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Welcome back to our series unpacking the foundational values of the Soma family of churches! In this episode, hosts Justin Westcott and Paul Dean dive deep into one of the most vital yet counterintuitive kingdom dynamics: Multiplication.

Drawing from Acts 1:7–8 and Colossians 1:3–14, Paul and Justin unpack why genuine multiplication is fundamentally distinct from programmatic church addition. Addition attempts to scale ministries through charismatic stage personalities, central pastoral hubs, and professional staff. Multiplication, however, is rooted in the doctrine of the Trinity and the priesthood of all believers—relying on the Holy Spirit who indwells, gifts, and empowers every follower of Jesus. Looking at Paul’s apostolic network in Romans 16 (including Priscilla, Aquila, Phoebe, and Epaphras), they reveal that the spread of the gospel across the Mediterranean was always the work of a whole body, not a solitary hero.

In the second half of the episode, Justin and Paul are joined by Ben Connelly, church planter in Fort Worth, Texas, and director of The Equipping Group. Ben examines how the conversation around church multiplication has matured over the past two decades. He pushes back against the early missional trend that treated church planting as the only "varsity" ministry, calling the church to broaden its vision by multiplying disciples and everyday ministers across ordinary life.

Ben and Justin unpack the difference between inward "input metrics" (attendance, giving) and outward "output metrics" (raising up leaders, releasing people to minister). Ben outlines how true leader development happens not through sterile classroom lectures, but through hands-on apprenticeship—breaking down training into a balanced third of content, a third of reflection, and a third of practical application.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• Acts 1 & Colossians 1: How the gospel bears fruit and multiplies through ordinary saints.
• Culture Over Strategy: Why a contagious culture of honor, belonging, and hard conversations outlasts mere techniques.
• Breaking the Pastoral Bottleneck: Moving from the pastor as the single hub to training decentralized community shepherds.
• The Slow Growth of an Oak: Rejecting "microwave" church trends to embrace the patient, generational pace of discipleship.
• The "I See in You" Framework: Discovering, naming, and nurturing spiritual gifts in community.
• Apprenticeship in Action: The Equipping Group’s rule of thirds: content, reflection, and practicum.

About Soma: Soma is a family of churches across North America and around the world working toward gospel saturation. We are passionate about connecting, equipping, and mobilizing disciple-makers to live out the gospel in community on the mission of Jesus in everyday life.

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Welcome back to our series unpacking the core values of the Soma family of churches! In this episode, hosts Justin Westcott and Paul Dean dive into one of our most easily misunderstood convictions: Always Being Reformed.

Paul and Justin clarify that this value is not about tribal Calvinist-versus-Arminian theological debates. Instead, it reflects a posture of radical devotion to the Word of God and a humble willingness to follow wherever Scripture leads. Rooted in Colossians 3:12–13, they explore how theological stewardship requires patience, mutual submission, and the grace to make allowances for each other’s blind spots. They distinguish between unchanging, non-negotiable "hills to die on" (historic creeds and the Lausanne Covenant) and secondary forms that must adapt across generations to serve the mission of Jesus.

In the second half, Justin sits down with Jared Pickney, lead pastor of The Crossing in Paragould, Arkansas. Jared shares his journey of church planting in his rural hometown and leading through cultural shifts. He tackles the danger of turning missional models into untouchable "sacred cows," explaining how his church equipped missional communities with practical discipleship pathways.

Jared unpacks his five essential ingredients for continuous kingdom reformation: Humility, Curiosity, Creativity, Adaptability, and Audacity. Drawing from Canoeing the Mountains and the wisdom of childlike faith, Jared and Justin remind leaders that God is seeking our perfection —He is a loving Father who delights in partnering with us as we build, adapt, and experiment in His name.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• What "Always Being Reformed" Really Means: Posture over tribalism, guided by Scripture and Colossians 3.
• Function vs. Form: Honoring biblical commands while having the freedom to adapt outdated structures.
• Dismantling Sacred Cows: Why church planters must avoid imposing rigid, one-size-fits-all missional models.
• The Five Ingredients of Reformation: Humility, Curiosity, Creativity, Adaptability, and Audacity.
• Childlike Faith Over Perfectionism: Embracing the freedom to experiment and fail forward in ministry.
• Spiritual Gifts & Calling: Discovering God's design through holy passion, burden, and community practice.

Connect & Support

Website: We Are Soma (Connect with regional leaders and browse equipping resources).

Support: Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube and leave us a review!

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Welcome back to our series unpacking the foundational values of the Soma family of churches! In this episode, hosts Justin Westcott and Paul Dean dive into one of our most challenging and urgent convictions: Kingdom Collaboration.

Paul and Justin anchor the conversation in John 17, unpacking Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer where He pleads that His disciples would be one, just as the Father and Son are one, so that the world may believe. Moving beyond the tragic history of Christian infighting, sectarian competition, and logo-protecting tribalism, they discuss how kingdom collaboration requires setting aside ego to display a functional spiritual family. They break down the essential difference between unity and uniformity, showing how clarifying core doctrine (like the Apostles' Creed or Lausanne Covenant) allows distinct church families to partner across secondary differences without compromising their convictions.

In the second half, Justin and Paul welcome Tim Gray, Soma regional leader for the Lower Midwest, director of the St. Louis Collective, and co-leader with the Servant Leader Institute (SLI). Tim shares decades of hard-won wisdom collaborating on the ground in the St. Louis metro area alongside Acts 29, the Send Network (SBC), and independent churches.

Tim shares inspiring real-world stories of unity in action: from cross-denominational leader residencies and shared baptismal pools after natural disasters, to joint prayer walks through historically broken and violent neighborhoods like East St. Louis with Pastor Kempton Turner. Together, they issue a bold challenge to church leaders: kill the comfort idol, embrace the relational risk, and remember that our oneness in Christ is the church’s greatest apologetic to a watching world.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• The John 17 Mandate: Why our unity is directly tied to the credibility of the gospel message.
• Unity vs. Uniformity: Partnering deeply on primary truths while holding secondary issues in grace.
• The "Hills to Die On" Framework: Establishing doctrinal clarity to collaborate with freedom and wisdom.
• Dispatches from St. Louis: How the Servant Leader Institute equips planters across diverse networks without poaching leaders.
• Disaster Relief & Baptisms: Beautiful stories of churches sharing buildings and resources after crisis.
• The Cost of Risk: Why stepping into messy relational partnerships is the only antidote to cynicism and pride.

About Soma: Soma is a family of churches across North America and around the world working toward gospel saturation. We are passionate about connecting, equipping, and mobilizing disciple-makers to live out the gospel in community on the mission of Jesus in everyday life.

Connect & Support

• Website: We Are Soma (Connect with regional leaders and find equipping resources).
• Support: Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube and leave us a review!

Co-Hosts: Justin Westcott and Paul Dean

Produced by Zach Smith