What Connects These Women?

As I ponder this, I thought I would write about four women in particular who have impacted me and been integral in what has happened through Answers in Genesis over the past 50 years.

First of all, let’s consider a Bible passage where the apostle Paul exalts the impact of women in Timothy’s life:

“I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.” (2 Timothy 1:5)

Timothy was a great evangelist and church leader, and there’s no doubt his grandmother and mother had great spiritual impact on his life.

My mother’s mother (we called her Nana) had a significant impact on me. As a child I always remember her dressing up in her best clothing to go to church as she was going to specially worship the King of kings. Therefore, she had to look her best. This obviously impacted my mother, as she would tell us as kids that if we were going to visit the Queen we would put on our best clothing, and so when we go to church to worship God, we need to put on our best attire. All this taught me though to remember how holy God is.

I’ve often told the story of how on one occasion when some Jehovah’s Witnesses came to my Nana’s old farmhouse, she started challenging them from God’s Word as she held her Bible in her hand. I then remember the people turning away, going down the stairs, and my Nana going after them, preaching to them, holding her Bible high as they ran off. But that had an impact on me as a young child. If my Nana can boldly stand on God’s Word like that, I can too. I believe the reason I remember these events so vividly is because they did have a significant impact on my life.

I’ve also often recounted the story of how my mother as a teenager started a Sunday School to reach children in the area with the gospel. She rode her bicycle miles to take two girls from a nearby farmhouse to Sunday school and back home again so she could impact their lives for Christ. And when in her eighties she met those girls as grown women, she saw the fruit of that endeavor displayed in their lives. As a young boy when I heard my mother telling me about that Sunday School, I remember thinking, “if my mother did that for the Lord, what can I do.” Yes, that impacted me!

Growing up, I’ll never forget my mother kneeling with me beside my bed and teaching me to pray. She also drummed into us principles I’ve never forgotten such as, “God first, others second, yourself last,” and “It’s only what’s done for Jesus that lasts.” That continues to impact me this day and impact the ministry of Answers in Genesis. It’s one of the reasons why our emphasis has always been on the authority of God’s Word and the gospel.

There’s no other message more important than the saving gospel. The most important thing for anyone is that they know Christ!

It’s only what is done for Jesus that lasts, and how one responds to the gospel determines one’s eternity.

Yes, it’s only what is done for Jesus that lasts, and how one responds to the gospel determines one’s eternity. At our attractions our staff put God first, but others next and themselves last. It’s part of our core values to be servants so others will be impacted with the truth of God’s Word and the salvation message.

Yes, my Nana (Grandmother) and Mother have had great impact on my life and ministry.

Now another woman who has had such an impact on me that the ministry of AiG would not be as it is today without her influence in my life. And that is my sweetheart, Mally. Right from starting the ministry in our home in Australia back in 1977, she wanted to support me and what the Lord had called me to do a million percent. Her selfless dedication to me and our family is so immense it can’t be explained in words.

I’ve said it many times and I’ll say it again, without her unwavering support over these past 52 years of marriage, the ministry just would not be as it exists today. She is such a great counsellor to our children, and to me. So many times she has challenged me to respond to a situation the way God instructs and not to react in the flesh. And I can’t count the number of times I’ve been discouraged and wanted to just go away to a desert island because of various battles, and she firmly but lovingly reminded me of what God would have me do to pull out of it.

Actually, in a way, Mally reminds me of a well-known story about Martin Luther’s wife. Luther (16th century) had many ailments and also suffered from severe depression, yet the Lord used him to begin the Reformation that still impacts the world today. A well accepted story that is recounted in biographies about Luther and his wife, though no original documentation exists, concerns a time Luther was very depressed. Apparently his wife dressed in black and Luther asked her if she was going to a funeral. She said no but as her husband (Martin) was acting as if God was dead, she wanted to join him in the mourning. It’s said that this shocked Luther out of his depressed state. She had great impact on her husband’s life and ministry.

Many times Mally has “shocked” me back to reality out of much discouragement to remind me that God is in control.

The last woman I wanted to mention is that of Queen Esther. I remember my parents teaching me about Esther as a child. And what always made a great impression on me was how brave Esther was. She was willing to risk her life to do what God through Mordecai challenged her to do. And, of course, the verse of Scripture that has always stood out to me concerning Esther was the one where Mordecai said:

Do not think to yourself that in the king’s palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this? (Esther 4:13-14)

And then, Esther’s response:

Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish. (Esther 4:16)

I’ve often wondered if we could ever be as brave as Esther! And if she was prepared to die by stepping out in faith trusting God, bathed in prayer, how much should we be prepared to step out in faith for this ministry regardless of the opposition we receive.

And standing for a literal Genesis has not been easy, not so much because of opposition from the world, but because of vehement opposition from within the church. But I’ve often thought, if God has raised us up for such a time as this to challenge both the church and the world concerning the truth of God’s Word beginning in Genesis, then we need to do this, regardless of the opposition.

The reality is, such influences in many ways are all part of the DNA of the AiG ministry.

Now let me say, the examples above are just some of the many ways God has used people to impact and influence me over the years. And the reality is, such influences in many ways are all part of the DNA of the AiG ministry.

Praise the Lord for special women in my life and thus the life of the AiG ministry.

I also want to thank our supporters for donating to and praying for this ministry over the years.

OH, and happy Mother’s Day to all the wonderful mothers out there!

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,
Ken

This item was written with the assistance of AiG’s research team.