Women in Ministry
What is Christian Ministry
In the Gospel, Ministering is service to God and other people. All Christians are expected to have these virtues. Matthew 20:28 says, “Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Thus, a Christian should minister with humility and love on behalf of Jesus. The word Minister refers to a designated person ordained to oversee religious duties in the church. Some of the roles include prophesying, preaching, and even healing. Christian ministry is not limited to believers only but also the non-believers. The primary purpose of ministering is to win more souls for the Lord. In the early churches, each Christian had a role of ministering to one another. Everyone who spread the Word was referred to as a church minister.
The Scriptures talk about serving God with the Spiritual gifts given in Romans 12:3. It says, “For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of him more highly than he ought to think but to think soberly, as God has dealt with each one a measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness”.
Compared to early churches, the current Ministry has taken a vocational aspect. Nowadays, pastors are appointed as ministers. They spend their lives within the Ministry working on elected duties. Moreso, the Ministry does not prioritize spiritual gifts but also practical ones. A credible ministry should emphasis on sharing Jesus Gospel. By sharing Jesus’s journey, people acknowledge and receive Him as their Savior. Ministering also includes reaching out to the downtrodden. It also focuses on meeting these people’s needs financially, physically, emotionally, vocational, and in other ways. Jesus intends us to live as one family. We should then start by spreading the guidelines through His Gospel. The current Ministry does not limit women on taking leadership positions compared to the early churches. Below are strong women who persevered the hard times to spread the Word in the New Testament.
Women in the New Testament
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The Bible is a profound book that has relevant meaning for all generations. In church history, women were barred in leadership positions. The New Testament has two verses that expound on this ban. The verses are 1 Corinthians 14:34 and I Timothy 2:12. Both verses share the same concept and say, “Let your women keep silence in the churches; for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also says the law.” These verses first appear as controversial statements. To understand them better, you need to read 1 Timothy 3:1-7 to understand the basis of such a conclusion. ” In Timothy 3:1-7, men are identified as legitimate elders in the church. Women were not banned from praying in the churches. Instead, they were barred from engaging actively in public teaching and praying. This practice was not limited to Ephesus only but in all early churches. Elders were given the mandate to oversee the instruction.
Despite the orders, various women actively participated in the Ministry. Even If they are mentioned briefly, they act as examples in women’s involvement in a male-dominated church. The Scriptures identify women as the first followers of Christ. Famous women in the Bible, like Joana, Mary Magdalene, and Susanna, supported and frequently followed Jesus in his Ministry. In the Gospel, these women and others were the last people He spent with at the cross. When He rose, another set of women met Him at the tomb. Some of them were at the crucifixion but still volunteered to take spices to anoint Him. These three women were Salome, Mary Magdalene, and Mary, the mother of James.
Mary Magdalene takes an active lead in the spread of the Word. She stands out as one person who loved Jesus and was not uncomfortable to display it. From the Bible, Mary Magdalene was categorized as a disciple due to her role in the resurrection. History depicts her as a repentant prostitute who started following Jesus after the healing of seven spirits. Her support to Jesus’s work is mentioned in Matthew 27:55-56, Mark 15:40-41; John 19:25, and Luke 8:1-3. After the resurrection, Jesus commissioned her as an apostle to continue teaching. She was later referred to as the apostles of the apostles, where she devoted entirely to the Ministry. To deserve such a title, one is expected to be a critical thinker and a credible leader. Through ancient Egyptian records, Mary is portrayed as a superior disciple. Her reliance contrasts with the male apostles, who initially declined her testimony on Christ’s resurrection. She is frequently mentioned in discussions between Jesus and His disciples. This is noted before and after the resurrection.
Other outstanding women include Susanna and Joanna. Together with Mary Magdalene, they received healing from infirmities and evil spirits. Joanna came from a noble upbringing but chose to follow Jesus after the deliverance. Her commendable story is in the book of Luke 8:1-3; 23:55; 24:10. She is seen as a traveling companion of the disciples. Considering that she was a married woman and a mother, it was a great sacrifice to go away with Jesus for days. This did not pull her back in her ministerial call. Together with other disciples, they went ahead of Jesus to arrange for cordial reception. Her sacrifice was not paid for since she received her healing freely. Nothing much is recorded about this Woman. The vague information mention that she was married to a man called Chuza. Despite her status, she chooses to abandon all the luxuries and follow Jesus. Joanna was a woman of means who honored God through it. She knew very well that the disciples had little on them. Thus, she gave liberally to meet their needs and received God’s grace in return.
