In this episode of Teach Us to Pray, Brian and Cory sit down with Kansas City Underground Hub Leader Lori Roy to talk about her journey of learning to pray, and what she’s seen God do through years of persistent prayer. Lori shares how she came to faith after moving to Kansas City, how praying Scripture became a lifeline as she prayed for her husband and family, and how her understanding of prayer grew into listening to and responding to the Holy Spirit. We explore the importance of giving people permission to be clumsy in prayer, modeling simple prayer for new disciples, and creating spaces where everyday people can learn to hear from God.

In this episode of the KC Underground podcast, Brian and Cory are joined by Zach Duke, disciple-maker and movement leader, for a conversation that weaves together prayer, obedience, and an unexpected journey onto the soccer field. As part of the Teach Us to Pray series, Zach shares the remarkable story of how a simple prompting from Jesus led him from years of illness and discouragement into a season of radical obedience, one that eventually opened doors to professional soccer, international competition, and disciple-making opportunities around the world. More than a story about sports, this conversation explores what happens when ordinary people learn to listen for the voice of God and respond with simple faithfulness. Zach reflects on lessons learned through prayer, the practice of hearing God's voice, and the power of priestly prayer to bless, protect, and intercede for others. Through stories of transformation, disciple-making, and unexpected encounters with God, this episode offers a vision of a life shaped by prayerful dependence and courageous obedience.

In this episode of the KC Underground podcast, Brian and Cory are joined by Lissa Hinman, a disciple-making leader with Phoenix Underground and New Generations, whose life and ministry have been shaped by a growing passion for movement prayer. Together, they continue the Teach Us to Pray series by exploring the connection between prayer, spiritual formation, and the advancement of God’s kingdom. Lissa shares from her own journey of helping catalyze prayer across North America, offering insight into what it means to move beyond viewing prayer as a secondary practice and instead see it as the starting point, the spearhead of everything God is doing. This conversation invites us to consider prayer not only as a personal discipline, but as participation in a spiritual battle where disciples are formed and movements begin. Lissa emphasizes the importance of starting with our own lives, learning to discern distractions, walk in obedience, and engage God with simple, faithful steps. As the conversation unfolds, the invitation becomes clear: prayer is not reserved for the experienced or the equipped, but for anyone willing to step into relationship with Jesus and join Him in what He is already doing.

In this episode of the KC Underground podcast, Brian and Cory are joined by David Hinman, a disciple-making leader with New Generations and Phoenix Underground, whose journey has been shaped by both movement strategy and a deepening hunger for the presence of God. Together, they continue the conversation on extraordinary prayer by exploring what distinguishes prayer that fuels movements from what many of us have experienced in the West. David shares from his own story of hitting a wall, moving from activity and ambition into a growing awareness that fruitfulness flows from abiding union with Jesus. This conversation invites us to examine the gap between talking about prayer and becoming people of prayer. Drawing on global movement contexts, David helps reframe prayer not as a supporting practice, but as the environment where disciple-making is born, sustained, and multiplied. What if the invitation is not simply to pray more, but to be formed differently, to live from intimacy, dependence, and a shared longing for God’s kingdom to take root in real people and places?

In this episode of the KC Underground podcast, Brian and BrianJames explore a challenging idea: God gives promises, and God gives commands,and confusing the two can shape the entire direction of our lives. Reflecting on the story of Abraham and their own experiences in ministry and leadership, they wrestle with the tension between believing what God will do and trying to make it happen ourselves. They invite us back to a slower, more grounded posture of faithfulness: listening for what God is asking today, trusting Him with what only He can accomplish, and learning to abide rather than produce. The result is not passivity, but a deeper participation in the work God is already doing.

In this episode of the KC Underground podcast, Brian and BrianJames McMahon continue their conversation on experience, imagination, and hope, moving from framework into practice. Together, they explore why transformation so often stalls, namely, because people lack the experiences needed to imagine a different way of life. They unpack how real change happens when we go beyond just explanation, and into embodied moments that create new possibilities. This episode brings the conversation into the practical rhythms of life, like exploring the importance of slowing down, breaking leadership into micro-skills, building imagination at the right pace, and creating environments where people can actually experience the life we’re inviting them into. The question for this episode is: where are we cultivating the kinds of experiences that lead to real hope and lasting transformation?

In this episode of the KC Underground podcast, Brian is joined by BrianJames McMahon for a conversation that moves beneath strategy and into formation. Together, they explore the relationship between experience, imagination, and hope, and why so many efforts toward disciple-making and microchurch life stall when imagination has not first been cultivated. The conversation revolves around the idea that we cannot hope for what we cannot imagine, and we cannot imagine what we have not experienced. Drawing from lived moments, theological insight, and the everyday challenges of movemental leadership, this conversation invites us to reconsider how change actually happens. Rather than trying to convince or compel, they point toward the slow, intentional work of creating experiences and reflecting on them, allowing imagination to grow and hope to take root.

