SOLAM LECTURE NOTES ON
WOMEN'S MINISTRY
This teaching is very important. I counselled someone who said
she lost her ministry in the marriage. She used to be active in the
work of God until she got married. Also, there are still Ministries
today who don't allow women into higher leadership positions. In
some of them, women are not allowed to preach on or even clean
the main pulpit.
WRONG PHILOSOPHIES ABOUT WOMEN'S MINISTRY
1. God will raise up women if there is a lack of qualified men:
This is not true. God doesn't choose women for His moves just
because He's lacking men. Deborah wasn't a judge because there
were no qualified men
2. A woman shouldn't minister on the pulpit: This is wrong for a
few reasons we shall see in this course. The prophecy of the
outpouring by prophet Joel wasn't gender-based.
3. A woman shouldn't head or pioneer a ministry, leading men:
The ministry of a woman is not solely to other women. There are
women who are called to both genders just as men of God are.
4. A woman is only called to share in her husband's calling:
This is not entirely true, because some women are called outside
their husband's ministry.
5. Women must cover their hair while praying and must not put
on trousers: This is historic and not doctrinal. Worship is not
limited by these things. However, if your church abide by this, as
long as you worship there, abide by the rules. Revelation is
progressive, and many churches will later come to realize that
they have made some doctrinal errors.
Genesis 2:18
[18]And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be
alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
There are three categories of women who God brings to be
Helpmeets.
1. A WOMAN WHO IS A DIRECT HELPMEET
These women are called to the ministry of their husbands. They
are to compliment and strengthen him. She models virtue to the
women in the ministry. She has no other ministry outside that of
her husband's. She shares in his glory. Some of those women are
called to Apostles, Bishops, and major church leaders. They act
as a shields to their husbands and stand beside him.
2. A WOMAN CALLED OUTSIDE THE HUSBAND'S MINISTRY
It is very important that this is a call from God, not assumption.
While the ministry is different, it doesn't mean that either of them
has failed. If this woman is not sensitive and she marries wrong,
she will lose the calling because not every man is able to tolerate
that their wives are making progress, even more than they do
themselves. The only challenge here is that the wife will be
tempted to no longer see him as her head. This is one of the tools
the devil uses, from what I have seen
Judges 4:4
[4]And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged
Israel at that time.
Breaking this in the order it is written, we have:
1. A prophetess (Her calling/office)
2. The wife of Lapidoth (Her Home)
3. A judge (Her ministry)
This woman must understand that she is like Deborah, her home
is before her ministry, regardless. Deborah's role as a spiritual
leader and the governmental leader of Israel didn't negate her
responsibility as wife to Lapidoth. Also, her role as a wife didn't
disqualify her to lead the nation of Israel.
3. A WOMAN CALLED TO ANOTHER SPHERE OUTSIDE
MINISTRY
There are also women who are called to other spheres. Could be
education, politics, commerce, art, etc. If this woman is to be with
a man of God, she should understand that she doesn't have to be
complacent about the things of God. Understand that a woman
can be in two or even all of the categories.
WOMEN IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
Jesus had larger disciples outside the 12
Luke 8:1-3
[1]And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every
city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the
kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him,
[2]And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and
infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven
devils,
[3]And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna,
and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.
Some of these disciples were women. They also were financial
partners
Junia is the only woman affirmed by the early church as an
apostle.
Romans 16:7
[7]Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellow
prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in
Christ before me.
The NIV version says: Greet Andronicus and Junias, my relatives
who have been in prison with me. They were outstanding among
the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was.
Phoebe was recognized as a deaconess in the church
Romans16:1 (AMP)
Now, I introduce and commend our sister Phoebe, a deaconess
of the church at Cenchreae.
Other translations used the word 'servant' but the correct word
there is a Deaconess, because she was also served and assisted
Philip the evangelist had four daughters who had the gift of
prophecy (Acts 21:8-9)
Tabitha (Dorcas) initiated an effective benevolent ministry
(Acts 9:36)
Now, the question is: why did Paul say the women should keep
silence in church? If Paul mentioned Women in active Ministry in
Romans 16, is it not contradictory for him to say women should
be silent? Is it that Paul now contradicts Himself?
Different theologians have looked into this, but let's look at two
interpretations.
John Stott highlighted the following:
1. That Paul's instructions only apply to wives, not to women in
general.
