How to Encourage Women’s Involvement in Missions – Acts 18:26
“Apollos began to speak freely (fearlessly and boldly) in the synagogue; but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him with them in their home and expounded to him the way of God more definitely and accurately.” (Acts 18:26)
“People are looking for better methods. God is looking for better people for His harvest fields.” Pray to the Lord of the harvest to send workers into His harvest fields. (Matt 9:36-38)
We all want to see the great commission (Matt 28:18-20) of our Lord fulfilled but there is some disagreement about the best ways to see it completed. More than two-thirds of the mission force around the world has been and is currently comprised of women.
Illustration: In China women lead about 90% of the house fellowships where there are now more than 100 million Christians. While the government persecutes and imprisons men, many of the women are left to attend to their families and so have risen to the many high levels of church leadership throughout China. The best-kept secret is the leadership of women in planting and growing churches throughout China today.
Illustration: Dr. Meg Kraft, of Biola’s Intercultural Studies department writes, “Many mission executives agree that the more difficult and dangerous the work, the more likely women are to volunteer to do it. David Yonggi Cho, who Pastors a 500,000-member church in Seoul Korea writes, “We conclude that women are the best choice for difficult, pioneering work. We have found that in these situations, women will never give up. Men are good for building up the work, but women are best for persevering when men get discouraged.”
Dr. Meg Kraft also writes, “Some fear that because of the unique obstacles of reaching the Muslim world, Western women can play no part. Yet in a nomadic Muslim group in Sub-Saharan Africa, a single woman is effectively training Imams (Islamic teachers) in the gospel. They perceive her to be non-threatening, “just a woman”. Building upon a foundation of interpersonal relationship and Bible knowledge, she does not give them answers herself, but directs them to the Word. The Lord has confirmed her teaching, giving dreams and visions to these leaders. As they have been converted, they are now training many others. She is accepted as a loving, caring elder sister, who gives high priority to their welfare.” I personally have talked with this woman and can attest for the effectiveness of her multiplying ministry of training Christian – Muslim Malams in Africa for more than thirty years. (P. 271 Perspectives on the World Christian Movement)
Illustration: (India)--An evangelism project that has seen great success for the past 50
Years in Latin America have recently been introduced to India. Latin
America Mission’s [3] Ken MacHarg reports. ""Evangelism-in-Depth" was
Begun by the Latin America Mission using door-to-door evangelism, medical
Caravans and other methods that involve the entire community over a long
Period of time. Now, these biblical principles are being used in India.
Following its introduction last year, one pastor reported a 50% increase
in attendance as church members have begun sharing their faith with family
and friends. Many in India report success with "Evangelism-In-Depth"
through women evangelists. Male evangelists are often persecuted in Indian
villages, but the society respects women and will not openly hassle them.
Also, women have more openings to Indian homes as men usually go out to
work while women stay home during the day. For Mission Network News, I’m
Ken MacHarg." 7/11/02
Let us look at several ways that we can encourage greater involvement by women in missions:
1. Let us ask the Lord to send laborers into His harvest field and equip and work with those He provides, both male and female. (Matt 9:36-38) Jesus did not make any distinction when He called all of us to pray that the Lord of the harvest would send workers into His harvest fields. God uses anyone who is willing to serve Him by speaking the truth in love to those who are in need. Do not let anyone look down on you because of your age, your background or your gender. But instead, in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity show yourself to be an example to the believers. (I Tim. 4:12)
Illustration:As a pastor, a husband and a father, I have a dread of burying someone else’s talents, particularly those bestowed on women. Accordingly, I have tried to scrutinize my views, the place of tradition, the thrust of theology and the force of my prejudices. Repeatedly, I have come back to this fact: If the Lord has given gifts, I had better be careful about denying freedom for their exercise. More than that, I need to ensure that the women in my life have every encouragement from me to be what He called and gifted them to be. A major part of my life must be spent as a man caring for, nurturing, encouraging and developing gifted women because they aren’t the only ones who will give account for their stewardship. As a man in a male-oriented church, I may one day be asked about their gifts, too. I would like to be able to say I did considerably more than burying. A talent is a terrible thing to waste.
