What Is A Person of Peace?

     Welcome to Multiply a podcast to encourage Village Church planters and leaders. I am Brad Snowden, and today I want to focus on an important passage of scripture.

Luke 10:5-6 "Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace that is, a blessing of well-being and prosperity, the favor of God to this house.’ 6 And if anyone of peace is there someone who is sweet-spirited and hospitable, your blessing of peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you." 

This passage beautifully describes what it means to encounter a “person of peace” when arriving in a new village. It is vital to find individuals who are kind and open-hearted, as their hospitality paves the way for meaningful connections. When someone welcomes you, they are more likely to have a receptive heart, ready to listen to your testimony. This openness lets God begin His work in their life, and then their families and ultimately leading to the opportunity for the entire village to hear the good news of Jesus Christ.

My father-in-law used to share an illustration from the days when logging companies would float trees down rivers. Sometimes, a particular log would get stuck on a rock or stump, blocking all the other logs behind it. He called this the “key log.” He would say that ministers, i.e., Church planters - are the ones who had to search for that key log and work on that one so it could be free and thus all the other logs could then flow down the river smoothly, and it would be good. In the same way, a person of peace can be like the key log—someone whose influence can transform the atmosphere of the whole village. 

Often, in our pursuit of big results, we overlook that one vital person who makes everything possible. The person of peace is essential for unlocking the work God wants to do; we should pray that the Lord prepares these hearts to welcome church planters. Only the Holy Spirit can ready the hearts and minds of those chosen for this role, in the right place and time. The person of peace is the one who opens the spiritual door for the village and its surroundings. Let us ask the Lord of the harvest to show us who the ‘Persons of Peace’ are in each community and how He wants to use them. This has been a word of encouragement for village church planters. 

Who will you share it with today? May God abundantly bless you.

Leadership Development - Four Characteristics of Emerging Leaders

 

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

Our topic for 2026 is Leadership Development. In my 23 January episode, I concluded with the encouragement that we as leaders need to be attentive to those around us and to be intentional in identifying and equipping new leaders.

Today, and in episodes to follow, I want to share some thoughts about characteristics that I look for when identifying potential future leaders. Perhaps you have additional attributes that you are keen to observe; if so, please share your thoughts with me. I want to also add this disclaimer. These are my personal thoughts and observations. Others may have different ideas than I do. This is not an exhaustive list; I’m certain there are additional important characteristics of emerging leaders.

First on my list is a personal identity that is firmly rooted in Christ. Colossians 3:3 says, “For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” I appreciate the Apostle Paul’s use of the word “hidden,” as the true essence of a believer’s life is that it is secure and protected in Christ.

You may have heard me observe in previous podcasts that one of the most dangerous situations is to have is someone in a position of leadership who is insecure in who he or she is. Conversely, the leader whose security is firmly rooted in Jesus Christ has a confidence in the Lord that enables them to serve others. Philippians 2:4 instructs us that we should not “look to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”

Coupled with this sense of personal identity rooted in Christ is humility. This is an attribute reflected in serving the interests of others. I am very wary of those who demonstrate an attitude that indicates they are “a legend in their own mind.” In the JB Phillips translation, we read this in Romans 12:3. “As your spiritual teacher, I give this piece of advice to each one of you. Don’t cherish exaggerated ideas of yourself or your importance, but try to have a sane estimate of your capabilities …”

What great wisdom and counsel. “Don’t cherish exaggerated ideas of yourself or your importance, but try to have a sane estimate of your capabilities.” One of the significant mentors in my life, Chuck Colson, had this to say. Someone who seeks leadership “because it gratifies his ego is doomed.” It took me many years to learn this crucial lesson.

I will continue my thoughts on characteristics to look for in emerging leaders in my next podcast.

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

Your Relationship Map

 

 

Hello everybody, my name is Dean Davis and this is “Multiply,” the podcast that provides a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters.

We don’t know a lot about Jesus’ disciple called Nathaniel. But one thing we do know about Nathaniel is that he owes a debt of gratitude to another disciple, the one named Philip. Listen to John 1:44 – 49:

“Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”  “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip. When Jesus saw Nathanael approached, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.” Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.”

Can you believe it? Nathaniel was a skeptic. He held a pretty deep-seated prejudice against Nazareth, Nazarenes, and probably against the whole province of Galilee. He didn’t think any good person or good idea could come from Nazareth. But his friend Philip found Nathaniel and testified about Jesus.

He pointed out that Jesus was the Messiah that Moses and the prophets had spoken about. And, amazingly, in spite of his prejudice, when Philip simply said, “Come and see,” Nathaniel met Jesus and recognized him as the Son of God.

