The Calling of Emily Evans by Janette Oake
Do you think women should be allowed to preach, leading their own church?
I enjoyed this book. It’s been a long time since I’ve read a Janette Oake book.
After Emily Evans is finished with her Bible school training, she feels called to start a church. As a young woman, her options are limited – how can a female be chosen to start a church. The church committee sends Emily to a remote town to start her church – alone. I thought the premise of this story was extremely interesting – it’s a historical story, yet, there’s a woman leading a church. I loved seeing Emily trying to fit into the small town life, attempting to share the gospel with the town’s inhabitants.
This story also shows how the people in Emily’s town struggle with their faith. There’s a battered wife who struggles to raise her children and another woman who is raising her children alone.
I loved reading about Emily leading her small church, writing her sermons each Saturday, sharing her faith in God. I also loved her title – Emily was known as a deaconess. I’d never heard that term until I read this story.
So, what do you think about women in the pulpit? Do you think women should be able allowed to start their own churches?
~Cecelia Dowdy~
My romance collection is on sale for 99 cents each.
– See more at: http://ceceliadowdy.com/blog/#sthash.NaONHmWr.dpuf
Awesome book I do believe women have a place in ministry, as much as some are against that, but what I loved about this book is it is a historical fiction novel that dares to step out of the box…
Michelle, thanks for commenting. I learned something new when I read this book. I didn’t realize that there were a small number of women, during historical times, that actually started and led their own churches. It really gives me something to think about. I appreciate all of the hard work this small group of women did for church-less towns.
I believe that God uses those who are willing and have a heart for Him. However, even with the account of Deborah as a judge of Israel, it is the exception and not the rule.I don’t think it is said why she was a judge but when Barak wanted her to go with him she said it would be a shame to Israel. Seems to me that the men at the time were not taking their place. The same can happen in the Church but I don’t believe it’s God’s mind for it to be so.
Thanks for commenting, Kay. I worship in a Baptist Church – although I don’t consider myself “Baptist”, I consider myself Christian. At the church where I worship, they’ve never had a woman to give a sermon. Women have been in the pulpit to give announcements, maybe give a devotional, but not a full-blown sermon. The only thing I saw closest to a woman giving a sermon in my church was for the women’s retreat – which is different. Different because it’s a woman ministering to other women, so it’s okay.
When I was at the AME church, they allowed women to preach from the pulpit. I do think that women preaching is more the exception than the rule.