Pray for Those You Empower

    Hello, this is Multiply a podcast to encourage Village Church Planters and leaders. I am Brad Snowden and today I would like to look at one aspect of the life of Jesus. The Lord had a distinct relationship with His disciples. He taught them, encouraged them, and empowered them to use what he had given them to fulfill the plans and purposes of the heavenly father. 

 The very fact of being a follower of Christ is humbling enough but then we hear a His prayer for us in John 17 it is even more humbling. Christ showed us a way that we should walk and his example not only for our own lives but also how we are to treat and respect, brothers, and sisters in Christ.

 In John 17 the very last moments of Christ’s life here on this earth we find his attitude full of prayer full of desire for our heavenly father to instill into us everything that he was. Jesus wanted for his twelve disciples and still wants for us today is to be empowered by His Holy Spirit-to be His witness. We are on this earth to encourage each other and pray for each other. We see over and over in John 17 Jesus praying for his disciples, knowing how they would be used for the kingdom of God after he was gone. He not only prayed for his disciples, but he prayed for those that would be affected by the good news in which they were going to preach and live out before them. Oh, if we could comprehend the power of praying for our disciples and the generations touched by those prayers. I wonder even in my own life, how many times I think of that generational impact. The disciples that the Lord has given me the privilege of helping, encouraging, and walking beside how many they would touch through the power of the Holy Spirit. Wow! When you think about it... generations, the older we get the more generations can be touched or at least that can be our prayer. Jesus prayed for his disciples. 

Oh, what a victory. His prayer was for all of us to be in one mind and one heart with Christ: One with our disciples as we share, encouraging + touching their lives and allowing God to shape them into being disciple-makers themselves and the multiplication goes on and on. It was Christ's heart in John 17 to pray for his disciples; what power comes in prayer, let us not shrink back from the privilege of praying for our disciples. Praying for one another praying that God would simply have his way. Even long after we are with Him and that example can continue to minister the good news of Jesus Christ. Oh, that we could have that heart, that we could be blessed in knowing that the Lord hears our prayers and our disciples are changed by them. What a blessing and what a privilege it is that Christ has given us this example in John 17 for fruitful ministry pouring into our disciples and it starts with prayer. 

This has been a word of encouragement for Village church planters. Lord bless you as you pray! for your disciples. Who will you share this with today?

Pray and Rely on the Holy Spirit

     Hello, this is Multiply a podcast to encourage village, church, planters, and leaders. I am Brad Snowden.

 Brothers and sisters, what a joy it is to serve the Lord and a beautiful calling to plant churches. We are blessed to see villages transformed with hope as Jesus touches lives. This calling can also have seasons of great challenge for our outward man. We want to be successful and see what is in our hearts become reality. It is a beautiful part of our walk with Christ when he lays upon our hearts, the work that he wants to do. It is an exciting time for church planters because you can almost see what it is going to look like before it even starts. This is a powerful part of God‘s plan for those you are serving. 

This very moment can also be one of the greatest challenges as well. I found that as a pastor these seasons brought me to a place of struggle, I knew what the Lord had birthed in my heart, and I could envision all of it. Yet this is where the problem was, I did not know who was going to catch the vision that God had given me. I did not know how it was ever going to become fruitful or even how we could pay for it. 

The battle was not about experiences or what I had learned from the teaching that I had received. There is nothing wrong with living out what was taught to us or even what we have experienced before. The problem came when I would depend on these parts of me and not on a fresh revelation from God. 

The greatest victories God ever allowed me to experience came when I said I do not know how you are going to work this out. I do not know who is going to walk with me to see your work be done. Oh Lord, I need you to help me to understand and accomplish this work that you have called me to do.

 James 1:5 says If any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God who gives to everyone generously and without rebuke or blame, it will be given to him. The Lord does not look down on us for saying, I do not know what to do or to say I am struggling with knowing my next steps. God‘s word says to simply and humbly ask, for we have a merciful provider that can open our eyes to see. The Lord wants to open up our ears to hear the Holy Spirit whisper, “This is the way walking in it” We can rely on the still small voice of the Holy Spirit that will give us a fresh understanding of what God wants to do in us and through us. Oh, church planter, our victory comes when we ask and rely on the Holy Spirit to do the work. This has been a word of encouragement for village church planters. Who will you share this with today? God bless you.

Pray for the Holy Spirit to speak to those who hear the Good News - 90 Days of Prayer & Fasting

 Hello, dear brothers and sisters church planters, I greet you all in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ this morning. I am Pastor Douti Claude, Director of VCP Africa. I am proud of you.

This morning I would like to share this very important message with you as part of “Multiply,” our podcast that provides the word of encouragement. In the 90 days of prayer fasting and church planting, you have done a wonderful work throughout Africa. You continue to do that work in soul winning, of course.

We are happy to receive your testimonies and all that is being done. May God bless you, may God strengthen you. I would like to ask you, dear Church planters, dear servants, let us pray that the Holy Spirit will speak to those who hear the Good News.

