Women Have a Lot to Talk About!

Charlotte, a young spunky Rwandan gal we’ve known for some time, looked piercingly throughout the mixed crowd of men and women and declared, “You know we women have a lot to talk about…and God can use that for his glory!” Our group of almost 70, cheered and clapped and shouted lots of “Amen’s!!!”

Anne, long time disciplemaker in her own right, shared her story of coming into house church gatherings. Just the idea of inviting others to come to her home, sit in a circle, read Scripture together and each one (man or woman) having the opportunity to speak, share what God is saying to them, pray, talk about their challenges freely and openly was a completely different experience. She said, “For us women, we have found a new freedom even though we have challenges.” And, it’s really true. Disciple Making Movements are lifting so many women in Rwanda from a place of not only feeling less than, but culturally, being less than.

Anne went on, “You know women are not like men. When we began the women showed so much interest in the things we were talking about. We prayed on Tuesdays and Thursdays that God would lead us to persons of peace as it says in Luke 10, and in the early mornings and late evenings before and after working we would fellowship with people on the streets or in their homes. The women we talked with they really liked what we were saying and they would bring other women and then those women would pass on what they heard to their family members and their neighbors. There began to be revival in our area even though we faced so many challenges. We had been told we could not speak in public, but we can see that Jesus used women in ministry. There were so many times in the Book of Acts where God used women. We women have also received the Holy Spirit and even we women have gifts to be used by God. We are praising God because He himself is using women in Rwanda, even though still today we have challenges of men not allowing women to use all of their gifts.”

And now back to incredibly charming Charlotte who was really challenging the men in the group. She said, “I can show you women here who have reached so many people. For example,” and she pointed out Anne Marie, who has been in the movement for years, “Anne Marie has started 130 churches and another lady Geraldine. I want to tell you, it’s amazing what this lady is doing alongside of her husband. They have started 54 house churches in their village and the husband is now reaching people in Sudan. And, Eugenie, she has reached many disciples and started DBS’s and house churches. She is no longer afraid and has by herself baptized 10 women. There are so many women who are illiterate and they don’t have a place to belong in church because they are ashamed. Today God is using them through storytelling to reach men and women and their children. So many of them are at home with their children and they have the opportunity to teach their children and to model to them the lifestyle of serving Jesus.”

And, then Anne Marie very seriously stood up to share her testimony of how God is using her, a rural woman, living in Rwanda, “God is using me in this way of storytelling with women. After I received this message the first person I reached was a woman. We have so many women and those women have so many burdens. When you share with them they are so happy. I didn’t use my Bible. I used storytelling. I have no education, but I am very good at memorizing. There was one time I memorized the passage in 2 Kings 4:1-7. There was a woman with a problem because her sons were to be slaves. I tell those stories word by word. In this story she has the same problem as we women. The problem of poverty. I told her God can use what you have with no outside help. I prayed for her and I left. She became a disciple. I am using so many stories. It’s God who helps me.”

These women are serious. They’re serious about God, they’re serious about the Gospel, they’re serious about standing up, walking tall, being who they are and who God called them to be. There aren’t words to explain my awe of these women who have many reasons to be doing something else other than sharing the love and message of Jesus Christ with their neighbors. Physically to touch them, they are stronger than any body builder you might meet. They work hard, I mean seriously hard. They make bricks; they carry huge bundles on their heads long, long distances; they work in the fields with hoes I can barely lift. They gather wood to build fires and start every meal with flour and a few vegetables. Money for medical, school fees, food, and rent is always a challenge. Many are widows or single moms struggling on their own. Yet, they have one thing always on their mind: Where or who can I share Jesus with today? The evidence is there. Today there are many moms and grandma’s who belong to Someone and each other. They have hope today where yesterday they had nothing. Inspiring, challenging and amazing. That’s the kind of women we get to hang out with in Africa.