Model, Assist, Watch, and Leave

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

provides a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters.

Two of the greatest values that carry on from African parents to African

children to children’s children are the values of hard work and respect. But

how are these values transferred from mother to daughter and from father to

son? Do parents gather their children to give them classes about the

importance of hard work and the need to show respect to other people? No, or

course not.

These values are transferred the same way skills are transferred, by first

modeling the way, and secondly through conversation after the way has been

modeled. Almost all Village church planters are farmers or at least worked on

the farm when they were children. How did they learn to cultivate the soil and

care for the crops they planted? Their parents modeled the way. Then, little

by little, the children began following the example of the parents.

Church multiplication is work that is inspired by strong values and carried out

by applying specific skills effectively. We value the Word of God and the saving

work of Christ. We believe in the forgiveness of sins and the transformation of

human life by the power of Holy Spirit. We honor the church as a community of

Christ followers who love God and neighbor.

But church multiplication is more than good values. Effective church

multiplication requires church planters to exercise effective skills. In VCP, we

need to be able to tell God’s big story clearly and share our story through a 15-

second testimony. We need to be able to share God’s plan of salvation by

drawing the Three Circles. Effective church planters need to be able to teach

their disciples to obey the Seven Basic Commands of Christ. We need to be able

to use open questions to train new disciples of Jesus and to coach them as they

begin taking on ministry responsibilities. These skills are essential skills for

church planters.

You are a church planting parent. You are the spiritual father or the spiritual

mother of your disciples. If they are going to learn to multiply disciple, leaders

and churches, they will have to learn from your example. So take your

disciples with you when you minister. Model the way clearly. Then, as you

return home, talk about what your disciple saw you do. Next time, let your

disciple minister with your assistance. Then, as you return home talk about

what you saw your disciple do. Affirm, encourage, and correct. Soon you will

simply accompany and watch your disciple work. But always debrief their

 experience. Ask your disciple after they practice church planting skills “What

went well? What will you do differently next time?” Soon you will be able to

leave the ministry responsibility with your disciple.

Model, assist, watch, and leave. This is how parents raise hardworking

successful children. Model, assist, watch, and leave. This is how you will raise

fruitful church planters.

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

encouraging word with today?

#EncouragementForVillageChurchPlanters #LeadByExample

#ModelAssistWatchAndLeave

One Another Series - Be Kind and Compassionate to One Another

 This is Chuck Rapp with Multiply, a podcast to provide a word of encouragement for village church planters and leaders. This year, in these podcasts, I am focusing upon the “One Another” scriptures found in the New Testament as viewed through the lens of leadership.

Our verse for today’s podcast is once again from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. In chapter 4, verse 32, in the New International Version we read “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” The Message paraphrase adds further description. “Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.”

In this brief verse, Paul gives three admonitions and instruction how we can live out this command.

1. “Be kind” – According to Galatians 5:22, “Kindness” is a fruit of the Holy Spirit in our lives. As the Holy Spirit’s presence in our life grows – and as we increasingly yield to His direction – it is inevitable that our level of kindness to others will increase. This is a work of the Spirit combined with the yielding of our will to Him. As we are “conformed to the image of Christ,” (Romans 8:29), we become able to “make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk.” Our conversation with one another becomes uplifting and encouraging.

2. “Be compassionate” – One dictionary defines compassion as a “sympathetic consciousness of others; distress together with a desire to alleviate it.” Compassion goes far beyond pity. A compassionate response to others not only sees their need; it also manifests a desire to alleviate the circumstances that are troubling them. In the body of Christ, as we interact with one another, we are called to minister to their needs. I encourage you to do a study on the life of Jesus when it is recorded that He had compassion for people. In nearly every instance, scripture demonstrates that He took action … and so should we.

3. “Forgive one another” – Sometimes this is much easier said than done. I like the way this is expressed in the Message. “Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.” We are to forgive one another “quickly.” If we fail to do this, if we choose to hang on to an offense, bitterness can take root in our lives, and the relationship will suffer damage. We are also to forgive one another “thoroughly just as God in Christ forgave you.” One author says this, “Forgiveness reflects the character of God, and we are most like God when we forgive those who offend us.” May we as leaders set the example in these things.

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

Equip & Release Third Generation Church Planting

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

provides a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters.

In Village Church Planting, we have a vision. Our vision is a church in every

African village by 2050. We pray for this vision daily. We ask God to give us

grace to do our part to extend the Word of God to every African village. But we

have to admit, our vision is huge. How can it ever be reached?

