Women & Ministry: Embracing Obedience Over Understanding

Embracing Obedience Over Understanding

Born into Ministry: A Pastor’s Daughter’s Story

At first glance, this topic seemed far-fetched and daunting to tackle, but after a few moments of contemplation, it all boiled down to one word: OBEDIENCE.

My mom and dad are pastors themselves, so I was born into a pastoral home. But never would I have imagined that one day, I would be entrusted with the honor of pastoring a church too. My husband and I are currently in our 3rd year of pastoring Mmuso Church, which is based in Pretoria Hatfield. It has been one step of OBEDIENCE after another. We launched in 2020 when the world was in the midst of the COVID pandemic’s uncertainty, and all we had to guide us was a clear word from God and an unwavering directive: ‘Start NOW.‘

A Love Story and a Calling

A gap year afforded me the opportunity to satisfy my thirst for theology and leadership by enrolling in CCMP. During that time, I also met my now-husband in the church where we both served. It was his love for God’s people that drew me to him. The idea that two young aspiring professionals could maintain their full-time careers while passionately serving in the house of God made the future we were creating an exciting prospect.

So, after two years of marriage, when we began discussing the possibility of planting a church — a vision God had clearly placed on my husband’s heart — my world was shaken. I had always dreamed of being a part of a life-giving church. However, I had never imagined that I would need to step out in faith and plant one myself, let alone co-lead it with my best friend.

The Obedience Journey: From Doubt to Conviction

The transition from hearing God to actually acting on what He was saying was not an easy one. I was acutely aware of how much my heart needed work. Therefore, I wasn’t about to walk into such a life-altering choice with doubts and questions. From 2018, when we discussed this as a family for the first time, to the launch of the Church on the 9th of November 2020, OBEDIENCE had to be broken down and taught to me.

Divine Encounters in Dubai

When we found ourselves at the Dubai NXT Move conference, God met me right where I needed Him to. He used a room full of young leaders who were passionately engaged in His great mission of making disciples of all nations to challenge the narrative that had been holding me back from stepping out. These remarkable leaders showed me that ministry could be executed effectively on a global scale if I did it His way.

Building God’s Bride: A Woman’s Role in Ministry

To me, being a woman in ministry and planting a church is simply:

• Letting go of your preconceived idea of who He uses when building His bride.
• Hearing clearly what He is busy with and what part He wants you to play in the body.
• All He is asking for is your obedience more than your understanding. He is the Sovereign and All-knowing One, so be okay with relinquishing that role to Him.

As I write this today, I am profoundly thankful for how He has orchestrated this entire journey. I am acutely aware that all He asks of us is to be obedient to what He says every step of the way. Ministry has its ups and downs, but when you rest assured that you are being faithful and obedient to the last thing God said to you, you stand and build on a firm and sure foundation.