The Sunday Mail
This September, we celebrate women in ministry and share their success stories and challenges.
For too long the issue of women in effective ministry has been labelled as “controversial” and recently I listened to a teaching on mindsets and perception regarding such issues, and the preacher made reference to three scriptures: Numbers 13 and 14; 1 Samuel 17 and Zechariah 4:7.
Women are failing to make their mark in ministry because there are too many barriers and they have listened to too many negative reports about them ministering just like the Israelites listened to the report of the ten spies instead of Joshua and Caleb’s.
Before David appeared on the battle scene in 1 Samuel 17, Goliath was a giant and Philistine champion. Fortunately David refused to dignify his physical stature and battle prowess as he called him “this uncircumcised Philistine”.
The same can be said about Zerubabel who encountered countless challenges while rebuilding the temple until he received this encouragement: “What are you, mighty mountain? Before Zerubabel you will become level ground.”
How are women in ministry dealing with the “giants”, “champions” and “mountains” they are faced with?
Esthers for the Nations Zimbabwe (Esthers) is an independent interdenominational women’s ministry and today they will give us an insight into women in ministry and their experiences. Tendai Manzvanzvike (TM) spoke with Evangelist Beullah Machiri (BM) who ministers full time at Esthers on the ministry’s work. She is also a congregant at Celebration Church.
TM: August is considered a month for women. What were some of the activities that Christian women embarked on, and what was the impact?
BM: As Esthers we intercede for each other and the nations. During the month of August we held a prayer, healing and deliverance service. Many women suffer from ailments that are a result of bitterness caused by unforgiveness. A teaching on forgiveness was done at the prayer session and this helped many women who attended to be freed from bondages that are as a result of unforgiveness.
Reaching out to women that are in areas that are not privileged to receive the gospel is what Esthers often do. The month of August saw us launching Budiriro Esthers and women from various religions came to know Jesus and to learn to walk by the spirit. I was also invited to speak at a Women’s Conference in the UK whose theme was “Stand up and be counted”, and this could not have come at a better time as we celebrated being women.
TM: But, what is Esthers for the Nations Zimbabwe; its mission, vision, goals and objectives? And when was it started and why?
BM: Esthers for the Nations Zimbabwe aims to empower women through the word of God. We carry out bible studies every Thursday and Saturday and believe that a person whom Jesus Christ freed is free indeed. As such, we aim to equip women with the word.
When a person knows who they are in Christ they become confident, good citizens and effective children of God. At Esthers we do not look at doctrines but focus is on the kingdom of God. Jesus Christ is our boss and the Holy Spirit our teacher. We believe that our manual in this life is the bible and we have a big emphasis on bible study.
Esthers takes away the complacency that characterises many Christian women. It challenges them to step into their calling and embrace Christianity as citizens of heaven. The word of God instructs us to take care of the orphans and widows and as Esthers we reach out to the needy in our communities by clothing and feeding them. We aim to have a restoration centre where people can come and have free bible based counselling, meals and relief accommodation. With less than two years running, through God’s grace, we have launched Esthers groups in various places including; Harare, Bulawayo, Kambuzuma, Rugare, Budiriro, Mabvuku, Chitungwiza, Waterfalls, Mufakose and Gaborone.
Groups of women meet in these areas to pray and study the word. Women are taught to pray, read the word and meditate on it. It was my desire to see total salvation in people regardless of gender that drove me to running with the Esthers’ vision. Esthers arose from a desire to see women that are effective in the churches, women that they are planted, women who recognise their spiritual gifts and know that they too were created to worship God.
TM: The biblical Esther has many qualities: a young Jewish girl living in captivity, orphaned and vulnerable but finds favour with God when He elevates her to be Queen of a powerful empire. She was also a powerful intercessor who was prepared to “perish” in order for her people to be saved from annihilation. She was also very diplomatic when she concealed her identity, but at one time she seemed not to understand her mission when Mordecai had to remind her that who knows that God raised her for such a time as this. Do we have local equivalents of the challenges that Esther faced, which would make people desire to be like her?
BM: First and foremost, we can’t all desire to be in the palace like Queen Esther was, but we have our spheres of influence and can only be responsible for those areas of influence that we have. As we each influence the areas that we have been given responsibility over together, we can be as powerful as one woman was – Esther.
The most important point is to see whether we are in the right place. Are we faithful to where we have been planted? Do we have an understanding of the times and reasons why we are where we are? Also, are we able to take responsibility in bringing about meaningful change?
