Backstage Pastors Episode 14: Micro-church Movements w/ Lucas Pulley

Most executive pastors spend their careers helping churches grow by building systems, hiring staff, and delegating responsibilities. But what happens when the goal isn’t building a larger Sunday gathering at all?

In this episode, Phil sits down with Lucas Pulley of the Underground Network to explore one of America’s largest microchurch movements. Lucas shares his own ministry journey—from campus ministry in Illinois to leading decentralized networks of mission-focused microchurches—and explains how the Underground has developed systems that support hundreds of autonomous missionary leaders while preserving contextual freedom.

The conversation explores what defines a church, why mission is essential alongside worship and community, how decentralized networks stay healthy without becoming overly institutionalized, and what executive pastors in traditional church settings can learn from movement thinking.

Whether your church is 100 people or 10,000, this conversation offers valuable insights into leadership, delegation, coaching, governance, and creating structures that empower people for mission rather than simply managing programs.

Mentioned Resources

🗣️Follow Drew

🗣️Follow the Underground Network

💻Tampa Underground

💻Underground Network

📕On the Verge By Alan Hirsch & Dave Ferguson

From Our Partners

💻 ⁠The Church Hub⁠: The Church Hub serves pastors, ministry leaders, and their spouses through equipping and training resources.

Connect with Phil Taylor

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✉️ ⁠phil@backstagepastors.org⁠⁠

🗣️ ⁠⁠@philtaylorxp⁠⁠

📚 ⁠Books by Phil⁠

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Connect with Tyler Drewitz

✉️ ⁠⁠tyler@myxp.church⁠⁠

🗣️ ⁠⁠@tylerdrewitz⁠⁠

💻 ⁠myxp.church⁠

💻⁠ ridgelineprinting.com⁠

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CHAPTERS

[02:34] – Lucas Pulley’s ministry journey

[10:48] – What is the Underground Network?

[16:16] – Defining the microchurch model

[20:20] – Mission-specific vs. distributive microchurches

[29:03] – Building systems for decentralized leadership

[37:32] – Supporting networks across the country

[41:35] – Challenges of leading a decentralized movement

[48:07] – The place of microchurches within the broader Church

[50:55] – Final reflections and ministry resources

Editing and Support by The Good Podcast Co.
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