We are preaching the Good News. People are hearing it, people are coming to Jesus, but we need to pray for them, for the Holy Spirit to speak to them and for the Holy Spirit to dwell in them. Why? Listen to this passage in Romans chapter 8, from verse 13 to 16. It says, “For if you live according to the flesh, you will die. But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. And you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear. But you have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.” Oh, Hallelujah! The Spirit of God bears witness with our human spirit that we are the children of God. That is the assurance of our salvation. The Spirit of God reassures us that we are children of God. You see, it is important to pray for the Holy Spirit to speak to us, for the Holy Spirit to dwell in us. But how is that going to happen? It is to dissociate ourselves from the affairs of life, from the flesh, from the desires of the flesh; and live in the spirit, give ourselves more to spiritual things, to the things of God. Because verse 13 says, “If you live according to the flesh, you will die. But if by the spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live!”

Dear brothers, dear sisters, church planters, it is necessary that we pray for the new converts, all those who accept Jesus. That the Holy Spirit will speak to them, that the Holy Spirit will direct them. That they will put to death the desires of the flesh and connect with the things of God, and love God, and worship God in spirit and in truth. And the Holy Spirit will continue to convict them and reassure them that they are children of God. It is very interesting to know that you are a child of God. He says that the Spirit helps us. We need to understand that we have received a spirit of adoption. We are adopted by God and we are children of God. And by that spirit, we have the right to cry, “Abba, Father,” to call God “Our Father.” It is wonderful to hear that kind of thing.

But without the Spirit of God, we cannot understand these things. Without the Spirit of God, we cannot forsake the desires of the flesh and be interested in the things of God. This morning, dear church planters, I want to encourage you to pray earnestly that the Spirit of God will speak to the minds of all who hear the good news. That they will abide in Christ and have the assurance that they are children of God. Thank you. Have a great day.

 Shalom. Shalom. It was "multiply"

Pray for Heads of Households - 90 Days of Prayer & Fasting -

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

When we pray, we pour out our soul to God as we communicate with Him. In that, we are drawing ever so near to God. In Philippians 4:6 Paul admonishes in EVERY situation, present your requests to the Lord.

Today, we will pray for the heads of households. Praying for those who are responsible for their family's needs, be it physically and spiritually. For God to be affective in communicating His love for to an entire community, it is vital that we pray for each home, including those who lead their families.

What do we pray? Every household is unique and has specifics to pray for. Today, let us begin by praying for the head of each home. First, that God soften their hearts to the Word of God. To create a hunger for all God has for him. A prayer could be for the Lord to 'till the soil of their hearts.'

Secondly, that they indeed will surrender all their hearts and lives to Jesus. Vowing to live for Him all their days.

Thirdly, as we read in Matthew 20, verses 26-28:

"...But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Let us pray that the heads of the households become servant leaders as we see this in our Lord Jesus. For them to serve first, Jesus as their Lord and second, others. That they will sacrificially serve, laying aside all their own desires and wants.

Fourth, pray then that they maintain a strong relationship with the Lord Jesus.

Fifth, pray that they will be disciplined in his or her walk with Christ.

Sixth, pray that they will be sensitive to those they lead. And especially sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

In Ephesians 5:25 it instructs the husbands to love his wife as Christ did the church. It continues to say, to love your wife in all humility and gentleness. Thus, when we pray, pray for humility and gentleness for the heads of households.

I thank God for those who have prayed for my household.

Because of prayer our family has built our house upon the Rock and though the storms may come, we are not shaken.

This has been Multiply, please share this podcast with others.

Follow us on Facebook, YouTube and our podcast channels. You can find us on our website www.vcpencouragement.org.

Thank you and God bless!

Pray For Workers - 90 Days of Prayer & Fasting

 Hello, this is Multiply, a podcast to encourage church planters, pastors, and Christian leaders. I am your host today, Daneille Snowden. 

The scripture admonishes us to pray for one another. As Christian leaders in the church of Jesus Christ, it’s so important to pray for those who are working for the Kingdom of God.

I love what Colossians 4:2 says, “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.”

To pray has an amazing definition to apply to each of one of our lives. 

To pray, we have to be in a humble place in our hearts, asking God with complete earnestness. It implies a continuous act, thus ‘to pray’ and keep on  praying! We basically pray without ceasing.

As church planters and church leaders, when we pray for all our workers we are praying as Paul instructed in Colossians; “…that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ…”

Let’s continue on praying for our workers and for one another so that

“…this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come!” Matthew 24:14

This has been Multiply, will you please share this podcast with others? Thank you, and God bless!

Report to Intercessors What God is Doing - 90 Days of Prayer & Fasting

 

Hello, glory be to God Dear church planters, dear listeners of "Multiply", this is our podcast that always gives a word of encouragement. I greet you once again. I am your servant Pastor Douty Claude, VCP director. In these 90 days of fasting, prayer and church planting, I know that everyone is at work. God also is at work. I want to say a big thank you to you all. I want to encourage you in everything you do. May the peace of the Lord be with you all.

I want to talk to you today about: Reporting to your intercessors what God is doing.

