[Barb]

Originally Posted by Felicity

Wonderful post Barb!

I also honour all the wonderful women of God through the years who have been wonderful examples of what a "Christian" woman should be and modeled that in front of me including my own mom. Some were pastor's wives and some weren't. You don't have to be a LEADER to be a leader, know what I mean?

I thank God for each one of these special women who have prayed for me and with me and encouraged me and helped me and were patient with me. Who were willing to go the second mile and express confidence in my talents and abilities.

I thank God for friends who have been in my life and are coming back into my life. Most of these women have truly been "mothers in Zion" and are today.

Deborah was indeed a special woman. I am her namesake and would to God I could be a little like her!

Originally Posted by Barb

With Mother's Day upon us, I have been thinking for several days about the role that women play in the Church, in particular, that of the Church Mother.

We don't hear much about Church Mothers, but I spent many years in the Church Of Our Lord Jesus Christ, a predominantly African American Apostolic organization. In the COOLJC, as in most Black churches, there is what is known as the Mother's Board and it is usually made up of senior women, designed for teaching and training the younger....those who have served well in the Kingdom are thus honored as 'Mother'.

It is my belief and conviction, however, that pastor’s wives in particular are the Mother of their local church. They may not be senior in age, but are Mothers in Zion nonetheless.

The Church needs women who will stand in the gap, as did Deborah of old. The Scripture states that Deborah dwelt under the palm tree and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment (Judges 4:5). It further states that she was a Mother in Israel (Judges 5:7).

I have had three pastor’s wives who stand out to me as being a Mother in Zion…Sis. Geri Glass from Pasadena, TX (she passed away several years ago). I was not saved at the time I was in TX, but she loved me and nurtured me into the Kingdom. She was a prayer warrior and a faithful soldier.

Sis. Mary Wilson was young when she was my pastor’s wife, but like Deborah, rose to be a Mother…what a great and powerful woman of God.

Finally, Mother Lillian Dunlap, who made me get up and be about the Father’s business.

Without their great influence, I do not know where I would be tonight.

So, it is with heartfelt appreciation that I honor the pastor’s wives here…Jeanie, Sherri, Mother Alvear, Lady Coonskinner, Felicity, and to those I am forgetting, please forgive me…it is 3 am.

You may not feel worthy of such honor, and it is your humility which causes us to honor you the more.

I want you to know that God sees your years of dedication and service and IS rewarding in kind and will CONTINUE to reward. Your labor is not in vain, for the benefits of reaching for souls and giving when you didn’t feel like it or up to it will pay off in the ones who will make it in because you prayed and gave. Sacrifice is never a wasted effort, not for them or for you.

May God bless you, women of God, on this Mother‘s Day…

Thank you, Felicity...I so appreciate the women of worth on this board.