Susanna was another strong woman in the New Testament. She received spiritual and physical healing from Jesus. To show her gratitude, she committed her life to follow him as He teaches. Susana also came from a wealthy family. Together with others not mentioned in the Bible, they provided for Jesus’s needs. Joanna and Susanna’s presence in the Ministry was a great lesson. The generous contributions were a guide on how a Christian should advance the Gospel. The lessons can get incorporated into present Christianity. Ministries should not concentrate only on heavenly bliss. Instead, people should start experiencing them now. The act calls for supporting those God has ordained. Christians should strive to indulge in all contributions. These do not only refer to paying offerings and tithe but also helping the needy. The assistance should surpass the Ministry to reach other oppressed people. Part of the Ministry is to give freely without holding back. This does not mean that you neglect your personal needs to help others. The Scriptures describe that Joanna and Susanna gave by the substance. They were wealthy women who shared a considerable amount of money, that what the number of resources they could afford to give. The Bible wants us to show what we can afford. He is not a selfish Father to leave us suffering after helping out. It doesn’t matter how much you have, give generously. In return, God will shower you with his healing and deliverance. Just like the three phenomenal women in the New Testament.
The Bible also draws attention to unpopular women who created an impact. Matthew 15:21-28 talks about a Canaanite woman who cries to Jesus for her daughter’s healing and fell at his feet. Jesus tests this Woman’s faith by saying, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” The response is rather rude coming from the Son of God. But the Woman is not baffled with it and continues to bug Him for the healing. Eventually, Jesus declared. “Woman, you have great faith. Your request is granted”. The daughter received instant healing. This story has a great lesson on how the Gospel is not limited to particular people. God only looks at our repenting heart to give us a warm embrace. This is witnessed in the case of the Sinful Woman, who washed Jesus’s feet with perfume. According to Luke 7:36-50, she used her tears to clean His feet and dried them with her hair. This is another example of how accommodative God gets when we repent.
In the earlier days, widows were given some roles in the church. There were some limitations based on age and uprightness. 1 Timothy 5:9-10 clarifies by saying, “No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the Lord people, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds.” In such cases, widows were given prophetic duties. The Scriptures have defined some widows as brave women.
Luke 21:1-4 speaks about the widow who gave two coins. “As Jesus looked up, He saw the rich putting their gift into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two tiny copper coins. ‘Truly I tell you,’ He said, ‘this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on”. The story of this widow teaches a lot. To start this, it shows how God overlooks the significant gifts presented to him. God concentrates on real sacrifice and not on material things. In this case, Jesus commended the widow level of faith. She was the one who required charity, yet she spared the little she had.
Luke mentions another widow in the parable of the unfair judge. This parable is also referred to as the Persistent widow. It talks about a judge who was approached by a poor widow for justice. He initially refused to help but gave in when the Woman pestered her. This parable is a guideline to our faith as Christians. The mind change of the corrupt judge implies how God wins over the evil. It is also a lesson on not giving up but to continue praying and waiting for the right time.
Anna is another widow mentioned in the New Testament. She is described as a prophetess and was linked to Jesus’s childhood. She lost her husband early in marriage and chose to consecrate her life to God. The story of this strong Woman is in the book of Luke. The scriptures tell us how she spent most of her time in the temple praying and fasting. In her many years of sacrifice, she got a chance of holding baby Jesus. Anna’s story is an encouragement to other widows. When her husband died, she did not give up on life. Instead, she grew stronger in her faith. Society has a mentality of misery when a husband dies.
The Bible solves this in Psalm 68:5. It says, “A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy dwelling.” This verse acts as a lesson to those who oppress the helpless. God is on the lookout to revenge for the deprived. Paul lists several kinds of church ministries in Ephesians 4:11. He talks about prophesy, apostles, evangelists, teachers, and pastors. His principle was to endow God’s people for the work of building and serving God’s creation. In these categories, Paul mentioned at least one Woman in each class who fulfilled ministerial duties.