When we pray, we ask God for things. Certainly, God answers our prayers. What we see, pictures, Photos, conversions,  churches that are already being planted, that is the answer to our prayers and our fasting. I'm going to read to you a passage in Psalm 65, verse 3. The Psalmist says, "Oh, you who hear prayer, all men will come to you." But before that, verse 2 says, "With confidence, O God, you will be praised in Zion, and vows will be fulfilled." You see, the Psalmist knows that God answers prayer. He says, "You will be praised, we will fulfill our vows, because you hear prayer, and all men will come to you." Here, I give you a story in Acts of the Apostles 13, verse 1 to 3 "Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod, the Tetrarch and Saul. While they were serving the Lord in their ministry and fasting, the Holy Spirit said "Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. Then after fasting and praying, they laid their hands on them and sent them away." Here is a first Acts. The Holy Spirit reveals Himself to the Christians of the early church in the book of Acts, it was still the beginning of the church. By prophecy, the Holy Spirit says "Separate me Saul and Barnabas. » So they fasted, they prayed, they had confirmation and they prayed for them, to send them out on their mission. But look what's going to happen in Acts 14, verses 26 and 27.

In Acts 14, verses 26 and 27, it says, “And from thence they sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had accomplished. And when they had arrived, they called the church together, and declared how great things God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.” Let me tell you that, the testimony must be told.

The hand of God, the results of our prayers, our fasting, must be told to our intercessors so that they will have joy, so that they will rejoice, they will honor God. There are vows that people make, "Oh God, if you would do this, I would do that for you, I would do this." There are vows in secret. And the Psalmist, in Psalm 65 there, he said what? "We will fulfill our vows because we know that 'Oh God, you hear prayer.' And that's going to do what? It's going to bring all men to you. This is what the apostles Saul and Barnabas did.

They went and recognized that the Church was fasting, the Church was praying for them. They went, God opened the doors to the nations, there were conversions. There were churches that were created. There were many testimonies of healing, of deliverance. And they were very happy to go back to Antioch and gather the whole Church to give them the result of their prayers and their fasting

It was a great joy. So, feedback is important to strengthen faith and encourage intercessors. Brothers and sisters, let us encourage each other by giving good testimonies, what the hand of God has had to do.

 

Let us report this to our intercessors. Report to your intercessors what God is doing. And it will be a source of joy, a great source of gratitude and everyone will recognize the hand of God and we will fulfill our vows to the eternal.

 

God bless you. This was “Multiply,” our daily podcast. Shalom, shalom.

Balance Prayer and Ministry - 90 Days of Prayer & Fasting

 Hello, dear brothers and sisters church planters, this is our podcast "Multiply". This is your servant, Pastor Douti Claude, VCP director. I would like to encourage you, to thank you, for all these 90 days of prayer fasting and church planting since July, which we started together, in which we embedded together, and we are seeing photos, testimonies, people who come together, who are always in prayer for the glory of God. God bless you all.

I want to talk today to you about Balance your prayer and ministry. The Balance of prayer and ministry is very important.

As we pray, we must have specific topics, and as we pray for those topics, as you can see that Pastor Dean always sends out prayer topics every day. As we pray, we must see the results, and we must compare what God is doing through our prayers to our ministry. The balance of prayer and ministry increases our faith. The balance of prayer and ministry allows us to minister with confidence. If we look at the example of the apostles in Acts chapter 4 starting from verse 29, the apostles were in trouble and they prayed to God, and they ended up saying to God this: “And now, Lord, consider their threats, and grant to your servants that with all boldness they may speak the word, by stretching forth your hand to do healings, signs and wonders in the name of your holy servant Jesus.” And when they had prayed the place where they were assembled together trembling, they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. That is what God does. They prayed in their difficulty, and automatically, without a moment's delay, God sent down his power in their midst to prove his existence, to prove that he is with them. The Holy Ghost filled them all, and the fear that they had of the rulers, the fear that they had of the opposers of the gospel, they were cheered up, they were given even more strength and boldness in the preaching of the gospel.

 

What would I like to tell you? Since you have been praying, what are the testimonies that you have encountered, the answers to your prayers? What will encourage you in your ministry is the answers to your prayers. I want to tell you by passing, in my ministry I have experienced many things. There was at times when we woke up in the morning, there was nothing to eat, there was not even breakfast. After the morning devotion with my wife and children, as soon as I went out the door, someone was waiting with exactly what was missing in the house. And many times, we have experienced these things in our ministry, through prayer. To add to that, I listened to and read a book, the heroes of faith and Georges Müller who had fed thousands of orphans, had to say that he woke up several times, that there was not even a piece of bread to give to the orphans. But he was never worried. Afterwards, he gathered his orphans, they prayed and barely one day they finished praying, and there was nothing and he saw someone at the end of their morning prayer, a van that came filled with bread for the orphans. So, brothers and sisters, this encourages the ministry.

There must be this balance of prayer in our lives. What does prayer give you? What are the results that prayer produces? The apostle Paul exhorted the Thessalonians to pray without ceasing. He exhorts the church to pray without ceasing. Why? Prayers have effects. The effect of prayer, the answering of prayer gives us faith, allows us to move forward in our ministry with faith, with assurance, knowing that God always answers our prayers.