Stuart Briscoe.
2. Follow the example of Priscilla who used the gifts God had given her to equip the saints for the work of the ministry. By working with her husband, Priscilla was able to instruct Apollos in more effective ministry ideas, methods and goals. Dr. Luke recognized and affirmed the gifts of Priscilla and used her as an example of one who was used by God to multiply the advancement of Christ’s kingdom in both qualitative and quantitative ways. We learned that immediately after receiving instruction from Priscilla and Aquila, (Indicating that Priscilla was probably a chief teacher in their home) that Apollos went back to Achaia and was a great help to those who had by grace believed. He vigorously refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.” (Acts 18:27,28) We can thank God for using Priscilla at a most strategic time in the advancement of the gospel. Let us seek to promote women to places where they can have the most strategic and tactical catalytic effect for the advancement of Christ’s kingdom throughout all the nations of the earth.
Illustration:Learn to work with peoples’ strengths instead of their weaknesses:
Five major needs of women: 1) Affection, 2) Conversation, 3) Honesty and openness, 4) Financial support, 5) Family commitment.
Five major needs of men: 1) Sexual fulfillment, 2) Recreational companionship, 3) An attractive spouse, 4) Domestic support, 5) Admiration.
C. Swindoll, His Needs, Her Needs, The Grace Awakening, Word, 1990, p. 256.
3. Follow the example of Deborah in Judges 4 where the Lord used a woman for leadership when no man was found to be suitable for the task at hand. Barak said to Deborah, “If you go with me, I will go; but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go.” Very well, Deborah said, “I will go with you. But because of the way you are going about this, the honor will not be yours, for the Lord will hand Sisera(the enemy) over to a woman…Then Deborah said to Barak, “Go! This is the day the Lord has given Sisera into your hands. Has not the Lord gone ahead of you?” At Barak’s advance, the Lord routed Sisera and all his chariots and army by the sword and Sisera abandoned his chariot and fled on foot. But Barak pursued the chariots and army as far as Harosheth. All the troops of Sisera fell by the sword; not a man was left.” (Judges 4:8-16) We can thank God that He will use women at strategic times in the advancement of His dominion. Never underestimate what God can do through those whose hearts are completed committed to Him and His kingdom priority purposes.
Illustration:John Cheever was asked if he would describe life with his wife, Mary. "She has displayed an extraordinary amount of patience," he answered. He paused, then continued, "Women are an inspiration. It’s because of them we put on clean shirts and wash our necks. Because of women, we want to excel. Because of a woman, Christopher Columbus discovered America."
"Queen Isabella," Mary Cheever murmured.
"I was thinking of Mrs. Columbus," He said, deadpan.
Source Unknown.
4. We can thank God that the apostle Paul encouraged women to use and utilize all of their gifts in cooperation with other members of Christ’s body. In Romans 16:1-5 Paul writes, “I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church in Cenchrea. I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been a great help to many people including me. Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus. They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them. Greet also the church that meets at their house.” We learn that Paul worked in great cooperation Phoebe and Priscilla in the planting and growing of many churches throughout the Gentile world.
Illustration:The great violinist, Nicolo Paganini, willed his marvelous violin to Genoa -- the city of his birth -- but only on condition that the instrument never be played upon. It was an unfortunate condition, for it is a peculiarity of wood that as long as it is used and handled, it shows little wear. As soon as it is discarded, it begins to decay.
The exquisite, mellow-toned violin has become worm-eaten in its beautiful case, valueless except as a relic. The moldering instrument is a reminder that a life withdrawn from all service to others loses its meaning.
Bits & Pieces, June 25, 1992.
5. We can thank and learn how God use Lydia for the planting and growing of one of the first Gentile churches in Phillip. Dr. Luke writes, “After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house, where they met with the brothers and encouraged them.” (Acts 16:40) We can thank God for using all the gifts of hospitality of women as well as their spiritual sensitivity to the way the Spirit of God chose to begin a new church in a home fellowship in an urban center. Ask the Lord to help you to be willing to work with women who are spiritually responsive to using what God has entrusted to them for His greater purposes. Always trust God to help you to avoid any appearance of evil.
