Honoring Those Who Carry the Call,

One of the most sacred and striking moments at Striking the Ground came when the Holy Spirit prompted Bonnie and me to wash the feet of the leaders who had gathered.

Pastors and ministry leaders endure much in the service of the King. They carry responsibilities, burdens, expectations, disappointments, and spiritual pressures that are often unseen by the people they serve. In that moment, the foot washing became more than a symbolic act. It was a precious and prophetic way for Bonnie and me to say, “We see your service. We honor the calling God has placed upon your life. We bless you to continue in that calling.”

Jesus Himself gave us this pattern. In John 13, He knelt before His disciples and washed their feet. The One who was Lord and Master took the position of a servant. He demonstrated that greatness in the Kingdom is not found in position, title, or recognition, but in humility, love, and a willingness to serve.

Foot washing therefore carries several powerful meanings. It is an act of humility. When Jesus knelt before His disciples, He showed that no one is too important to serve another. It is an act of honor. Washing the feet of another person acknowledges the road they have walked, the labor they have given, and the calling they continue to carry. It is an act of refreshing.

In biblical times, feet became dusty and weary from the journey. Washing them brought cleansing and renewal. Prophetically, it can speak of the Lord refreshing His servants for the road ahead. It is also an act of blessing and commissioning. It says, in effect, “May the Lord strengthen your steps. May He cleanse away the dust of past battles. May He renew your strength and establish your feet for the next season of your calling.”

As Bonnie and I knelt before these leaders, we were not simply performing a ceremony. We were honoring men and women who had poured out their lives in service to the King. We were acknowledging the cost of their obedience and blessing the call of God upon them. But what followed made the moment even more powerful.

The people throughout the gathering extended their hands toward the leaders and began to bless them. Suddenly, the entire room became part of the act of honor. The leaders were not merely being prayed over by Bonnie and me; they were being surrounded by the love, gratitude, and blessing of the Body of Messiah. It became a beautiful picture of how the Church should function. Leaders serve the people, but the people must also pray for, strengthen, honor, and uphold those who have been called to lead them.

The foot washing at Striking the Ground was therefore not merely a ceremony. It was a prophetic declaration: we will not allow those who serve the King to walk alone. We will wash their feet, bless their journey, strengthen their hands, and uphold their calling before the Lord.

Jesus said after washing His disciples’ feet, “I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.” — John 13:15.

That evening, Bonnie and I were given the privilege of living out that example before the leaders, while the gathered Body joined us in blessing and honoring them.