What was the relationship between Philip and Nathaniel? Were they brothers or cousins? Were they related by marriage? Or were they just good friends? We don’t know. But it’s clear they had a close relationship because Nathaniel was one of the first people Philip spoke to after he met Jesus. Philip was so excited about meeting the Messiah that he had to share the good news. And so he told Nathaniel, a guy he had a close relationship with.

You have some good news to share. You know Jesus the Messiah. You know he is the savior of the world. You know he forgives us and empowers us and gives us abundant, eternal life. So make a relationship map. Draw a circle on the middle of a sheet of paper and write you name in it. Then draw connecting lines from your circle to the names of friends and relatives you know who are far from God. Draw lines from their names to the names of their friends and family members who are also far from God. When you do so, you have a relationship map. Pray for each person on your map. Then make plans to go to them to share your testimony and the Good News of Jesus. Who knows? As you go and share, your friends may surprise you. They may respond in faith to Jesus the same way Nathaniel did when Philip led him to the Lord so many years ago.

This has been “Multiply,” and I’m Dean Davis asking, “Who will you share this encouraging word with today?”

#EncouragementForVillageChurchPlanters #RelationshipMap

The VCP Vision

 

      Hello, and welcome to ‘Multiply’ a podcast to encourage village church planters, pastors, and Christian leaders. I am your host, Daneille Snowden.

I am excited to share today or shall I say, “reinforce,” the vision that God has given One Mission Society’s, Village Church Planting, which is to plant a church in every African village by 2050. This is a grand vision that was imparted by the Lord Jesus Himself when He said to, “Go and make disciples in all nations…” Matthew 28:19–20.

My husband and I first learned about VCP (Village Church Planting) when we were serving in Mozambique, Africa. As we read about it and heard the testimonies it filled our hearts with overflowing. A little over a year later God called us to work as CMF missionaries in this great movement. 

As followers of Christ we follow His example where it says in Matthew 9:35 “Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.” 

Jesus went to the cities and villages!

Some individuals may ask where do we begin with such a huge task before us, the answer is to simply follow Jesus: by seeking His face, waiting in His presence, and essentially follow His example. Thus, this should give us clarity that gives us a better understanding of the Great & GRAND Commission. 

With the vision God gives a plan! VCP implements the Four Fields Model, a laid-out plan that explains how to integrate this vision. Field 1 is the created part of the plan, it involves a great amount of prayer, including prayer walking, also a map and a Bible; two tools used to move the vision forward. William Carey, an 18th century missionary wrote, “To know the will of 

God, we need an open Bible and an open map."  

May I challenge you today to keep this vision constantly before you in your heart, mind, and soul? Habakkuk 2:2 says to, “Write the vision and make it plain.” Let us truly know God’s heart for all people to be saved! 

This has been ‘Multiply,’ remember to share this podcast with your fellow believers and Christian leaders! ‘Go and make disciples!’

Z Thinking God’s Plan for My Province

 

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

provides a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters.

We know that Z-thinking means beginning with the end in mind. We also

understand that Z-thinking means thinking specifically about the future God

has planned for the world. We think this way so we can join God, as co-laborers

with Christ, to accomplish his purposes on earth.

We know that God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should

come to repentance. God is patient with us. For this reason Jesus has not yet

returned to earth. Because of God’s patient love, the final judgment has not

yet occurred. (2 Peter 3:4-10). Instead, God is calling all people everywhere to

repent and believe the Good News (Acts 17:30,31).

But what is my part in this great plan? I know God has a plan for the whole

world, but what is his plan for my district, for my province, for my department

or for my state? Many faithful, Christ-honoring disciples have asked themselves this

important question. Maybe you have too. Brothers and sisters, I can assure you

that God has a big, big plan for the world, and slowly but certainly he is

accomplishing it. But what is his plan for my people and me? What is his plan

for the place where I live?

Friend, God’s plan for the province where you live is the plan he has for the

whole world. God wants everyone in your province to hear and understand the

Good News. He wants every man and woman, every boy and girl of your

province to know the Gospel, to repent, and put their trust in Christ. He wants

all of us to experience his transforming grace in the fellowship of a church.

How then should we pray? Our prayers should be informed by Z-thinking. We

should pray as Jesus commanded, “Your kingdom come, your will be done on

earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10). We should pray for church planters

and church members to start a church in every village of the province. We

should prayer walk and mobilize intercessors, helping them to also embrace Z-

thinking. Pray with God’s end in mind.

How should we work? We should work in such a way that healthy churches

multiply themselves without delay in our province, so that God’s purposes on

earth may be fulfilled near our homes, among people who speak our language

and are living nearby.

Whom should we send? We should send out workers, both to our province and

to the ends of the earth. We should send people who know God’s heart, people

who are motivated to work and pray according to Z-thinking. We should send

out workers equipped to proclaim the Good News of Jesus, make disciples and

start healthy, multiplying churches.

