Gifted for Leadership: God Will Make a Way

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September 30, 2011

God Will Make a Way

What are we waiting for?

by Leanne Dzubinski

There’s an idea floating around Christian women’s circles. I’m hearing it more frequently. I’ve heard it from missionary colleagues and women at church. I’ve read it in books and seen it posted in comments on blogs. It goes something like this: If God has gifted and called a woman to lead, teach, pastor, or preach then he will make a way for her to fulfill that calling.

We talk about God making a way in terms of “open doors,” as in, “God will open a door for you to preach,” and in terms of time, as in, “At the right time, God will give you the place to use your gifts.” While these sentiments are true on one level—God is absolutely powerful and capable of opening doors and placing his daughters where he wants them—on another level, they trouble me deeply. I believe they represent two faulty ways of thinking that affect many Christians—men and women—today.

The first problem with this kind of thinking: it makes what is really an issue with the system into an issue related to the individual. A woman who is called and gifted to preach or lead ,but who finds herself unable to put these gifts to use, is very likely in a situation that prevents women from preaching or leading based on principle. It could be the tradition or theology of the denomination, local church, seminary, or organization that tells her women can’t do that.

The obstacle arises because of a structure that opposes women using certain gifts in certain ways, not because of the woman herself. Yet when we repeat the “God will make a way” response, we’re reinforcing the notion that the issue is about the individual woman. The unspoken second half of the statement is this: “If God hasn’t opened that door yet, it’s because you aren’t ready or perhaps are mistaken in what you think is your call.” So she waits, and years may go by without her ever using her gifts. Meanwhile, the system that prevents women from using all their God-given gifts to build up of the Kingdom of Christ goes unquestioned.

The second troubling aspect with this line of thought: it leads to a type of Christian fatalism and takes away our responsibility to act. If God will open a door at the right time, then all we have to do, indeed all we can do, is pray and wait. Those are certainly valuable acts for believers, but are they all God expects of us? When I read the Bible and Christian history, I see a long line of believers wrestling and struggling to right injustice. I see beautiful examples of women throwing themselves into the spiritual battle for Christ’s kingdom on earth. When systemic issues regarding women changed in the past, it was usually because women and men decided to act.

For example, in the late 18th century, as the modern missionary movement got underway, sending boards refused to send single women to the mission field. Married women on the field were begging for single women to help in the work, and single women in North America were begging to go, yet the boards refused to send them. So, women from many different denominations banded together to create their own sending agencies. By 1900, more than 40 women’s sending agencies were established and the missionary work force had risen to 60 percent women, according to Dana Robert in American Women in Mission (Mercer University Press, 1997). During the first half of the 20th century all those women’s groups were gradually merged back into the main groups, and now none of those groups exists. Yet the missionary force continues to be composed of about two-thirds women, and hardly anyone today would refuse to send a single woman to serve God overseas. The change happened because the women worked together to fix a faulty system.

So what happens when we continue to tell ourselves and each other that it’s up to God to open a door for us? Can that become an excuse for passivity and disobedience to God’s call on our lives? While God absolutely can and sometimes does miraculously change things for us, can we also consider that perhaps we need to work together to change the system? Or do we need to seek a different ministry setting where women are not prevented from using their gifts?

Leanne Dzubinski has served as an evangelist and church planter in Europe, training missionaries in Bible, leadership, and ministry skills. In 2007, she received her DMin from Gordon-Conwell. As the mother of two teenage daughters, she is passionately interested in how the church and Christian organizations treat women in general and particularly women in ministry.

Comments

AMEN!!! Too often, women are taught to hold back, while men are taught to push through. Or maybe we're just waiting for men to open the door for us, when what we really need to do is take a deep breath, gather our courage, turn the knob and push.

Mark Batterson's "In a Pit With a Lion on a Snowy Day" helped me shake the idea that it's somehow spiritual to hold back. It's a simple book, but it shoved me out of my comfort zone.

Wow. Those are some really good thoughts. As a woman who is feeling some of those things, I really need to think and pray about some of those ideas.

