When we read the Bible, we often think that Jesus was surrounded only by men. But when we take a closer look, we realize that many women accompanied Jesus and ministered to him and with him. At the cross and at his burial, we see that the women accompanied him to the end. And the first to see him after the resurrection and to whom he gave the task of proclaiming the message was a woman. Jesus’ followers took this mission seriously, and many women participated in the proclamation. Church history also tells of many women who were faithful to their faith and mission, even prepared to die for it.
When we look back to the founding days of the Adventist church, we find women involved in the development of the church, despite cultural restrictions. The Adventist leaders of the time supported and defended the role of women in the service of the church, especially since Ellen White had a special position as a woman. Without the commitment of women, not only in preaching but also in administration, teaching and medical ministry, the church would not have been able to flourish and develop as it did. Even though they were gradually ousted from leadership after the death of Ellen White, women continued to work, often underpaid and often unnoticed. Despite all the obstacles women experienced, they continued to serve because they believed in the redemptive gospel of Christ, for all are one in Christ Jesus (Gal. 3:28). Women served their church with devotion, often under difficult conditions, and even risked their lives and health to spread the message of the gospel.
When the first missionary, John Nevins Andrews, was sent to Switzerland in 1874, 150 years ago, he was accompanied by his children Charles and Mary, who did valuable work. Like so many people at that time, she died of tuberculosis after a few years. We often think only of the men who were sent out as missionaries and do not consider the sacrifices of the women and children who also served in the mission. A few years after Andrews was sent out, the church started sending more missionaries into other world regions - to China, India, Australia, Africa, and South America and the Caribbean. Many of those first missionaries were women - either as wives or as courageous single missionaries. At the beginning of the 20th century, the number of missionaries increased exponentially.
Especially in the tropical regions, called “the white man's grave”, many missionaries succumbed to tropical diseases such as yellow fever, malaria, black water fever, and dysentery. And yet there was no shortage of young men and women enthusiastic about missions who wanted to be sent out in the full knowledge that they might never see their homeland and their families again. Many fell ill after a few months, lost their spouses and children, and if they survived the illness, they often stayed at their post or returned to the mission after their recovery.
In our local church, we have looked at the lives of many such women at our women's meetings in recent months and have been overwhelmed by their dedication and willingness to sacrifice. They have inspired and impressed us. They lived in conditions that we cannot even imagine today and did so because (2 Corinthians 5:14) Christ’s love compelled them, because they were convinced that Christ died for all. As Christians today, we have the privilege of standing on the shoulders of those who went before us and gave everything for Christ. Their example is a legacy for us to honor and carry on.
Hannele Ottschofski