Welcome back to the second episode of our series exploring the history and heartbeat of the Soma family of churches! In this conversation, we pick up right after the launch of the first four missional communities in 2004. We sit down for a deeply transparent look at the "momentum years"—a season marked by massive expansion, structural breakthroughs, and the raw leadership realities that shaped our movement.

Jeff opens up about the early days of trial and error in Tacoma, admitting that the team didn't start with a perfect roadmap. Because of his highly intuitive leadership style, they quickly realized that a fluid, week-by-week approach wasn't easily reproducible. Discover how this realization, paired with the structural insight of Caesar Kalinowski and the theological influence of The Crowded House (Tim Chester and Steve Timmis), birthed the foundational "Gospel Operating System" framework. Jeff breaks down the critical shift toward grounding everyday discipleship in our fundamental baptismal identity—Family, Servant, Missionary—and filtering life through core gospel questions.

We also explore the origin of the "everyday rhythms of life". Jeff takes us back to a raw whiteboard session in a downtown Tacoma warehouse where they mapped out the ordinary things human beings do no matter what—eating, celebrating, listening, and recreating—and infused them with gospel intentionality. You'll hear the inspiring story of the Shakabrah, a beloved local diner that the team bought out of back taxes to bless the community, which unexpectedly transformed into a vibrant hub for local artists, musicians, and missional business expressions.

But a true movement story isn't just a highlight reel. With refreshing candor, Jeff and Paul pull back the curtain on the painful realities of church conflict, the traps of valuing competency over character, and the hard lessons learned through leadership transitions. They openly share their own personal journey of relational breakdown and subsequent gospel reconciliation, modeling what it looks like to move from systemic self-protection to true intimacy in the body of Christ.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

1. The structural architecture behind building a coaching network and the "Training Wheel" framework.
2. How "Breakfast Clubs" unlocked neighbor engagement by using Sunday mornings for local hospitality.
3. The birth of Soma School, an immersive, everyday learning experience that has trained thousands of leaders worldwide.
4. How Redemption Groups and DNA Groups were introduced as necessary shepherding structures for soul care.
5. Radical lessons on shared leadership, dying to ego, and keeping Jesus at the true head of the church.

Website: We Are Soma (Connect with regional leaders and find equipping opportunities).