Mothers in Zion...

[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…

[Falla39]

Sis. Barb,

I loved your post as this is a subject dear to my heart! They used to call

praying mothers, grandmothers and others, Mothers in Israel, (the

mothers in the tribes of the children of Israel). I feel they are the same.

Praying mothers for the people of God or praying mothers in the church.

The people of God used to worship in a tabernacle, tents, and the temple.

God dwelled among them, and when Jesus came, He walked with them but

He told his disciples He was with them but He was going to be in them. We

have it so good. We don't have to go to the temple made with hands to

pray or to worship. We ARE the temple of the Living God. Christ in us, the

hope of glory. Today He is in His temple, His people. They can try to tell

God's people they cannot pray, they cannot worship, and the time may

come when we cannot go to a building to meet together to worship Him

in Spirit and in Truth. But as long as the GOD of the temple is in His temple,

(inside us), it won't matter. And as long as there are Mothers In Zion, or

Israel, (God IN His tabernacles, temples, or simply Christ in us, individually

or collectively) He can work. For in Him we live and move and have our

being! Praise His Holy Name!

Blessings,

Falla39

[Barb]

LOL!! I almost added this to my post, but thought it too long, so I stopped with pastor's wives.

Fact is that you are very correct. We all have the potential of rising to the place of Mother in Zion and I believe God is calling for it to be so.

May we ALL rise to our place in Kingdom service...

[rgcraig]

In Memory of My Mother!

A Mother of Zion - she taught Jr. High SS for over 40 years. Prayed for me everyday and loved me unconditionally! I miss her.

[Falla39]

Originally Posted by rgcraig

In Memory of My Mother!

A Mother of Zion - she taught Jr. High SS for over 40 years. Prayed for me everyday and loved me unconditionally! I miss her.

Sis. Renda,

What a profoundly precious picture of your dear Mother! And I can

believe that she was a true Mother in Zion. You were, as I and many others

on this forum, very blessed!

Blessings,

Falla39

[rgcraig]

Thank you Sis. Falla!

Yes, I AM very blessed.

[Barb]

Originally Posted by rgcraig

In Memory of My Mother!

A Mother of Zion - she taught Jr. High SS for over 40 years. Prayed for me everyday and loved me unconditionally! I miss her.

You brought tears to my eyes, Renda...may God richly bless you this weekend and always!!

[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!

[StillStanding]

I don't have a picture on my computer of my mom, but I do have a picture of my Grandmother (my dad's side) who has been a rock of faithfulness to God my entire life. She is 90 years old.

Ruth Lewis-Burton

[Felicity]

Love the tributes and the pictures Renda and Pianoman!