Identify and Meeting Needs

 

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

provides a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters. I have just

returned from a ministry trip to the Republic of Guinea. While there, I was

blessed to observe a literacy class for adults. A member of the church had

been trained by Bridge to Reading to teach adults how to read, write, and do

simple math. The class members were adults aged 20 through 40 who had

never learned to read. None were members of the church. All were Muslims.

Each of the students was thankful for the opportunity to gain the important

skill of literacy. What a blessing; what a great way to show the love of Jesus in

a concrete way!

It is so very important for churches, even small, young churches to identify

needs and meet them. Deacons are the men and women of a church who

observe and meet the needs of church members and community members.

Here is how our Train and Multiply booklet called “The Role of Deacons”

describes this important ministry:

“The word deacon means servant in the New Testament. Deacons help the

elders, pastors, and others. Each church should appoint deacons as soon the

need appears. Elders do pastoral work; they teach and lead. Deacons do

practical work with material things.” The book of Acts demonstrates very

clearly that both deacons and elders must rely on the power and presence of

the Holy Spirit to carry out their ministries effectively.

Deacons observe needs in the church and in the community. Then they take

practical steps to meet those needs. If people need to learn to read, a deacon

may organize a literacy ministry. If people do not know how to grow vegetables

or raise chickens, a deacon may teach them these practical skills. If people are

at home sick and bedridden, deacons and church members trained by deacons

can visit the sick to pray, share encouraging words, and give small gifts of food.

If there are refugees from war who need help, deacons respond in practical

ways. If church members are prevented from working in their fields because of

illness, deacons can respond by organizing a few church members to help out

with weeding or other chores as needed.

Sometimes the problems that people face are so big and so overwhelming,

churches feel that they cannot solve them all. And this is true. But we should

not be paralyzed because we cannot meet every need of every person. Only

God the Father Almighty can do that. But churches, even small churches can

organize small, practical ministries that will solve real problems for a few

people who are really hurting.

Deacons identify needs in the church and in the community. Deacons are the

leaders in a local church who organize the response to needs. Deacons pray,

asking for the Spirit of God for strength and wisdom to meet practical needs.

Then they take action, even if their actions only help a few people at first and

even if the needs are greater than their ability to respond. Deacons remember

from 2 Corinthians 9:10 that “He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for

food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the

harvest of your righteousness.”

Deacons are important leaders in the church. Who should be named as deacons

in the churches you are planting?

This has been “Multiply.” And I’m Dean Davis praying for your church to be

strengthened today.

#EncouragementForVillageChurchPlanters #Deacons

'One Another' Series - Serve One Another

 

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

As we begin a new year, I have begun a new series, focusing upon the “One Another” scriptures found in the New

Testament as viewed through the lens of leadership.

We read in Galatians 5:13, “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge

the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.” Three things stand out to me in this admonition from the apostle

Paul.

 Firstly, we are to serve one another. That means that servant leaders place others’ needs higher than their own.

 We are to serve humbly. Among other things, this means that we serve in such a way that does not draw

attention to ourselves.

 Finally, we serve in love. Love is our motivation for service to others. We spoke about this Love for one another

in the previous podcast.

The apostle Peter also wrote about humble service in 1 Peter 5:5b. “All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward

one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.’"

The Greek word translated as “clothe yourselves” means to “put on the garment of a servant”. Most Bible students

believe that Peter is referring to the last supper of Christ. In John 13:3-5 it is recorded that “Jesus knew that the Father

had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the

meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and

began to wash his disciples' feet…”

I see a couple of very important lessons for us in this scripture.

 “Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was

returning to God.” Jesus was completely secure in his relationship with the Father. He was totally unconcerned

with what the disciples’ response might be or what the owner of the home in which they were meeting might

think. Because he was secure, he was able to serve his disciples by washing their feet. As VCP leaders, we, too,

need to be secure and assured of our relationship with the Father and our acceptance by Him.

 As Jesus set the example for his disciples, we, too, must set the example of servant leadership for those whom

we are leading.

We are to serve one another in humility.

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

Who Are Deacons?

 

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

One of the most important task and biggest challenges a church planter faces is the appointment of the first leaders in a new congregation.  Churches, like families, businesses, and governments cannot function well without good leaders.  In the beginning, you as the church planter may have been the only true leader the embryonic church had.  Then maybe a person of peace helped with you with some leadership activities.  But other than that, you may have been the only one who planned, ministered, guided and evaluated the church.  As we know from the story of Moses and Jethro in Exodus 18, no one is served well when one leader does all the work.  So for your health and the health of the church, elders must be appointed.  Two kinds of church leaders described in the New Testament are elders and deacons.

But what is the role of a deacon? How do they serve a church? Are deacons truly leaders?

Deacons are church leaders who work to meet practical needs.  In fact, the Greek word translated in the New Testament as “deacon” means servant. Deacons serve the church in practical ways.  Is food needed? Deacons take care of obtaining, preparing and distributing food.  Is shelter needed, deacons take care of providing shelter for the congregation. Are there church members who need clothes. Deacons work to find solutions and meet this practical need.  Do people need medical attention. Deacons can help make sure that medical needs are met.

