Gladys Aylward (1902-1970), Missionary in China
We must not think of missions as merely the province of men, for God has used women throughout history in his mission. God uses married & unmarried, young & old, willing & unwilling women as missionaries. The following are some examples from Scripture of God using women to make himself known. You'll see two women who willingly went as missionaries, and two women who went against their will, but nonetheless served to proclaim our glorious God.
Esther was a Jewish exile in Persia. In the providence of God, she was chosen by the king, who didn't know her heritage, to become his wife & queen of Persia. At the same time, there was a wicked man Haman, who through envy hated Esther's cousin & surrogate father Mordecai, and extended his hatred to all the Jews. Haman purposed in his heart to destroy all the Jews, and convinced the king to make an irrevocable decree in all his empire that on a certain day anyone may legally kill the Jews & seize their property for his own.
Esther, risking her life, used her position & influence with the king to stop the slaughter. In the end, the king made another decree that the Jews could defend themselves, and kill whoever came against them, and take their property for themselves. He caused this decree to be published throughout his whole empire, in all 127 provinces from India to Ethiopia, in every language (Esther 8.9-17). Not only did she save her people from destruction, but also, through her, it became known throughout the empire that the Jews were protected by God. Through this proclamation in so many languages & cultures, God was made know to them, and many Gentiles became Jews! Thus, they came under the sound of God’s Word, and came to know his wonderful works.
Her example shows both men & women how we might make use of whatever position, influence, rank, skills, hospitality, etc. we have to serve God & his people. It was God who took her obedience & self-sacrificing service, and used it to glorify his name.
Prisca (or Priscilla—“little Prisca”—as she is called, a term of endearment) & her husband Aquila were Jews living in Rome, when the emperor Claudius expelled all Jews from Rome. (Whether they were believers at that time, we're not told.) So they went to Corinth, and there met the Apostle Paul. Paul then lived & worked with this couple. Later he left Corinth, and took Aquila & Prisca along with him as he traveled toward Syria. On his journey, he stopped in Ephesus, and left Aquila & Prisca there to serve the church. They were clearly leaders, Aquila probably an elder, for we find them (both) instructing Apollos, and sending him to help the believers in Achaia (Acts 18.18-28).
Later, when Jews are again allowed back in Rome, Paul sends greetings to Aquila & Prisca (calling them “co-laborers in Christ”) there, where a church meets in their home. He also mentions how they (both) risked their lives for the Gospel, and had not only his thanks, but also that of “all the churches of the Gentiles.” (Romans 16.3-5) Aquila & Prisca being beloved to the church in Corinth (perhaps they had led or planted that church earlier, where he met them), Paul sends their greetings in his first letter (1Corinthians 16.9), written from Philippi, mentioning again a church in their home. Perhaps Paul refers to their leading a church in Rome or Ephesus, or perhaps they were with Paul in Philippi, so the church in their home would be in Philippi. Finally, he sends his greetings to them through Timothy who was in Ephesus (2Timothy 4.19). So it seems they traveled much, planting & strengthening churches. Prisca is clearly said to be involved in every aspect of ministry together with her husband (indicated by the plural person in the verbs). She was a trusted “co-laborer” of the Apostle Paul, instructed others, labored in “tentmaking” (both literally & figuratively), used her home to serve churches & house missionaries, willingly uprooted to new places, and risked her life for Christ's sake. The tremendous effect she had for Christ is witnessed by the thanks of the Apostle Paul, and many churches, and the fruit of the ministry of those she helped teach, including Apollos.
With Prisca as an example, there is little beyond the purview of women's ministry in missions.
Naaman's servant-girl (2Kings 5.1-4) was a young Jewish girl (perhaps very young) taken captive out of Israel. She was forced to leave her home, and go to a foreign land Syria. The language in Syria was probably different, though similar. And she was made a slave to Naaman's wife!
Nevertheless, she seems to have performed her duties well & with cheerfulness, and even come to love her captors. How tenderly she cares for her leprous master Naaman: “Would that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.” No doubt, her obedience & love for those who should have been her enemies lent credibility to her words. And through her testimony & Naaman's healing, God made himself known in Syria, as Naaman himself testifies: “Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel.” (v. 15)
This little girl shows that any woman, even a young girl, through simple, humble service, and love for one's enemies, may be used by God to open up a new people to the Gospel.
It's hard to tell the relative age of Tabitha (Acts 9.36-42). But whether young or old, she was a humble, loving & beloved servant. She was “full of good works & acts of charity”; she used her skills to make tunics & other garments for people. She is surrounded by widows, perhaps being a widow herself; regardless, she did minister to the widows because she was “with them” before she died, and we see their grief when she did die, and special mention is made of them (“the saints & widows”). Through her life of love, compassion & service, she was a testimony of God's love & mercy; and through her death & resurrection, she was a testimony of God's goodness & power. Christ was made known throughout Joppa, a sea-faring town & port for Jerusalem, and no doubt full of Gentiles, and many believed.
Likewise, today, through deeds of love, kindness, charity, hospitality to strangers, and caring for the sick, infirmed, dying, orphans, widows, poor, needy, oppressed, etc., women of any age can be a testimony for Christ, soften hearts to the Gospel, and open doors unreached by men. They bring a little taste of Christ's Kingdom with its love, compassion, self-sacrificing service, and joy—completely contrary to the world.
Yes, women can & should give themselves to serve Christ in missions. Not only are they useful, they are absolutely crucial to reaching people with the Gospel. For example, when Nate Saint, Jim Elliot, and three other men were killed as they tried to open a relationship with the Waorani tribe in Ecuador, it was Rachel Saint (sister of Nate), Elizabeth Elliot (widow of Jim), and her daughter, entering the tribe unarmed & living among them, who opened the tribe to the Gospel. And today, God is opening the hearts of Muslim women to Christ through the efforts of Christian women evangelizing them. Sisters, you were made for something more than make-up, luxurious houses, making money, or collecting pretty trinkets & clothes.
