010: From Moments to Movements: The Heart of Disciple-Making with Jeff Vanderstelt
In this episode of the 100Movements Podcast, Brian Johnson talks with Jeff Vanderstelt, executive director of Saturate, co-founder of the Soma Family of Churches, and author of Saturate and Gospel Fluency.
Jeff unpacks disciple making through the lens of spiritual parenting—moving people from spiritually unborn to spiritual parents and grandparents. He explains why the Western church struggles to form disciple makers, how Saturate walks churches through a 10-month Disciple Making Lab, and why emotionally healthy leaders are essential for movement.
This conversation is a must-listen for anyone longing to see disciple making become the normative culture of the church again.
In this episode:
Why disciple making is best understood through spiritual parenting
The pathway from spiritual infant → child → young adult → parent → grandparent
Why the Western church produces “perpetual spiritual infants”
How our training models formed our current discipleship crisis
Metrics and narratives that undermine disciple making
Why many churches create moments, not movements
Inside Saturate’s 10-month Disciple Making Lab
How emotional and relational health shapes disciple making effectiveness
Jeff’s own story of grief, trauma, and the journey into deeper emotional presence
Why disciple-making movements require letting go of ego, control, and centralization
Key Idea:
“If your system only grows people to spiritual childhood, you will never raise spiritual parents. And without spiritual parents, there is no movement.”
Next Steps:
Explore Saturate’s resources and Disciple Making Lab at SaturateTheWorld.com
Take the mDNA Strengths Assessment
Consider reading Saturate and Gospel Fluency to go deeper