The only way this vision can be reached is if Christians across the continent

practice the multiplication of disciples, leaders and churches. If we simply add

a daughter church once every three or four years, our vision will never be

reached. But if we multiply disciples, leaders, and churches, we have a chance

to see a church in every African village by 2050.

So, in VCP we ask every training center to train 15 first generation church

planters. We want to have a large base from which to begin church

multiplication in every new area. Then we ask every first generation church

planter to start two second-generation churches. That’s right, we expect every

first-generation church planter to train at least two members of his or her

church to each lead the planting of a daughter church. This is real

multiplication.

Where there was one church, now there are three! But it is not easy to

successfully equip and release two or more church planters from a young

congregation. It requires much prayer, much patience, and much time to model

the way and train those two or three church planters. Nevertheless, this is the

primary job of a VCP church planter: to model the way, to assist daughter

church planters and watch them work. VCP church planters then leave the

responsibility for the second-generation church and its daughter churches with

their disciple. Model, assist, watch and leave. The words are easy to say, but

the work involved requires faith, wisdom, and hard work.

If you are a VCP church planter, you have already begun this work of

multiplication. Good job! Praise the Lord! You are on the right track.

Once your disciple has started a second-generation church, you need to be very

careful to share the vision for multiplication with him or her. That’s right; you

need to help your disciple train his people to plant third generation churches.

It sounds hard. But you have already modeled the way. So teach your disciple

to train his people the way you trained him. Remind him of times when you

prayed with him, shared the vision with him and modeled ministry skills for

 him. Coach him to identify potential church planting disciples. Listen to his

concerns, then build up his faith.

In VCP, we don’t just believe in multiplication, we practice multiplication. May

God’s grace be upon you this month as you help spread the vision and skills for

church multiplication to the third generation of church planters!

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

encouraging word with today?

#EncouragementForVillageChurchPlanters #DaughterChurchPlanting

Character Development Part 2

 

Hello, this is Daneille Snowden with Multiply; a podcast to encourage village church, planters, pastors and Christian leaders.

As we continue to talk about character development, especially in God’s people, we will read Romans 8:28  “All things work together for good to them that love God to them who are called according to his purpose."

The definition to development is to work out possibilities, growth, and be usable as we change gradually. To Build Up.

As God’s children continue to grow and learn as Christians, we learn that there are times when the Lord adds to our lives, and times things in our lives are stripped away. This includes moments of brokenness, and growth.

Reading this, my mind turned back years ago when I made bread with my children. In the baking process; we would add yeast to our flour, next: we would WORK or kneed the yeast into what became now a dough mix, as we watched it change completely!

We observed as we worked the dough with our hands, the flour and yeast was transformed as a gas was created that made the bread rise. And to COMPLETE this development; the bread was placed in the oven to bake. We were left with nutritious, delicious bread! Thus, not only changed (developed) what was once flour and yeast, how it became a loaf of bread that was a blessing to many.

We pray that in all things that we bring glory to God, and make a difference in people’s lives. It comes with a cost, a lot of time, and endurance: as God works all things out within us; what we today define as character development.

This is Multiply, will you share this podcast with others?

Thank you, and God bless!

Character Development Part 1

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

What was your life like before you met Christ?  When people described you, how did they describe your personality and temperament?  I know that before I met Christ, it was very easy for me to lose my temper.  If people treated me poorly or insulted me, I would quickly respond in anger. When it came to controlling my tongue, I did not have very much self-control.

In fact, when I was born again, one of the first areas of my life in which the Holy Spirit began to work was how I used my tongue.  I knew God wanted me to change.  I knew I could not insult and criticize people if I was going to follow Christ.

What about you?  What were the aspects of your life and behavior that the Holy Spirit spoke to you about when you were first born again?  How did he begin to work to transform your life? I know He spoke to you because He wants to transform each and every one of us so that we reflect the character of Christ.

Ephesians 4:22-25 tells us that “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”

If your story is anything like mine, you found that it was not easy to put off your old ways of living.  It was not easy to change the way you spoke so that no unwholesome talk came out of your mouth.  It was not easy to get rid of rage and anger, brawling and slander.

But here is the good news.  We do not have to fight the battle for character development alone.  God gives us his Holy Spirit to live in us, empower us, and transform us so that we reflect the character of Christ. By faith, we receive the power of the Holy Spirit to change our bad behavior and be made new. This is one of the most powerful lessons that you as a church planter can teach your people: We can be transformed. This transformation is the work of the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit works this transformation in the lives of those who trust him to do so.

So here is my word of encouragement for you today: Trust the Holy Spirit to continue his transforming work in your life today.  Teach your people that they too can be transformed when they trust God the Holy Spirit to make them new.

