The Starfish and the Church

Starfish Initiatives
  • 5.0 (10)
  • Religion & Spirituality
  • Updated Bimonthly

The Starfish and the Church podcast is a mix of interviews and storytelling where hosts Rob Wegner and Lance Ford explore a paradigm shift away from modern, hierarchical structures of leadership to a radical Jesus-centered, starfish approach. Like the podcast, check out more at thestarfishandthespirit.com

  1. 1d ago ·  Bonus

    Bonus Conversation: Rodrigo Cano on Microchurches, Collaboration, and the Gospel in Chicago

    In this Bonus Conversation of the Starfish and the Church podcast, Rob Wegner sits down with Rodrigo Cano of the Chicagoland Collective to explore disciple-making, microchurches, and gospel saturation across the complexity of Chicagoland. Beneath the stories of Aurora, house-to-house ministry, collaboration, and citywide networks is a deeper conversation about shifting from attraction to presence, planting disciple-makers instead of simply building programs, and what it looks like when the Church in a city begins acting like one Body. If you’re hungry for ordinary disciple-making, microchurches that emerge from real relationships, collaborative leadership, and an ecosystem vision for reaching whole cities with the love of Jesus, this conversation is for you. Join the StarfishyoU Substack for free at ⁠https://starfishyou.substack.com⁠. More from Rodrigo and the Chicagoland Collectivehttps://www.chicagolandcollective.com/ More from Community Christian Church Microchurcheshttps://www.communitychristian.org/microchurches

    44 min

  2. May 26

    A Church Without a Zip Code: A Bonus Conversation with Shane Boyd (Gathering of Nomads)

    In this Bonus Conversation of the Starfish and the Church podcast, Rob Wegner sits down with Shane Boyd of Gathering of Nomads to explore disciple-making, microchurches, and decentralized mission among America’s growing nomadic RV community. Beneath the stories of campfires, travel, and life on the road is a deeper conversation about planting people instead of churches, rediscovering the missionary nature of the Church, and what it looks like when the Gospel begins moving again at the speed of relationships. If you’re hungry for disciple-making that leads to multiplication, Jesus-shaped decentralized leadership, and simple missional expressions of the church, this conversation is for you. Join the StarfishyoU Substack for free at https://starfishyou.substack.com. More from Shane and the gathering of Nomads https://www.gatheringofnomads.com/

    44 min

  3. Apr 6 ·  Bonus

    A Bonus Conversation with Peyton Jones on Discipology: Coffee Cake, Christian Crack, and the Great Commission

    What if our discipleship isn’t actually making disciples? In this Bonus Conversation, Rob Wegner and Peyton Jones challenge some of the most common assumptions about discipleship in the modern church. From “coffee cake Christianity” to the Great Commission, they explore how Jesus formed His disciples, why disciple-making often gets pushed to the margins, and where real multiplication actually begins. If you’ve ever wondered why our systems don’t seem to produce movement, this conversation will hit close to home.

    1h 5m

  4. Feb 10 ·  Bonus

    Addicted to Addition, Made to Multiply with Brian Phipps

    What if the biggest barrier to church multiplication isn’t strategy—but identity? In this conversation, Rob Wegner and Brian Phipps dig beneath the surface of church growth to explore the deeper discipleship, healing, and leadership shifts required to move from addition to multiplication. They talk honestly about why multiplication is often slower, more personal, and more costly than leaders expect—and why obedience to Jesus matters more than competence or scale. Drawing from Brian’s new book, Breaking the Addition Addiction, the conversation surfaces the heart-level issues that shape how leaders measure success, share ownership, and form disciples who actually reproduce. Together, they wrestle with questions every leader eventually faces: Why does multiplication feel so elusive? What has to heal in us before multiplication can happen through us? How do we release control and invite shared ownership without losing clarity or faithfulness? This episode is especially for leaders who sense that something in the prevailing church growth narrative doesn’t quite line up with the way of Jesus—and are ready to imagine a more faithful, decentralized, disciple-making future. Resources & Next Steps 👉 Join the StarfishyoU Substack for free:https://starfishyou.substack.com You’ll get access to free articles, assessments, tools, and reflections to help you pursue: Jesus-shaped, decentralized leadership Disciple-making that leads to multiplication Simple, missional expressions of the church If you’re tired of chasing numbers and hungry for lasting fruit, this conversation is for you.

