By Shane Bennett
At one of the lowest points in my life, a colleague in the cause conspired with her tribe to invite me out to spend Christmas with them. It may have been the kindest thing anyone has ever done for me and I suspect I’ll never forget it. This act, added to Sarah’s track record of coordinating Perspectives classes and leading her church’s missions efforts, sealed my respect and admiration for her.
Since one of the stated goals of Monday’s International Women’s Day was to “celebrate women’s achievements,” I thought I’d use this month’s edition of Practical Mobilization to raise a toast to women who’ve sparked and shaped my global journey. Some I’ve known, some are from history, and one is fictional.
As I reminisce, I pray that God will bring to mind similar women in your life. Perhaps you could send them this brief article, buy them a coffee, or symbolically place some flowers on their grave.
A Youth Grouper Who Told Me to Go
The first woman who encouraged (nagged?) me to become a missionary was a fellow youth grouper, Beth Brosher Hasz. I don’t know where Beth got her fiery passion, but her frequent words to me made me determined to flee the call! I suspect her words to her Father, though, were instrumental in my eventual inability to avoid it. I saw her work similar magic on a pastor we had in common. Beth went to be with Jesus early, but her influence ripples on.
A Praying Grandmother
My decidedly non-charismatic grandma used to pray and worry for me when I traveled. At least that’s how it was until Jesus showed up at the foot of her bed one night and told her to keep praying but let the worry go. To her credit, she obeyed on both counts.
A Global-Minded Teacher
My hands-down best professor through four years at Ball State University was Dr. Alba Jean Rosenman. She wagged her cosmopolitan finger and challenged me and twenty other sophomores, “Before you marry, buy a house, and settle down in Muncie, Indiana, you need to get out of America for a while!”
Her nominally Jewish, Argentine hackles were raised when I took her up on that and spent a summer learning to sympathize with Palestinian refugees in Jordan.
Two Hospitable Hostesses
I was first introduced to Islamic hospitality by one of those Palestinian refugees; an unnamed and unseen (she hid behind a curtain) wife who served cubed, seeded watermelon to me and my friends in the pre-dawn hours when her husband invited us over after early morning prayers.
Later I enjoyed more examples of Muslim hospitality in the tiny apartment of a Memon family in Bombay. I enjoyed the food offered whenever we visited, but looking back, I appreciate the resilience and innovation that Memon mom exhibited as she kept her household afloat with three kiddos. When we asked the daughters about their father, they simply replied, “he is deceased.”
A Capable Co-laborer
I once led a team of bright North Americans for a summer of cultural research in Turkey. My assistant team leader was a Canadian woman named Ann Marie. Her responsibility was to coordinate the actual research and she did it brilliantly. In truth, she could have done my job as well as hers, while there’s no way under the sun I could have handled her role.
A Mentor Who Opened Doors
When the small mobilization agency I worked for decided to move from the Netherlands to the UK, Linda Harding, a national-level mobilizer in her own right, kindly and boldly agreed to vouch for us, open doors, and help us find a place for our ministry.
During an early visit to Liverpool we stopped by a sandwich shop and I had no idea what the proprietor was saying, even though he was speaking English. Linda graciously confessed, “I can’t understand Liverpudlians either.”
By generously lending her credibility to our youthful, outsider efforts, Linda gave us life!
A Model of Ministry Faithfulness
With Linda’s wisdom, we settled in lovely Bradford where my family began attending the parish church five minutes down the hill from our house. Our neighborhood was probably 90% Pakistani-British. St. Margaret’s Church was a lovely example of living out and giving out the gospel in a largely Muslim community.
There was no greater example than the woman who ran the weekly homework club. For a good portion of each evening, the classroom looked like it could have been the set for the tornado scene in a live production of The Wizard of Oz. But she stuck it out, giving her all to help neighborhood kids of all creeds and colors succeed.
Two Weary Women Who Didn’t Give Up
Likewise, two winsome, but weary saints, nameless to me, but not to God, ran a Catholic help center for refugees in Catania, Sicily when I first visited. They graciously gave of their valuable time, helping us understand the migrant dynamics in the city. As they turned out the lights and locked the door at the end of one visit, I sensed both their fatigue and the realization if they could just stay awake a couple more hours, they could help more refugees.
An Intrepid Influencer
My respect and love for Melanie Mitchell, Louisville legend and Perspectives leader extraordinaire, is also immense. She and an intrepid corp of women across the US have argued winsomely and effectively with predominately male missions pastors and gatekeepers to bring the life-changing Perspectives course to new places all over.
Several Smart Strategists
Melanie also blessed me with an introduction to Dr. Florence Muindi, one of the smartest people I know. Florence knows Jesus, she knows lots of stuff and she knows how to get things done. If she wasn’t living in Kenya and changing the face of cities throughout Africa, I’d be asking her questions every day!
Closer to home, but just as smart, Carol Davis has been over the past several decades an unassuming but brilliant, low-key but relentless strategist for the advance of the kingdom of God among unreached peoples. I am one of many who have falteringly put her ideas into action to good result.
Finally, my regard is so high for Marti Wade, my friend, colleague, teammate, editor, and encourager. When I grow up, I’d like to be able to think and execute like Marti.
And Many More
I lack the time, space, and expertise for an adequate look back at women’s remarkable impact on the advance of God’s kingdom over the 200 years. Think Lottie Moon, Amy Carmichael, Susanna Wesley, and so many others. Even Rachel Lane, the missionary heroine of John Grisham’s book The Testament. (If you haven’t read it, can I suggest giving it a go?)
I am so grateful for these moms and missionaries. I celebrate the God-empowered achievements of these pastors and pioneers.
Grateful for You!
And you, women readers of Missions Catalyst, I celebrate you—both who you are and the wonderful things God is giving you grace to accomplish. You are not overlooked today. You are a co-heir with Jesus, a force to be reckoned with, an agent of the Most High’s kingdom from the end of the block to the very ends of the earth.