A Word of Encouragement for the New Year

     This is Multiply, a podcast for Village Church planters, pastors, and Christian leaders, and we are your host Brad and Daneille Snowden. Happy New Year. 

I cannot believe that we’re already approaching a brand-new year. Over 2000 years ago, in the Gregorian calendar, New Year’s began to be celebrated on January 1. It goes way back to the Babylonian in time, but the whole idea of New Year’s and everyone is resolution and what we’re going to do and want to do goals for the next year. Christians, we want to look at it as a desire to change to be more and do more for Christ so that we would be transformed. Transformed into the image of Christ in Romans 12:2b  said, be transformed by the renewing of your mind, and 2 Corinthians 3:18 says we are being transformed into his image, and this comes by more of God, more of his word, more of his presence as we worship and seek my prayer and fasting, and of course, more worship being transformed. 

This comes in the place of desiring something different. Peter and John went to the temple to pray, and the lame man cried out to them. They spoke to him as we find in Acts 3:5, a focus of what I think is important as we look to the new year approaching. Acts 3:5, and the man began to pay attention to them equally, expecting to receive something from them. (anticipate, expect) When we pray for God to be in control of our hearts in the coming year, we can wait with expectation because God is always faithful to us. We can stand in that truth that he gives us to be transformed into his image. 

This has been a word of encouragement for village church planters.

Steward Leadership - Thanks to the Entire Podcast Team

      This is Chuck Rapp with Multiply, a podcast to provide a word of encouragement for village church planters

and leaders.

As we close out 2025, in this episode I want to say a big thanks to the many people who make possible the

Multiply podcasts.

 Brad and Daneille Snowden who faithfully distribute the podcasts

 The Snowdens also write and record many Multiply podcasts, with a focus on  many topics.

Dean Davis provides podcasts that accompany VCP training topics

 Many thanks to all those who diligently translate Multiply podcasts into local languages and then

distribute them to others. We do not have an accurate count of how many languages Multiply is

shared in, and we have no idea how many people receive these podcasts.

Special thanks to the trainers in our VCP training centers. The training centers are the “engine” that

propels VCP – and Christ’s Kingdom – forward.

Lastly, I want to express my deep appreciation for VCP Director Claude Douti, to our 10 VCP

Supervisors and to our nearly 100 coordinators. Your faithfulness and diligence in your service is

inspiring

May God Bless us all.

This has been a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters and leaders.

The Greatest Story Ever Told

  Hello everybody, my name is Dean Davis, and this is “Multiply,” the podcast

that provides a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters.

One of the most beautiful features of the Village Church Planting training

program is its focus on telling God’s Big Story by telling individual Bible stories

in chronological order. At Christmas time, maybe more than any other time of

the year, we need to remember God’s Big Story and tell it to all who will

listen.

The world we live in is broken. We see brokenness all around us. But this was

not God’s original design. God created the world so that we could experience

his love and so we could love one another. The world he created was good. But

the first man, Adam, and the first woman, Eve disobeyed God. Their rebellion

brought brokenness to our world. God saw that the descendants of Adam and

Eve could not and would not turn back to him.

So, He took matters into his own hands. He called a man name Abram to follow

him. God said to Abram, “All peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

The descendants of Abram knew God, but they persisted in their sin and

rebellion. God sent many prophets to teach them, correct them, and guide

them in a better way. But they continued in their rebellion.

Finally, 2,000 years after calling Abram, in the fulness of time, God sent his

one and only Son to be born in Bethlehem. A song called “King of Kings” tells

it this way:

In the darkness we were waiting

Without hope, without light

“til form Heaven You came running

There was mercy in Your eyes

To fulfill the law and prophets

To a virgin came the word

From a throne of endless glory

To a cradle in the dirt

That’s right, God sent his Son to take on flesh and face the life we face. God so

loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, so that whoever puts their

trust in Him may have abundant, eternal life. Jesus was confronted with

challenges, threats, and temptations just as we are. Yet he faced them all

without rebelling against God. In everything he did, Jesus showed love for God

and love for his neighbor. But sinful men nailed Him to a cross. Jesus the Son of

God, bled and died. But on the third day He rose from the dead. He came once

to show the way, to suffer, and to die. He is coming again to rule over a new

heaven and a new earth in which there will be no more sorrow and no more

tears. So, we love him, we trust him and we obey him. And we rejoice as we

await his second coming.

