| While history books and theological tomes may not always document it, it’s true: women have been integral to the spiritual development of those they love since the dawn of humanity.
The book of Proverbs urges young men to abide by their mothers’ teachings, for example. Paul encourages Timothy to recall the fact that his faith came from his grandmother, Lois, and mother, Eunice.
Church history is rich with stories of faithful, influential spiritual mothers as well. In the fourth century, Anthusa taught her son, legendary church leader John Chrysostom, to love the Bible and evangelize. Anthusa’s contemporary, Macrina, had a profound impact on her brothers—Basil the Great, bishop of Caesarea; Gregory, bishop of Nyssa; and Peter, bishop of Sebaste—and established a religious community for women.
The influence of women in the church today is no different. While their names are not always known, and their male counterparts often outshine them in terms of opportunity and fame, their commitment to Christ regardless of accolades continues the spreading of the gospel. DeVon Franklin, President and CEO of Franklin Entertainment, wrote It Takes A Woman about this truth in his own life when women he describes as “a village of love” raised him and his brothers after his father’s untimely death.
Today, take to heart the fact God has empowered women to shape lives, communities, and the church—even, perhaps especially, when the odds are stacked against them. |