TM: What is the Esthers membership like and is it exclusively for women?
BM: We have an inclusive membership of women that is made up of people from all walks of life as long as they are willing to walk by the Spirit, use the bible as their manual for life.
The most recent challenge is the frequent requests we have been receiving from husbands (who have seen the change in their wives) requesting to become members of Esthers and Esthers is willing to open its membership to men who are willing to embrace the vision.
TM: We also have some women ministries modeled after biblical personalities e.g. Deborah, Rizpah, Anna, Mary, Dorcas, etc. Why is that so?
BM: As Esthers it would be unfair to comment on what others call themselves. We can only comment on the fact that we feel that Esther is the ideal role model for us, in that she was willing to perish for the sake of her nation and as women we need to be rising up and unselfishly interceding for our nations, in whatever shape or form that intercession takes.
TM: Critics of Esther argue that unlike her predecessor Queen Vashti who refused to be paraded before drunken men, the king included, Esther did not enjoy the privileges of a wife since the king could only see her at his bidding. What is your take on that?
BM: In the book of Esther, there is only one instance where she had to wait to be summoned by the king. We don’t know how long this went on, but what matters is that when she was summoned she was effective so it does not matter how many times she was summoned or whether she had the right privileges or not.
What matters also is that she was in the right place at the right time doing the right thing. This still applies today, as many wives don’t see their husbands as often as they would like to but that should not stop them from being effective in their roles.
TM: Finally, why are women in ministry not so visible?
BM: That is a good question!
Women are in the majority when you look at churches and other ministries and research shows that they give more than men do. Most Sunday schools are led by women, all the hospitality work, visitation work, intercessory ministries are predominantly made up of women.
Rather than ask why they are not so prominent, but rather we should ask church itself why women are not prominent.
Events calendar
Event: Esthers for the Nations Zimbabwe 2nd Annual Conference
Dates: October 10 to 11
Venue: Dutch Reformed Hall, Memorial Building, Samora Machel Ave
Time: 8am to 6pm
Theme: Walking by the Spirit
Speakers: Apostle Florence G. Sutherland
Host: Evangelist Beullah Machiri
Contact: +263 772915701, [email protected]
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Event: Miracle Harvest – Life House International Church
Dates: September 8 to 13
Venue: Life House Church Stand Manyame Park Chitungwiza
Host: Bishop T .D Chiweshe
Contact: +263 772748177; +263 775267764
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Event: Warnight Prayer 2 – Kingdom Ambassadors Evangelical Ministries
Date: September 19
Venue: KAEM Church Grounds, Budiriro 4 (adjacent to Budiriro College)
Time: 9pm to 5am
Host/Speaker: Apostle T Kuveya
Contact: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
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Event: World Changers Conference
Dates: October 2 to 4
Venue: AFM Church – Hauna
Time: 10am to 1pm
Guest speaker: Pastor E. Makarimayi
Host: Evangelist Paul Saungweme
Contact: +263 772544944; +263 772969069
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Event: Hauna Miracle Crusade – JFAEM
Dates: September 30 to October 4
Venue: Hauna Airstrip
Time: 5:30pm
Speaker: Evangelist Paul Saungweme
Contact: +263 772544944; +263 772969069
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Event: Exodus 2 Crusade – AFM Zimbabwe, El Shaddai Ruwa Assembly
Dates: September 29 to October 4
Venue: El Shaddai Ruwa Assembly, Damafalls Phase 4 (Pabooster)
Time: 6pm to 9pm
Guest speakers: Dr A. Madziyire; Overseer C. Chiangwa; Overseer M. Mashumba; Evangelist Amai Chiweshe
Contact: +263 772919349; +263 774550437
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Event: Charismatic Conference 4 – AFM Zimbabwe Springvale Assembly
Dates: September 15 to 21
Venue: Prophetic Arena Grounds (just before Ruwa supermarket)
Time: 6pm to 9pm
Guest speakers: Pastor E. Chirombe (SA); Bishop B. Manjoro
Host: Rev Oliver Makomo
Contact: [email protected]
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Event: Today’s Woman Conference / Interdenominational Today’s Female Pastors Conference
Dates: November 20 to 23
Venue: Johannesburg, South Africa
Hosts: Prophetess Eunor and Apostle Ezekiel Guti
Contact: +263 772 933 110/ 0782 032 794; 0772 886 355
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Forthcoming events in various churches are a part of this instalment.
Please email them to: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> by mid-day of Tuesday of each working week.
