Women’s Ministry (Part 1 of 7)
Crossroads Community Church of God

Women need training, mentoring, and counseling just like men do. Many women have been sexually abused or traumatized by men. Have you seen the statistics? When there is not a women’s minister, and women are uncomfortable privately meeting with a male minister, the church loses its value as a place of refuge for hurting women. As far as I can tell, Crossroads Community Church of God is in need of a Women’s Ministry Director. There are no scheduled Bible studies on the calendar/website. There is no designated women’s minister listed as staff. A spiritually healthy church should have a vibrant women’s ministry.

Male ministers don’t seem to be allowed to privately message or respond to an email from women. As a female prophet trying to deliver a word from God, all that I can have are one-sided communications with men in leadership. I evidently don’t deserve a written response or an appointment for face-to-face discussion. God said that they’re intimated by me. Can’t say that I blame them. I’m so very scary! So, it seems that all women are equally ignored whether they are strong or weak.

The Lord wanted me to include this brief story. Many years ago, a pastor at a local church that I was newly attending referred to me as just some “hottie” in the church before he proceeded to livestream himself attempting to cast out a Jezebel* spirit from me. In his mind all strong or cute women must be demonically controlled. That pastor was unsuccessful at evicting the Holy Spirit from me. But Pastor Marcus lost his church shortly after, and he is dead. God doesn’t mess around with that stuff. “Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm.” (Psalms 105:15 NIV)

*Note: Jezebel was a Baal worshipper. She was not at any time a prophet of God, or ever claimed to be a prophet of God … in fact, she killed the prophets of God. She called herself a prophetess of Baal. There is nothing Biblical to support that she was attractive or seductive. The only mention of beauty related to Jezebel was that she “painted” her face just before she was thrown to her death to be eaten by dogs. Certainly, wearing cosmetics does not imply that a woman is possessed by an evil spirit, but persecuting prophets of God would indicate a problem. So, you go girl, and be as cute as you want!

The various denominations of the Christian religion have different doctrinal stances regarding women in leadership. The Church of God corporately promotes a good doctrine about women in leadership. In their doctrine, women are equally (to men) anointed by God in the church. In the Church of God denomination, women can be ordained and are able to teach both genders and preach.

However, in other Christian denominations, women are not seen as equals in leadership roles especially if men are present. When I led women’s Bible studies at one local church, I was not even allowed to lead a prayer if a man were present. The protocol was that I was supposed to defer to any man to speak any corporate prayers even if he didn’t know God. In another church (A Church of God denomination), an egotistic male associate minister, Scooter, thought that he had the right to be at every women’s ministry gathering and Bible study to oversee our activities. Obviously, I resigned from that church staff when he insisted on being my supervisor. He didn’t like that I wanted to teach women that God is not mute. If God couldn’t speak to His daughters, then the minister got to be the authority on all matters. Scooter quickly fractured that church, that had grown from 25 to 300 members in about a year’s time, and destroyed a beautiful women’s ministry that so many worked to create. All that destruction because he needed to lord himself over women in ministry. Too often, little men are easily emasculated by the presence of strong women. But listen, Kingdom women, don’t reduce yourself and God’s power through you to satisfy useless idiots. God wants us strong and on the battlefield against the enemy just as He leads.

I have led, hosted, or facilitated women’s Bible studies and simulcast events at the Library, YMCA, work conference rooms, and at three different churches. I’ve seen the women hungry for connection with God. I’ve seen them starved for spiritual growth in the church. I’ve seen women hurting and in need of spiritual counsel that they can’t get in the secular marketplace. I’ve seen women in need of deliverance ministry because they have not been taught the importance of covenant relationship with God. I have actively participated for more than 20 years in daily conversations with God, listening to His counsel about the doctrines in the church. God has equipped me and entrusted me with this voice of truth. I will not waste it! So, if I step on some toes along the way, well … should I say sorry in advance? Because it’s probably going to happen if you are immersed in false teaching or if you are a man/woman who has too big an ego and too little courage to seek God.

So, in summary. The Church of God has good doctrine about women in ministry and leadership. Does your church? Crossroads, you might do well to publish your specific doctrinal stance about women in ministry and leadership (under your “what we believe” section) as an example to other churches. Maybe, a reader here is a woman’s minister at a church where there is false doctrine about women’s giftedness from God (for example the Baptist Church). If you are, I encourage you to seek God about removing yourself from that church and going to a church where the doctrine is worthy of your talents and anointing. Staying where the false teaching is ignored will not end well for you or anyone you love because you are effectively complicit with false teaching. But always, seek God yourself.

Tomorrow, in Part 2 of 7, we will look at specific doctrines. I will include study pages too. I’d like to recommend one book: “10 Lies The Church Tells Women” by J. Lee Grady. It’s an easy read with much Scriptural foundation but without being overly technical. I have another book to recommend, but it reads like it was written by an attorney. So, we’ll save that one for later.