To Every Missionary: Thank You for Going

Nazarene journal

June 11, 2025
Nazarene Journal

“How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”— Romans 10:15

Across continents, languages and borders
Through deserts, jungles and citiesAmong the unreached, the hurting and the hopefulYou went.You left what was familiar to follow the call of Christ. You traded comfort for purpose.You exchanged predictability for obedience.
And for that… we say thank you.

Thank You for Saying Yes

Thank you for saying yes when it would’ve been easier to say no.

“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’”— Isaiah 6:8

You didn’t wait until everything was perfect.
You didn’t require applause.You went because the Gospel is worth everything.

Thank You for Leaving What You Loved to Love New People

You left your land, your family, your language, your customsNot to escape your home, but to embrace someone else’s.

“Everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.”— Matthew 19:29

You learned names that were hard to pronounce.You ate food you weren’t used to.You made homes out of borrowed rooms.You cried in secret when you missed home—but still, you stayed.

Thank You for Planting Seeds Others May Never See Grow

Not every story ends in revival.Some ends in tears, slow progress, and quiet faithfulness.

“So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.”— 1 Corinthians 3:7

But you still preached.You still prayed.You still loved.That seed you sowed in secret may bloom in a heart a decade from now.

You Were Sent, But You Are Not Forgotten

“And Jesus said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.’”— Mark 16:15

Whether you’re in a city of millions or a remote village of 300…Whether you’re fluent in the language or still learning basic words…Whether you’re church planting, teaching, healing, or translating…You are seen.You are remembered.You are celebrated.

Scriptures That Walk With You

Here are promises for every missionary heart:

Matthew 28:20 – “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
2 Timothy 4:17 – “But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength…”
Psalm 121:8 – “The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.”
Philippians 1:3-5 – “I thank my God every time I remember you… because of your partnership in the gospel…”
Acts 1:8 – “You will receive power… and you will be my witnesses to the ends of the earth.”
Isaiah 52:7 – “How beautiful… are the feet of those who bring good news.”