This is to tell you that in the 90 days of fasting, prayer and Church planting, in all our prayers, pray with faith and let us each day give our testimonies of answers that we receive from God. Brothers and Sisters, I thank you. I encourage you to continue in prayer and exercising your ministry and you will see great testimonies will occur and this will communicate to you more faith in your ministry.

Balance your prayer and ministry. Be blessed. This is multiply.

 

Shalom.

Strengthen Yourself In The Lord - 90 Days of Prayer & Fasting

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

provides a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters.

My life was very busy before the 90 Days of Prayer, Fasting and Church Planting

got started. And I’m pretty sure your live was very busy as well. You are a

church planter. Church planters have all the responsibilities of home and farm

and community activities that other people have, but they also have the huge

responsibility of planting a church and leading it into healthy growth and

multiplication. Church planters are busy people.

And now, on top of all your other responsibilities, you are supposed to fast and

pray more. Not only that, but you are also supposed to lead your disciples as

they find persons of peace and start new churches. You probably feel

exhausted. I understand. Sometimes I feel exhausted too.

What should a servant of God do when he or she feels so very tired? What steps

should a follower of Christ take to find energy to keep walking in faith? We

need to strengthen ourselves in the Lord.

This is what King David did when he was exhausted and discouraged after the

Amalekites destroyed the town where his family was staying and took captive

his soldiers’ children. 1 Samuel 30:6 says, “And David was greatly distressed,

for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul,

each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his

God.”

I hope you are not distressed because people are turning against you. But even

if you are, you can strengthen yourself in the Lord. If you are tired because of

the challenges of life, you can strengthen yourself in the Lord. If you are not

sure you can continue to devote more time to prayer, you can strengthen

yourself in the Lord. Here’s how:

First of all, we take rest. God gave us a sabbath, one day out of seven, to rest.

During the 90 Days of Prayer, Fasting and Church Planting, be sure to take a

sabbath rest. You may be afraid to rest for one day each week. You may fear

economic ruin or that your church will collapse if you rest. Fear not, trust God

to meet your needs and protect your ministry. By faith take a sabbath rest.

Strengthen yourself in the Lord.

Secondly, draw near to God in prayer. Find a quiet place and talk to your

heavenly Father alone. He delights to meet with you. Cast your cares upon

him. He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7). Don’t worry about anything, instead, pray

about everything. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will

guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4;7).

Third, feed on God’s Word. When you are exhausted, it is hard to study the

Bible. So save Bible study for when you are rested. But even in your

exhaustion, read small passages of Scripture, repeat Bible verses that you have

memorized. Draw near to God by meditating on his word. Strengthen yourself

in the Lord.

We are in a battle. This battle will be won by prayer and fasting. We press on

together until October 29. Strengthen yourself in the Lord.

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

encouraging word with today?

#EncouragementForVillageChurchPlanters #FastAndPray

#StrengthenYourselfInTheLord

Pray for the Sick and the Demon Oppressed - 90 Days of Prayer & Fasting

 

Hello this is Multiply a podcast to encourage village church planters and leaders too. I am Brad Snowden.

When Jesus called his disciples he said, “Come follow me.” They were to learn about the heart. The power of the gospel is about heart change. Jesus wanted to encourage them that whatever path he went it was all about heart change. We can know that God uses many ways to encourage us to simply trust him. When Jesus walked upon this earth lives were changed because he healed their physical bodies. Matthew 14:14 When he went ashore,  He saw a large crowd and felt profound compassion for them and healed their sick. Jesus desires hearts to be touched to be able recognize His love and the power of His word.

Oh, that God would have the opportunity to change lives spiritually and physically. The Lord’s heart is to touch and heal the sick and James 5:13-16 encourages that he will use us in this gift. If we ask him for those opportunities he will do the work. Powerful testimonies will be shared because compassion in the hearts of Jesus’s followers prayed for them, and they were healed. There are so many who are hindered by the physical and Luke 4:18 Jesus said he came to set the captive free from physical bondage. He also came to set free those who were oppressed by the enemy. The devil wants to keep hearts so beaten down that all hope is lost. I ask you today are we not given hope in Jesus? This hope must be seen and experienced. God’s word is filled with hope and we have such a great opportunity to share this hope for those who need Jesus to heal their bodies. There are lives that can be changed , households and villages that can be transformed by a simple prayer for those in need of healing. Oh let us be that voice and action of hope.

This has been a word of encouragement for village church planters. Who will you share this with today? Lord bless you!

Encourage Your Intercessors - 90 Days of Prayer & Fasting

 

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

We all need intercessors.  We all need people who will stand between us and God and pray for us. To intercede is to intervene on behalf of another. Intercessory prayer is prayer that calls out to God for the benefit of other people. As a church planter, you need prayer during these 90 Days perhaps more than any time since you began planting churches.  You need prayer for power and wisdom. You need prayer for open heavens. You need intercessors to ask for God to pour out his Spirit to draw men and women to himself as you and your disciples share the Good News. You need prayers for open doors as you look for men and women of peace in villages that currently do not have churches. And you need prayer for both physical and spiritual protection as you and your disciples reach out with the Good News.

