About
InstagramTwitter

Uncovering the buried stories of Christian women whose lives reveal a depth of insight, wisdom and empowerment needed in the church today.

Download on the App Store

Helena Augusta

Helena Augusta (248?-328?) forged a new path for women in the role of Christian empress and is credited with discovering the True Cross of Jesus. She was also the mother of Constantine, the emperor who reimagined the Roman Empire under a Christian rule. Helena’s leadership became the standard for Christian women. The role of empress she and Constantine created for her allowed her more influence and power than women of the court ever held before, and influenced the way women held authority for g

Read More

Egeria the Pilgrim

Egeria was a late fourth century woman who recorded a detailed account of her experiences & discoveries on her pilgrimage to the Holy Land. A Christian pilgrimage was an opportunity to “see and touch the sacred”.[1] Early Christians believed that journeying to holy places would give them an encounter of divine power.[2] Egeria’s Itinerary was discovered in 1884 in an Italian monastery. It included descriptions of the Holy Land as well as details of the liturgical year at the time.[3] Her writi

Read More

Marcella & Paula of Rome: Aristocrats turned Ascetics

> Marcella and Paula were women of the elite social class in Rome in the fourth century and both became early desert mothers who paved the way for the monastic life for women. Marcella and Paula have been referred to as "monastic entrepreneurs", individuals who used their resources to fund monasteries and scholarship that supported the ascetic life. Their contributions in Rome marked a clear shift in Christianity that offered up a new way to express faith outside of the Christian establishment

Read More

Phoebe: Mother of Preachers

> I’m introducing our sister Phoebe to you, who is a servant of the church in Cenchreae. Welcome her in the Lord in a way that is worthy of God’s people, and give her whatever she needs from you, because she herself has been a sponsor of many people, myself included. Romans 16: 1-2 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+16%3A+1-2&version=CEB] Phoebe: Deacon & Patron Phoebe was a minister or deacon (“diakonos” in Greek), to the church at Cenchreae. She was a woman of means with s

Read More

Female Priests in Ancient Art

Women have made an incredible contribution to the history of the church, however many of the stories of women have not been recorded or their impact has been lost to history. We have bits and pieces of some stories, and occasionally new evidence and insights will surface bringing excitement about women’s roles in the early church. One place this has happened has been in the Catacombs of Priscilla, with a fresco in entitled the “Fractio Panis” from the 3rd century. "Fractio Panis" from the Cata

Read More

Lydia the Purple Dealer

> 11 We sailed from Troas straight for Samothrace and came to Neapolis the following day. 12 From there we went to Philippi, a city of Macedonia’s first district and a Roman colony. We stayed in that city several days.13 On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the riverbank, where we thought there might be a place for prayer. We sat down and began to talk with the women who had gathered. 14 One of those women was Lydia, a Gentile God-worshipper from the city of Thyatira, a dealer in pu

Read More

Tabitha: The Creative Leader

> 36 In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas). Her life overflowed with good works and compassionate acts on behalf of those in need. 37 About that time, though, she became so ill that she died. After they washed her body, they laid her in an upstairs room. 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, when the disciples heard that Peter was there, they sent two people to Peter. They urged, “Please come right away!” 39 Peter went with them. Upon his arrival, he was taken to the

Read More

Book Alert! The Making of Biblical Womanhood by Beth Allison Barr

It’s book launch day!!!! When I heard this book by Beth Allison Barr was coming, I was THRILLED! I jumped at the opportunity to be on the book launch team! I am so lucky I had the opportunity to read it pre-launch, it is truly extraordinary! Beth is a deeply needed truth-teller. And her book is so timely and important. I urge you to go get it today [http://www.bakerpublishinggroup.com/books/the-making-of-biblical-womanhood/404050] ! I love church history, in particular when it comes to wo

Read More

Mary the Mother of James the little and Joses

Mary the mother of James the little and Joses/Joseph is most fully named in Mark 15:40, although she is also mentioned in Mark 15:47, 16:1, Matthew 27:56 and Luke 24:10. Contrary to some traditional beliefs, Mary of Clopas and Mary the Mother of James and Joses are not the same person. And she is not the same person as Mary the mother of Jesus. We do not know who James the little and Joses/Joseph were, but they were most likely disciples of Jesus themselves. We do however have extensive know

Read More

Susanna: Group Study Guide

Women and the Old Testament: Jesus’ Heart for Women Who’ve Suffered Abuse Week 6: Monday March 29nd - Saturday April 3rd > Important note for the group leader: If you decide to use this guide as a jumping off point for group discussion, it may be a good idea to first ask the participants to commit to a confidentiality agreement that makes sense for your group. It may also benefit the group to set up some ground rules about listening, respect and affirmation of experiences and feelings. This c

Read More

Bathsheba: Study Guide

Women and the Old Testament: Jesus’ Heart for Women Who’ve Suffered Abuse Week 5: Monday March 22nd- Sunday March 28th > Important note for the group leader: If you decide to use this guide as a jumping off point for group discussion, it may be a good idea to first ask the participants to commit to a confidentiality agreement that makes sense for your group. It may also benefit the group to set up some ground rules about listening, respect and affirmation of experiences and feelings. This con

Read More

The Levite's Concubine

Take My Story to Heart: Thoughts from the Levite's Concubine in Judges 19 > By Kimberly Dickson No one has asked me my point of view, and I have not had the words to speak of it anyway.  I left Bethlehem an innocent girl, excited to be grown up enough to be “married,” and go on an adventure to a place I had never been.  I had believed the charming words of the man I accompanied.  Now I returned to my parents’ house wise to the world, so hurt but also burning with rage and repulsion.  I was al

Read More

  • Abount
  • Subscribe