A New Move

So yesterday I checked Pastor Joel's website and found this blog entry:

'Women On The Scence'

"Yesterday was a milestone day for our Bethany family. The first fruits of something long coming was realized as my mother, Melanie Stockstill, delivered the message at our North campus. Boy, was it awesome!
Starting at Amy’s funeral the Lord began to speak to me and our family about the new role of women in our ministry. Even while the 3 precious ladies gave their tributes to Amy the Lord was speaking to me that we were about to see women in leadership and preaching like never before. Dr. Cho, who pastors the largest church in the world, says that they exploded when he released the women to do the work of the ministry. We have had women leaders for years but not had them speaking on Sunday mornings. It wasn’t that we didn’t want them to but more that it just never presented itself. This shift was made crystal clear to us as we vacationed the week following the funeral. The Lord spoke very clearly concerning this whole issue and said that Amy’s passing was a marker for this new release of women.
Praise be to God for continuing to show His great mercy and grace and allowing something so significant to come forth this quickly in the wake of Amy’s homegoing. Yesterday was the start of something that will grow and become part of the culture of our ministry. This culture will spawn powerful women leaders and preachers that will go forth in the name of Jesus and the honor of Amy.
Judg. 4:4- Deborah, the wife of Lappidoth, was a prophet who was judging Israel at that time."

I was very encouraged to read this blog because I genuinely feel this is what God is doing, not only in me, but in the women around me. I didnt put it together though until I read his blog. Here in Nepal, it was the first time I really preached at a church. After the message, Bro Rick came up and gave a call to those in the church. He felt the Holy Spirit leading us to pray for women who felt a call to preach. He said 'For those of you in here who feel you want to preach The Gospel as Tova did, I want you to come up here now and she is going to pray for you.' It was a good feeling to know God used me, being a young woman, to preach and then be used as an example that God can and WILL call anyone willing to preach. Many (not all) came up and Bro Rick had me pray for them. Then Mrs. Bev and Sushilia prayed over the older women who felt called to preach.I know it was a genuine move because everyone in the room did not come up...only those God called came up. It was a selected group. Seriosuly, I have not preached this much ever in my life. Im not a preacher!! haha! At least I wasnt ;) But, this new move is spreading all around the world!!!! I have even seen it in Mrs. Beverly's life. She has been preaching more than she has ever before. I have also seen it in my best friend, Kirby's life. She preached to over 2000 people in Haiti!! To my knowledge, she has never preached before!! God is doing a great work!! And I agree with Pastor Joel that his dear Amy's passing was a marker for this new release of women in ministry. Praise God for this work. I am so encouraged. Who wants to join me in preaching The Gospel???
I am also encouraged because I feel like Im still a part of my church and involved in what's going on there even though Im all the way in Nepal. Im so thankful for my church and the Stockstill family.