As you know from m your own prayer and fasting, intercession is hard work. First of all, it takes time. And of course it takes faith. Intercessors must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him (Hebrews 11:6). But there is another aspect of intercession that makes us tired. Intercession is hard work because we wrestle in prayer. We struggle against the Enemy who seems to be winning the battle in so many places. And we wrestle with our own doubts. This is tiresome. So, even experienced intercessors are tempted to pray less.  All intercessors need encouragement.

So how do we encourage intercessors? First of all, we remind them of the goodness of God. We share testimonies of answered prayer. Hearing how our good and loving God has answered their prayers and ours stirs up faith for more intercession.

Secondly we remind them of the promises of God to hear and answer our prayers.  There are dozens of promises in the Old and New Testaments. But one that inspire me as I pray is found in 1 John 5:14,15, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.”

  As we pray for the lost and as we pray for new churches we know we are asking according to the will of God.  What an encouragement!

The third way to encourage intercessors is to share specific new prayer requests with them. And the fourth way is to simply thank them for the hard work of prayer they are engaged in.

My fellow church planters, you need intercessors and your intercessors need encouragement, especially during these 90 days of prayer, fasting, and church planting.  Will you build up their faith with a word of encouragement today?

This has been “Multiply,” and I’m Dean Davis thanking you for your faithful intercession for me and for more than 13,000 Village Church Planters across Africa.

 

#EncouragementForVillageChurchPlanters #FastAndPray #Intercede

 

Find Persons of Peace - 90 Days of Prayer & Fasting

 

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

provides a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters.

Jesus said to Peter and his co-workers, “Follow me and I will make you fishers

or men.” Perhaps, you, like me, heard that story and responded, “I want to be

a fisher of men. Make me a fisher of men too.” Fishing for men is not easy.

Calling men and women, boys and girls to repent and believe the Good News is

often hard work. I know there have been times when I have worked hard to

prepare to go to a place to proclaim the Gospel. I have prepared my message

very well. I have prayed much. And then, when I got to that place I preached

and saw zero impact. Have you ever had experiences like that? How

discouraging.

But about 30 years after I started preaching the Gospel, I learned about

persons of peace. Luke 10:1-12 teaches us that God helps us find men and

women who are hungry to know him. When we share the Good News they

listen. When we offer to pray, they are very glad for us to pray. When they

have questions about the Bible they ask them… and then they listen to every

word we say in response. When we teach them to obey Jesus, they do. These

people are called “persons of peace.”

When I go fishing for men and find persons of peace, it’s as if I don’t have to

cast my net and pull it in. These “fish” seem to jump into my boat! That’s

because God in his grace has prepared persons of peace to respond to the Good

News.

During August, September, and October you will be working to start daughter

churches. But God did not wait until August to start this project. Long before

August he was working in the hearts of men and women who are hungry to

know God. Its’s your job to find them.

Finding persons of peace is the key to planting new churches in villages without

churches. But have you taught your disciples to find persons of peace? Have you

told them the story of the women at the well. She lived in adultery, but when

she met Jesus, her heart was changed and through her, so was her village (John

4). Have you told your disciples about Cornelius, the Roman soldier that called

for Peter to come to his house? Because of Cornelius, his whole family heard

the Good News and the Holy Spirit came upon them all. (Acts 10). Have you

taught your disciples to look for persons of peace by sharing their 15 second

testimony? Have you shown them how to offer to pray for the sick and for other

needs of people who are far from God? Have you taken disciples with you when

you asked someone, “May I tell you a story from the Bible that means a lot to

me?” Have you shown them how to simply tell a Bible story and then discuss its

meaning by asking six simple questions? Do your disciples know how to find

persons of peace? Now is the time to train them. Now is the time to help them

experience the work of God as they look for and find persons of peace!

We are in the first month of 90 Days of Prayer, Fasting, and Church Planting.

Now is the time to train your disciples to find persons of peace. Now is the

time to go with them to villages without churches so that, along with you, they

too can fish for men. Now is the time to rejoice together when you and your

disciples find person of peace.

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

encouraging word with today?

#EncouragementForVillageChurchPlanters #FishersOfMen #PersonsOfPeace

Pray With Faith - 90 Days of Prayer & Fasting

 

Hello, good morning everybody!

Dear Village Church Planters, I Greet you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is your servant Pastor Douti Claude VCP Director.

This is Multiply our Word of encouragement for church planters. Since sometimes now we have been talking about the 90 days of fasting, prayers and church planting.

Many messages are given to you in this period. For this end, this morning I want to you talk about ‘‘faith’s prayer.’’ (Praying with faith). Allow me to read first of all, the passage of Hebrews 11:1-6 that says: "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the Word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died he still speaks. By faith Enock was taken up so that he should not see death and he was not found, because God had taken him.

Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please him. For whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him."