2. That Paul's instructions were directed against interruptions,
not to keep them silent.
3. That Paul's Instructions were only to express the dominion
of a man
Donald Guthrie said if Paul hates women, he wouldn't
acknowledge the ministry of other women and even call them his
fellow labourers as seen in Romans 16:1-5 and Philippians 4:2-3.
10 CHRISTIAN WOMEN WHO SHAPED HISTORY
1. MOTHER TERESA (1910-1997)
She is known for giving to the poor. She left her teaching
profession and moved into the city's slums, where she founded
the "Missionaries of Charity", a religious order of women
dedicated to serving and giving to the poor. They had about 4000
members in 123 countries.
2. PEGGY AND CHRISTINE SMITH (1949 REVIVAL)
These two sisters started a revival in the Hebrides Island in 1949.
Peggy was 84 years old and blind, while Christine was 82 years
old crippled with arthritis. They knelt in their cottage and prayed
for revival at night, twice a week (Tuesdays and Fridays).
Instrumental in this revival was Duncan Campbell. He was to
come have a two-week evangelistic campaign but because of the
revival, he ended up staying for two years.
3. FANNY CROSBY (1820-1915)
She was a hymn composer. Some of her hymns are: Blessed
assurance, pass me not oh gentle savior, rescue the perishing, etc.
She was blind but didn't let her blindness stop her from writing
over 8,000 hymns. She was criticized for feminizing church music,
but didn't stop. At the age of 15, she had memorized the four
gospels, the Pentateuch, the book of proverbs, songs of Solomon
and many of the psalms.
4. JARENA LEE (1783-1855)
She travelled hundreds of miles to teach others about Jesus. She
was an adamant supporter of the right of women to preach. When
challenged about it, she would say: "If the man may preach
because the Saviour died for him, why not the woman, seeing He
died for her also?"
5. CATHERINE BOOTH (1829-1890)
At a time when people spoke against women speaking in public,
she preached in the streets of London and ignited a gospel revival
to help the poor. She established the Salvation Army with her
husband, William Booth. She mentored hundreds of women who
served as evangelists in the Salvationist movement.
6. MARY SLESSOR (1848-1915)
She, a woman from Scotland, was inspired by a Presbyterian
pastor from to go to the mission field. She ended up in Calabar,
Nigeria. Her work laid the foundations for the widespread growth
of Christianity in Nigeria today. She opposed the African traditions
and successfully stopped the killing of twins in Calabar.
7. AIMEE SEMPLE MCPHERSON (1890-1944)
People came from all over the nation to hear her preach. She
founded the international church of the foursquare gospel, which
today has more than 8 million members worldwide.
8. KATHRYN KUHLMAN (1907-1976)
She was an American evangelist known for holding healing
services. She conducted an average of 135 miracles services a
year. After her services, people who once thought miracles were
impossible, learned to believe in miracles. She insisted that a
christian should yield enough to the Holy Spirit.
9. MARIA BEULAH WOODWORTH-ETTER (1844-1924)
She was an American healing evangelist. Because of the signs
and wonders associated with her ministry, she was known as
"mother of pentecost". Her services consist of people getting into
trances, powerful preaching and miracles.
10. FRANCES HUNTER (1916-2009)
She and her husband, Charles Hunter were known around the
world as healing evangelists. They were called "happy hunters".
Their meetings were characterized by miracles like growth of
bones, repair of body parts, etc.
BUILDING WOMEN'S MINISTRY IN CHURCH
There are different measures to put in place when building a
women's ministry in church.
1. LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE
This can constitute the president or leader, the vice, overseeing
certain job functions such as: secretary, treasurer, publicity,
welfare, etc. The leadership structure can also be in such a way
that the women will be GROUPED. Each of these groups can have
a man, example, Faith group, Hope group, etc. Each group can
have a leader and a vice. This is very effective for large churches.
Each group is to perform certain functions and must all submit to
the leadership of the central women executives. For instance,
each group can minister their songs during conventions, clean the
church at certain times, pray and have meetings together, etc.
2. CONVENTIONS, CONFERENCES OR PROGRAMS
The women can have weekly, monthly and yearly programs.
These programs should have retreats and other activities
beneficial to women.
International School of Light and Ministry
Apostle Godwin Aseghiemhe
Glaring Light Network
glnsolam.edu.ng@gmail.com
+2348182955131
