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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• Function vs. Form: Honoring biblical commands while having the freedom to adapt outdated structures.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

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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 confront one of the most overlooked yet vital components of sustainable disciple-making: Spirit Empowerment.

Paul and Justin open with an honest critique of modern evangelicalism's tendency to replace the Trinity with the "Father, Son, and Holy Scripture"—treating ministry as a predictable formula of human execution rather than a supernatural partnership. Turning to Romans 12, they explore how the indwelling Holy Spirit empowers everyday believers with distinct gifts to function as one interconnected body. When we strive in our own strength, ministry leads to pride, exhaustion, and burnout; but when we operate in our Spirit-given gifts, ordinary life becomes an extraordinary witness.

In the second half, Justin sits down with Brett Donald, church planter of Church 414 in Victoria, BC. Coming from a Pentecostal background combined with formal theological training, Brett offers a grounded perspective on integrating "Word and Spirit" and "Power and Plans".

Using the metaphor of a sailboat, Brett explains how strategic frameworks and intentional pathways help us raise the sails, but only the breath and wind of the Holy Spirit can move the vessel forward. He shares real-life testimonies of God changing hearts beyond intellectual arguments and outlines practical tools like S.H.A.P.E. groups (Scripture, Hearing, Action, Prayer, Exaltation) to help disciples cultivate the habit of listening to God's voice in everyday community.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• Breaking Striving: Why the Holy Spirit is the only antidote to ministry exhaustion and burnout.
• Romans 12 & Spiritual Gifts: Right-sizing our roles and valuing unseen members of the body.
• Word & Spirit Harmony: Moving past the false dichotomy between biblical theology and charismatic power.
• The Sailboat Paradigm: Combining strategic intentionality with total dependence on the breath of God.
• Hearing & Obeying: How S.H.A.P.E. journaling and listening prayer train disciples to tune into God's frequency.
• Overcoming Fear: Moving past the fear of "weirdness" to embrace the good gifts the Father promises.

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!