This encouragement comes to you from Melissa Verdugo. Melissa is the Operations Director and Training Representative for the YFC Americas Area. She and her husband Brian live in Florida, USA.

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“I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a deacon in the church in Cenchrea. Welcome her in the Lord as one who is worthy of honor among God’s people. Help her in whatever she needs, for she has been helpful to many, and especially to me.” Romans 16:1-2

Paul is writing a letter of recommendation for Phoebe. Why does Paul recommend Phoebe?

Most commentators, based on careful studies conclude that Phoebe was the person that Paul chose to deliver the letter to the house churches in Rome. A sort of letter of recommendation for the letter carrier was typical in the first century customs. Letters of recommendations were included for letter carriers in the first century because the letter carrier was expected to explain the content of the letter to those they delivered it to.

Colossians 4:7-9. “Tychicus will give you a full report about how I am getting along. He is a beloved brother and faithful helper who serves with me in the Lord’s work. I have sent him to you for this very purpose—to let you know how we are doing and to encourage you.” We see a similar letter of recommendation for Tychicus at the close of Paul’s letter to the church in Colossae. Tychicus was the letter carrier of Colossians to the church in Colossae.

Paul trusted all of his letter carriers’ ability to explain the letters he sent. He considered all of them co-workers in the Lord’s work. Paul had never been to Rome and he had never been to Colossae.  Paul probably needed extra trust in Tychicus’ ability to explain Colossians and Phoebe’s to explain Romans.

“I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a deacon in the church in Cenchrea.”  The word translated here deacon is the Greek word diakonos. This word in the New Testament indicates service, ministry, or being a servant of God. Phoebe is the first named Christian Deacon in the Bible. Paul refers to his own ministry four times in 2 Corinthians as diakonos.

“We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us, and no one will find fault with our ministry. In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers (diakonos) of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind.” 2 Corinthians 6:3-4

In Romans 16: 2 Paul continues on, “Welcome her in the Lord as one who is worthy of honor among God’s people. Help her in whatever she needs, for she has been helpful (prostatis) to many, and especially to me. “

The word translated helpful is the Greek word prostatis. Prostatis means more than helpful. In the Greek translation the of 1 Chronicles 29:6 prostatai (plural of prostates) were “the officials in charge of the king’s work”. As leaders in ministry, we are in charge of the KING’s work. It is important that we continually examine ourselves to see how well we are doing with this great work, to continue to grow.

As leaders in YFC, we need to be prepared “if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it” (1 Peter 3:15b) just as Phoebe did.

No matter whether we are male or female, each of us who has accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior has spiritual gifts that the Lord expects us to use to further His Kingdom. Are you using your gifts to the fullest to further the Lord’s Kingdom?  Would Paul have recommended you as a Christian leader?

Blessings for your service in the Kingdom,

Melissa Verdugo
melissa.verdugo@yfci.org