Deacons often have spiritual gifts such as helps, service, administration, and mercy. When deacons think of love, they think of action not just words.  Deacons can often work with their hands. Some are cooks, some sew, some are carpenters or welders. 

But are deacons really leaders?  They should be.  While it’s true that elders are responsible for the overall leadership of a church, wise elders will make sure that deacons have clear responsibilities and well delegated authority to make sound decisions to meet the practical needs of the church.

The example from the Jerusalem church describe in Acts 6 is instructive.  After the problem of food distribution was identified, the apostles said to the congregation, in front of the new deacons, “We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”

One of the hardest tasks you will have as a new church planter is to turn responsibility over to others.  But you have to do it.  So ask God for deacons full of the Holy Spirit and full of wisdom. Then give them authority to take care of the practical needs of the newly planted church.  As you do so, you will lighten your own load, you will strengthen the church, and you will bring joy to men and women God has gifted with power to serve well.

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

#EncouragementForVillageChurchPlanters #ChurchDiscipline

The Role of Deacons

 

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

Setting up leaders in the church is a meticulous, intentional task that must be done by the leading of the Holy Spirit, coupled with prayer and fasting. As we do this, the Lord clearly leads and orchestrates by aligning it all to His Word. 

Today, we will look into the role of a deacon. Let us read the historical beginnings of this vital ministry in Acts 6:1-7 

“Now in these days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a murmuring of the Grecian Jews against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. 2 And the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not fit that we should forsake the word of God, and serve tables. 3 Look ye out therefore, brethren, from among you seven men of good report, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. 4 But we will continue steadfastly in prayer, and in the ministry of the word. 5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose ‘the 7’ [see the list in scripture]; 6 whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands upon them.

7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem exceedingly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.”

The deacons were to meet the practical needs of this new and fast-growing church. I love how they prayed first and sought out men that had a good reputation (who were trustworthy), and full of the Spirit plus, have wisdom. May I incorporate, that one of the many attributes of being full of the Spirit is that the Spirit will guide and give created ways to serve the body of Christ. A Deacon may ask, where is the need? How and when should it be accomplished? Also, for God to lead him to those he should partner with to achieve these needs. One of the last things mentioned, when they were seeking out men to serve as deacons, was for them to have wisdom, which is a gift of the Holy Spirit. This is a crucial gift that has a deep insight into matters and situations, which will give clarity on how to serve. 

The word deacon means servant, this is what they are doing in this passage of scripture! By serving others, it shall speak to the heart of men, women, and children. Are they hungry? Feed them! How? By teaching them how to farm, walking along side them as you do? Another question may be asked; how to serve the widows, the orphans, the sick and the list is long and continuous. 

Serving as missionaries and pastors, we would feel overwhelmed when we had to fill-in the gaps that normally a deacon would do. It would drain our strength as we then were to preach the Word and pray for those who were in need. Deacons are incredible pillars to the strength of God’s Church. 

We had many deacons throughout our pastoral years, some hold a special place within our heart. Two of them are: Steve Devall and Charles Lee (both served at different churches); we never had to tell them to do anything. They would seek the Lord and simply gather others and serve. When they did, we would see them praying for those they did service for. It greatly strengthened our churches. 

We need our deacons to help our elders and pastors; in so doing strengthening the church. 

This has been Multiply! Please share this podcast today with others! Also, you can locate us on our website vcpencouragement.org, we are on Facebook, YouTube and PodBean. 

Thank you and may our Lord bless you abundantly today!

Problem Solving

Hello everybody, my name is Dean Davis and this is “Multiply,” the podcast that provides a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters. As a church planter you know that there are many challenges, difficulties, and trials that face your churches.  If you have been working to plant a church for more than 10 days, I am sure you have already confronted a challenge that you were not expecting!  

A famous German military strategist, Helmuth von Moltke said, "No battle plan survives contact with the enemy."  What did he mean? He was famous for helping military officers make plans and then put them into action. Why did he say, "No battle plan survives contact with the enemy?"  

Simply put, we cannot know everything.  We do not know exactly what will happen in the future.  We can plan, but circumstances change. And that’s a problem.  

The first church in Jerusalem had a good plan for taking care of widows.  But soon after they started this compassionate ministry, a problem came up. “In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.” The Apostles had a big problem on their hands. So they had to adjust their plan.  

You, like the first apostles, are in a spiritual battle and your plans are not perfect.  You too will have to make adjustments.  So let’s look at the example of the first apostles to learn how to solve problems in the church.  Acts 6:2-4 says:

“So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”

The Bible does not tell us every detail of the apostle’s problem solving method, but we do notice that the apostles recognized and admitted that there was a problem. When they announced a solution, the Twelve did so together.  So it is very likely that they had worked together to come up with a solution. Based on their prior experience, it is also very likely that they prayed and had dialog together as they chose a solution.  What did they decide?