Illustration:Charles Osgood told the story of two ladies who lived in a convalescent center. Each had suffered an incapacitating stroke. Margaret’s stroke left her left side restricted, while Ruth’s stroke damaged her right side. Both of these ladies were accomplished pianists but had given up hope of ever playing again. The director of the center sat them down at a piano and encouraged them to play solo pieces together. They did, and a beautiful friendship developed. What a picture of the church’s need to work together! What one member cannot do alone, perhaps two or more could do together--in harmony.
Don Higginbotham.
6. We can trust the Lord to lead us to women co-laborers in the ministry like Euodia and Syntche in Philippians 4:2,3 where Paul wrote, “I plead with Euodia and Syntche to agree with each other in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of the fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.” Trust the Lord to lead you with women who are willing to fight the good fight of faith in doing evangelism with the children and families into their communities. Euodia and Syntche were strong in contending, struggling, asserting and affirming the rights ways of the truth for Jesus Christ. Be willing to work with strong women who have been given outgoing personalities not just the shy and retiring types. Ask the Lord to help you to find women who are able to work in harmony with others for the synergistic use of all the spiritual gifts in the body of Christ. Even though there may be disagreements and conflicts at times, does not mean that resolution cannot be found. We continue to press on for the upward call of God in Christ and focus on our goals as this tends to help everyone think more objectively than subjectively about their own personal emotional concerns.
Illustration: During the nineteen years that I served as a missionary I observed dozens of godly women who helped advance the kingdom of God in ways that men did not. These were strong women who were willing to suffer great abuse, criticism and hardship for the sake of the gospel. When these ladies trusted and obey the Lord and His word He honored them by multiplying them with new converts, new church fellowship and new disciples that advanced the great commission when no godly men were to be found in these ministries. The universal laws of sowing and reaping are not gender specific. Whatever one sows that will they also reap.” As we have opportunity let us do good to all, especially to all those who are of the household of faith.” (Gal. 6:6-8)
Illustration: Dr. Meg Kraft writes, “One of the most significant results of Christian missions in many societies came through their role in ministering to and raising the status of women. In many of the cultures women were relegated to a very low status and had almost no right. Missionaries, usually single women, evangelized them, teaching them to see themselves as children of God. Then girls and women were encouraged to study, develop their gifts, and in some cases, enter professions such as education and medicine. Focusing first on evangelization of women in cultures where men could not have contact with most women, the missionaries soon branched out into educational and medical work with women. Soon women were employed as lay evangelists, call “Bible women.” Especially in China and Korea. Even though they were not yet given equal status with men, these faithful workers had a powerful impact not only on the growth of the Church but on the status of other women. When the first Protestant missionaries arrived in Korea in 1884 and 1885, a woman had virtually no status in society except as the daughter of her father, the wife of her husband, or the mother of the oldest son. By the middle of this century the world’s largest women’s university had been established in Seoul and its President, Dr. Helen Kim, was recognized as one of Korea’s greatest educators as well as a leader in evangelization.” (p. 267,268, Perspectives on the World Christian Movement)
Ask the Lord to help women in your congregation get training to be used of God as
1). Educators 2). Evangelists 3). Teachers of many Biblical and secular subjects for primary, secondary and tertiary educational opportunities 4). Nurses 5). Writers 6). Medical personnel 7). Professors 8). Servants to the oppressed and needy, homeless, orphanages etc 9). Missionary roles and responsibilities of all sorts 10). Bible translators 11). Tentmakers 12). Recording specialists as with Gospel recordings 13). Hospitality coordinators 14). Bookkeepers 15). Accountants 16). Administrative specialists 17). Personnel coordinators 18). Missionary specialists and missionary care coordinators 19) Prayer coordinators 20). Organizers of conferences 21). Book ministries etc.