    54 min

  5. 06/30/2025

    🎙️ Apostles: Generals, Gardeners…or Something Else?

    🎙️ Apostles: Generals, Gardeners…or Something Else? In this Bonus Conversation, Rob Wegner, Alan Hirsch, and Brian Johnson gather over pizza to explore why apostolic leadership has become a crossroads moment for the Church. They unpack two radically different visions: apostles as empire-building generals vs. apostles as humble architects who cultivate Gospel ecosystems. From Alan’s personal stories (including being recruited by a secret dominionist cabal) to reflections on the Seven Mountains Mandate, this conversation names the tensions—and offers a better way forward. Listen in as they discuss: The dangers of power and platform without accountability Why we need both Pauline (pioneering) and Petrine (remissionalizing) apostles How dominion language drifts from the way of Jesus Practical steps for living into decentralized, relational, generative leadership 💡 For more resources, articles, and tools, visit starfishyou.substack.com.

    23 min

  6. 06/18/2025

    Bonus Conversation: Same Vocabulary, Different Spirit

    Bonus Conversation: Same Vocabulary, Different Spirit What happens when the same fivefold vocabulary is used—but fueled by a radically different spirit? In this episode, Rob Wegner, Brian Johnson, and Alan Hirsch dive into the fork in the road facing the Church today. On one side: the rise of the New Apostolic Reformation, steeped in hierarchy, dominion theology, and Christian nationalism. On the other: the Spirit-distributed, Jesus-shaped model of Ephesians 4 ministry—where power is cruciform and every disciple is activated. This conversation unpacks why fivefold leadership isn’t just a theological side note—it’s a discipleship crisis, a leadership reckoning, and a call to rewild the Church. Same vocabulary. Different spirit. Totally different outcomes. 🔗 Read the full companion article and join the conversation at starfishyou.substack.com

    25 min

  7. 06/04/2025 ·  Bonus

    Bonus Conversation: The Rise of the Servant Equippers (ft. Lucas Pulley)

    Bonus Conversation: The Rise of the Servant Equippers (ft. Lucas Pulley) Episode Description:What kind of leadership helps movements multiply without losing their soul? In this Bonus Conversation from the Hubology series, Rob, Brian, and Lucas Pulley (Tampa Underground) unpack the hidden role of servant equipers—those who quietly cultivate health, support microchurch leaders, and build only the structures the vine actually needs. They explore the power of invisible leadership, the difference between hub teams and governing elders, and why you should never build what you don’t yet need. Whether you’re planting your first microchurch or navigating how to scale a decentralized network, this conversation offers grounded wisdom, practical frameworks, and a whole lot of laughter (and hot pink cast drama). 🎧 More conversations, articles, and resources at: https://starfishyou.substack.com #microchurch #disciplemaking #movementleadership #decentralizedchurch #starfishandthespirit

    29 min

  8. 05/15/2025 ·  Bonus

    🎙️ When Is a Hub Team Needed? Timing, Tension, and Trusting the Spirit

    In this bonus episode, Rob and Brian tackle one of the most pivotal questions in movement leadership: When is it time to form a hub team? Drawing from years of experience with the Kansas City Underground, they explore why starting with structure can sabotage multiplication—and how waiting on the Spirit’s timing creates space for healthy, decentralized networks to flourish. You’ll hear stories, biblical insights, and practical frameworks for discerning the right time to equip, coach, and convene through a hub team. Plus, learn about our free Hub Development Cohort and the KC Underground Intensive coming this summer. 👂 What You’ll Learn:– Why forming a hub too early can kill a movement– The three core functions of every hub team– How to recognize emerging servant-equipers in your city– The role of extraordinary prayer and fasting in network formation 📍 For more: starfishyou.substack.com🌐 Apply for the next Hub Cohort: kcunderground.org

    24 min
See All (45)

5
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

The Starfish and the Church podcast is a mix of interviews and storytelling where hosts Rob Wegner and Lance Ford explore a paradigm shift away from modern, hierarchical structures of leadership to a radical Jesus-centered, starfish approach. Like the podcast, check out more at thestarfishandthespirit.com

Information

  • Creator
    Starfish Initiatives
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    45
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Starfish Initiatives
  • Show Website
    The Starfish and the Church

You Might Also Like