They asked the church to name a team of wise, Spirit-filled workers to address the problem.  Instead of using all of their time and energy to make the Greeks and the Hebrew church members happy, they asked the church to mobilized worker to address the problem head-on. They turned the responsibility over to the seven deacons along with the authority they needed to make fair decisions about the distribution of food.

When you face a problem you didn’t expect, recognize the problem and describe it well.  Practice group coaching to identify what is happening and to discover a good solution.  Don’t try to solve every problem yourself. Empower others to act. Delegate responsibility and authority to godly men and women.  And keep your eye on the goal just as the Apostle did. Don’t neglect the ministry God has given you just because a problem comes up.  God will bless you with sound solutions and empowered church members.

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

 

'One Anothers' Series: Love One Another

 

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

As we begin a new year, I am beginning a new series.  During 2023, I intend to focus upon the: “One Anothers” found in the New Testament as viewed through the lens of leadership. 

Did you realize that the phrase “one another” occurs fifty-nine times in the New Testament? In the coming year we will explore many of these scriptures. What might you guess is the most frequent “one another” instruction? If your answer is “Love One Another,” you would be correct.  This command is given at least sixteen times in the New Testament. 

Here is Jesus’s command in John 13:34; “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”

I would like to pose two questions as we consider this command. 

• Why is it new? 

• What does “love one another” have to do with spiritual leadership? 

Regarding, “why is it new? s I pondered and studied this thought, I found this helpful explanation from pastor and author John Piper:  

“I see two answers implied in this verse. The key … is found in the … second half of the verse: “. . . just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” The newness of the command to love each other is found in Jesus’ words “as I have loved you.”

I see two ways that the commandment to love each other is new in those words. First, the command is new because it is a command to live out the love of Jesus. Second, … The words “as I have loved you” contain a pattern for our love for each other, and they contain a power for our love for each other.”

Stated another way, we are to love others following Christ’s example.  Philippians 2:3-4 tells us, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,  not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”  Further, we are to love others through the power and enablement of the Holy Spirit.  Sometimes, the ability to love others is simply beyond our own capacity.  For me, this is particularly true when I and/or the other person are having a difficult day.   

To address the second question, I recall that about 18 months ago I shared a podcast that was inspired by VCP Supervisor Peter Baraka. One of Peter’s leadership principles is, “You must love those you lead.”  

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

• Followers feel appreciated and motivated. Their level of commitment increases.

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

• There is forgiveness for unintended mistakes or offenses

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

Love one another. 

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

Directive & Corrective Discipline

 

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

One of the joys I experience by being a part of One Mission Society’s Village Church Planting ministry is the privilege of sharing the Train and Multiply materials with church planters in Africa and around the world. These booklets are simple, practical and profound.  So let me encourage you to review the Train and Multiply booklets you used in previous terms.  Read over them. Pray about the practical tasks that these books suggest for church planters.  Ask God to use these Bible-based tools to guide you into a stronger and even healthier church planting ministry in 2023.

When I read the Train and Multiply booklet called “Become the Body of Christ,” that is used in Term 4, I am struck by a three sentence paragraph that was simple, practical and profound.  Listen to what I read:

“There are two kinds of discipline: directive and corrective. Directive discipline includes organizing, teaching, and coordinating the whole church. Corrective discipline includes reforming and restoring disorderly and fallen members. If the elders use directive discipline, then there will be little need for corrective discipline.”

When church planters and elders give direction to a church by organizing, teaching, and coaching church members, there will be little need for corrective discipline of disorderly members. Why? Because everyone will know what is expected by God, by church leaders, and by their fellow church members.

Sometimes corrective discipline is needed to help church members reform their bad behavior so they can be restored to full fellowship and ministry activity.  But if you and your leadership team teach clearly from the Word of God and check to make sure your members have understood that Word, they can and will correct their own behavior in the power of the Holy Spirit.  

So it is very important to teach God’s Word with clarity. Our teaching must be simple and applicable to the common experiences of the people we teach.  But sometimes church leaders make big assumptions.  I know a church in which a young member of the worship team had to be put on discipline because he began living with a woman without getting married. Somehow he failed to understand that such behavior is sinful and would exclude him from leading worship.

When his church leaders thought back on what had been explicitly taught in the  church, they realized that no one had taught a lesson about marriage and sexual purity.  They had assumed that everyone knew that sexual relations outside of marriage are sinful.  But the young man seemed surprised when he was informed of this reality! Oh how I wish that directive discipline would have been practiced instead of the corrective discipline that was required.  

Would you take a moment today or tomorrow to make a list of plain teachings of Jesus that need to be taught in your church?  Remember, directive discipline includes organizing, teaching, and coordinating the whole church. Corrective discipline includes reforming and restoring disorderly and fallen members. If church planters and elders use directive discipline, then there will be little need for corrective discipline.”

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

 

#EncouragementForVillageChurchPlanters #ChurchDiscipline