John McCallum: ‘Missions starts with feet’

CABOT – John McCallum, pastor of First Baptist Church, Hot Springs, challenged messengers to “just walk” to share the gospel at the 2012 Arkansas Baptist State Convention Annual Meeting Oct. 31.

John McCallum“The time is now to take the good news to the world,” McCallum said. “Since you’re walking anyway, take the good news with you as you go.” 

He preached from Romans 10:14-15 that tells of the beautiful feet of those who bring the good news.

“Isn’t that a strange image?” McCallum said.

He said that when he thinks of feet, he wouldn’t necessarily use the word beautiful to describe them.

“Paul, however, is not talking about the look of the feet, but the use of the feet,” McCallum said. “The beauty of a witness’ feet is not because they are good for looking, but because they are good for walking. So just walk.”

“Walk across rooms and offices, walk across cities, and states and countries with confidence – just walk to those in need of the good news and share it,” said McCallum. “You’re already walking from here to there for some reason anyway, so why not take the good news with you as you go?”

He went on that it doesn’t really sound that hard, but yet many Christians don’t share their faith.

McCallum compared the different types of “feet” Christians have – hurt, stinky, cold and old.

Those with hurt feet McCallum said may be “nursing some grief or are angry with God or the church for letting them down … They are hurt and they don’t want to walk. They’d rather sit and sulk. They’d rather feel sorry for themselves than walk to someone who needs the good news. If they are hurt, they’ve forgotten that the news is good.”

Those with stinky feet have some sin in their lives that they feel disqualifies them from sharing the good news with others such as a divorce or addiction, McCallum said. 

“Some don’t walk because they think they just have too many skeletons in their closet. They believe that their souls stink, and they think that no one would believe them,” he said. “If this is the way you feel, have you forgotten that the news is good?”

Cold feet Christians are scared and don’t want to get out of their comfort zone, McCallum said. “They are afraid to take risks and are afraid to walk where they have never walked before. They are afraid of rejection, ridicule or failure. They’d rather be comfortable than share the good news.” 

McCallum shared that most Christ followers are probably sufferers of cold feet, and the only way to cure it is to get up and start walking.

And finally, he describes old feet that think they are too old to walk to share the good news.

“Retirees and aging people are changing lives,” McCallum said. “Don’t let old feet keep you from walking.”

He told messengers that if you’re physically incapable of walking to share the good news, then there are other ways that you can spread the good news – through praying or financially supporting others who are capable.

He concluded his message by saying that there are plenty of opportunities to just walk.

“When you make a decision to just walk, you are going to find that you are always crossing paths with people who need the Lord,” McCallum said. “Missions starts with the feet before it gets to the mouth. It has some motion to it, and it didn’t’ start on earth, it started in heaven.”