To All the Ordinary Churchwomen: A Salute

Do you belong to the “ordinary churchwomen” guild?

Do you know one?

Of course, you know one. They’re everywhere.

Who do you think is organizing and keeping the churches functioning?

Yes, men are vitally important in the church.

But, the majority of churchmen I know are not cooking, tending, cleaning, or teaching women’s Bible study.

Most of the Sunday school teachers for children I’ve known were women. (My husband excepted).

The church doesn’t function without having the often overlooked churchwomen.

Today, I salute you!

Why ordinary churchwomen?

I love listening every Tuesday to the Women Worth Knowing podcast.

My friends Jasmine Alnutt and Cheryl Brodersen provide stories of Christian women who accomplished great things for God.

They mine history, find obscure important women, and introduce them to listeners.

My favorite stories are of less-famous women and their dedication to the Gospel.

They recently did a study on the Reformer wives–Katie Luther, Idelette Calvin, Katherine Zell, and Anna Bullenger.

What struck me was how these brilliant women supported their husbands and sacrificed a great deal for the sake of the gospel.

How?

By caring for their husbands and children, of course, but in the 16th century of challenging homemaking, they also took in strangers.

In other words, they practiced hospitality.

That may be a key.

Christian hospitality

Hospitality should be the hallmark of all Christians.

No church body could function without Christian hospitality–done by men or women.

The Bible is replete with verses on this subject. Here are a few:

• Christians need to be “rejoicing in hope, patient in affliction, steadfastly continuing in prayer, 13 distributing to the needs of the saints, pursuing hospitality.” Romans 12:13 (MKJV)
• “Be hospitable to one another without complaint.” 1 Peter 4:9 (NASB)
• “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.” Hebrews 13:2 (NASB)

I recently provided one of the eulogies when my mentor died. When I strode to the front of the church I called out, “Show of hands. How many of you have spent the night at Liz’s house?”

Two-thirds of the mourners raised their hands.

My family has stayed there often, but even so, the sheer number surprised me.

“Okay, how many have eaten a meal she prepared?”

Everyone had.

Well done, good and faithful servant. She loved her God with all her heart and served him in practical ways.

Liz also taught Sunday school, Bible studies, mentored women, and always prayed with and for us.

You may not recognize her name, but a whole lot of other people do.

Ordinary women and teaching

Of course, they teach Sunday school, Vacation Bible School, and Bible studies.

But they also teach with practical skills.

I needed my friend Jan to show me how to nurture my first child.

LouAnn has promised to teach me how to make soup.

I owe so many hours in the nursery to repay all those volunteers who sat with my kids.

Without them, I never would have gone to church for . . . many years! (I have lots of kids!)

One children’s choir leader taught my daughter how to sing. Her love of music grew under Rachel’s diligent and patient eye.

They’ve used their skills to make costumes and then fit us for our recent Living Nativity and the Holy Week Walk.

Some teach knitting–using that time, as well, to pray.

I’ve never had a male choir director. The same Rachel taught me all I know about singing.

And don’t get me started on the altar guild’s skill with flowers and decorating.

Enhancing, beautifying, and loving–for God’s sake.

They poured the wine in the serving trays and arranged the communion wafers (when we could do that).

The church decorations change seasonally in our liturgical church. Ordinary women keep track of the calendar–I’m always surprised when the vestment colors change.

Many send notes to shut-ins, cards to service members, and messages of encouragement to the lonely.

They drive people to appointments.

Many pray for me when I teach.

Stuffing envelopes, planting flowers, dusting, cleaning, stowing, calling.

I’m having trouble listing them!

But the congregations I’ve been part of have benefited so much. We’re all thankful.

Blessings upon blessings from ordinary churchwomen.

The list is long of women whom most of you won’t have known but who blessed me.

Jean Hahn welcomed a gawky long-haired, horn-rimmed glasses girl into her Bible study one Wednesday night. When she directed her high school girls to the book of Romans, that girl had to look in the table of contents first.

But she saw something in me, befriended me, and prayed for me all the way to my wedding day six years later.

Genece saw an older version of the gawky girl and showed me faith. Dori invited a bewildered new mother to breakfast and taught me how to care for my baby. (Building on Jan’s advice!)

Gina showed me how to be practical with a toddler’s needs.

Liz refused to give me her ham bone but poured hours of time into my prayers, my children, and my lonely heart.

Joanne gave me books. Debbie suggested I attend Mt. Hermon Christian Writers Conference. Rachel heard my prayers, corrected my errors, and loved me through 19 years of walking around the lake.

But there were so many more.

So many self-sacrificing Bible study leaders gave me hope and encouragement.

I did my fair share, too.

In the eyes of Jesus, we’re all viewed with love–no more how ordinary, or not, we may be.

Thank you, ladies past and present, no matter your church body.

Thank you for all of your witnesses to the goodness and the love found in the body of Christ throughout the world.

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