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Who We Are . . . and Are Not!
God says that He will ". . . use those things that are weak to confound the wise." 1 Corinthians 1:26. Who we are . . . Beginning as three founders from Texas--Barbara Collins, Gay Anderson and Pat Joyce--we now are two as Pat Joyce has moved on to other ministry. Barbara and Gay received the baptism of the Holy Spirit in the charismatic renewal, having been saved in earlier years. When we found our identity in Him, the Lord became our life. Here are some truths we discovered. God is presently calling women to the full redemption for which they were created and which He purchased for them on Calvary. He wants woman to walk in the fullness of the original, pre-Fall relationship that He had with her as well as Adam. As only a tiny part of this great move of God, we pray we will be faithful to the call He has given. Who we are . . . and are not. We do not identify ourselves as feminists. Placing the word Biblical before feminist or saying Christian feminist does not solve the problem. The word feminist has come to be identified with a radical posture maintaining that women have few differences from men . . . We do adhere to the belief that women and men are, and have been, treated differently by our society, and that women have frequently and systematically been unable to participate fully in all social arenas and institutions, including marriage. We carry a sincere desire to change that situation, especially as that participation relates to ministry within the church, the home, and the Body-of-Christ-at-large. We believe that much of the present-day attitude in the church toward women is identified with tradition and human precepts rather than Biblical truth. When the church is cleansed of denominationalism; human tradition; prejudice which includes race, gender status or class, bondage to culture and customs, then the church will be ready to demonstrate the unity and oneness for which our Lord prayed in John 17. Dr. Katharine Bushnell wrote, "The church which silences women will be found to silence the Holy Ghost," and "a sect or sex, or race which attempts a monopoly of the Spirit's voice and power, will find that the Holy Spirit will flee far from it." Don't you believe it is time for the emancipation of women? However, if Christ doesn't win the lives of today's women, the devil will. Let it come, Lord! We are honored to have been mentioned in Vinson Synan's new book The Century of the Holy Spirit in the section on Spirit-filled Women written by Dr. Susan Hyatt. Women at the Close of the 20th Century The Internet
Mini Bios: Barbara Collins, Gay Anderson, Charis R. Hart (GWTW Blog Steward), and GWTW Intercessors
In a human sense, I'm very ordinary. In a spiritual sense, I am very extraordinary because the Son of God lives in me and has since I was nine years old. We've become better acquainted through the years, and my greatest desire is for Him to be comfortable in the home that I've provided for Him. My life was changed when He became my Savior. My life was revolutionized when I received the baptism of the Holy Spirit in the early '70's. My discipler was Dr. Fuchsia Pickett, and she had a tough job on her hands with this Southern Baptist girl. I began to hear the Word taught by revelation, and that's what caused the revolution in my life. When Fountain Gate Bible College began in 1974, I began to teach alongside my teacher Fuchsia Pickett and alongside my teacher, the Holy Spirit, who said He would lead and guide me into all truth. For the next 17 years, I just kept on teaching. Also, I carried several different responsibilities for the College as well as pastoral ministry for Fountain Gate Church. In 1991, the Lord told me it was time to leave by quickening a verse from I. Kings 12:24--". . .this thing is from me." The new pastor said he believed in women in ministry, but he did not believe in women in eldership. I had been an elder as long as I had been a teacher. In kindness, the Lord moved me out. In 1992, my friend Chuck began teaching me computer skills. I could see that I needed more discipline; therefore, in 1993-94, I took four computer classes at Collin County Community College. At that time, I wasn't really sure why I was so enthusiastic except that I could see the enormous potential of this growing communication tool, the Internet. When I first heard about Katharine Bushnell's God's Word to Women, it was out of print. Imagine my surprise to find a newsletter from End-Time Handmaidens advertising Bushnell's book, which I quickly ordered and began consuming when it arrived. The book was loaded with so much "new" old truth that I knew it was a message I wanted to share. The Lord began to give me a vision for a website. Then, He sovereignly brought me together with Gay Anderson and Pat Joyce, and the website was birthed. I knew that biblical equality would weigh heavily in my life. And, indeed it has. Every day, the Lord opens up new vistas of prayer, learning and opportunity to tell the old, old story of Jesus and His love.
