In this Bonus Conversation, we invite our friend and co-laborer Lucas Pulley from the Tampa Underground to join the Hubology series and reflect on one of the most vital yet invisible roles in any decentralized movement: the servant equipper.
Lucas, Rob, and Brian swap stories, metaphors, and mischief (yes, including a cast-related fashion poll) while diving deep into how hub leaders serve the garden of God’s movement—not as generals or CEOs, but as gardeners, elders, and Spirit-led midwives of multiplication.
👉 Companion article:
🌱 Trellis and Vine: Why the Structure Isn’t the Point
At the heart of this conversation is the image of the trellis and the vine. Lucas shares why this gardening metaphor has shaped his view of leadership for years:
“A gardener doesn’t decide how they’ll spend the day—they walk the garden to find out what it needs.”
Unlike CEOs or generals who issue commands, servant equippers wake up in submission to the Spirit and the needs of the community. The trellis—the structure—exists only to support the wild, free growth of the vine.
And if it’s doing its job? You hardly notice it. As Rob puts it:
“Invisible leadership is the goal. No one should know we were even there—except Jesus.”
🛠 How We Equip the Servant-Equippers (aka Hub Leaders)
Whether in Kansas City or Tampa, hub leaders are spiritual mothers and fathers who live among the people, walk with disciple-makers, and ask: What’s needed here?
Here’s how we develop and support them:
Cohorts to frame the vision and calling
Relational weavings—structured and unstructured time together
Training on APEST and contextual coaching practices
Informal rhythms like shared meals and prayer huddles
Commissioning and community affirmation: “You’re in the family now”
But, as Lucas reminds us, don’t even consider building a hub team unless you’ve led a microchurch. You can’t build a trellis until you’ve planted something that needs one.
“If someone hasn’t multiplied a microchurch, they don’t need to lead a hub. The trellis must come after the vine.”
🧶 Elders and Hub Leaders: A Dance of Mutual Submission
In decentralized movements, we distinguish two kinds of leadership:
Governing Elders – reactive, offering spiritual care, guidance, and accountability
Hub Teams – proactive, listening to needs and designing ways to serve
Lucas breaks it down:
“The elders hold the community accountable to the commitments we’ve made to each other. The hub leaders build what’s needed to help the priesthood flourish.”
In Tampa, these groups overlap at key moments—seeking the word of the Lord together, aligning around shared discernment. In KC, we’re just beginning the slow, intentional work of multiplying elders in every collective.
It’s messy. It’s gray. But it’s good.
🚫 Don’t Build What You Don’t Need
If you’re at the start of a network, the advice is unanimous:
Don’t build it until you need it
Multiply a microchurch first
Let servant leadership emerge from what’s already real
“The yoke gets heavy when we try to fabricate instead of discern. All these roles—elders, hub teams, deacons—they’re just language for what’s already happening.”
📚 Next Steps
If this stirred something in you, here are some great ways to go deeper:
Read Tim Jore’s study on The Equipping Servants of the Early Church
Catch our previous Bonus Conversation: “When is it Time to Form a Hub Team?”
Join a KC Underground Intensive
And remember: everything begins with extraordinary prayer and fasting
🛐 As Lucas said, “You can do your absolute best—but if God doesn’t bring the rain, it’s all a waste of time.” So walk the garden. Listen for what’s already growing. And serve in rhythm with the Spirit.
💬 What’s growing in your context? What does the vine need next? Let us know in the comments.
📣 Tap the share button to encourage a leader who’s walking this path.
Grace and peace,
The StarfishyoU Team
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