The Role of Women in Ministry was brought by Chuck Bartle who is the founding pastor of Kingdom Community Fellowship International which is also one of our affiliate churches. It’s an excellent word covering a question Brenda and I had to address when we were called into the ministry by prophets in Jerusalem in 1991. By 1992 we were both commissioned into the ministry and she helped found Watchman Ministries International and later Kingdom League International.
In the picture above she is ministering at Mount Horeb Prayer Center which we helped start in 2010. Chuck’s message hit the mark and I pray it blesses you too.
Faith in Action = Impact in Nations
Brenda was called with me and we were commissioned into the ministry 1992. She had visions of ministering behind a pulpit in the 1980s but she was at a church that did not believe women could minister in the pulpit. She thought it was her pride and the enemy trying to decieve her and she responded saying, “get behind me Satan.”
But when we were called, we had to study the scriptures for ourselves. There was quite a difference between man’s philosophy, our traditions and what God’s word says and what Holy Spirit anoints. By 1995 she found herself ministering in churches both in the states and in other nations. This is not just a good teaching for us. It is faith in action needed to impact the nations.
Charlene calls me Dad. She is like a daughter in the Lord and like Junia, she is of note among the apostles. The fruit that follows her ministry testifies of the apostolic gift at work. From Kingdom Builders International, to AriZe School of Ministry, to Wisdom Ministries and many sons and daughters in Christ in a variety of nations, wisdom is justified by her children.
Why is this so important? I submit to you, Ephesians 4:16 admonishes us, that when every part does their share, it causes the body to edify itself in love. Each person, man and woman, mankind, has gifts, calls, anointings, abilities, skills and calls and we need each one to completely fulfill the assignment our heavenly Father assigned them in Psalm 139:16.
Galatians 3:28
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 4:7-8
7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore He says:
“When He ascended on high,
He led captivity captive,
And gave gifts (5 fold ministry in vs 11) to men.”
Strongs Concordance says g0444. ἄνθρωπος anthrōpos; from 435 and ὤψ ōps (the countenance; from 3700); man-faced, i.e. a human being: — certain, man. AV (559) – man 552, not tr 4, misc 3; a human being, whether male or female.
Why the same word is used here in 1 Timothy 2:3-5 where it says, “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
So, is it God’s plan to just save males? Can you hear the “Tool Time” helper Al say, “I don’t think so Tim.” Of course God’s plan deals with both men and women. Paul the apostle wrote Ephesians, Romans and 1st and 2nd Timothy. Was Paul confused such that he speaks of women in ministry in Romans 16 and yet says in 1 Timothy 2:12-15 he does not suffer a woman to teach? Again, I don’t think so Tim.
The Bible does not contradict itself. The only contraditions come from our ignorance.
There is a difference between order in the Church and order in the home. If the home is in order, and yet Christ distributed the primary teaching gift to the woman, you can find yourself with a Priscilla and Aquila situation. They had a church in their home and in Greek culture, the leader or head is mentioned first. That is whom the Lord used to disciple Apollos teaching him in the way more perfectly.
Here’s just a few sweet memories I’d like to share.
