MOBILIZATION OF WOMEN

Introduction
We live in a kairos moment, in which "the Church needs to put on her thinking cap
with the view of discovering her true self, reorder her priorities and find better ways
to raise the kind of harvest force that fits this end-time." 1 Rev. Dr. Ezemadu in his
paper presented at the MANI South East Consultation in Umuahia, recommends the
"mobilization and empowerment of the dormant mission forces within the church." 2
Many of these dormant forces are women who need to be envisioned and
empowered. Women have made tremendous contributions to missions in the last
two centuries. The women of the 21st Century need to be intentionally mobilized to
contribute their own quota in finishing the task of reaching the remaining unreached
people groups of the world. The Nigerian women have a strong and significant role
to play in making this happen.

Women are part of God’s Mission

God’s intention from the beginning was to have an earth full of men, women and
children created in His own image and after His likeness. Thus worship would come
to Him from every corner of the earth and the “knowledge of His glory would fill the
whole earth as the waters cover the sea” .This was the responsibility of not only
Adam but Eve also. The Bible clearly tells us in verse 27 of the same chapter that
God created them male and female

“So God created man in his own image,

in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.” (Gen 1:27)

The blessing and commissioning that followed their creation was also given to both
Adam and Eve

‘God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the
earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl
of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”’ (Gen 1: 28, KJV)

Though the fall of Adam and Eve affected God’s plan, it did not truncate it
because in addressing Eve, God spells out the unique role that woman will play
in His redemptive plan for all of mankind. She was to bear the seed that will
crush the head of the serpent (Genesis 3:16).
The role and impact made by women as important players in God’s redemptive
plan is seen all through scriptures through the lives of women like Jochebed,
Zipporah, Deborah, Naomi, Ruth, Esther, and many others who are not
mentioned by name.

1
Bishop Mokwe's welcome speech at the MANI South East Zonal Consultation in
Umuahia, May 21-24, 2013
2
MANI South East Zonal Consultation in Umuahia, May 21-24, 2013
The Lord Jesus in His earthly ministry further underscored the importance of women
in His mission through His exemplary inclusion of women in his ministry team and
made them His disciples. (Luke8:1-3; Luke 10:39)

On the day of Pentecost, women were among those in the Upper Room who were
filled with the Holy Spirit whom Jesus had promised to send to the disciples. This
was in fulfilment of Joel’s prophesy

“And afterward I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your
daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall
see visions” (AMP).

History of Women’s Role in Missions

Women played key roles as leaders in the early church. Apostle Paul in his letter to
the Romans refers to Phoebe as a deaconess. He spoke of Priscilla as a co-worker
in Christ who risked her life to save him. In chapter 16 of his letter he greets 28
individuals, 11 of whom are women who had partnered with him in ministry. It is
therefore obvious that these women played significant role in the life and ministry of
the local churches and missions.

In the 1800s women missionary societies were formed to address the limitations and
discriminations that women with a passion to engage in missions faced. These
women missionaries made significant impact on global missions and became the
back bone of missions by the 20th century. Two out of three missionaries were
women. The women missionary societies in North America through the collection of
pennies were able to send about 200 women missionaries to China. 3

Current Realities in Missions

The majority of the unreached of today are mostly in areas hostile to Christianity
such as the north of Nigeria, Middle East, etc, however the expectations of Jesus are
clearly captured in His discussion with His disciples in Matthew 24. He warned them
ahead of time that turbulent times will come, however He concluded that these
turbulences were not to stop them from prosecuting His plan to have the Gospel
preached. In fact, He stated that His return will be hinged on their ability to proclaim
the Gospel all over the world to all nations (people groups).

Concerted, consistent and intentional prayers for the Gospel to be preached in these
hostile environments, the setting free of the people whom the god of this world has
blinded and the message bearers who risk their lives to take the message to these
dangerous place will be needed for us to see healthy growing churches among these
people groups. Women have a passion for prayers that needs to be mobilized and
refocused from material and personal issues to fulfilling God’s global agenda to
redeem mankind.

Women need to be empowered to contribute to strategies that need to be developed

in reaching this last frontier. Their unique perspectives, God given intuitiveness and

3
N. Tukura, ‘The Role of African Women in Missions’ in P. Vumisa (ed), Evangelical Christian
Missions:An African Perspective, 2012, p.167-169
giftings need to be brought to bear on current missions strategies. Their leadership
skills are also very much needed in ensuring that the kingdoms of this world become
the Kingdom of our God and His Christ.

Women are natural mobilizers. They have great influence on their friends and
families. They mobilize friends and family to use the same hair dressers, tailors,
shopping places. When properly equipped, these natural skills can be deployed to
mobilizing these people for missions. The British women were mobilized for foreign
missions in such large numbers over the course of the 19 th century than for any other
cause except the anti-slavery movement. They also provided about 70% of funding
for foreign missions by the end of that century. 4

I was moved by stories told by an Ethiopian missionary recently of how some women
in her country fund missions by selling their rings and other valuables.

Women are natural care givers. When mobilized for missions they can provide much
needed hospitality and member care to missionaries.

Another reality we must face is that a huge percentage of the unreached are women
and children and many dwell in places where men cannot enter, eg northern Nigeria,
the Middle East and parts of Asia where men are forbidden to enter the harems.
Women need to be mobilized both as traditional missionaries and market place
Christians to reach these difficult places. Hudson Taylor used women to break into
difficult terrains. He wrote to missionary candidates “unless you intend your wife to be a
true missionary, not merely a wife, home-maker and friend, do not join us.”5

‘My best men are women' is a popular quote of the Salvation Army founder, William
Booth.

Indeed the harvest is plentiful but the labourers are few, therefore all hands need to
be on deck. No room should be given for potential resources to waste or be under-
utilized. The number of women in our local churches today provides a great
opportunity to replenish the labour force in missions.

Women now more than ever are needed as GOERS to the unreached. In Nigeria we
have about 81 remaining unreached people groups. Women are needed as
SENDERS, people who will send financial, material and all other forms of support to
missions to ensure that the task of reaching the unreached is completed in our time.
Women who will serve as WELCOMERS are also needed in this strategic hour. As
many of the unreached peoples move into our towns and cities looking for better
employment or educational opportunities, women can serve as welcomers who
befriend their wives, female relatives or students and use these relationships as
platforms to share the Gospel in creative ways. Women serving as MOBILIZERS of
others into missions are urgently needed. They will help to multiply and replenish the
much needed resources that will ensure that that the task of reaching every people

4
N. Tukura, ‘The Role of African Women in Missions’ in P. Vumisa (ed), Evangelical Christian
Missions:An African Perspective, 2012, p.167
5
Ibid, p. 169
group for Christ is accomplished. They will focus on creating missions awareness
among Christians who are unaware of God’s global agenda to reach the nations.

Conclusion
Pause and think for a moment what it will be like if we have ‘the whole Church-
women, men, young women, young men, girls & boys- taking the whole Gospel to
the whole world- women, men, young women, young men, girls & boys.’

Let us deliberately remove the cultural and religious barriers that hinder women from
realizing their potential like Jesus our Master did.

May our goal be the same as Paul's in Colossians 2:1-3 NCV

"I want you to know how hard I work for you, ... and others who have never seen
me. I want them to be strengthened and joined together with love so that they may
be rich in their understanding. This leads to their knowing fully God’s secret, that is,
Christ himself. In him all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are safely kept."

Finishing the task is possible!

This article was written by Nosa Tukura. She serves as a missionary with Missions
Supporters League (MSL), a missions mobilization organization committed to mobilizing the
Church to support all aspects of missions for the salvation of nations.