Date: December 12, 2025

Podcast Show Notes: Interview with Melissa Heiland

Story Highlights:

In this powerful episode of The Women Behind the Words, Debbie Dufek sits down with missionary, author, and ministry leader Melissa Heiland to share a story of obedience, surrender, and God’s unmistakable guidance. Melissa opens her heart about how the Lord used unexpected challenges, personal loss, and difficult seasons to shape a calling that would reach far beyond what she could have imagined.

Melissa reflects on a painful experience with foster children that ultimately became a turning point. Through prayer and obedience, God led her and her husband to sell their possessions and step out in faith to serve overseas for one year. That single act of obedience planted the seeds for Beautiful Feet International, a pregnancy ministry that now serves women and families in over 43 nations.

Throughout the conversation, Melissa shares how God redirected her path through foster care, adoption, missions, and ministry leadership. She explains how Beautiful Feet equips local churches and leaders to support pregnant women and mothers, creating lasting impact through a small staff and faithful volunteers around the world. From launching a pregnancy center in Costa Rica to expanding across Latin America, Africa, and Asia, Melissa testifies to God’s perfect timing and provision every step of the way.

This episode is a reminder that God sees the weary, redeems every experience, and invites His people to partner with Him in transforming lives one word, one act of love, and one life at a time.

About Our Guest:

Melissa Heiland is a wife, mother of six, and grandmother of twelve with a deep passion for teaching and sharing the Gospel. She holds degrees from Wake Forest University and the University of Central Missouri, with specialties in education and curriculum and instruction. Melissa served as a missionary with the International Mission Board and has led mission teams since 2000.

She is the Founder and President of Beautiful Feet International, a mission organization dedicated to starting and supporting international pregnancy centers. Beautiful Feet currently oversees more than 150 pregnancy ministries across 43 nations. Melissa is also an author and speaker who has written training manuals and curricula for pregnancy centers, devotionals for new and expectant mothers, and devotionals for mission teams. She is the recipient of the 2014 EvanTell Matthew 4:19 Award and the 2022 Heartbeat International Servant Leader Award.

Book Spotlight:

A Mother’s Comfort: A Devotional for Baby’s First Year

Written for mothers during their baby’s first year, A Mother’s Comfort offers fifty two weekly devotions designed to encourage and strengthen a new mother’s heart. Each devotion includes Scripture, reflection prompts, and space to record prayers, thoughts, and dreams. The book reminds mothers that just as they comfort their child, they are also deeply loved and comforted by their heavenly Father. This devotional is especially meaningful for women who choose life despite difficult circumstances, offering reassurance that God is their defender and provider.

A Mother’s Journey: A Devotional for Pregnancy

A Mother’s Journey is part devotional and part pregnancy journal, with forty chapters that correspond to each week of pregnancy. Each week includes Scripture, a journal prompt, and information about the baby’s development. This book offers comfort, hope, and spiritual guidance to women walking through pregnancy, whether with or without the support of a partner. It serves as a gentle reminder that God is present, compassionate, and deeply involved in every stage of the journey.

Connect with Beautiful Feet International:

Website: International Pregnancy Centers | Beautiful Feet International

Facebook:  (6) Facebook Beautiful Feet International

Instagram:  Beautiful Feet (@beautifulfeetintl) • Instagram photos and videos

Closing Thought:

Melissa’s story reminds us that obedience, even when it feels costly, can open the door to God’s greater purpose. When we trust His timing and follow where He leads, He multiplies our faithfulness far beyond what we could ever imagine.