My brothers and sisters, let us embrace Z-thinking in all we do, trusting God for

his kingdom to come and his will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.

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

encouraging word with today?”

#EncouragementForVillageChurchPlanters #ZThinking #YourKingdomCome

Leadership Development - Four Characteristics of Effective Leaders

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

Our topic for 2026 is Leadership Development, and today I would like to address the question, “What are some characteristics of a good leader?

As you might imagine, over the years, I have read many books about leadership. Something I like to do is to read authors who are not American, authors who have a bit of a different perspective. One of those authors is Dr. Myles Munroe (who is a native of the Bahamas), and last year I read his book The Spirit of Leadership. In his Introduction, he makes a strong statement.  “… There is no greater need in our twenty-first-century world than effective, competent leadership … The number one need all over the globe today is … quality, moral, disciplined, principle-centered leadership.”

He also makes the observation that “true leaders do not seek power but are driven by a passion to achieve a noble cause.”  In our context, we have the ultimate noble cause, that of Christ’s Kingdom.  

Today, let’s explore those four characteristics of effective, competent leadership according to Dr. Munroe.

* Quality – to be an effective leader, one must lead with skill. Many years ago, a mentor friend of mine had this to say. “Leadership is not a title!  It is a privilege granted you by those you lead.  It is a privilege not often granted and easily lost.”  One “easy” way to lose the privilege of leadership is to lead poorly. There are many possible causes of this; at the top of the list, in my opinion, would be a leader who is pursuing his or her own benefit rather than the good of the group or the organization.

* Moral – unfortunately, moral failure has caused the downfall of many church, government and business leaders. Most often, these failures are either financial or sexual in nature. Good and godly leaders must flee temptation and avoid every form of evil (2 Timothy 2:22, 1 Thessalonians 5:22).

* Disciplined – leadership can be challenging. As one rises in their level of leadership, the problems become harder to solve, and the level of ambiguity increases. The greatest discipline a godly leader can develop is an intimate relationship with Jesus through the presence of the Holy Spirit. Christ-following leaders have the promise of John 14:26.  “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”

* Principle-centered – godly leaders are not swayed by public opinion or others’ expectations of them. The foundation of their leadership is biblical principles.

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

Z Thinking God’s Plan for the World

        Hello everybody, my name is Dean Davis, and this is “Multiply,” the podcast that provides a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters. 

Many people have said, “Begin with the end in mind.” Builders begin with the end in mind when they build a house. Before he moves the first shovel full of dirt to lay the foundation for a new house, the careful builder knows how long and how wide the house will be. He knows how many rooms it will have and how tall it will be. Before a careful builder lays the first foundation stone, he has a picture in his mind’s eye of what the finished house will look like. Wise builders begin with the end in mind. Everything they construct from foundation to roof is put into place so that their end goal, a wonderful house, can be constructed.

As a church planter, you, too, need to begin with the end in mind. You need to ask the Lord, “What should this church become. Lord, how should we worship you? What languages should we use? How should we evangelize? What shall we do to make disciples, Lord? How will this church demonstrate your love to our neighbors?” Just like home builders, church planters need a picture in their mind of what the church will become. And that plan must come from God.

But it is not enough for us to have a good plan for what, by the grace of God, our church should become. We serve a living God. And He has a plan for our world. He knows what he wants, and He has told us what He wants for our world:

* He is not willing that any should perish. He wants all to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9).

* He says that the knowledge of the glory of the Lord will fill the earth as the waters cover the sea (Habakkuk 2:14). 

* He is planning a day when a great multitude from every tongue and tribe, every people group, and every nation will worship him (Revelation 7:9).

This is what God wants, and we should want it too.

The last letter of the Roman alphabet is Zed, or as people in my country say, Zee. When we begin with the end in mind, we are practicing Zed thinking. Zed thinking means that we envision the future that God wants, and we join him in working to make his goals a reality.

In Village Church Planting, our vision is a church in every African Village by 2050. The founders of VCP accepted that vision because they wanted to align themselves with God’s purpose for his creation. They knew that God wants the earth to be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. They knew that God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. They know that it is God’s will that he should present every man complete in Christ. (Colossians 1:28) And so they chose to make Christ known by planting churches in villages where no church exists. They practiced Zed thinking. First, they understood God’s will for his creation. Then they chose to join him in accomplishing his end vision.

You, too, are a part of VCP. I hope you, too, embrace the vision of a church in every African village by 2050. Close your eyes to imagine for a moment a church in every village. Imagine well, so the vision becomes clear. Then get up and do your part to make it a reality!

This has been “Multiply,” and I’m Dean Davis asking, “Who will you share this encouraging word with today?”

 

#EncouragementForVillageChurchPlanters #ZThinking