S2 Ep 23 Give Me a Shovel: Stories from the Frontlines w/ Olsen & Stice

In this episode, we welcome Carl Olson and Justin Stice, two faithful practitioners embedded in very different but equally meaningful contexts. Carl joins us from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where he's in the early stages of planting seeds for a Kingdom ecosystem, often feeling isolated but deeply rooted in a hope for what's to come. Justin shares from Lubbock, Texas, where over a decade of commitment has grown into a robust, distributed ecosystem of Kingdom communities, causes, and commerce.

Together, we explore the tension between early-stage pioneering and long-term sustainability, the spiritual psychology of apostolic leadership, and the beautiful (and painful) reality that Kingdom work never really stabilizes. From coffee shops and after-school programs to spiritual rhythms and community meals, these two stories offer a look at what it means to love the work, trust the process, and stay faithful in both the wilderness and the forest.

Key Themes:

• Apostolic beginnings and ecosystem building

• The loneliness and isolation of pioneering work

• The language and lens of Brave Cities

• Learning from the poor and refugee communities

• Finding satisfaction in the process, not the result

• The false promise of stability

• How community sustains mission over time

Featured Guests:

• Carl Olson – Community practitioner and mental health professional in Sioux Falls, SD. Find him on Substack or social media. (@carlolson)

• Justin Stice – Founder of Kingdom Co-Op in Lubbock, TX & author of Whole Mess to Wholeness by Justin Stice⁠ Learn more at kingdomco-op.com, and @justinstice on Facebook/Instagram