Women Are Needed In Ministry

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.