On this episode of The Ephesiology Podcast, Andrew and Michael sit down with a church planter and missional leader in Canada to discuss what it means to plant churches in one of the most secular cities in Canada—Victoria, British Columbia. He shares his journey from planting a Soma church in the suburbs to moving into an urban neighborhood where traditional church models have largely disappeared. The conversation explores the challenges of engaging a post-Christian culture, the necessity of contextualization, and how to reimagine the form of church without compromising the mission of making disciples.
Show Notes
Key Topics Covered
- The shifting religious landscape in Canada and the decline of traditional church models
- Victoria, BC as a highly secular yet spiritually open community
- The tension between Western church planting strategies and making disciples in post-Christian contexts
- The need for innovation and contextualization in missional engagement
- Transition from a suburban church plant to an embedded urban missionary presence
- The importance of prayer, presence, and relationship-building before launching church structures
- How existing community rhythms can provide bridges for the gospel
Quotes from the Episode
- “We didn’t want to move here with answers to questions we weren’t even sure were being asked yet.”
- “Church planting isn’t about starting services; it’s about making disciples where people already are.” – Dr. Michael Cooper
- “Jesus is already at work in our neighborhoods. Our job is to open our eyes and join Him.”
Resources Mentioned
- Soma Church Planting & Missional Training – WeAreSoma.com
- Soma School (May 31 – June 5, 2025, Victoria, BC) – A six-day immersive training experience for church leaders and planters. Learrn more at WeAreSoma.com
- Ephesiology Masterclasses – Online courses exploring missiology, theology, and church planting (masterclasses.ephesiology.com)
Connect With Us
- Follow Ephesiology: Website | Twitter | Instagram
- Follow Andrew Johnson @thediscfan.bsky.social
If this episode encouraged you, please leave a review and share it with others exploring missional living in post-Christian contexts. Thanks for doing theology in community with us today!
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Our Podcasters
Michael is the missiologist in residence with East West where he focuses on equipping and empowering church leaders in evangelism, discipleship, leadership, and catalyzing church planting movements in the most difficult to reach places on the planet. He is the author of Ephesiology: The Study of the Ephesian Movement as well as many other books and academic articles. He has lectured at universities around the world and serves as affiliate faculty at Kairos University where he facilitates the degree programs in partnership with Ephesiology Master Classes.
Andrew is a proud husband, father and pastor who desires all to know the one true King. He is honored to serve at West Village Church in Victoria, BC. Previously, he’s ministered in Houston, Chicago, Indy, Flagstaff and Tempe in a variety of church contexts. Andrew has a BA in Christian Ministry from Trinity International University and an MA from Phoenix Seminary. He is currently a Doctor of Ministry student at Kairos University and is the co-host of the Ephesiology Podcast. When not at work, he’s an avid disc golfing, vinyl playing, Spider-Man following/collecting fellow. Go Pacers.
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Imagine a world where passionate, equipped Christian leaders spread God’s Word in areas with the greatest need—leaders grounded in both deep theology and practical ministry skills, trained to make a lasting impact in their communities. Through your support, this vision can become a reality for students from countries like Malawi, Tanzania, Kenya, Nepal, and India who are eager to teach and multiply disciple-makers in their own regions.
Ephesiology: A Study of the Ephesian Movement
If you want to understand principles for the growth of Christianity in the first century, the place to begin is the city of Ephesus. In this winsome study, Ephesiology offers readers a comprehensive view of the empowering work of the Holy Spirit in the most significant city of the New Testament, and compels us to ask the question: how can we effectively connect Christ to our culture?
“Masterfully handling the book of Ephesians and using its content as a definitive guide, Michael Cooper lays a theologically strong foundation that is both corrective and directive to disciple making movements. The principles he gleans from the book of Ephesians and related texts, help to ensure the on-going multiplication and maturation of a movement. Because these are supra-cultural principles, they are applicable anywhere in the world.”
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