Overcoming Obstacles to Women in Ministry - part 1
Today’s blog entry and the three that follow all come from an article I was asked to write for Charisma in 2003. The magazine wanted me to speak candidly as a female senior pastor about the intimidating barriers that I have faced in ministry and how I have conquered them to continue to impact my sphere of influence for the Gospel. Eighteen years later it is interesting to ponder if things have changed regarding the ministry world for women. Undoubtedly there are still forces that try to hinder the forward progress of today’s Christian women. Mothers of Nations, be strong and courageous and continue to press into God because we have a world to turn upside down for His glory!
And now let’s start the article as it was published in Charisma!
Everyone who answers God’s call to ministry will have obstacles to overcome, regardless of their gender. However, being a female in ministry does pose unique challenges. Looking back over my own ministry experiences, I realize there have been numerous hurdles along the way. Many were character-developing, faith-expanding, destiny-defining and definitely Christ-confirming.
As I share my challenges, I pray you will hear my heart and nothing else. I do not blame men, hate men, wish to be a man or desire a man’s nature. I love being a woman! I enjoy my femininity and the opportunity to work in God’s kingdom with both men and women. My only prayer is to see women reach their full potential in God and align with Him in their destiny on earth.
Obstacles are barriers or restrictions that we run into along life’s path. Some we just jump over, some we go around, some we knock down, and some take great energy to conquer. Here are eight of the ones I have faced.
1. The issue of submission. My first challenge revolved around the issue of submission. As a female leader, I was scrutinized extensively regarding my submissive nature. I had always thought of myself as a submissive person, but when ministry became my goal, submission became an issue I had to grapple with and fully understand.
As young believers, my husband Bill and I encountered well-meaning Christians who suggested we submit ourselves to their authority. Many felt Bill needed to keep me under his thumb. I was starting prayer meetings, leading people to Christ, preaching and sharing the gospel all the time. According to them, that was a man’s job. I was not sure what that meant. Jesus called us to disciple, to “go,” but now I needed to ask my husband’s permission?
Finally Bill told them we did not believe God wanted that arrangement. They had a fit! Being new to the ways of God, we really had to trust that we were hearing the Lord’s voice. He taught us that submission was an attitude of the heart. The Lord began to speak to me about submitting to Him and to my husband. We could mutually trust and work as a unified team.
Submission was in my heart, and I needed to establish that I was a submitted person. But this did not mean others were free to run my life for me, or that a man must scrutinize all my decisions because he was “free of deception” and I was not. I spent years coming to the understanding that God sees submission as a willingness to serve Him. A love of humanity causes one to deny himself or herself for the good of others.
2. The idea that “women can be easily deceived.” This was another obstacle that surfaced as I desired to grow in my calling. As a female, I had no one to train me in ministry. Someone warned me to be careful because “women can be easily deceived.” I became concerned that maybe I could get into error. Yet day after day people came to my home for ministry, deliverance, healing and teaching. My prayer life grew, and many times I would pray all day long at home.
I asked the Holy Spirit about my lack of a mentor, and He led me to 1 John 2: 20-21, 27: ”But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth…But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.” (NKJV)
Wow! The Holy Spirit would be my teacher and trainer! The very next day the Holy Spirit led me to several books on prayer in a Christian bookstore. Through these books I realized He could equip me for ministry without a man’s help. The Holy Spirit Himself kept me from error as I developed in my call.
Dr. Sharon Predovich
(Next week I will continue sharing from the Charisma article. Have a blessed week and go out there and change your world, Mothers of Nations!)
