What Would The Church Look Like Without The Ministry Of Women?
What would the church look like today if God had not chosen to use women all throughout the course of history?
Advocate for Woman in Leadership
I have never been an activist of any kind. And while I might admire and even support people who make stands for honorable and righteous causes, I’ve never been on the frontlines of any issue advocating for someone. All of that to say, I don’t want to come across as an activist, but as an advocate for women in the church.
With the recent discussions within the Southern Baptist Convention regarding women's leadership roles in the church, I feel compelled as a woman who has led in ministry both inside and outside of the church walls, to speak up. I want to speak on behalf of the women that God has called to some level of leadership in ministry. And I especially want to encourage women who serve within church structures and sometimes struggle to understand how their God-given gifts and calling fit within those environments.
It has been almost a quarter of a century since God called me into ministry. I have served and been affirmed. I have ministered and been hidden. I have walked in humility and struggled to maintain composure in what seemed to be unjust situations. I have ministered to women and some men. I have fallen short and been successful. I have ministered in my local church, my community, my state, my nation and beyond. And I am sure my ministry has made the tiniest impact in this world in light of so many others who have gone before me. But I still believe that my ministry as a woman, called by God, filled by God, entrusted with the gospel message matter as much as my male counterparts in the church.
Women of the Bible
As a Christian who believes in the truth and authority of God’s word, today I will let the women of the Bible speak for themselves, for me, and for every other woman God chooses to use in this world.
The Bible is filled with women God valued, chose, and used for His purposes and for His glory. I want to take some time to look at a few. And of course, we should start with Eve, the mother of all living. Eve reminds us that God chose to bring life into this world through women which makes us highly valuable in this world and God’s plan and purposes here on earth. I wrote more about this in my blog post, God Created Woman To Be A Lifegiver.
In my latest HER Podcast, Can Women Serve in Leadership in the Church? my guest, international Bible scholar Dr. Bob Utley listed several women whom God used in leadership roles in the Bible. I am using his list from the podcast which still leaves many others out of our discussion.
Women Leaders In The Old Testament:
Miriam - Leader and prophetess
Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took the timbrel in her hand; and
all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.
Exodus 15:20
I brought you up out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery.
I sent Moses to lead you, also Aaron and Miriam.
Micah 6:4
Deborah - leader and prophetess
Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, was judging Israel at that time. And she would sit under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the mountains of Ephraim. And the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.
Judges 4:4-5
Huldah - prophetess who read and interpreted the "Book of the Law"
So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe. (She dwelt in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter.) And they spoke with her. Then she said to them, "Thus says the Lord God of Israel, 'Tell the man who sent you to Me…
2 Kings 22:14-15
Women Leaders In The New Testament:
Anna - prophetess serving in the temple
Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.
Luke 2:36a
Philip's daughters - four virgin prophetesses
On the next day we who were Paul’s companions departed and came to Caesarea, and entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied.
Acts 21:8-9
Phoebe - deaconess of the church at Cenchrea
I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea.
Romans 16:1
Junia - possibly a woman apostle
Greet Andronicus and Junia, my countrymen and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.
Romans 16:7
My personal favorite female leader in the New Testament is the Samaritan woman in John 4. Dr. Utley said she was possibly the first evangelist. I also heard the same statement in my Seminary classes. I wrote about her influence and impact in a recent blog post, Your Words Matter: The Power of a Christian Woman’s Voice. Ultimately, she led an entire community of men to Jesus.
There are more women in the Bible that we could bring into this conversation, but I would prefer to send you to Dr. Bob Utley’s website to read more details under his special topics about women. However, if we only stick to these women listed and see these Bible facts about God using women, surely they speak to the value of women in God’s kingdom. And not value alone, but the fact that the all-powerful, all-knowing, God chose to use them, when He could have chosen anyone He wanted to use on the planet.
The fact is God has always chosen to use women. So the question seems to arise, What would God’s kingdom on earth and in heaven look like without women? It would be as incomplete as creation was without women, which I wrote about in this past blog post: Dear Woman, Do You Know How Connected Your Worth Is To Your Creator?
Why the Voice of Women Matters
There are tons of women all throughout history who have hugely impacted the world for God’s kingdom. During my conversation with Dr. Utley, we discussed women in ministry and a statistic I had heard claiming that 85% of missionaries are women. Dr. Utley questioned whether that number was accurate. I did the research and found that mission research consistently shows that women make up 55-65% of Protestant and Evangelical missionaries worldwide. What if that majority influence was removed or silenced in the spread of the gospel?
In my own personal life, I can write you a list of names of women who impacted my life and I would not be doing what I am today apart from their ministry and influence. While you might not know them because their ministry doesn’t have a huge platform, the lack of a huge platform doesn’t diminish their impact. However, you probably know some of these I listed below who are currently influential in our world today, even those who are no longer with us.
