“Behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it.” Revelation 3:8

Open Door Ministries was brought to my attention earlier this spring by an insightful friend who thought I might be interested in its mission: “Empowering, Equipping, and Encouraging Women for Excellence.” Born out of one young woman’s burden, carried on by other dedicated young ladies, and designed to minister to 18-to-30 year-old women called to kingdom ministry, Open Door holds a conference each year at Christian Life College in Stockton, California. I knew at once that I wanted to attend.

My friend Elizabeth Loyd joined me as we headed to the Open Door 2004 conference to be held on Friday and Saturday, November 19-20, 2004. As we waited at the airport for some other members of our group to arrive, we chattered excitedly about the conference and what we expected to gain from the experience. Let me just say at the outset that this meeting more than exceeded even our highest expectations.

Beginning 9 a.m. Friday, the split sessions were tremendous. Speakers imparted their wisdom, shared their experience, and poured out their passion in sessions such as “Wholeness in Singleness,” “Married and Committed to Ministry,” “Insecurity Faces Ministry,” “Write it Down,” “Women Face Criticism,” and others. We were blessed to hear such godly speakers as Sisters Gayla Baughman, Wanda Fielder, Donna Hogue, Dayna Jones, Mary Loudermilk, Gwyn Oakes, Laura Payne, Betsy Ruvalcaba, Debbie (Foster) Saiz, and Janice Ivey Smith. The topics were relevant, the speakers were real, and the split sessions were anointed by the power of God.

Friday afternoon, Dr. Daniel Segraves (President of CLC), spoke during our general session. His topic revolved around the biblical empowerment of women in ministry. His central text was taken from Psalm 68:11: “The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it” (KJV). Other translations reveal the implicit meaning of the scripture: “The Lord giveth the word: The women that publish the tidings are a great host” (ASV), “The Lord gives the word; great is the number of the women who make it public” (BBE), “The Lord giveth the word; the women that proclaim the tidings are a great host” (JPS), “The Lord doth give the saying, The female proclaimers 'are' a numerous host” (YLT),   “The Lord announces victory, and throngs of women shout the happy news” (NLT). (If you as the reader are called to ministry, male or female, I encourage you to get a copy of this session from CLC.)

Each evening, we were blessed by our general session speaker, Sis. Brenda Hale. Hale and her husband minister in Denver, Colorado, and God’s hand on her life was evident to all who were in attendance. She ministered on such a personal level as she shared her calling and her burden, and the Spirit moved deeply among the women in attendance. Friday night, the congregation received a message given by tongues and interpretation challenging us to give ourselves wholly to the Lord for His work. Consecrations and commitments were made and renewed both Friday and Saturday night.

On Saturday morning, we sat down for brunch at the CLC Student Center, after which the speakers answered registrants’ questions in a panel discussion. In the interest of time, I’ll share only a few specific points of advice that stuck with me.

• Sis. Debbie Saiz was asked, “What do you do when God says ‘yes’ and men say ‘no’?” Having been a national speaker at many leadership conferences and a local youth pastor for many years as a single woman, Sis. Saiz said, “Go with God.” Of course, she made it clear that women should always act under the authority of your pastor and/or husband. She also said, “Be a lady,” emphasizing that our calling should not challenge our gender identity. Women do not have to act like men to be good ministers. Laughingly, she recalled how male speakers at the youth leadership conferences would carry her briefcase and luggage and open doors for her. She said, “Let ‘em. You be a lady and God will bless.”
• When the panel was asked, “Who are your mentors and why?” Each speaker answered this question, and each answered differently. Mothers were thanked, great ladies of God were mentioned, as were godly men. Several ladies emphasized the balance between the men and women who had influenced their lives.

As an aside, I found both of these answers (“Be a lady” and have “balance” in your mentors) to be refreshing. Some women called to ministry believe that they have to “prove” something in the pulpit, or that men can’t understand where they’re coming from, and neither is true. This conference was not about Women’s Liberation or anything like that. In fact, when asked if ministry-called women must seek license with the UPCI, every speaker who answered said in essence, “Not unless it has to do with her ministry. If she is a prison chaplain [as Sis. Janice Ivey Smith is], she must have a license to meet the need. Otherwise, God will use people, men and women, regardless of licensure.” This was not about men vs. women in ministry; it was about men and women in ministry, each with his or her own calling in the Lord.

At the end of the Saturday evening service, we stood in the front of the CLC sanctuary and raised our hands in thanksgiving to God. Several people may have been in attendance at this meeting, but it was such an intimate, individual time with God. I personally experienced a change in perspective, and I watched as many other young women cried out before the Lord, all desiring merely to be used in the Kingdom of God. I’m thankful to have been in attendance.

Open Door was created to help young women find their place in Kingdom ministry. With that in mind, they publish a monthly e-newsletter for ministry-minded young women entitled Threshold. If you’d like to subscribe, please send your name and preferred e-mail address to threshold@upci.org. Threshold is distributed mid-month, and will include information about next year’s conference and registration as news becomes available.

ninetyandnine.com 

2004 © Melissa Fross

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Melissa Fross is extremely grateful for the opportunity to attend this conference. She encourages all young women to pursue excellence in Jesus Christ our Lord.