Women as Torch Bearers
Dr. John K. Mathew
It can't be denied that in every spiritual awakening in the history of Protestantism the impulse for Christian women to pray and witness for Christ in the public assembly has been found irrepressible. However, in spite of the liberating power of the Gospel strong prejudice against women's public ministry has persisted in certain segments of the church throughout history.
Some of God's choicest servants, missionaries, teachers, and evangelists have been sorely hindered,severely criticized,and needlessly stymied.Their intolerable fault? They were women.
Should women speak in in church? Should women preach from our pulpits? What is the role of women in the church,and what is the scope of their ministry?These are questions that demand biblical answers. We don't try to find an answer to all these questions now.However we can assemble a whole galaxy of women who have been light bearers of the Gospel message.
Catherine Booth preached to millions during her lifetime. Corrie Ten Boom has been mightily used of God to preach the Gospel in many countries of the world since her experience in the German concentration camp.
The international church of the Foursquare Gospel was founded by Aimee Semple Mcpherson. It has more than 2000 congregations in the United States of America.
Annamma Abraham, wife of Pastor K. E. Abraham, the founder of the Indian Pentecostal Church of God, was a woman who has equal status with these women. Her life was a saga of sufferings and sacrifices. She was a source of encouragement for many in those days of poverty and financial stringency.Since the home call of
Pastor K. E. Abraham in 1974, she has creatively influenced the, then IPC leadership to focus the church to the future. Without any ray of doubt, it can be stated that she set an example before so many.The unfortunate part is that the church conveniently forgets the contribution of the many unselfish saints. Not only the I P C, there are many other Protestant denominations who can never forget the contributions of women leaders in the building up of the body of Christ.