Behold dear brothers this Word, let me start from the last verse. "For whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists."  Let him know that the prayer he making to God, God will answer him. I’m encouraging you with this verse to pray with faith. Have faith in you. Assurance. Faith is the assurance of things hoped for. What do we hope for ?

We hope to have many planted churches, many saved souls in Africa during these three dedicated months to God as we go before him.

Dear brothers, faith is important! The Apostle James says, that it’s useless to pray if we have doubt.

I have faith in you also church planters, we have gone through many things, we have testimonies that give strength to our faith.

I know that after this three months of prayers, we will have good results for the glory of God. You must have faith, pray with faith. Pray with commitment.

Believe that your prayers will have great effect and the name of God will be glorified.

This is Multiply, our encouragement’s podcast of everyday. Be blessed.

 

Review the Basics of Church Planting - 90 Days of Prayer & Fasting

 

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

On several occasions when I have gone to worship at church with my daughter, she will remark on the sermon, “What a great message. It was so full of the Gospel. Just the Gospel.” Both she and I love to hear a pure Gospel message telling of the saving power of Jesus Christ. It is the basic story for all Christians.

In the same way, I love to participate in basic training for church planters. I love to review the essential steps that help form an embryonic church which will grow and multiply. I am so thankful that during the month of August, church planters from all over Africa will gather in their respective VCP training centers with their trainers to review the basics of church planting.

What are the basics of church planting? They are skills described in Terms 1 and 2 of the New VCP program.

* Identify, research and map villages without churches

* Pray for the villages including prayer walking in the villages

* Look for and find persons of peace

* Share the Good News of Jesus with persons of peace and with their family and friends

* Make disciples by teaching new believers to obey the Seven Basic Commands of Christ.

These are the essential activities for church planters. When we walk by faith and practice these 5 activities of basic church planting, God meets us. He empowers us. He helps us make good connections. When we do these activities trusting in God and his great love for lost people, he fills us with love and with power.

These are the basic skills that all village church planters must learn, practice and perfect. But for many of us, these activities are very challenging. So we find other, easier activities to be involved in.

Our 90 days of prayer, fasting, and church planting are meant to change all that. First we pray. We pray to be filled with love. We pray for power to go. We pray for God to show us persons of peace and draw them to Himself. We pray for God to draw lost people to himself. As we continue in prayer, we sharpen our basic church planting skills. Then we go.

During the month of August, you, along with VCP church planters across Africa will prepare yourself for action. By prayer you will build up your faith and access the power of God to be his witnesses. By training you will strengthen your abilities in the basics of church planting. Then you will go out with church members you have identified as daughter church planters. As you go with them to villages without churches, God will meet you. He will be with you and He will make you fruitful. Remember Jesus’ promise. He said, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last." (John 15:16).

 

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

Mobilize Church Planters to Plant Daughter Churches - 90 Days of Prayer & Fasting

 

Hello, this is Multiply a podcast to encourage Village Church Planters and leaders. 

I am Brad Snowden and on this podcast, I want to look at one heartbeat of this 90 days of prayer & fasting. The name of this podcast is Multiply; founded by VCP to be able to reach our 2050 goal of a church in every village in Africa. 

This can only happen by multiplication. So in our prayer time part of this is to mobilize Church planters for Jesus. He gave each one of us that opportunity to get up and go. When we follow his leading it's all about mobilization and as church planter plants a church according to the four fields model he or she disciples with the passion of seeing disciples grow and then the power of multiplication comes in the passionate message of mobilizing ones to go plant daughter churches. 

If we will walk in the passionate heart that caused us to plant our church. Then others will understand and follow. In the passion of fulfill God's word through their own lives and daughter churches will be started. We pray this is the heart that will ignite many to fulfill God's plan to reach every village on this great continent. 

The scripture says With God all things are possible and he wants to use each Church planter to pass along this great gift. God has given us to see his kingdom multiply into every village. What a wonderful feeling to know that. You have been given a great privilege and responsibility to multiply his kingdom. God wants us to go and teach others to start daughter churches and experience this great blessing. This has been a word of encouragement for village church planters. 

Who will you share this with today ?

Prayer Walk - 90 Days of Prayer & Fasting - 90 Days of Prayer & Fasting

 

This is Multiply, a podcast to encourage churches, village church planters, pastors, and Christian leaders, and I am your host today, Daneille Snowden.

 

Deuteronomy 11:24 says, “Every place where on the sole of your foot shall tread shall be yours…”

 

Some Anglican churches still today do prayer walks around their churches they call “beating the bonds” an act which claims the ground for God in prayer.

 

This is what we are doing, claiming this promise as God’s own child to go and pray over an area, and a people group. As He in turn, is stirring His Spirit into lives to receive the Word of the Gospel you as a church planter shall bring to them.

 

Praying first and foremost, gives us a clear heart and mind to listen closely to God’s leading and sensing His power to perform His great plan in that village and its people. It shall be for God’s high purpose to bring His Hope and Salvation to all who do not know Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

 

During this 90 Days of Prayer and Fasting we are applying this as we gather together focused on prayer for this one objective! To bring the Gospel to every village in Africa.