This is God’s Big Story. The story of Christmas when his Son took on flesh and

became one of us is an important part of that Big Story. So, tell it well and tell

it often; tell others and tell it over again to yourself. Tell it to your family and

your church. Tell it to your village and your nation. It is the greatest story ever

told!

This has been “Multiply,” and I’m Dean Davis asking, “Who will you share this

encouraging word with today?

#EncouragementForVillageChurchPlanters #MobilizeGifts #HumanResources

Steward Leadership - VCP Supervisor Peter Baraka's Leadership Values

 This is Chuck Rapp with Multiply, a podcast to provide a word of encouragement for village church planters and leaders.

During 2021 I shared three leadership values of VCP Supervisor Peter Baraka, and today I would like to highlight them once again.  

1. A good leader listens well and understands others’ perspectives.

When I asked Peter about his leadership values, listening with empathy was his first point. One might ask, “Why is it important for a good leader to listen well in order to understand others’ perspectives?”

I would suggest that the following are some of the results:

o We demonstrate that we love and value others when we listen and understand them

o Active listening – with the goal to understand – yields increased mutual trust and respect

o Understanding others’ perspectives enables us to make better, more informed decisions

o Receiving others’ counsel may help us avoid mistakes

o Understanding others’ perspectives usually reduces tension and conflict between two parties

 

2. Godly leaders are not afraid of criticism

Leadership is a challenging calling, and if you’ve been a leader for any time at all, you know that it is impossible to please everyone. Inevitably as a leader, you will receive criticism. Some of it will likely be valid, and some will not be.

As Christ followers, we can be assured of our security in Him and our acceptance in Him (Ephesians 1:6). Furthermore, 2 Corinthians 3:5 reminds us “that we are not competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.”

Because it is God who justifies us; because we are secure in Christ; and because our competence and abilities come from him, then – I would suggest – that our proper response is to seek to obey, serve and please an Audience of One.  

3. We must love those we lead.

Peter’s final leadership value is the imperative to love.

When Jesus taught his disciples in Matthew 20:25-27, He … “called them together and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave.’”  

As good and godly leaders demonstrate their genuine love for their followers, several positive things happen:

* Followers feel appreciated and motivated.  Their commitment to the vision increases.

* Relationships and loyalty with one’s followers develops and then becomes strengthened. Teamwork and hard work follow.

* There is forgiveness for unintended mistakes or offenses

* You begin to “bear one another’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2), to pray for one another, and to provide practical support for each other.

* Kingdom work advances because everyone is working for a common Purpose.  

Let us love well those whom we lead.

This has been a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters.

Steward Leadership - VCP Director Claude's Leadership Values

 

     This is Chuck Rapp with Multiply, a podcast to provide a word of encouragement for village church planters and leaders.

We recently concluded our series on Steward Leadership.  Today, I want to revisit a podcast from four years ago in which I shared the leadership values of VCP Director Claude.  

1. Claude considers everybody’s point of view.  He does not merely do what he wants; as a leader, he realizes that everyone needs to be heard and their input considered.  I think of Philippians 2:3-4, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” [emphasis added].  Good and godly leaders seek input from all involved and seek the Lord as they make decisions.  We cannot please everyone with every decision, but good leaders can ensure that everyone involved feels like they have had the opportunity to be heard.  

2. Claude is ready to help.  This value is demonstrated in various ways.  It may be providing training or counsel, or help with a task.  He has also established funds in the VCP budget to assist with key leaders’ health or emergency needs.  Claude serves those he leads by assisting them with both ministry skills and practical needs. Good, godly leaders seek to serve those whom they lead.  

3. Claude is adaptable with his behaviors. When it’s time to be serious and work, Claude describes himself as the first one there.  When it’s time to relax and have fun, he is free to enjoy the time with everybody.  He leads by example and helps others to know what is expected in a particular situation.   This brings to mind the Apostle Paul’s words, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:1).  This also reminds me of the importance of maintaining a healthy work/life balance.  If leaders work all the time, they risk burnout and fatigue.  