One of the things that has held me back from pushing forward is the fact that there is already a sense that women are pushy (or other things) and I don't want my future (or current) ministry inhibited by someone's perception that I only got to where I am by being (insert any word here).

Pray for me to hear God about what steps I need to take next.

I am interested in joining with other wommen who are in ministry.
Thanks.
Jane

@Christy--in my experience, women are only perceived as "pushy" because we consider it inappropriate for them to push, and try to discourage them from doing so. Men acting the same way would not be called pushy--we'd describe them as "taking initiative." I believe that's a paradigm that should be lovingly, gently, and rationally pointed out.

I think we all wait for doors to open. We should just "do" sometimes.I think we will just know if it's not right. God will let us know!

I really appreciate your assessment of a key ministry issue. We've conceded to the "mud on the wall" theory for too long. Jesus' example of discipling, mentoring and releasing leaders is still the best model. He opened doors for those whom He trained and He authorized them to go forth.

Thank you so much for this article. I have a prophetic gift which when I tried to use in Ministry it was not very well received. I like the get up and do it attitude that you are advocating for in this article, instead of waiting for someone to approve me, I know that God has approved me already and so there is nothing to wait for. A very powerful man of God once said to me "Don't serve people, serve God."

It's interesting that we often assume that God's gifting for ministry primarily relates to formally defined roles in established organizations. It important to remember that God's call is to play a role in the body of Christ - which may or may not mean in an established role.

Fascinating timing on this post! I just curled up with Cloud and Townsend's little book, "What To Do When You Don't Know What To Do" last night. And in one of the first chapters, they write about God making a way from a really compelling perspective ...

"God will make a way for you. But part of that way has already been made in how he created life to work. Your task is to find his way by finding the wisdom that applies to your situation. You can depend on his ways to work and to make a way for you. So ask him for his wisdom and his way, then search for them with all your strength and apply them wholeheartedly."

The waiting can be hard and very discouraging. I find however how God has orchestrates man's steps in such a way that overnight, in one encounter, God can connect the dots miraculously and things can change. Our job if feeling called to particular things in ministry is to stay focused on our devotion to Him and plunge in even harder in the Word and in prayer. God alone knows the seasons and also knows if our heart is more bent on just Him or on the things we want to do for Him. Big difference and an important one when He looks at our heart's motive. Doing for Him should never replace pure love for Him. Can we pursue Him with zeal when doors do not open yet?
God is so all knowing and will ensure we do not miss the things He has for us. Being faithful where we are now is vital because this even seemingly wilderness is for a purpose of character development and a test of our true affections. Can He trust us with the anointing is a season of trials we must endure. We cannot lose heart dear sisters but as we love Him His peace can envelope us and change a weary heart to a peaceful one. May we all pass the tests ahead of us and in turn trust God in advance with our lives. His ways are higher indeed. Paul learned to be content so this takes time in our journey. Zeal out of His timing will not bear the intended fruit. If doors appear to open explore them but don't self promote and bang the door down. When fruit is ripe it will be oh so sweet.

I agree with Valerie that our motivation is a huge factor in whether we "change the system" or "wait it out". Either response can be sinful and out of God's will. We'll only know which we should be doing when we are daily surrendered to Christ. I don't like men "taking initiative" in ministry situations any more than I like women being "pushy" in ministry situations. No matter what you call it, if the motivation is to get ahead or to use your gifts because you feel entitled to do so, then you are sinning. Both men and women would benefit from spending more time waiting on God and trusting Him to move them into the right ministry at the right time than to push ahead, trying to change the system or place themselves in ministry, when God has not opened those doors. The Biblical examples of people who made significant strides in changing the world around them spent years quietly waiting on God and serving Him in the background before GOD said, "Now is the time."

Thanks Valerie and Maureen for your wisdeom, and may God bless us with a pure heart and clear conscienct in waiting and in serving!

What a fantastic article! I'll state the obvious, I am a man that enjoys your blog. There are so many principles you address that apply to the Body at large. This article is a perfect example. While I understand your primary audience is women, and the goal is to encourage women to be more available for God's use, this principle simply encourages people to be quick to say yes to God's leading. Too many Christians are passive/aggressively disobedient. No more excuses - just responses!

