10 of those

Loved learning about 18/19th century Christian women

I loved reading this book – all 4 women are different and interesting in their own ways. Sarah Allen is really honest about the flaws and struggles these women had but shows how God still used them and their faith amazingly in various contexts. These women are inspiring in the way that they loved, built up and discipled the women around them, as well as fighting for justice on a larger scale. I found Sarah’s writing style really engaging and I love how nuanced and gentle she was in dealing with parts of the women’s culture/attitudes that we would maybe disagree with today.

Beth

This book blew me away

I couldn’t put this book down! Sarah Allen skilfully reconstructs the life stories of four Christian women from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries who were actively serving Christ with the gifts he had given in four very different settings. It turns out that women’s ministry is not a new idea but centuries old. Through her masterful storytelling and careful attention to detail, Sarah enabled me to see that Christian women have a pivotal part to play in God’s mission and encouraged me to follow in the footsteps of these courageous pioneers as they themselves follow the footsteps of Christ. The first story blew me away. Rebecca Protten was born a slave in Antigua, the daughter of a slave taken from the Gold Coast of Africa. Following her conversion, Rebecca was central to the Christian awakening on St. Thomas and her ministry had reverberations leading not just to spiritual but eventually physical emancipation of many. Her courage through persecution and willingness to use her freedom to go back into the slave villages to proclaim Christ was so challenging. I was encouraged to see how the eighteenth century church embraced women’s ministry as integral to the spread of the gospel. Next, Sarah tells Hannah More’s story, a gifted writer and political activist who worked alongside William Wilberforce supporting the abolition of slavery through her writing. She remained unmarried and had a close circle of friends and siblings with whom she set up schools for the poor. Moving into the nineteenth century, Sarah introduces us to Ellen Ranyard and Josephine Butler, who used their positions of privilege to reach the poor, vulnerable and abused. Ellen Ranyard organised a mission to distribute Bibles to the poorest women, and established a nursing ministry alongside. Josephine Butler ministered to abused women, providing refuge for the sickest and poorest released from prison and campaigning against sex trafficking and political injustices against women. As I read each of these stories it was incredible to realise how integral women have been to so many Christian ministries historically. Hearing their stories emboldened me to use the gifts God has given me to do likewise. These stories of brave, bold and beautiful-on-the-inside women using their gifts in Christian ministry need to be shouted from the rooftops. Buy 50 and gift them to all your friends! Review by Linda Allcock, author of Deeper Still: Finding Clear Minds and Full Hearts through Biblical Meditation, and Head, Heart, Hands Bible notes.

Linda Margaret

A Encouraging read about bold christian women

This book is really good and encouraging, the way God uses ordinary women with a passion for God and changes things through them and prayer which isn't always easy.

Will