Two Words every Great Commission Servant Needs to Hear

“How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: 'How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!' " (Rom. 10:14-15)

Taking the gospel of peace to people each day can wear your feet out - it doesn't matter if you're spreading the good news on the paved streets of your neighborhood or the Andes mountains of Peru. 

I've scaled some mountains in Peru. That was a hard Great Commission experience. But my latest endeavor was even harder - volunteering for 11 weeks straight in the Preschool Class at church. 

It was tiring. And my feet weren't the only part of me that hurt at the end of the day! 

But last Sunday, two little words changed my entire day. 

Thank you. 

A mother of a preschooler in my class handed me a wrapped present. She wanted to say thank you for investing in her child, she said. 

When I got home, I opened the box. Inside was a handmade craft from World Crafts - a magnet set of embroidered feet. With it she paired Paul's paraphrase of the Prophet Isaiah in Rom. 10:15.

"How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace."

Her thank you did more than touch me. It made me realize the importance of saying thank you to those who serve every day in Great Commission activities. 

Why say thank you? 

It encourages. It edifies. It brings glory to the God who gifted that person for service. 

How to say thank you? 

A few years ago, I listened to a sermon by Texas pastor on the importance of saying thank you to servants in the church. Of all the things he said, this thought stuck with me: people receive thanks in different ways. 

Some like verbal praise, even public praise. Others like a hand-written thank you note. Some appreciate a gift or the gift of one-on-one time. 

But regardless of how someone feels most appreciated, saying thank you is about acknowledgment. Acknowledging that person's investment in the King's kingdom and affirming their service, no matter where their feet have taken them. 

As missional women, we must lead by example. Express your gratitude to those who are serving around you. Mothers, lead your children to thank those who do the hard work of taking the gospel to difficult places.

Need some ideas for helping your kids say thank you? 

Start with prayer. When you pray, express gratitude to God for specific servants you know personally. At meals, pray for your church staff by name, leaders in your church, and missionaries. Then be sure to tell that person you thanked God for them in prayer. Don’t know of any missionaries? Here’s a great resource to get you started. 

Send a card. My kids love to make cards. If your child can't write, ask them to draw a picture or paint a picture with watercolor and you can write thank you over their masterpiece. Sent your thank you note to their teachers.

Share hugs. I can't tell how you much I enjoyed those moments when a child came back to the preschool room to say thank you and give me a hug!  Behind that child's action was a careful parent training their child in gratitude. It melted my heart and renewed my love for teaching preschoolers.

Speak kind words. Satan will try to destroy every activity related to the Great Commission. Kind words are important. They rebuild what the Lier and Accuser has sought to tear down. 

So, say thank you to your Great Commission servants. They are doing more than walking on tired feet, they are doing battle for truth. 

About Melissa

Melissa’s motto as a Christian journalist and creative writer is to “tell of God’s marvelous works” (Ps. 9:1). And with almost 15 years experience in print and editorial services, God has embedded Melissa with passions gleaned from stories and experiences from the field. But helping women fall in love with the sweetness of God’s Word truly makes her heart sing. Two years ago, she launched HiveResources.com to help women sweeten their walk with Christ through Bible study, missions resources, and more. She recently published a 10-week Bible study,Daughters of the King, to help women find their place in the biblical story. Melissa has a M.Div. in Women’s Studies from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and a B.A. in Journalism from Texas A&M University. She and her husband, Jonathan, are currently part of a church plant in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They have five-year-old twin boys, Zacharias and Jonah, who are unwittingly and joyfully shaping them into the image of Christ.

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