Women as Risk-Takers for God

For the most part, each chapter of this book is a mini-biography of a woman who is serving God with her gifts and talents. On the surface, it seems like an easy read that you can enjoy over a cup of coffee but I kept coming across statements or quotes that challenged and inspired me. It wasn't too far into the book that I got my highlighter and started over so that mark the points that I want to think about more fully. The introduction, first chapter, and conclusion give author's view on women in ministry. This is a controvertial subject and the author tries to handle it with fairness and sensitivity, presenting differeing perspectives from within the Christian church. The reader is encouraged to study the Scriptures concerning women for himself/herself. The prevailing theme is "Both men & women are made in the image of God, God loves women, God saves women, God gives talents and gifts to women, and God calls women to use those talents and gifts." It is not a shocking premise and the author is clearly convinced of this position. But the author doesn't have a anti-male axe to grind, nor does it promote any type of revolution. Rather, the belief is presented that the church - both men and women - need to work together in obedience to God if we expect to be effective. The women chronicled in this book are people most of us can identify with - women who struggle with leaving their comfort zone because God has asked them to do things that seem scary or distastful like caring for the poor in Guatemala, India, and the gypsies of Romania. There are women who have health struggles, insecurities, and busy lives with children who depend upon them. Some of these women are involved in new ministries, some finish the work started by their husbands, and most seem a little surprised to end up where they did. Most of the women are engaged in ministries that only the very traditional will have any conflict with women performing: caring for the poor, teaching children, editing Christian women's magazines, etc. A few women are engaged in more controversial forms of ministry like teaching mixed gender groups and even pastoring churches. The book doesn't shy away from the fact that these are difficult issues that must be faced head-on in the light of Scripture. The book also encourages us to evaluate whether we've accidentally given some of our cultural and religious traditions the same authority as Scripture - for example: most churches will allow a woman to participate in the Great Commission as missionaries who spread the good news of Christ's resurrection. Women are also permitted to participate in Bible translation work. But, in some circles, the same women who preach the resurrection of Jesus to the lost may not baptize the new believers - even though there may not be a male pastor on the horizon for a long time to come. Does the Scripture teach that a woman may not baptize a new believer? What is the truth in this situation and

I found this in an effort to lead a Women's study on women in ministry. I had dug long and hard to find a concise review of various impacting Christian-women's tales all in one place. It is hard to find Christian women biographies - esp of Living women. I appreciate the author's research (and that she narrowed to 12 women, when she interviewed many more). Each chapter is a very brief overview of each woman, but it shows us Christian women who are all over world and most are still ALIVE! In our study, we've noticed how powerfully God uses women - in many different ways, in all countries. Each woman in book seems to start small, ask God for guidance, then He helps them see more of His Big vision and we see how they act on it. Not amazingly written, and each bio may bring up more questions than it answers, but it's a start for world-perspective on being a Christian.

I agree -- please read this book with the holy spirit guiding you. Period. Two quotes from the book ... 'One day the Lord will come and ask me, "what have you done with the talent that I have entrusted to you."' ... "why do you try to hide your gifts? Don't you think that you coud be a complement your husband? You are not competing with him; you could be a team." I have found the messages within this book thought-provoking, refreshing and scripturally based -- a challenge to give God and my husband my best as a woman.

Sandwiched between a fascinating historical account of women in the Church and a call for women to be released in their God-given areas of ministry, Lutz and Christenson chronical the lives of 12 contemporary Christian women who risked themselves for the work of the kingdom. This book is a must-read for every woman who feels even a nudge towards Christian service, either lay or clergy. With Bill Hybels and Stuart and Jill Bricoe as examples, Lutz and Christenson make an empassioned case for the Church to free women to become all God intends them to be.

This book gives a vary positive view of women's roles in the "Church." It does not male bash but takes an encouraging, "come onlong side" view of how God intended men and women to work together for the advancement of the Kingdom of our Lord. I look forward to studying this subject more indepth with the help of the bibliography in the back.