Beth Moore
Kay Arthur
Priscilla Shier
Lottie Moon
Elisabeth Elliot
Corrie ten Boom
Fanny Crosby
Mother Theresa
There are so many more we could look back at since the birth of the church. A friend told me about a book, 100 Christian Women Who Changed the 20th Century. I just got it out of my mailbox, and I cannot wait to read it. I love to see and hear how God has used women to impact this world for God’s kingdom because I too want to be a woman God uses to minister His truth into the world.
What would the church and the world look like without the prayers, service, teaching, leadership, hospitality, missions work, generosity, and faithfulness of women? It would look drastically different and not in a good way.
Woman Called By God
When all is said and done, whatever platform God has allowed me the privilege to speak from, God has chosen me and uses me to help women grow spiritually, to bring transformation into the lives of those He brings into my realm of influence. I have decided based on all that the Bible shows me and all that I have seen God do through other women, that I will be one of His women who make a difference and bring Him glory.
So dear sister in Christ, my hope is to affirm you in your calling. As Dr. Utley repeatedly said throughout our podcast, Every believer is a gifted minister of Jesus Christ.
You are chosen by God to be used by God. You have a divine purpose ordained by the Creator. If God has gifted and called you, do not let the criticism of others keep you from serving Him faithfully. You have been gifted and anointed to make a difference. Your gifts and anointing might look different than mine, but even that difference is God-ordained for the sake of His kingdom.
What can you do as a woman of God? Whatever God calls you to.
The real question is not:
"What position can I hold?"
The real question is:
"How has God gifted me to serve His Kingdom?"
Because, God has chosen you. God has gifted and anointed you. God wants to use you, and He will equip you with everything you need. He will raise you up in His time when others might try to keep you down. He will lead you and make paths for you to walk on. He will teach you by the power of His Spirit. He will be with you wherever you go so do not back down. Do not be afraid. Stand strong and do all that He has put in you!
Frequently Asked Questions About Women in Ministry
Q: What does the Bible say about women in ministry?
The Bible shows women serving God in many meaningful ways. Throughout Scripture, women are seen praying, prophesying, teaching, leading, serving, supporting the work of the gospel, and bearing witness to Jesus Christ. Miriam, Deborah, Huldah, Anna, Philip’s daughters, Phoebe, Junia, and the Samaritan woman are just a few examples of women God chose to use for His purposes and glory.
Q: Did God use women as leaders in the Bible?
Yes. God used women in leadership roles throughout both the Old and New Testaments. Deborah served as a judge and prophetess in Israel. Miriam was identified as a leader alongside Moses and Aaron. Huldah was a prophetess whom religious leaders consulted regarding the Book of the Law. In the New Testament, women also served as prophetesses, gospel witnesses, ministry supporters, and servants of the church.
Q: Why does the ministry of women matter in the church?
The ministry of women matters because God created, gifted, called, and used women for His kingdom purposes. Women have strengthened the church through prayer, teaching, discipleship, missions, hospitality, generosity, leadership, service, and faithful obedience to Christ. The church would look drastically different without the faithful ministry of women throughout history.
Q: Can Christian women be called by God to serve in ministry?
Yes. Every believer is called to serve God and use the gifts He has given them. Christian women are not excluded from God’s call to serve His kingdom. While Christians may differ on specific church roles and structures, Scripture clearly shows that God values women, gifts women, and uses women to accomplish His purposes.
Q: What should a woman do if she feels called by God but overlooked by people?
A woman who feels called by God but overlooked by people should stay rooted in God’s Word, seek the Lord in prayer, walk in humility, and continue serving faithfully where God opens doors. People may misunderstand, overlook, or limit what God has placed within her, but God is faithful to lead, equip, and use those He calls.
Q: Is this conversation about titles or about serving God?
The deeper question is not simply, “What position can I hold?” The better question is, “How has God gifted me to serve His Kingdom?” Titles, platforms, and positions are not the ultimate goal. Faithful service to Christ is. Every believer is called to use their gifts to serve others and bring glory to God.
Q: How can women serve God faithfully in the church today?
Women can serve God faithfully through prayer, Bible teaching, discipleship, mentoring, missions, hospitality, leadership, encouragement, writing, speaking, serving in local church ministry, and using their spiritual gifts wherever God opens doors. The specific expression may look different for each woman, but the call to faithfulness remains the same.
Q: What would the church look like without the ministry of women?
The church would be deeply diminished without the ministry of women. Throughout history, women have helped carry the gospel, disciple believers, teach Scripture, serve communities, support missions, lead ministries, and influence generations for Christ. Their prayers, service, leadership, generosity, and faithfulness have helped strengthen the body of Christ around the world.
