigms.
Prayer is the front door of movement — extraordinary prayer must come before extraordinary fruit.
Stay childlike — movements are born in dependency, not strategy.

Final Thoughts

This episode reminds us that movement is rarely linear, polished, or predictable. What God is doing in Dallas through Taylor and the Novo team is a living example of what happens when ordinary people rediscover prayer, identity, and authority, and then take simple risks together. Their story highlights something essential for every city: renewal doesn’t begin with strategy, but with people encountering Jesus, embracing His power, and stepping into the places He’s already moving.