I stumbled across this website article. Right on time for me, but more of a confirmation of what I have read this week about the parable of the talents and the wicked slothful servant. I have read this for years and thought I understood what the writer was conveying to me prior to 2011. Now I know. Whatever talent, gift, skill or ministry the Master has entrusted to me, I will give an account of my achievements (productive or unproductive). I choose to be productive. I am no longer waiting on a door, because the door was opened over 2,000 years ago; but now that I have allowed the scales to fall from my eyes, the door is open to look on the field which is white to harvest. Thanks for writing this article. I will definitely stay in touch with this ministry.

I find myself coming back to this article to comment after several days, because it touches a nerve on a subject about which I am very conflicted.

I pretty much agree with the points Leanne is raising in the article, but despite this, I find myself currently doing the "wait for God to open a door" thing. Reasons ?

I'm a woman in my mid 40s. I'm married with kids. Over the last few years, I've become increasingly aware of a call to preach. I'm in a denomination where women are tolerated in a speaking role, but it's still controversial - the pastoral ministry was only opened to women in the past 10 years. In my own congregation, when a woman preaches (there are 2 of us currently) some people choose not to attend. I have the support of our pastor and church leadership team and had a heart of heart on the subject with the pastor last year. We agreed that if I was a man or if I was single he'd be encouraging me to discuss the concept of full-time pastoral ministry.

Except of course, I'm not. This decision isn't just about me - its about us, and my husband is quite horrified by the concept of becoming a "pastor's wife", and I'm quite horrified by the idea of doing such a thing to my family.

I'm grateful for Julie's reminder that ministry does not always equate to a full-time paid role. Perhaps my call is to be a lay-preacher in my local congregation. (In our denomination, lay-preaching has a long and honourable history). So, for now, I'm waiting it out. Maybe I'm waiting for my kids to grow up a bit more. Or maybe I'm waiting for my husband to work through his own issues. Or maybe I'm waiting for my denomination to get a bit less conflicted about the whole concept.

Meantime I'm working on a batchelors in theology and taking preaching opportunities that are given to me. And yes, I'm waiting for God to make a way through this web of family responsibility and mixed messages from the church. Sigh...

As a evanglist and minister of the Gosple i cant wait and none of us should . The love of Christ compels me as though Christ were pleading threw me be reconsiled to God . were ever we are at the store at the school at a garage sale. We are called to minister. As much as i would love and some day am beliving God for a pulpit The harvest is plentyful we just need more boldness to walk up to that stranger. We dont need mans recondition only marching orders from the King. He is the only one we need to here from and he said go so we should GO!!!!!
I AM PART OF THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE UNASHAMED
I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I'm a disciple of His. I don't intend to look back, let up, slow down or back away.My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure.I'm finished and done with low-living, small planning, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap giving and dwarfed goals.I no longer need prosperity, position, promotions, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded.I now strive to live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, persevere in prayer and labor by His power.
My face is set, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my Guide is reliable and my mission is clear.I won't give up, shut up, or let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, and talked up for the cause of Christ.
I am a disciple of Jesus! I must go till He comes, continue till I drop, witness till all know and work till He stops me. And when He comes for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me.

MY BANNER WILL BE CLEAR

@Trish - I was EXACTLY THERE about fifteen years ago. God was after me to follow him into ministry, and I didn't understand it, and my husband was horrified, and I didn't know what to do, but God kept bothering me. It became a step-by-step thing: I did a semester of seminary, not willing to say that I was supposed to do TWO semesters. I couldn't see how I would do "supervised ministry" (internship), but when the time came an amazing door opened. Long story short, I am a pastor in a different denomination today, and my husband is thrilled with his role in our church. You don't have to see the way to get there, but take steps and follow.

On the bigger issues presented here, I heartily agree. For myself, I continued as long as I could under the "authorities" of the church and denomination we were in. When it became clear that although I had knocked on all their doors and I was just being ignored, I sought a different place to do ministry, and was affirmed, called and ultimately ordained to ministry. I can't answer for that other denomination - who am I to criticize the servant of another? But as the Lord's servant that I am, I needed to pursue a place to follow him as he was calling me. Sitting still was not an option. If the Lord is calling you, do seek to do things 'in good order' where you are - but if you are not permitted, seek another vanue.