Let me introduce myself. My name is Gay Anderson, and my ministry for the GWTW website includes prayer support, encouragement, and Scripture and Word studies. I seek the Lord for scriptures for that part of the website called "Healing Words," and respond to emails. I also handle the orders and shipping for the recently re-published book by Katharine Bushnell, God's Word to Women as well as keep GWTW's bank account updated. Who am I? After being married for forty-six years, I became a widow in June 1997. Dexter and I married when we completed high school, and I was a full-time wife, mother and homemaker. From our union has come three children, eight grand-children, and three great grand-daughters. After having been "churched" most of my life, I became a member of the Body of Christ in October 1968. What a radical change happened when Jesus came into my life! Beginning in 1970, the Lord gave me the privilege of serving with a beautiful team in a coffee-house ministry for four years. We rejoiced with many who were birthed into the kingdom and became true disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. Some are ministering full-time for Him today. My husband, oldest son, and daughter were a vital part of this ministry. My twin sister and her two daughters were pillars in the coffee-house ministry. During this time, my husband and I were also very active in the Lay Witness weekends in Methodist churches. Along with my twin and her husband, my husband and I owned and operated a Christian bookstore for about ten years. It gave me great joy to place the Word of God into the hands of many and to offer wonderful Spirit-filled books to those seeking the truth. The Word of God has truly been a lamp unto my feet, and the Holy Spirit has been my teacher. As my teacher, He has imparted the wonderful truth of what it means to be a woman of God, released to serve. Barbara and I pray He will use this site to glorify His name and edify each one of you. The Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost, and part of "that" is the restoration of women to their place of ministry! I'm grateful for the blessing of being a part of this site! In addition to serving on this website, I minister the Gospel of Jesus Christ wherever and whenever He calls. A house church called "Prairie Fellowship" meets in my home in Eagle Lake, Texas. I am certified by "Overcomers Recovery Support," which is a Biblically-based, 12-step program, fully accepted by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Two other positions I'm privileged to hold in the community include: Secretary of the Board of Orphans Unlimited, a mission project to Mozambique founded by Brenda Lang (www.orphansunlimited.org) and Secretary of the Lighthouse Board of Directors, a local mission outreach.
Leslie Johnson
Leslie and Gary Johnson have been in Christian ministry for nearly two decades. Working with the Salvation Army for several years in Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama, Louisiana and Texas, Leslie considers it a privilege to have been involved in many aspects of ministry. Striving to be the "hands of Jesus," the Johnsons have ministered to the homeless, drug addicts, alcoholics, unwed mothers, inner city youth and prisoners. This couple's call to prison ministry also resulted in "parenting" Christian ex-offenders, living with these former inmates and helping them to adjust to life after incarceration. And almost ten years of Leslie's life was dedicated to meeting the needs of troubled adolescents in Mississippi and south Florida as she and Gary became "mother" and "father" to countless children who had been abused and neglected. And, finally, Leslie and her husband founded and operated a non-profit Christian community of their own called The Lighthouse. Leslie and Gary have been happily married for nearly 20 years and have two children, Jacob Israel and Sara Mishael. Leslie Johnson and her husband, Gary, are the authors of Does God Really Prefer Men? which she has graciously allowed GWTW readers to download free from their site, Germaine Copeland - www.prayers.org
Germaine's training began in 1968, after her unique encounter with God. At that time, she was searching diligently for truth and battling depression. She had decided that she was a mistake and was tormented by suicidal thoughts. Out of the depths of her despair, she called upon the name of the Lord and the Light of God's presence illuminated the room where she was sitting. It was in that moment that she experienced the warmth of God's love and she felt brand new. She discovered a motivation for living - life had purpose. As she became more intimately acquainted with Jesus, she discovered her true personality, and her destiny unfolded. Living in the presence of God she has found love and acceptance, healing for crippled emotions, contentment that overcomes depression, peace in the midst of adverse circumstances, and grace for developing healthy relationships. To date, over 4 million copies of the Prayers That Avail Much® book series have been sold, and are changing the way Christians pray. She believes that you can learn to pray confidently for things that concern you, your family, and other prayer assignments. Through her fellowship and communion with the Holy Spirit, she has become a woman of prayer and praise whose highest form of worship is the study of God's Word. Today her manuscripts include books of personal encounters with God, and newspaper and magazine articles to help others grow spiritually and emotionally. Germaine's writings illustrate how to effectively pray for a loved one who is lost or hurting, how to know the difference between praying soulish and spiritual prayers, and