Dr Paul Allen

If I asked you to name a woman in the Bible, who would come to mind? How many could you name? Countless sermons have been preached about Esther and Ruth. We’ve scrutinized the woman at the well’s encounter with Jesus and celebrated Rahab’s strategic participation in the Israelites’ journey to the Promised Land.  Throughout Scripture, women have faithfully proclaimed the gospel, offered their time and expertise, ministered to the marginalized, and actively contributed to the life and growth of their communities and the church. What richness can we gain by studying the influence of women like Lydia and Priscilla, Miriam and Deborah, Anna and Phoebe? Mary, the Mother of Jesus, is an example of trusting through obedience -Luke 1:38 Mary, the mother of Jesus, plays an important role in God’s plan of redemption throughout the Gospels and is even depicted briefly in Acts during Pentecost (1:14). The Gospel writers consistently portray Mary as exemplifying faithful obedience and submission...

English: Dorcas Stained glass window in St. John's church, Healey. Acts IX-36 says "Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did." (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) The woman walking up the Roman Road hugged a secret. Hidden beneath her robe was the future of Christian theology . For she bore with her a letter to the church in Rome that would spell out, like no other document ever written, the implications and significance of the gospel. Paul had turned to her out of need. While in Corinth he had written a letter to the distant Roman church . He could not slip the letter into an envelope, lick a couple stamps and drop it into a mailbox; there was no postal service. Instead, he must find someone to carry the letter. As F. W. Boreham points out, Paul could write the letter but at that time could not carry it. Phoebe could not have written the letter, but she...