Mother’s Day. I woke up to the smell of coffee and the familiar habit repeated itself, I got coffee in bed. I got congratulations for my mother, even though the children are no longer in the Mother’s Day morning choir. A mother’s heart gives thanks for this moment and the past, for my own children and my Christian mother, who is already in her heavenly home. Also for my husband’s mother, my mother-in-law. I also think of my daughters-in-law, they are living a different phase than us grandmothers. For them, the children’s small hands craft Mother’s Day cards in the kid´s club. We still have those same cards in storage and the shared moments hidden in our mother’s heart.
I received the book as a gift. Just reading a few lines makes me think, women are valuable and have a significant role in the family and the church, and in the kingdom of God.
The book is called ”Women Were Not Silent” by Eila Helander. (1987)
A few thoughts from the pages of the book.
– In the 1930s, about a hundred women became evangelists in Finland.
– In the 1960s, there was a drastic change in the number of women evangelists applying for work. At that time, only about sixty women became evangelists. People started talking about a decline in evangelists.
What did they do?
– In the 1940s, the Korpi (wilderness) evangelists traveled in pairs. The society was dominated by agriculture. It was typical of this period that they did not have their own permanent home. When they arrived in the area, they began asking around for places to have meetings and stay. Since they did not have money to pay for their accommodation, they took part in house work as compensation. The experience was that a hardworking evangelist won over a following. During the day, they worked in the house and in the evening, they had meetings.
The pictures in the book tell their own story.
A large number of people in the pictures, a woman on a podium, baptizing, although usually men performed the baptism. Women with guitars singing the good news.
At the end of the book, a total of 630 names of female evangelists are mentioned.
”The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number of those who believed and turned to the Lord were added.”
Acts 11:21
Our beloved homeland -Finland- was also built by women, most of whom were single at the time.
Today, on Mother’s Day, it is good to remember the generations that have passed and their work.
We will continue where they left off. We will also continue as women, for the Lord has also called the women of our time to the ministry.
”For such a time as this.” Esther 4:14
Be blessed as a mother. Be blessed in the position you are in. We serve our families and the kingdom of God.
Happy Mother’s Day!
Marja Toukola