The Story of a 21st-century Priscilla | Lausanne World Pulse Archives

Who are the women on the cutting edge of missions? Are they the ones who are easily recognised due to media exposure? Are they the ones who speak at conferences, write books, and appear on radio talk shows?

Or are they the ones who quietly serve the Lord, making a difference in a person’s life, a congregation, or a community? How are these women defined as being “on the cutting edge of missions”?

When I began theological studies thirteen years ago at Singapore Bible College, I was taught by both men and women of God. The college encouraged us to be mission-minded and our professors never failed to bring missions into the classroom. Such influence impacted me greatly.

I became a full-time missionary nine years ago. In that time, I have met many women across Africa, Asia, and America who are not well known, have not pursued formal theological studies, and have not become pastors/leaders in churches. Yet these women make life-changing differences in the lives of others.

They are bold yet humble, firm yet gracious, sometimes task-masters yet passionate for Christ. They are the ones who willingly avail themselves for God for no recognition at all.

Still, their hearts are that of a pastor, missionary, and leader. God has given them the grace to shepherd without an earthly ordination, to envision without the “sending out,” and to serve by leading men, women, and children into a greater knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

God uses anyone with a willing heart to build his kingdom. In Exodus 35:4, the Lord commands the Israelites through Moses to bring offerings with a willing heart so that the tabernacle may be built. Paul reminds us in Romans 12:1-2 that our lives are to be living sacrifices. Our lives are the offering: we bring ourselves to God and avail ourselves to be used for his kingdom purposes and glory. Women on the cutting edge of missions will never forget to embrace these basics.

The Story of Priscilla*
Priscilla is an Indian based in a Middle East nation. She lives with her husband and two children. When she was hungering for God more than six years ago, she joined a discipleship group that offered systematic Bible training. In four years, she became a facilitator, a first-generation disciple who now disciples both men and women.

Initially, she was focused on discipling among her own culture group, but as she grasped the enormity of God’s Great Commission to “disciple the nations,” her heart resonated with her husband’s heart to disciple beyond their cultural and language groups.

God at Work and Wooing
God is faithful towards a heart with a right motive. He gave Priscilla a group of fourteen Filipinas who were from a Catholic background. As Priscilla discipled them and informed them about Jesus, all of these Filipinas gave their lives to the only one who could redeem them, the only Lord and Saviour. This incident happened after their fourth lesson in discipleship.

Priscilla was so enthused with what God was doing among her own group in the restricted nation that she envisioned bringing such discipleship training to her homeland. Her desire was to equip believers in her state to grasp the Great Commission and bring the teachings of Christ to others.

Overflow of Transformation Imagine the changes that needed to happen in Priscilla’s family and friends as she studied God’s word and was transformed for his glory. Her children had to be taught that she now had a vision to disciple the nations. It was easier with her husband, who had been recognised as a heavenly-ordained (that is, not ordained by denominational requirements) pastor. He began to work alongside her in facilitating groups.