Timely for me as I work on a chapter on public roles for a book I'm doing on Biblical gender for the Albanian church. A principle that I have taken as guidance for many years: the distinction between taking up a justice or compassion issue on behalf of those being marginalized, or fighting for my own "rights." Regarding slavery, for example: it became a justice issue that MANY fought the hard battle to overcome. But Paul says to individual slaves (and others) not to worry about the slavery, but to be willing to remain in that position and to serve the Master wholeheartedly.

So, do I fight for "MY RIGHT" to preach or lead? No. Do I act and pray towards justice and the freedom for all people of both genders to deploy their God-given gifts in Kingdom service? YES! And am I willing (as some who have commented here mention) to be an entrepreneur, an innovator, one who opens a new door when the obvious institutional doors are closed. Like the women who created their own sending agencies, or the gifted speaker who trains and prepares for doors that do open.

It's the "don't exalt yourself, lest you be shamed when the host gives the seat to another; choose the humble place, and perhaps the host will exalt you."

And yes, women ARE urged to submit, while men are taught to fight for position and rights. But these are gender-neutral principles in the Scriptures, regardless of what fallen world culture labels "manly" or "feminine."

In my own experience, this is not necessarily a recipe for peace. I was invited by a Bible school to be their first female Bible teacher. What a fire-storm I landed in. But the school had intentionally chosen me, and chosen to make a stand. Not comfortable, but also without any echoes of a strident person self-promoting her own sense of her gifts. Sometimes conflict with Christ's body is necessary for growth. But the wisdom to discern that....

I wonder, does this make sense to anyone else?

This has been an awesome post. I have enjoyed all the conversations regarding Leanne's debate. I am also a female pastor and even though our denomination gives its blessing to us to teach and preach God's Word unashamedly, there are still people who have a problem with it. In fact we have had people leave the church because of it. I can not however keep what God places in my heart to do, I have to minister wherever and whenever I am asked to do so. I remember clearly how I waited for 15 years, knowing God called me into full time ministry, but I knew there were people who would not agree with me. Isn't it great that we have an audience of ONE to please and He is Christ. Thanks so much for this conversation. total blessing.

This article was right on time. I agree with what you're saying and as a woman who was tired of waiting, I stepped out in faith and trusted God to be there. Our level of faith needs to be increased and our trust in God never waiving. I do think that so many people and our enemy want to prevent the daughters of God from doing what God has called us to do. To them I say, "God is no respecter of persons", do what you feel God is calling you to do. If God is calling you to preach, He will indeed make a way for you to do so. It may be hard to get there, but God's word never returns to Him void. Stop asking everyone's opinion about the word God has given you, stop second guessing yourselves and get in the presence of God ad keep asking Him what it is you need to do until you get your answers, no matter what He's called you to do. Be blessed!

I believe God calls women into ministry and also He opens the door and opportunity. His Word says when He opens a door it cannot be shut and when He closes a door it cannot be opened. When that door opens and we know its Him behind the door, no matter how we feel, its up to us to go through.
On the other hand, if it is only our desire to open doors there will be no fruit. Moses said, unless you go with me, I will not go. We need the anointing to go forth as missionaries, teachers , prophets, etc. I have went through the doors He opened, again and again. And set with Him when He closed a specific door. That's my experience.

I enjoy reading the article, so much so the different point of views of women and a man. I am in my mid 40's, married and have 4 lovely teenagers. Like some other women my eagerness to be used by God in the area of preaching or in "full time ministry" was overwhelming (that was 12 years ago). i tried several courses in preaching, attended seminars that would help me in the ministry; but the so called 'open doors' remained close for what i wanted. Through the course of waiting i realized i was motivated by my selfish desire to be heard or maybe to be known. Leading small group bible studies didn't satisfy me that i was yearning for more acknowledgement. Praise God i didn't push so hard, i waited instead and continued to ask God for more patience and wisdom. Through this i learned the principle of submission...submission to His Word...submission to my husband...submission to people in authority which includes the appointed leader/s or pastor/s of our church. Now the doors are open for me, indeed all things work together for good for those who love God AND ARE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE. I believe God taught and trained me and when HE thinks i'm ready to give Him all the glory...to do things in His way..in His time (not mine)..everything becomes beautiful and perfect...TO GOD BE THE GLORY FOREVER MORE.

