Today We Honor Women in Ministry

My pilgrimage can be described rather simply and easily. Basically, the scenario goes like this: I listened to the Story, and I believed.

When as a child the community of faith told me Jesus loved me and when they demonstrated that love through their lives, I believed. When I sang as a GA [Girls’ Auxiliary participant], “We’ve a Story to Tell to the Nations,” I believed. When in Baptist Student Union, we sang “Be Thou My Vision,” I believed. When in seminary I was shown God’s grace, I believed. In word and music and example, the Story was heard and believed.

I am a product of the system in which I was raised. I listened to what it was saying and acted upon what I heard. There was only one problem that confused me—I did not realize the Story was just for men. And so I proceeded to act as though the Story was for everyone to believe that the dreams and visions I was having were authentic and authoritative.