KCU Podcast

Discover how to live as everyday disciple-makers in Kansas City and beyond. Through real stories, practical tools, and inspiring conversations, we equip you to Get to Know KCU, Train as Missionaries, and Multiply Disciple-Makers. Join us as we explore what it means to bring the beauty, justice, and Good News of Jesus to where you live, work, learn, and play.

Prayer & Spiritual Formation Brian Johnson Prayer & Spiritual Formation Brian Johnson

Teach Us to Pray with Jack Price

In this episode of the KC Underground podcast, Brian and Cory are joined by Jack Price, disciple-maker and global coach with Novo, for a conversation about cultivating a life of prayer that naturally overflows into disciple-making. As part of the Teach Us to Pray series, Jack reflects on growing up in a family where prayer, listening to God, and making disciples were woven into everyday life. From prayer walking school hallways and leading Discovery Bible Studies as a teenager to seeing God move across college campuses and among unreached communities around the world, Jack shares how learning to hear God's voice has shaped every season of his journey. This episode explores what it means to become the kind of person who expects God to speak and is willing to respond with simple obedience. Jack, Brian, and Cory discuss listening prayer, prayer walking, spiritual discernment, and the patient work of partnering with the Holy Spirit over months and even years. Through stories of transformation, healing, and disciple-making, this episode offers a vision of prayer not as preparation for mission, but as the very way we discover where Jesus is already at work and faithfully join Him in the harvest.

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Prayer & Spiritual Formation Brian Johnson Prayer & Spiritual Formation Brian Johnson

Teach Us to Pray with Todd Kangas

In this episode of the KC Underground podcast, Brian and Cory are joined by Todd Kangas, disciple-maker and prayer practitioner, for a conversation about healing prayer, hearing God's voice, and the courage to step into the mission of Jesus. As part of the Teach Us to Pray series, Todd reflects on a lifetime of learning to pray with expectancy, from his own conversion during the Jesus Movement to decades of praying for healing in workplaces, gyms, neighborhoods, and everyday conversations. Along the way, he shares stories of God's faithfulness while honestly wrestling with the mystery of unanswered prayers and the reality of suffering. This episode explores how prayer flows from a deep confidence in God's love and an identity rooted in Christ. Todd, Brian, and Cory discuss listening prayer, overcoming the fear of man, and the simple obedience of joining the Holy Spirit wherever He is already at work.

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Prayer & Spiritual Formation Brian Johnson Prayer & Spiritual Formation Brian Johnson

Teach Us to Pray with Tim Schuck

In this episode of the KC Underground podcast, Brian and Cory are joined by Tim Schuck, director of Novo’s Activating Prayer Cohort and host of the Called Beyond podcast, for a conversation about prayer as a lived relationship with God. As part of the Teach Us to Pray series, Tim shares his own unexpected story of how a skeptical homebuilder encountered Jesus through a simple listening prayer exercise,an experience that reshaped his understanding of God's voice and ultimately redirected the course of his life and ministry. More than a conversation about prayer techniques, this episode explores what happens when ordinary followers of Jesus begin to embrace their identity as sons and daughters of God who are invited to hear His voice and join His mission. Tim, Brian, and Cory reflect on listening prayer, spiritual authority, identity, and the everyday practice of partnering with the Holy Spirit beyond the walls of the church. Through stories of awakening, disciple-making, and faithful obedience, this episode offers an invitation to move beyond simply believing that God speaks and into the adventure of listening, responding, and discovering the unique calling He has placed on every life.

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Prayer & Spiritual Formation Brian Johnson Prayer & Spiritual Formation Brian Johnson

Teach Us to Pray with Zach Duke

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.

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Prayer & Spiritual Formation Brian Johnson Prayer & Spiritual Formation Brian Johnson

Teach Us to Pray with Lissa Hinman

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.

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Microchurch Conference: Jerry from the E-2 Hub

In this episode of the KC Underground podcast, Brian sits down with Jerry from the E-2 Hub to continue reflecting on the recent Microchurch Conference and what God is doing through disciple-makers in diverse and often transient contexts. Jerry shares his story of encountering Jesus through the ordinary faithfulness of his uncle, and how that moment reshaped his understanding of calling and ministry. As a military chaplain, Jerry reflects on the shift from trying to force ministry into familiar forms to embracing a simpler, relational way of joining Jesus, leading to multiplying communities in unexpected places. He also shares how the KC Underground family has provided grounding across constant change, and encourages listeners to stay attentive to the Holy Spirit, trusting that simple obedience can have far-reaching impact.

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Microchurch & Spiritual Family Brian Johnson Microchurch & Spiritual Family Brian Johnson

Microchurch Conference: Morgan Greer

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.

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Formed in Mission with Rick and Alice

In this episode of the KC Underground podcast, Cory and Brian interview Rick and Alice as they share their journey of disciple-making from Street Church to the Nursing Home, and how God transforms lives through simple acts of love and faith. Rick and Alice share their learning on engaging communities, building family-like relationships, and stepping out in obedience to join Jesus where He is working.

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Shift 7: Think Disciple To and Through Conversion, Don’t Think Evangelism then Discipleship

In this episode, Brian and Cory continue on in the series where we discuss the paradigm shifts necessary for catalyzing disciple-making movements. This week we emphasize the importance of viewing discipleship as an ongoing process that begins before conversion. We do critique traditional evangelism strategies that separate conversion from discipleship and highlight the need for a more integrated approach that focuses on community, obedience, and transformation. We also explore a bit of our understanding on the nature of conversion and the importance of creating environments where individuals can encounter God and grow in their faith.

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Shift 3: Think Obedience-Based Disciple-Making

In this episode, Brian and Cory explore the paradigm shift of thinking about obedience over knowledge in disciple-making. It’s not that we want to ignore knowledge. We just want to emphasize that transformation does not come from knowledge alone. True maturity in Jesus involves not only knowing about Jesus, but doing as Jesus did. We’ve rooted so much of our disciple-making in the West in classroom environments. Jesus rooted disciple-making in lived experiences where his followers learned to do what He called them to do as they ushered in the Kingdom of God.

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