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CAN A WOMAN HEAD A MINISTRY?  

The controversy about women and church leadership is an age long one. From the look of things, this debate will only end after the church has been raptured. However, the question is, “Did God forbid women from doing ministry?”  

 Many men of God have written a lot concerning women in ministry. The argument has always been if God approves of such.  Unfortunately, majority of those who have expressed their opinions on this subject are against women being in ministry.

 We have every right to believe what we like and teach same to others, but we must never forget that no matter how popular a lie becomes, it will forever remain a lie. In effect, no matter how hard we try to replace the truth with lies, it shall not stand the test of time. It brings us to the question of if women have the right to be in ministry or not.

 First off, we need to understand that ministry is a calling. We also need to understand that it is God that calls people into ministry. Therefore, no man has the right to decide who should be called into ministry. It is the prerogative of God Almighty. If we have that understanding, we would be careful about castigating anyone in ministry because she is a woman. If God could use an animal to speak to a man, why can’t the same God use women to do his work?

 I am speaking on this subject from the point of view of someone who has seen what God is doing with women in ministry. So, if you asked me if God calls women into ministry, my answer is capital Yes. By God’s grace, I am the Head of a church where God has called many of his children into ministry and they include women. As a matter of fact, God uses women in our church for his work more than men.

 Since the reader of this article is not in our church, I will not use what is happening there to support my stance on this subject. Rather, I would cite few examples in the Bible which you can verify with your own Bible, then decide for yourself if those saying God cannot call women into ministry are right or wrong.

The Book of Judges mentions twelve leaders who judged Israel: Othniel, Ehud, Shamgar, Deborah, Gideon, Tola, Jair, Jephthah, Ibzan, Elon, Abdon, and Samson.

 It is important to note that the judges mentioned above did not appoint themselves into the offices they occupied in those days. They were God’s chosen leaders for his people. And the people of God honoured them as such.

When you look at the above list, you would notice that number 4 stands out. That is because the occupier was a woman whose name was Deborah. Before anyone throws his or hands in the air and starts arguing whether women qualifies to lead God’s people or not, that person should understand that Deborah was duly counted among recognized judges of Israel in the Bible. The person should also understand that those Judges, including Deborah were appointees of God, not men. Except anyone is willing to fault God, then no one should try to discredit Deborah simply because she was a woman. Now, let us talk about Deborah.

 Deborah

 “And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, when Ehud was dead. And the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose host was Sisera, which dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles. And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel. And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time. And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.”(Judges 4: 1-5)

 First off, we need to state clearly that Deborah was a wife who submitted to her husband. If it were not so, the Bible would not have mentioned her husband’s name as part of her profile. Deborah was an interesting character for two reasons in particular. because, not only that she was a woman judge, she was equally a prophetess. That means that she occupied the office a prophet and a judge at the same time.

 Truth be told, Deborah could be said to have operated in the same office as Prophet Samuel, that is, not only as a judge but also as a prophet of God.

I don’t intend to make this article a long one. That is why, though we have many women in the Bible whom God chose to lead his people in various capacities, including the office of Apostles and Prophets, I have decided to use only Prophetess/Judge Deborah as a case study. There is no need for a long list to prove my point. If I can scripturally prove that God can use one woman for his work. All I want us to understand is that God once had a woman who doubled as “Prophetess and judge” over his people. As a Prophetess and judge, Deborah did not fail in her mission.

It was this Deborah that God used to tell Barak when the time was due to subdue their oppressor. Barak recognized the anointing upon Deborah, he won’t even go to battle without the Prophetess. He drew strenght from her. Barak’s trust in God’s word through Deborah was what set Israel free at that time. Remember, Deborah was a woman. But God chose her to lead his people. He judged both men and women alike. They received direction from God through her.

Even strong men like Barak and his lieutenants respected her office and took orders from her as God’s mouthpiece.

Now, if God could lead and judge the whole of Israel through a woman, why can’t the same God lead a small part of his church through a woman?

That is a question for those who argue that women cannot be part of the 5 fold ministry. If they cannot discredit Deborah, they cannot discredit any woman God decides to use for his work.

Truthbetold, God can use whoever he chooses, man and woman alike to achieve his purpose. And no man can tell God what to do.

Those who oppose women in ministry are fighting God. Do not make yourself God’s enemy. Remember, no one wins a battle with God.

Everyone should stay on his lane to avoid God’s wrath.

Source:   “Truth be told” (TBT) series. 

 Author:   Apostle Frank B. Ogbu

                  Head Pastor/Overseer

                  Champion Grace Eternal Ministries

                   Ayikai Doblo, Amasaman 

                   Accra, Ghana

Tel: +233 2470 16970

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