S2 E17 A Pipeline for Unicorns

In this episode, the crew tackles a pressing question in the life of any ecosystem-building movement: How do we cultivate a pipeline of uniquely gifted, missionally brave, and spiritually aligned leaders—aka “unicorns”—to step into under-resourced communities? From college campuses to early retiree circles, from missional internships to accidental recruiting, the conversation wrestles with the tension between praying for laborers and practically finding them. What happens when the pipeline dries up in hard places like Alton, Aliquippa, and Suitcase City? What kind of people are drawn to apostolic work—and what kind of formation do they need? They also reflect on: The cost and complexity of relocating talent into the margins Why apostolic fervor isn’t for the masses (but is needed for the mission) The stages of church as family, army, and city The wisdom of monastic models for bringing people closer And the danger of moving too fast (or talking too soon) before things are ready A few raw and real stories—including a heartbreaking one from Jon at the bike shop—remind us what’s at stake and why we must build movements with longevity and deep formation in mind.