Your Shoes Are Telling a Story—What Is It?

“And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!’”
—Romans 10:14b-15

My current favorite shoes are the white Adidas Stan Smiths. Your vibe might be more Air Jordans or square-toed Ariat cowboy boots. Maybe you're more of a minimalist, so you lean toward flats or flip-flops. I love shoes and the different styles people rock. I still remember that my first must-have shoes were the Reebok Pumps. I was in seventh grade, joining the basketball team, and trying to persuade my mom that the extra “pump” would amplify my game. Fast-forward: I got the shoes (thank you, Mom), but my game remained pretty flat.

Shoes have always fascinated me. When I meet people or walk a busy street, I find myself looking people in the eye to say "hi" but also glancing at their shoes. I believe shoes communicate something about people—and apparently, I’m not wrong. A quick Google search shows that certain shoes can convey personality traits like being goal-oriented, detail-focused, take-charge, or laid-back. Shoes can reflect someone’s financial capability (or lack thereof) and even hint at where they prefer to walk—whether outdoors or in air-conditioned buildings.

No matter your preferred style or what your shoes might say about you, their ultimate purpose is protection and comfort as we move. That’s why some people will spend $100 or more on steel-toed boots or running shoes.

Followers of Jesus are called to move. We were never meant to hunker down in buildings like the disciples did after Jesus died; rather, we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to move within our own Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria as we bring the gospel to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). There are people in our neighborhoods and beyond who need the church to live and share the gospel—testifying to the abounding love of Jesus.

But the question remains: How will they hear? How will they believe? How will they preach? The answer is the church—you and me. Not just moving our mouths, but purposefully, nimbly, and frequently moving our feet into proximity with those who haven’t yet heard, believed, or preached.

Perhaps you feel that your witness—as an individual or as a church—has fallen flat or is currently deflated. You might be trying to persuade the Father to give you a missional “pump” so you can amplify the good news of Jesus more pervasively, with passion and perseverance. If that’s the case, I encourage you to take off your figurative shoes—the ones that keep you or the church in comfort or protection mode. When comfort and protection become the church’s purpose, missional movement quickly becomes stifled.

If this is where you find yourself, know that you’re not alone.

• First, let’s be real: engaging in mission is hard.

• Second, know that Jesus is with you—to the very end of the age—and he has given you the Holy Spirit.

• Finally, don’t be afraid to be vulnerable (to keep the analogy going, to come barefoot). Reach out to your regional Resonate team. This is why we exist. We are here to walk with you so that the gospel of Jesus is shared from everywhere to everyone.

Brad Meinders is Resonate’s Regional Mission Leader for the Central United States region. Connect with him and his team by sending him an email at [email protected]