In this episode of the KC Underground podcast, Brian sits down with Morgan Greer during the recent Microchurch Conference to reflect on what stood out while gathering with microchurch leaders and networks from across the country and around the world. Morgan shares how hearing diverse stories of disciple-making, welcoming the stranger, and experimenting with new expressions of mission reminded him of the freedom and beauty of following Jesus in creative, contextual ways. He also reflects on moving through fear and hostility toward genuine hospitality, what it means to stay present to the work of the Holy Spirit, and how ordinary faithfulness in places like juvenile detention centers can become a meaningful witness to the kingdom. Morgan encourages listeners to keep listening to Jesus, keep experimenting, and keep taking simple steps of obedience toward the people and places God is putting on their hearts.

In this episode of the KC Underground podcast, Brian sits down with Bre Wiebe during the recent Microchurch Conference in Tampa, Florida to reflect on what she learned alongside hundreds of leaders exploring the theme of hospitality. Bre shared how the call to “call the party” and create space at the table is reshaping her vision for welcoming neighbors, loving the stranger, and practicing everyday hospitality in her own home and neighborhood. She also reflected on the courage required to step out in faith, whether inviting people to the table, welcoming the work of the Holy Spirit in gatherings, or moving past fear to engage the people God places around us. Bre encourages listeners to rediscover the power of simple hospitality and to take one step toward welcoming the stranger in their own everyday lives.

In this episode of the KC Underground podcast, Brian sits down with Chris and Renee Renshaw during the recent Microchurch Conference in Tampa, Florida to reflect on what they’re hearing and experiencing alongside hundreds of leaders exploring the theme of hospitality. Chris and Renee share insights about welcoming God into everyday life, practicing hospitality within marriage and community, and discovering how simple acts of presence can create spaces of belonging in places like Raytown. They also reflect on what it means to stay faithful in the rhythms of disciple-making, learning to show grace to yourself in the process, and how creating “living room” spaces in a city can open new pathways for connection, community, and mission.

In this episode of the KC Underground podcast, Brian and Cory explore the biblical foundation and practical aspects of church as family, emphasizing the importance of relational, spiritual, and mission-driven community in disciple-making and movement growth. It highlights how family dynamics shape our understanding of church, leadership, and multiplication in the Western context.

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.

In this episode, Brian and Cory wrap up this series around the Upside Down Kingdom and share insights from the past several episodes. We discuss the concept of greatness in the kingdom of God, emphasizing that true leadership is rooted in servanthood and familial relationships. The conversation explores the challenges of multiplication and the importance of identity in leadership, as well as practical examples of how to develop leaders in a way that reflects the values of the kingdom.

In this episode, Brian and Cory interview Tim Jore and Jesse Griffin as we explore the themes of leadership, church structure, and the role of the church as a family. Tim and Jesse have written extensively about how we view leadership in the church and the necessity of understanding what the original authors of the New Testament were communicating to us about how we lead the church in a modern context.

In this episode, Brian and Cory interview Neil Cole and delve into the themes of leadership, church movements, and the importance of relationships over hierarchical structures. They discuss the fear of chaos in leadership, the need for authenticity and vulnerability, and the transformative power of love in the Kingdom of God. Neil shares his personal journey of faith and the lessons learned through years of silence and dependence on Christ. The conversation emphasizes the need for a decentralized approach to church leadership that empowers individuals and fosters genuine community.

In this episode, Brian and Cory interview Roy Moran and explore the paradoxes of leadership in the context of Jesus' teachings. We discuss the shift from celebrity culture to a more humble, servant-oriented leadership style, emphasizing the importance of empowering ordinary people to lead and make disciples. The conversation highlights global perspectives on discipleship, the role of humility in leadership, and the vision for future leadership that prioritizes community and collaboration over status.

In this episode, Cory and Brian interview Alan Hirsch and explore the dynamics of kingdom movements, emphasizing the importance of decentralized leadership and the dangers of centralized power structures. We discuss the significance of metaphors in understanding movements, the cultural implications of fame in leadership, and practical insights for ordinary disciple makers. We also highlight the need for a shift from consumer-driven church models to organic, community-focused movements that prioritize discipleship and service.

In part two of this two-part episode, Nadim Costa shares his insights on leadership, cultural differences, and the importance of personal faith in ministry. He discusses the challenges of applying Western leadership models in different cultural contexts, the role of theology in ministry, and the transformative power of serving marginalized communities, particularly the disabled in the Middle East. Nadim emphasizes the need for a personal relationship with God and encourages listeners to make themselves available to serve others without limitations.

In part one of this two-part episode, Cory and Brian interview Nadim Costa who shares his profound journey from Lebanon's civil war to a dynamic faith in Christ. He discusses the paradoxes of leadership in the context of the Upside Down Kingdom, emphasizing that God often chooses the unlikely over the powerful. Through transformative stories and encounters, Nadim illustrates how God is moving in unexpected ways, particularly in the Middle East, and challenges listeners to embrace a faith that is interactive and alive.

In this episode, we interview Rob Wegner and talk about the contrasting paradigms of leadership as exemplified by Jesus and the prevalent models in American churches. We explore everything from the dangers of volunteerism that leads to a domesticated version of mission, the temptation of leadership roles, and the importance of choosing obscurity over fame. We also highlight the significance of being rooted in community and the transformative power of ordinary people in the mission of the church.