how to pray in perfect agreement with God's will. Her book, The Road God Walks, includes a portion of her testimony and has helped many who suffer from depression. A devotional, Prayers That Avail Much® for Daily Living, is filled with stories, brief studies and personal experiences. A Call to Prayer has been written to help churches and ministry groups develop effective intercessory prayer groups. In the 1980's Germaine filled the position as Associate Pastor of Word of Life Church in Smyrna, Georgia, before serving as Senior Pastor for 5½ years. She travels nationally and internationally conducting prayer schools, speaking at churches, conferences, and other groups. She, also, organizes prayer teams to pray for other countries on location. Her commitment to serve God and to study His Word continues to expand the vision of her ministry. She helps others discover how to grow in grace and knowledge and live with new power, strength and victory as God promises. Kathy Wozniak  Born in 1955 and raised Roman Catholic, I had a heart for the Lord and wanted to "know Him" just like (the apostle) John. However, in that religious system, the only way to fulfill His call would be to become a nun. Being a musician, singer, actress, and quite outspoken, I was obviously not a good candidate. I fully surrendered to the Lord at 17 (which is a story in itself), and my next stage of training came through the teaching of the Southern Baptists at Baylor University. While listening to Cynthia Clawson in concert, I distinctly heard Holy Spirit speak in my heart, "You will sing and preach just as she is doing in nations around the world." Because of my background, I found that statement incredulous and did not take it to heart. But God is not deterred by our belief system, when the heart is surrendered to Him. Although it has taken many years, and a rather circuitous route, that is exactly what I have been doing for the better part of the last twenty years. God called me to Bible School-in Australia! I didn't wait. I wrote the elders of Calvary Bible College, (who had the oversight for our house church) explaining the situation and asked if they would take me on "under the given circumstances." They blessed me with permission to attend. I still look on those two years (1985-1987) as the most formative years of my walk with God. I did learn how to study the Word of God. Equally important, I was also taught how to listen and discern then verify, "…by the mouth of two or three witnesses..." Matt. 18:16 that what I "heard by Holy Spirit," truly was God so I would have confidence in acting on that Word. That teaching has never let me down. In 2004, Kathy began her own ministry called Shofar Sounding Ministry. In 2007, GWTW was privileged to have Kathy on the ministry team that went to Kenya. Bonnie Ward  Raised in Methodist Church but didn't know Jesus . . . only
about Him. Sandra Massey wrote: I am an ordained Elder at Faith Healing Ministries in Houston, Texas, where I preach several times a year. I also team teach our weekly Bible Study (Sunday school). I am on the
worship team as a flutist who prophesies on the flute and I move in the Song
of the Lord. I have a passion to see the Tabernacle of David restored, as
prophesied in Amos 9:11-12 and Acts 15:16-17; a true restoration of the
intimacy our forefathers enjoyed in the Garden of Eden before the fall. I
believe this is an integral part of the preparation of the Bride of Christ,
for His soon return. CHARIS R. HART
God's Word to Women Blog Steward Charis R. Hart (her pen name) lives in New York with her Christian husband of 25 years and the 5 of their 8 children who still live at home. Their children are between the ages of 5-24 and are Charis' greatest treasures. She has enjoyed being a stay at home mother to them. Although Charis homeschooled for some 5 years, she made the transition to sending them to school about 4 years ago. Her youngest child just finished kindergarten this year when she was also elected to serve her small community as the Town Clerk. She has enjoyed getting to know people in her community better and (hopefully) shining for Jesus. Charis writes, "On my 48th birthday (November '07), the Lord gave me a special gift which touched me deeply. I realized I have a kindred spirit with a woman who thought deeply about the same passages and books which have drawn me. She is Katharine Bushnell. Her book 'God's Word to Women,' which began in 1906 as a correspondence course, is the subject of the God's Word to Women blog. I read some things in her book which had occurred to me, but who am I? What do I know? I am now convinced that she and I and all who have ears to hear will 'hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'" |
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BARBARA COLLINS
Leslie Johnson, whose article--"Just Say 'No' to Psycho-Babble" is an Article on the GWTW website. Leslie says, "I live smack-dab in the middle of Southern Baptist territory and the nicest people around here just sort of ignore me - or look at me like I'm an alien, interesting but definitely of a different species! It is an honor to pray and I will do so more fervently."
Germaine Griffin Copeland is the founder and president of Word Ministries, Inc. located in Monroe, Georgia (previously based in Historic Roswell, Georgia). Word Ministries, a teaching and prayer ministry offers practical prayer instruction, personal prayer support and life-transforming guidance to other believers worldwide. Germaine's teaching leads others into an intimate relationship with the Father-God as they learn to pray the powerful and effective Scriptural prayers that brought her to a place of victory in Christ Jesus. 