Assemblies of God USA     SearchSite GuideContact Us
Current_issue
Current_issue
Subscribe
Spanish
Daily_Boost
Previous_issues
Key_Bearers
Weekly_drawing
Conversations
Guard_your_heart
Bible_reading_guide
ABCs_of_salvation
Questions_Answers
Who_we_are
Staff
speakers
PE_Books
Contact_us
Links
Home

2008 Conversations

2007 Conversations

2006 Conversations

2005 Conversations

2004 Conversations

2003 Conversations

2002 Conversations

Ron McManus: Leadership center launched (December 30, 2001)

Norman Arnesen: History's supreme event (December 23, 2001)

Dr. Everett Bartholf: Help for the holidays (December 16, 2001)

"Auntie" Anne Beiler: God has a plan (December 9, 2001)

Mary Inman: Raising seven sons for Christ (November 25, 2001)

Tony Hall: Feeding the hungry, one person at a time (Novemer 18, 2001)

John Maracle: A growing Native American Fellowship (November 11, 2001)

Al Peterson: Praying for national leaders (October 28, 2001)

Beverly LaHaye: The family is God's gift (October 21, 2001)

Terry Meeuwsen: Putting family first (October 14, 2001)

Dennis Gaylor: Changing the world, one student at a time (September 30, 2001)

Nate Cole: You are not alone (September 16, 2001)

George Cope: Training pastors, missionaries and evangelists (September 9, 2001)

Thomas E. Trask: Breaking down the barriers (August 26, 2001)

John Kilpatrick: The blessings and challenges of revival (August 19, 2001)

Marie Colwill: A passion for evangelism (August 12, 2001)

Lottie Riekehof: The Joy of Signing (July 22, 2001)

John Castellani: Teen Challenge: The Jesus factor (July 15, 2001)

Mike and John Tompkins: Publishing newspapers and proclaiming the Good News (July 8, 2001)

Chuck Girard: Music, marriage and ministry (June 24, 2001)

Stanley Burgess: The value of a godly father (June 17, 2001)

Dennis Franck: Single Adult Ministries Agency (June 10, 2001)

Thomas E. Trask: The work of the Holy Spirit (May 27, 2001)

Stephen Tourville: The changing church in America (May 20, 2001)

Margaret Columbia: Raising 17 children for Christ (May 13, 2001)

Donna Fahrenkopf: Wanted: a life change (April 29, 2001)

Sean Smith: Spiritual attacks on young people (April 22, 2001)

Josh McDowell: Is the Bible true? (April 15, 2001)

Joyce Meyer: Being a practical Christain (April 8, 2001)

Paul Drost: Multiplication (March 18, 2001)

Bill Bright: Fasting for 40 days (March 11, 2001)

Beth Grant: Women in ministry (February 25, 2001)

Alicia Chole: His people and His presence (February 18, 2001)

Cris Carter: Playing on God's team (January 28, 2001)

Randall K. O'Bannon: The value of life (January 21, 2001)

Dennis Gaylor: Secular colleges: a vital mission field (January 14, 2001)

Women in ministry

(February 25, 2001)

Beth Grant, Ph.D., ministers with her husband, David, in Eurasia as an Assemblies of God missionary. She is also general coordinator for the Conference for Women in Ministry in Springfield, Mo., March 12-14, 2001. She recently talked with Scott Harrup, general editor, about the conference.

Evangel: Describe your journey into ministry.

Grant: My parents taught me to trust God and to be obedient to the voice of the Holy Spirit. When I was a young teen-ager, I felt God’s hand on my life. As a 17-year-old, I took one of the first AIM trips overseas to Jamaica. Up to that point I planned to be an active and involved layperson in the church. After that missions trip I felt the Lord saying, "Beth, it’s going to be full time; it’s going to be everything. Are you willing to make this your primary focus?" That was a little frightening because I couldn’t see what ministry was going to look like four or five years down the road. And the Holy Spirit said, "Beth, isn’t it enough if I show you the next step?" It has been step by step ever since.

Evangel: Do you see growing opportunities for ministry for women in the Assemblies of God?

Grant: In the last few years there seems to be a fresh wind of the Spirit blowing as it relates to women. Young women in particular are stepping forward and saying, "Even if it’s a tough place, the Lord is calling me." Many feel God calling them specifically to church planting, to pastoring, to missions and to some difficult places both in our American culture and in the world. This is fresh and new and yet reminiscent of what occurred in the beginning years of our Movement.

Evangel: How do you see God directing your daughters?

Grant: The most gratifying thing I see happening in their lives is their willingness to obey the voice of the Lord. Both our daughters, Rebecca and Jennifer, love missions. Both want to do what God wants them to do. That may take a nontraditional form. I see that among a lot of young women as well as our daughters. God is using men and women in very creative, nontraditional ways. There are new areas of opportunity. Our young people are asking, "God, what are You saying? What do You want me to do?"

Evangel: What are some highlights you look forward to at next month’s Conference for Women in Ministry?

Grant: It may well be the largest number of women of God who are committed to ministry together in one place at one time in our Movement. To have this many women connecting — across generations and areas of ministry from all over the world — will be powerful. They are coming together because they share a passion to fulfill God’s call.

I look forward to seeing veteran ministers rubbing shoulders with college-age women who are seeking the direction of God for their lives. It will be wonderful to see those generations together and hear one another’s hearts.

Evangel: What long-term results do you look for out of the conference?

Grant: It’s the 21st century, a new millennium. The challenges in our world are not the same as the challenges we faced even 20 years ago. There is a dynamic place in the Spirit that God wants us to be as women who minister. If we are obedient to the voice of the Spirit, our Movement will be blessed. The call of God is not a gender issue. It is an obedience issue. Let’s be obedient to the voice of the Spirit.

The theme of our conference is "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me." I am more aware of the significance of our Pentecostal experience in fulfilling the call of God than ever. Effective ministry, spiritual ministry, powerful ministry happens through the power of the Holy Spirit. It is His anointing that sets us apart as women of God and effectively opens doors.
E-mail this page to a friend.
©1999-2008 General Council of the Assemblies of God