4. Finally, Claude wants to transfer what he knows to others.  This may be by teaching, mentoring, or in a simple conversation.  He collaborates with others to raise their leadership effectiveness to new levels.  Christ took a similar approach; he spent time with his disciples and poured his life and teaching into them.  This method worked for Jesus, and it will work for godly leaders today.  Acts 4:13 tells us that “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.” [emphasis added]

This has been a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters.

Steward Leadership - To Whom Much Is Given

    This is Chuck Rapp with Multiply, a podcast to provide a word of encouragement for village church planters and leaders.  

Our topic for 2025 is steward leadership, and today I want to share a personal message on this subject.  

Once again, we define a steward as “someone who manages resources belonging to another person in order to achieve the owner’s objectives.”  

For a number of years, Luke 12:47-48 has been both a challenging and a motivating scripture for me.  

“The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows. But, the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.”

We have spoken in previous podcasts in this series that accountability accompanies blessing. We are blessed in order that we can bless others and not merely hoard God’s blessings for ourselves. Verse 47 warns us that there are consequences for us when we fail to obey our Master in this matter.  

On a personal note, the latter half of verse 48 has been a great motivator for me for many years. “From the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” You see, I realize that much has been entrusted to me.  I was born into a Christian family; I’m at least a fourth-generation Christ follower.  I’ve had access to excellent education and good health care. I’ve been blessed to be part of strong local churches and to enjoy a good career.  

One could say that I am privileged. God has entrusted me with many blessings, and I feel the weight of responsibility to steward His many blessings in order to meet his expectation (the scripture says “will be demanded”) of fruitfulness.  This topic of “privilege” was quite controversial in America just a few years ago when some claimed that I should apologize for my privilege and renounce it. Instead, I embrace my privilege and endeavor to raise others up to a similar condition.  I’ve been entrusted with much. I desire to steward that well, to raise others up so that the work of VCP can bear much fruit.    

We are incredibly grateful for God’s favor and His provision, and we must steward these well.  

This has been a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters and leaders.

Steward Leadership - Why Matters!

 

This is Chuck Rapp with Multiply, a podcast to provide a word of encouragement for village church planters and leaders. 

Our topic for 2025 has been steward leadership, and today we reach the conclusion of this series. I’ve entitled this episode Steward Leadership – Why It Matters!  

You have read or heard this before. A steward is defined as “someone who manages resources belonging to another person in order to achieve the owner’s objectives.” In our context, we are managing resources provided by the Lord for our Village Church Planting work. 

In this series, we have explored several of Jesus’ parables including

• Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25

• Parable of the Faithful and Wise Steward in Matthew 24 and Luke 12

• Parable of the Barren Fig Tree in Luke 13

• Parable of the Unjust Steward in Luke 16 

Here again are the five major themes of stewardship:

1. Character matters – This theme is foundational; if one fails to have good and godly character, then he or she cannot be trusted with God’s resources or blessings. They will ultimately be disqualified from leadership. Proverbs 10:9 says, “Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.” As an extreme example, consider Ananias and Sapphira in Acts chapter 5. 

2. Stewards have an obligation to account for their stewardship – our earthly leaders have a responsibility to hold us accountable for our use of organizational and Kingdom resources. Ultimately, we are accountable to our Heavenly Father as He is the one who provides.

3. Stewardship necessitates cultivating relationships – An African proverb says, "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." Our goal of “A church in every African village by 2050” requires us to go far, and we cannot do this on our own. We must develop relationships both within VCP and also externally with like-minded partners. 

4. The steward must share his master’s goal for growth –The parable of the talents highlights this reality. Also, consider the story of the miraculous catch recorded in John 21. This is following Jesus’ resurrection. Interestingly, the Apostle John includes the detail that 153 fish were caught that morning. This sets a pattern for us in our training center celebrations and metrics reporting. 

5. Faithful stewards advance in their levels of responsibility - With VCP’s growth, more workers and more leaders are needed.  This means more trainers, coordinators and supervisors will be added to the team, and these will be selected from those who have demonstrated faithful stewardship. 

We are incredibly grateful for God’s favor and His provision, and we must steward these well. 

This has been a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters and leaders.