 

This has been Multiply; will you share this with others? You can find us on our website www.vcpencouragement.org. as well as on Facebook and YouTube.

God bless!

Pray In Large Groups, Small Groups, and Alone - 90 Days of Prayer & Fasting

 

Hello dear brothers and sisters, church planters.

I Greet you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is Multiply the podcast of encouragement. I’m Pastor Douti Claude, as you can recognize my big Voice, I am VCP Director.

I want to encourage you in this moment, while some people, with prayers are still teaching on how to find persons of peace, the seven basic command of Christ, also the four seed sewer tools.

I want to encourage you to be diligent in your prayers, group prayers. We need to pray in large group. Large group prayers include churches and training centers.

We have also Small group prayers which include prayers in houses, work places, prayers between you, your wife and your children and also personal prayers.

Prayer is very important.

The Bible says that ‘‘the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much’’ and I want to let you understand this truth in Acts 2 :42. The Bible says here that : ‘‘they continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship in breaking of bread and in prayers’’.

Behold verse 47 says : praising God and having favor with all people and the Lord added to the church Daily those who were being saved. Dear brothers and sisters this is here the proof of what prayer can do.

God added Daily members to the church. We are talking about prayers fasting and church planting especially daughters churches in our region.

And so groups prayers, both in large and small group are very important.

To finish my podcast, you will see that in Acts 12:12 when Apostle Peter was arrested and put in prison. The Bible says that prayers was made to him by the church. Prayers was made by the church for Peter for him to be released and also after the Angel intervened and Peter miraculously got out of the prison. He went directly to the house of Mary, once in that house he saw a small group of people praying for him. So the Angel of God didn’t intervened just like that. It was prayers made in houses, in churches that brought the Angel down.

I’m encouraging you to pray fervently for church planting, for what all workers are doing for their good Heath for the success of this 90 days of prayers fasting and church planting.

May God Bless You!

This is Multiply,

Shalom

Add Fasting To Your Praying - 90 Days of Prayer & Fasting

 

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

provides a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters.

You have been hearing a lot about the 90 Days of Prayer, Fasting, and Church

Planting that our Director, Pastor Claude, has declared for August through

October of this year. Prayer, fasting, and church planting are three God-

honoring activities that we will practice together. They are not magic. They do

not obligate God to act. But they are powerful.

First of all, by praying, fasting, and going out to plant churches in villages

without churches, we declare our utter dependence upon Almighty God. We

recognize that this is His work, not ours. He is our Leader; we are his helpers.

We are co-laborers with Christ and we are dependent upon him. We are weak,

but He is strong. So we pray. We remember the promises of God. We confess

our own weaknesses. We remember how he empowered the apostles of the

new Testament. We trust Him to empower us in the same way.

But our 90 Days of prayer, fasting, and church planting are not simply days of

praying for God’s power. They are patterned after the days, described in Acts 1

and 2, that Jesus’ disciples spent in the Upper Room before the Day of

Pentecost. First they prayed, then they were filled with the Holy Spirit, then

went out and proclaimed the wonders of God to people who had not yet

accepted the Good News. Finally, the Lord added to their number daily those

who were being saved.

So why do we add fasting to our prayers? Fasting is not magical. It does not

obligate God to work. But is it helpful? And if so, how?

Fasting is helpful. It is humbling to abstain from food for one or more days to

seek God. But we know that God meets us when we leave our pride behind and

humbly seek him. He is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

Jesus expected his disciples to fast, but the primary instruction he gave about

fasting was to avoid fasting that was designed to win praise from men. We do

not fast to gain the approval of others. We fast to devote ourselves to God, to

hear his voice, and to accept his guidance in our lives.

During the 90 Days of Prayer, Fasting, and Church Planting, no one will obligate

you to fast. Fasting is a voluntary activity. But if you are new to fasting, and

you are in good health, I encourage you to give fasting a try. Seek the Lord

with your whole heart. Express your love to God with your whole self. As you

express with words your dependence upon God, show it, for a time, by seeking

God while abstaining from food. During your fast and especially after your fast,

God will meet you. He will guide you, he will empower you. And God’s

empowerment is always a wonderful thing!

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

encouraging word with today?

#EncouragementForVillageChurchPlanters #FastAndPray

Use The Prayer Guide - 90 Days of Prayer & Fasting

 

This is Multiply, a podcast that encourages village church planters, pastors, and Christian leaders. I am your host today, Daneille Snowden.

There have been over 10,000 Village Church Planters in thirty-two countries mobilized since 2020.

We believe that God has prepared men and women of peace in all of these villages, to receive the Good News.

Our Village Church Planters are facing many different challenges as they answer the call to bring the Gospel to these remote places.

There is a need for all of us who are like-minded in this vision of church planting, to be joined together in prayer, coupled with a powerful agreement (as we pray). Thus, the Prayer Guide that has been written in detail for the 90 days of prayer titled: 90 Days of Prayer, Fasting and Church Planting Initiative,  this is a format to help us all as we pray.