Woman Apostles
In early Christianity, the apostles were sent by Jesus and later in the Acts of apostles to pioneer the work. Among the women recognized as an apostle is Junia. Junia and Andronicus were probably married and stern followers of the church in Rome. Paul acknowledges them in Romans 16:7 where he says, “Greet Andronicus and Junia, my countrymen and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.” The couple had endured persecution and imprisonment for their faith. Unfortunately, Junia’s role was not impactful in women’s leadership in the church. This was mainly because this was not part of women’s roles at the time. She was among the first women apostles all through the church’s history. Her prominence pioneered great works that made possible the spread of the Gospel.
Women prophets
After Pentecost, prophets spread widely compared to before. On that particular day, Peter quoted Prophet Joel and said, “And it will be in the last days,” says God, “that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters will prophesy; your youth will see visions and your seniors will dream dreams. Even on my male servants and on my female servants, in those days, I will pour out my Spirit, and they will prophesy. This is mentioned in Acts 2:17-18. In the early churches, prophets were the people who spoke directly to God. The conversations were inspired by the Holy Spirit and involved visions and hearing of promptings.
Moreover, their roles included giving guidance, encouragement, and comfort. Paul considered this gift as the most desirable and influential. He emphasizes it in 1 Corinthians 14:1, “Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.” Women’s prophets are found in the book of Acts 21:9. It mentions Phillip and his four daughters, who had received the gift of prophecy. These women were devoted to God’s work and chose not to get married. Not much is recorded about the New Testament daughters, but there is more mention in other early literature. The preliminary information refers to two of them as Eutychis and Hermione. But by all accounts, these women’s Ministry was a foundation in the early churches. Their power was compared to other strong prophets like Agabus and Prophetess Ammia.
Women Evangelists
Evangelists were the people who spread the Gospel. Paul speaks about two strong Evangelists referred to as Syntyche and Euodia. They were his co-workers who struggled with him in the Ministry. He mentions them in Philippians 4:2-3, “I plead with Euodia and Syntyche to agree in the Lord. I ask you, my true companion, to help these women since they have contended at my side in the course of the Gospel,” From the verse, we understand the role of the women was mainly in evangelization. Another woman, minister Paul, talked about was Phoebe. He describes her as a deacon in 1 Romans 16:1-2. The term deacon refers to a minister with sacred connections and an agent of the church. Regrettably, not much is written about her in the New Testament. Paul briefly mentions traveling with her as an envoy, but no other Gospel expounds about her Ministry.
Women as Teachers and Pastors
These terms may implicate two characteristics under one role. In other instances, the words may have different meanings. In the early churches, the word Pastor was rarely used compared to teachers. Mostly the words were combined to act as one. The New Testament does not give definite pastor’s role, but it is mainly connected to spiritual leadership. Several women played this role.
To start with, there was Priscilla, who closely related to Paul with her husband, Aquilla. Paul Scriptures offers an inner glimpse of ancient churches. When they started, they did not have churches but met in people’s homes. A home is a woman’s primary domain. It is not startling to connect their role in the home churches. Paul appreciates Priscilla for hosting the church in 1 Corinthians 16:19.
Priscilla’s name is mentioned several in the Gospel. This explains that probably her Ministry was more powerful than her husband. It is also an indication that she came from a higher social status. The early churches attracted many of these women. Priscilla is not the only female associated with ministering. In the Acts of apostles, we find Mark’s mother hosting Christians for prayers. Other women who hosted Christians include Lydia in Acts 16:14-15 and Nympha in Corinthians 4:15. Chloe was probably another host as she was among the women Paul greeted in Romans’ last chapters. There is also an unidentified woman that John concentrates on in his second letter. John addressed her as the lady, a sign that she came from an elevated social status. This is documented in 2 John1:1, “The Elder, to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I but also all they that have known the truth.” Nothing else is mentioned about the Woman.
Priscilla and Aquilla Ministry
This was a married Christian couple mentioned in the New Testament. They worked consistently with apostles Paul to spread the Gospel. The three met in Corinth around 50CE. They instantly became committed friends who traveled together, spreading the Word. Before they met, the couple had been barred from Rome a year before due to their faith. When Paul engaged them, they closed their leather business and followed him. Aquilla was included in the list of the 72 disciples. In his teachings, Paul referred them as fellow workers in Christ. This is depicted in Romans 16:3 where he says, “Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus.” This couple played a significant role in the establishment of early churches. Paul frequently acknowledged their strong participation. For instance, in Acts 18:27, he proudly gives credit to their joint venture of introducing Apollos in the Ministry. Apollos was a Jew who had a thorough knowledge of the Word. With his assimilation, the group grew more robust and reached more people.