Recently I read a small book entitled Forgotten Missionary Heroes. The book told about the important work for the cause of Christ done by people unknown to most of us. In college, I had courses in the history and development of missions and another course in Baptist history. In seminary, I had courses in church history and Baptist history. Over the years, I have done a fair amount of reading in these areas. I also have read many biographies of servants of Christ. But never had I learned of the missionaries mentioned in that small book.

    I do not mention this to criticize my college or seminary training, or to berate books I have read about missions, church history or Christian workers. To the contrary, I am thankful for the courses I had, the professors who challenged me and the writers that informed me. Instead, I mention this to show the importance of unsung Christian workers. Only a few of Christ's servants are subjects of full biographies. A few more are written about in a chapter or a short paragraph. The names of the vast majority of God's choicest servants will never be spoken outside their immediate circle of influence.

    The work of William Carey, Adoniram Judson and Hudson Taylor was indispensable to the cause of Christ. So was the work of Samuel Mills and Elisha Abbott. We know and revere the names of Carey, Judson and Taylor. We do not recognize the names of Mills and Abbott. Elijah stood up to wicked Ahab in the name of the Lord, and called fire from heaven while unknown Obadiah helped save the lives of a hundred of God's prophets. Moses stood in the presence of God and received instructions for the tabernacle, but a humble and unknown craftsman named Bezaleel used his skills for the Lord and built the tabernacle. Mighty men like Joab stood with David and delivered him, but none was more loyal or helpful in the time of need than an unknown old man named Barzillai. The sermons of Charles Spurgeon ring loudly through the years, but we never knew the name of the deacon whose rough sermon brought Spurgeon to Christ.

    Far more are involved in the work of Christ than we could ever know. More Christian service happens behind the scenes than we can ever imagine. Both the names and works of many who serve Christ are known only to the Lord. Their work is not less important, only less visible. Many such people serve Christ right here at Fellowship Baptist Church. To you, I give my deepest thanks and most honorable salute.

    Without your faithful service, we could not continue the work of Christ here. In spite of overtime hours at work, you are faithful in attending the services here. In addition, you sacrifice personal time to prepare lessons, rehearse for the choir, plan and prepare dinners and fellowships, do yard work and decorate bulletin boards. You go on visitation, write and edit papers, keep records, serve on committees and do a hundred other tasks. You sacrifice your money to buy treats and prizes for children, to repair broken items or to buy something new for the church. You drive out of your way to pick people up for children's clubs, Sunday School, and other church services and activities. You make phone calls and visits to those who are sick, shut-in, lonely, or backsliding. Sometimes you fix a meal to take to someone who needs it. You hurt when another criticizes you or is thoughtlessly unkind, but you do not become bitter. You continue to serve Christ.

    Much of your labor will go unnoticed. Your name may never become a household word, but in the annals of heaven you are heroes and heroines. You will not be forgotten by God, or by your pastor.