As we fast and pray, we focus on each day and the prayer that is presented, notice that it has a scripture with the prayer.

I want to encourage you to pray and know that others are praying these daily prayers as well as quoting the promise scriptures at the top of the prayer guide.

Take each prayer, meditate on it, look up the verse that is with the prayer. Wait on the Lord, then simply pray this over your mission, your church planters, leaders, churches, pastors and yourself. We encourage you to do this twice a day, alone and then with your training centers when you meet, as well as your churches. Make sure to pray, meditate, and wait on the Lord to listen to Him. This should be a time when God will give you some promises, vision, and direction.

Be diligent, and stay focused for the scripture says; “Because the Sovereign LORD helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame” (Isaiah 50:7).” Have a complete confidence in God and declare that indeed you will not shrink back from God’s mission He has for you!

Thank you for listening today! Did you know we have a website; vcpencouragement.org? We are also on many podcast channels, and you can find us on Facebook: and YouTube called: ‘Encouragement for Village Church Planters/Multiply.’

 

This has been Multiply, thank you and God bless!

Focus On What Is Essential - 90 Days of Prayer & Fasting

 

Hello this is Multiply,  a podcast to encourage village church planters and leaders I am Brad Snowden and I would like to read Hebrews 12:1-3; “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

We are preparing for our 90 days of prayer and fasting and what God wants to do in us during this time. This is a time for the Lord to impact our hearts and lives infused with His Spirit as we seek him. This scripture focusses on much of what we need to be during this time. Oh, church planter, leader follower of Jesus Christ we have a time together no matter where we are to join together in fasting and praying for God to move in us. It is a great reminder of how to accomplish this in our hearts. Laying aside casting every sin and hindrance far away from us as to allow God to speak to us. There are so many distractions that would like to get our attention and get our eyes off the mission. We have this opportunity alone and together with other brothers and sisters in Christ to guard this time as sacred and important. There is a race to run but we cannot do it without God getting our attention so our hearts can refocus on the essentials. “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith”. The focal point of our existence is Christ Jesus so let us focus on Christ and all we do to focus on His sacrifice He is willing gave for us. 

The sacrifice we can give is laying down everything that would try to hinder us from spending time with the Lord to hear His voice. We need Jesus to work in our lives, we need Jesus to work in our lives, and we need Jesus to work in our lives. That work He wants to do will help us to refocus upon His heart to run the race that He has set before us and the urgency for fulfilling His heartbeat for souls to know him and to see lives, families, and villages changed by His truth. My prayer is for you to meditate upon Hebrews 12:1-3 and allow the Lord to speak into your lives and then cast off anything that would try to hinder you from His presence and plan for your life. This has been a word of encouragement for village church planters.

 Lord bless you as you pray and fast.

Mobilize Intercessors - 90 Days of Prayer & Fasting

 

Good morning, everybody!

Good morning, dear pastors, dear church planters. This is Multiply, the podcast that provides a Word of encouragement to all church planters.

I’m Pastor Douti Claude VCP Director.

Last time I spoke about humility in church planting.

Since sometimes now all our words of encouragement are focused on our 90 days of fasting and prayers and church planting.

This morning, I want to talk about intercession. To mobilize intercessors.

In this moment of 90 days of fasting and prayers and church planting I want to encourage you dear brothers and sisters to mobilize the maximum of intercessors.

What is an intercessor?

An intercessor is the one who places himself between God and men to plead the cause of men. As intercessor you are a helper who stands beside someone.

We must present VCP vision to our fellow churches, to our brothers, in every church, in all Africa, on tik Tok, on Facebook.

Let us talk about prayer. It’s prayer that can save us. It’s prayer that can save Africa.

Nowadays, our leaders in our African countries come out with a lot of lows which do not help churches but hinder them.

Our strength in this time should be intercession, prayer to stand in God’s presence and God will touch the heart of all decision makers, transformed all decision makers so that people maximally give their lives to Jesus so that Africa should be saved. Intercession is powerful.

The Great Apostle Paul requested prayers from churches. He sent a letter to the church of Ephesus in the book of Ephesian 6 :18-19 “Praying at all times in the spirit with all prayers and supplications, to that end keep alert with all perseverance. Making supplication to all the saints and for me. That words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the Gospel.”

Brothers and sisters. I encourage you by these words to mobilize a greater number of intercessors even if some of them may not be able to fast, let them all be in prayers in these 90 days for Africa. It’s for the salvation of Africa.    Planting a greater number of churches means to bring solvation to a greater number of Africans.

I encourage you to do this with pure zeal, with a big love. To mobilize intercessors for your churches, in your houses, with your friends. Why watched podcasts of things that don’t benefit you on tik Tok where people only talk about politics, about purchased weapons, where we only see wars, but we can stop wars and give peace again to Africa through our prayers, through fasting and prayers, through the strength of the church. I encourage you dear brothers and sisters to position yourselves for intercession.

May the Lord bless you

May he gives you strength in these 90 days of fasting and prayers and church planting to see intercessors results.

Shalom