What if the greatest barrier to kingdom collaboration isn’t theology—but ego?
In this episode, we sit down with leaders from GACX (Global Alliance for Church Multiplication) to explore a radically different vision of partnership—one that doesn’t begin with “what do I gain?” but with “what can I give?” From global church planting networks to theological education, we wrestle with a provocative idea: real collaboration may require us not just to win—but to lose. And in that loss, discover how the kingdom actually advances.
Keywords:
Church multiplication, GACX, Global mission networks, Missiology, Kingdom collaboration, Partnership theology, Church planting movements, Theological education, Missional leadership, Younger leaders in mission, Organizational discipleship, Collaboration vs competition, Unreached people groups, Microchurch / movement ecclesiology, Competency-based theological education.
Sound Bites
- “Partnership is not pragmatic—it’s theological.”
- “If I come to the table to lose… and you come to lose… then the kingdom wins.”
- “The first question is not how you benefit—but how others benefit from you.”
- “Collaboration is part of the DNA of the kingdom—the struggle is the ‘how.’”
- “What would it look like for an organization to have a cruciform strategy?”
- “We’re not about our thing—we’re about His thing.”
- “We don’t just want multiplying churches—we want sustainable ones.”
- “Maybe the future isn’t choosing between models—but building bridges between them.”
Key Takeaways
- Partnership must be re-theologized
- The “lose-win” paradigm
- Collaboration requires structure, not just desire
- The power of collective action
- Organizational discipleship
- The emerging gap: movements vs. theological education
- The future is both/and
- Younger leaders need access
Chapters
(Based on transcript timing)
00:00 – Opening + Prayer
Setting the tone: mission, Jesus, and kingdom focus
01:40 – Episode Intro + Guests
Joey Shaw & Valerie Hamilton (GACX)
04:00 – Humanizing the Guests
Poetry, basketball, third-culture identity
11:00 – What is GACX?
Vision: a church for every 1,000 people
Collaboration over duplication
13:00 – The Challenge of Partnership
Why collaboration is hard in practice
15:00 – Rethinking Partnership
From “win-win” → “lose-win”
20:00 – A Case Study in Kingdom Collaboration
Real-time resource sharing across organizations
24:00 – Personal Reflection on Ego & Leadership
The hidden struggle behind collaboration
25:00 – Future Vision of GACX
Initiative groups, global forums, younger leaders
29:00 – Organizational Discipleship
Can institutions live cruciform lives?
32:00 – Biblical Framework (Deuteronomy)
Giving without recognition
34:00 – Theological Education & Movements
Bridging formal and informal systems
38:00 – The Future of Seminaries
Decline, innovation, and new models
41:00 – Two-Loop Theory of Change
Bridging old and emerging systems
43:00 – Final Reflections + Call to Action
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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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