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.

Steward Leadership - Faithful Stewards Advance in Their Level of Responsibility

 

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. To quickly review, 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 recent episodes, I mentioned five major themes of stewardship:

1. Character matters

2. Stewards have an obligation to account for their stewardship

3. Stewardship necessitates cultivating relationships

4. The steward must share his master’s goal for growth

5. Faithful stewards advance in their levels of responsibility

Today we reach this final, very important theme, and we return to the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-30. Recall that both the servants who were given five bags and two bags were faithful stewards and doubled their amounts. 

I want to call your attention to verses 28 and 29.  When the lazy servant failed to bring any return to the owner, the owner said, “So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance…”  

I want to repeat that phrase as it is very important. “Whoever has will be give more, and they will have an abundance.” The principle here is that faithful stewards will be entrusted with more.  This principle certainly applies to our work in Village Church Planting. 

We are seeing an incredible move – and the favor – of God across Africa in VCP. Here are some statistics.

• In the past five years, we have nearly doubled the number of countries in which we are working.

• In the past five years, we have more than doubled the number of VCP training centers.

• In the past five years, our budget (including a significant amount of project funds) has more than doubled. 

• In 2024, we saw more than a quarter of a million (250,000) decisions for Christ reported in VCP-planted churches. 

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

With this growth in VCP, 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. 

Faithful stewards advance in their levels of responsibility. 

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

Steward Leadership - Must Share the Master's Goal for Growth

  

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. To quickly review, 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 recent episodes, I mentioned five major themes of stewardship:

1. Character matters

2. Stewards have an obligation to account for their stewardship

3. Stewardship necessitates cultivating relationships

4. The steward must share his master’s goal for growth

5. Faithful stewards advance in their levels of responsibility

Today’s theme is that a steward must share his master’s goal for growth, and we will address this within our context of Village Church Planting.

Firstly, let us consider our VCP vision which is “a church in every African village by 2050.” It will be impossible to reach this goal without growth. If we are to steward well the resources and provision of God for VCP, we must aspire to see growth. (And, praise the Lord, VCP is experiencing amazing growth as we are now working in 36 African nations with more than 800 training centers.)

Secondly, let us consider this theme from our Master’s perspective. Why would our Lord have a goal for growth? Let’s look at three scriptures.

2 Peter 3:9 tells us that “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” The Lord’s desire to see “everyone to come to repentance” certainly sounds like a Kingdom growth goal to me.

We see a similar message from the Apostle Paul who wrote in 1 Timothy 2:3b-4 “…God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” Again, we see our Master’s goal for growth as His desire is that all people might come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Lastly, in the Revelation of John, let us consider this vision in chapter 7, verse 9. “After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands…”

A numberless multitude of worshippers in heaven “from all tribes and peoples and languages” demonstrates our Master’s goal for Kingdom growth, and it is His assignment for us to be part of gathering this great assembly.

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

Steward Leadership - Necessities for Cultivating Relationships

 

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. To quickly review, 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 my previous episode, I mentioned five major themes of stewardship:

1. Character matters

2. Stewards have an obligation to account for their stewardship

3. Stewardship necessitates cultivating relationships

4. The steward must share his master’s goal for growth

5. Faithful stewards advance in their levels of responsibility

Thus far, we have dealt with the first two, and today we turn our attention to the reality that steward leadership necessitates cultivating relationships with the master, our followers and the resources. 

Firstly, if we as steward leaders are to “achieve the owner’s (or the master’s) objectives, we must have relationship with the owner. In our context, our Master is Jesus Christ. We must know Him, His heart for people and that His objective is for us to “… go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  (Matthew 28:19-20a) We must intimately know the Master and His objectives for our lives and our ministries. 

Secondly, as steward leaders we must develop relationships with those who are our followers. Leadership expert, pastor, and author John Maxwell once wrote, “He who thinks he leads, but has no followers, is only taking a walk.” In other words, if we are to be steward leaders, we must have followers, and in order to achieve this we must develop relationships with them. I would assert that developing followers requires both proximity, or closeness, and time. VCP leader, I encourage you to follow the counsel of Proverbs 27:23. “Know the state of your flocks, and put your heart into caring for your herds.”  

Third, and lastly, steward leaders must cultivate relationships with the resources. I will be quick to admit that I needed some help on this point, so I did an internet search, and here is the result. “Cultivating relationships with resources involves not only building connections but also leveraging those connections to provide support and resources. This can include sharing knowledge, skills, and experiences, as well as offering advice and assistance to others. It's about creating a network that can be relied upon for guidance and collaboration, especially in … settings where resources are often limited.” 

Steward leaders are stronger and more effective when we work together. 

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

Steward Leadership - Accountability

 

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. To quickly review, 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.

Earlier this year in my introduction to this topic, I said that we would explore five major themes of stewardship:

1. Character matters

2. Stewards have an obligation to account for their stewardship

3. Stewardship necessitates cultivating relationships

4. The steward must share his master’s goal for growth

5. Faithful stewards advance in their levels of responsibility

In the early June podcast, I addressed the first theme, Character Matters. Today we will examine our second theme, Accountability. We saw this in all four of the parables we’ve explored and specifically in the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-30.

Firstly, there is a reward for good stewardship. Notice that verses 21 and 23, speaking to those who were given five talents and two talents respectively, the owner’s words are identical. “‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.’”

Sometimes “accountability” is exercised in an exclusively negative context, but I do not believe that should be the case. As leaders, a better practice of accountability is to affirm appropriate behavior, actions, or outcomes. This is similar to an athletic coach who provides encouragement and positive reinforcement when an athlete does well.

That said, there must also be accountability for failure. In our parable, the poor steward was reprimanded and punished. We see this in verses 24-30. The servant who did nothing with his one bag was called “wicked” and “lazy,” and the one bag that he had was taken away from him.

Good and godly leaders must have wisdom and discernment to know when – and how – to hold others accountable for their wrong behavior, actions, or outcomes. I would suggest that the primary factor should be when someone knows what should be done but fails to do it. (See James 4:17) In the parable of the talents, the “wicked” and “lazy” servant knew that the owner expected a return on what he was entrusted with.

Conversely, I would suggest that when mistakes are made because someone did not know what was expected or what they were to do, this should be used as a teaching opportunity for the leader.

Stewards have an obligation to account for their stewardship, and leaders practice accountability with followers.

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