What a blessing this conversation is to me. I am called, I am patient, and I also yearn to be found a worthy steward when my Master comes. Let's pray for each other, for His will to be done in our hearts and minds with wisdom and grace "seasoned with salt." I do not want to have to stammer "but they wouldn't let me!" on Judgement Day or even to list all the "miracles" I performed in His name, while neglecting to feed the hungry, visit the hurting or those in prison.

Great article. If we consider ourselves in partnership with God that means we have a role to play in movement forward on this issue as well. We have to be jiggling the door handles to see which ones will open and which ones are still closed. Hopefully women are atleast sending a resume to congregations to give God something to work with. This is also one way for congregations to see the gifted and well equipped women out there.

This is a good article especially to the ladies who are sitting on their gifts. There is a reason why each and everyone was created and in every individual there is something unique. As ladies n women remember it is not written in the bible or anywhere else that you can't be a leader. You can be what God wants you to be at any time.

Wow, how refreshing to find so many intelligent comments and a well thought out article from women in ministry. I am a recently ordained Pastor who struggles with these issues as well. Thank you for voicing many of my struggles and thoughts and really affirming in me that I'm not alone.

Thank you for this timely article. I am currently working towards a MDiv. At 40, with 3 children, married and working fulltime in a church, this is a long road. I waited 5 years before I felt comfortable to respond to my calling. The biggest struggle is feeling called into full-time ministry, especially preaching and church-planting, yet not being fully accepted. Church planting has been male-dominated in my denomination and sometimes it feels like this opportunity is closed to me. I have witnessed the ease in which men with my same interests, same skills and less experience can navigate this road because they are ushered through the door by others - usually men. Women need to be mentored through this journey, by those who have gone before us, and encouraged to not just turn the door handle, but to walk through the door.

Great article. Just wanted to mention that ministry also exists outside the cloistered walls of the church. I was a woman pastor...got tired of hitting my head up against a glass ceiling that was not going to break in my lifetime. So, God called me out into the secular social services sector. I have been more of a pastor in the past 3 years outside the confining and rigid walls of the church setting than I ever was as a church pastor. Pastoring is a gifting of the Spirit...not a position. I have been encouraging men and women to consider actualizing their gift and calling in a secular context for a while now. Pastors in the church are plentiful....engaged, equipped and skilled pastors in the secular world...there is a desperate need for them!!

I love this discussion...wish I had heard it 40 years ago when I was first starting ministry! I am one of those women who found there was no opportunity for using my spiritual gifts (exhortation and administration) within the local church. So, my ministry has always been within secular nonprofits. It didn't take me long to realize that the definition of "ministry" really encompasses every aspect of my life, not just service within the church walls.

WOW! This has been the most powerful, edifying experience reading this post and the comments that follow! I have a friend who once said, "so, what does that have to do with you doing what God told you to do." She said this in response to my saying "I can't" do something because of boundaries set by leadership. I've since learned to submit to current authority, while stepping in out in faith. I've been walking through doors that are opening for me - wherever they are - because I realize God can use me anywhere He wants. He's limited to my Church. Now that I've stepped out there, I'm discovering that there are other doors, other opportunities that have presented themselves.

I so desparately want to come into covenant relationship with other women of God. In many ways, I feel cut off. By others perception, I am not "seasoned" enough to be with current leaders, but I've grown enough to recognize what God has called me to do. I want to be in relationship with women who encourage and come along side - who UNDERSTAND!

You know, everyone can't go with you, nor will everyone celebrate you. You can't share your vision with everybody. So, I've decided to go without them! I find that as I take a step, God begins to open the way. I've also discovered that if no one goes with me, God and I are enough. In terms of human connection, I feel lonely right now, but I'm expecting God to send and strengthen covenant relationships with other women of God.

This post is one I will visit often.

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