Women In Ministry

Luke 8:1-3 ESV
“Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities:  Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means.”

In this passage, these women were supporting the ministry, not just with their presence, but also with financial backing. Jesus had the support He needed, He was God after all, but He accepted these women in ministry because they were willing vessels.

Paul had women that supported his ministry as well, financially. Most of these women that followed his ministry also allowed church to commence in their homes.

David Yonggi Cho was the founder of the Yoido Full Gospel Church, which he started in 1958 in Seoul Korea in a tent with 5 people. That church eventually became the world’s largest congregation of over 800,000.

Cho admitted in his book, that the ministry started with the women taking charge, and the church started spreading quickly. Under the men’s leadership the church was stagnant and would not grow, they did not have the heart and vision for growth.

When I look back to my childhood, I can remember who was teaching Sunday school, and holding the ministry together, it was the women. The women came together for special events. The women came together for prayer meetings and took the needs of the church to God.

Some of the greatest prayer warriors that I know are women. Thank God for the women that hold all things together and take the needs of the church to heart. They have a heart after God.

So, if you have encouraged, strengthened, prayed for, shown mercy to, taught, fixed a meal for someone, visited anyone to lift their spirits, provided for their needs in the name of Jesus, you are in the ministry with Jesus. Just like those women that followed Jesus, “as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to Me.” (Matthew 25:40)

Prayer:
Father, thank You, You have given women to the ministry, to teach, train, pray and provide. Thank you for all women who have a heart after You. We honor all who have served in Your kingdom male and female, but today we honor the women of faith. In Your gracious, powerful name, Lord God, Amen!