"Collaboration is the most needed technology."
"No great Kingdom thing happens alone."
In this episode of The Starfish and the Church podcast, hosts Lance Ford and Rob Wegner sit down with Brian Sanders, a visionary social entrepreneur and founder of the Underground Network. Together, they dive into Brian’s inspiring journey to faith, the transformative power of collaboration in leadership, and the urgent call for unity within the church.
Brian challenges us to pursue what he calls a “Moonshot”—a transcendent, audacious goal that unites diverse partners on a shared mission. Like NASA rallying an entire nation to land on the moon, the church can rally around a Kingdom mission that transcends individual organizations, networks, or churches. But how do we move toward this kind of radical collaboration? And why should we?
The conversation also explores the future of microchurches and the paradigm shift from hierarchical systems to dynamic, networked communities—a model rooted in relational connection, collaboration, and shared mission.
Be sure to check out tomorrow’s Starfish Principles article, where we’ll unpack the Five Keys to Collaboration and how they can shape your leadership and community. This is an article that will fuel your soul, and be a great conversation piece for your team.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Brian Sanders and His Work
03:00 Brian's Journey to Faith and Collaboration
06:09 Understanding COHATCH and Its Mission
09:12 The Importance of Collaboration in Leadership
11:58 The Need for Unity and Collaboration in the Church
15:01 Developing Collaborative Skills in Leadership
18:12 The Shift from Hierarchical to Collaborative Leadership
21:04 The Role of Exhaustion in Leadership Transformation
24:09 The Biblical Basis for Collaboration
26:52 The Challenge of Articulating a Unified Church Vision
29:47 The Power of Transcendent Goals in Collaboration
32:52 NASA as a Model for Collaboration
35:51 Stories of Hope in Collaborative Communities
39:09 The Future of Microchurches and Networked Communities
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