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

#EncouragementForVillageChurchPlanters #CharacterDevelopment #Transformed

One Another Series - Be Likeminded Toward One Another

 This is Chuck Rapp with Multiply, a podcast to provide a word of encouragement for village church planters and leaders. This year, in these podcasts, I am focusing upon the “One Another” scriptures found in the New Testament as viewed through the lens of leadership.

Our verses for today’s podcast are Romans 15:5 and 6. In the New King James Version we read, “Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus,   that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

In this scripture, the Apostle Paul is appealing to Christ-followers to demonstrate unity, and he mentions two ways in which we are to do this.

 With one mind we glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. We also

 With one mouth glorify Him.

Let us explore how we do this and how leaders set the example.

“With one mind” we agree to agree on the essentials of the Christian faith. In VCP, we require that partner denominations agree with the Apostles’ Creed and the Lausanne Covenant. There are many other doctrinal positions that our partners may take; these, we feel, are the essentials.

“Unity” does not mean “uniformity”. We agree on the essentials, but we do not mandate all doctrinal positions. That would be impossible. Think with me for a moment of the analogy to a sports team. Each player, each position has a different role, and they compete together for a common goal.

Secondly, he says that with “… one mouth we glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Think for a moment with me of the global Church as a large choir. We are practicing for a heavenly worship service. There are several musical parts, and the objective is that we sing in harmony with one another. We worship with one voice, with one mouth, and our worship pleases the Lord.

Humanly speaking, what happens when someone is off-pitch, out of rhythm, or singing the wrong lyrics? It is discordant, confusing, and sometimes even painful to listen to. Paul has something like this in mind. Leaders set the example by living in unity and harmony with others in the body of Christ. We are not competitors; we are on the same team, and we need to demonstrate that.

In 2022, I was in Tanzania with VCP Supervisor Peter Baraka where I witnessed a beautiful example of this. In meetings in two different cities, we saw (in each place) over 20 bishops come together in friendship. They enjoyed one another, and they celebrated together God’s goodness to all.

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

Power and Fruit

 

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

provides a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters.

Village Church Planting is an amazing ministry. You may know that VCP

ministers in 31 different African countries to train church planters to multiply

healthy churches. Over the past two and a half years, African church planters

trained by VCP have planted over 10,000 churches with an average size of

about 50 people each. To God be the glory!

But who are those 10,000 church planters? They are men and women who live

in villages, men and women who love Jesus and want to share the Good News

with their neighbors who do not know Christ. They come from big variety of

Christian groups. VCP trainers and VCP partners, regardless of denominational

background, endorse the Apostle’s Creed and the Lausanne Covenant. These

two statements of Christian belief bring balance to VCP ministry. One

statement is short; the other is long. One is ancient, the other was written in

1974. One is referenced frequently in church movements that started more

than 100 years ago; the other is referenced more frequently in younger

movements. Together they bring balance to VCP ministry.

There is significant diversity in the doctrinal distinctive of VCP partner

denominations. Some emphasize the study of God’s word, others emphasize

the leading of the Holy Spirit. Some emphasize the need for revival; others

emphasize the need for day-by-day obedience to Christ. Some emphasize

strong denominational organization; others emphasize freedom in Christ for

ministry. Some emphasize the power of the Holy Spirit. Others emphasize the

fruit of the Spirit. But all are working to multiply healthy churches full of

disciple making disciples of Jesus. Praise the Lord!

So what is more important in the life of a Christian, power from God to do

works of faith, healing, and deliverance, or the fruit of the Spirit that produces

love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and

self-control? What is more important for the Christian power or fruit?

Sadly, many Christians have an answer for this question. That is why some

denominations emphasize power and others emphasize godly character. But we

just do not see this division in the Scriptures. Jesus said that his followers

would receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them. And they did! They

prayed and God moved. But they also experienced God’s power to love, to

forgive, to be faithful in the face of persecution, to be patient in times of trial,

and to express joy in the face of suffering. The churches described in the New

Testament acted in great faith and experienced the miraculous power of God.

The churches of the New Testament found sanctifying grace from God to live

godly lives characterized by the fruit of the Spirit. In that power AND in that

sanctifying grace they made disciples who transformed the Roman world.

My fellow church planter, may God give you grace to trust him for the

miraculous demonstration of his power AND amazing character transformation

in the lives of your people. May the churches you plant be characterized by

both power and fruit. In Jesus name, Amen.

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

encouraging word with today?

#EncouragementForVillageChurchPlanters #PowerAndFruit