Women It’s Your Time”
According to the book of Ecclesiastes 3, NIV version, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heaven.” God has designed my dear sisters in leadership this time of refreshing, learning and impartation for such a time as this.
It’s has been my esteemed honor and pleasure to serve as Co-Host with my Mother in Ministry, Rev. Janie Sterling. As I watched her being one who values her time and the time of others and their calling, her love and zero tolerance for nonsense it’s so liberating and admirable. “Women in Ministry unable to preach, nonsense, women not wearing their war clothes, (clergy robes) nonsense, women not baptizing or serving communion, nonsense. And Women not sitting in the pulpit, nor being able to pastor, simply nonsense.
We thank God for Rev. Janie Sterling and all of the Praying Preaching Women that have made this conference possible. Women from all over the State of Tennessee and surrounding areas that have come together to worship God in Spirit and in truth. And I do believe there is a Spirit of determination and perseverance that we stand with her in unity that Women must stand for righteousness and justice without tolerance of systems of oppression and mediocrity. We thank each woman that has participated and has allowed her voice to sound as a trumpet in Zion.
Of coarse, we could not do this conference alone with out the support of men. As much as I thank God for every woman that has made a difference in my life, I too, thank every man that has contributed just as much. We are grateful for the Mt. Olive Baptist Church Family and the ministry of Bishop Amos Griffey, III. And First Lady Dee Griffey, who saw and caught the vision of Rev. Sterling. We praise God for every man that supports women not just in the kitchen and the bedroom. But in the boardroom, school room, courtroom, newsroom, and prayer room, etc.
We thank God for the Mary’s and Martha’s of our generation that are determined to serve the master at any cost. May the Spirit of Esther rest on us that we are determined to pursue the things of God, even if we perish in the process. Women we are in a new season and I expect even greater things to happen for your ministry. Women, please be determined in this season not to be like the man at the pool of Bethesda, waiting on men. Stop waiting on men to let you in their pulpit. Do not waste your time waiting on men to open the door of opportunity for you to preach or use your gifts. Likewise, don’t wait on man or woman to let you in through their window of opportunity. But, become creative and with the help of God, if necessary, create your own ministry and be determined if I’m unable to go through the door or window that I’m going through the ceiling. Don’t allow someone’s misconceptions cause you to stay in a pool of apathy or stagnation. But become a pool of influence with resources that will cause even apathy and stagnation to move. We believe the Spirit of God is moving quickly and so daughters of the Cloth you must come forth and bring forth much fruit.
“IT’S YOUR TIME!!!!”
With Love,
Chaplain Yolanda Walker, M.Div.
Tri-Fold Outreach Minister’s Institute
