LIBERATING WOMEN FOR THE GOSPEL: WOMEN IN EVANGELISM
By Rosie Nixson
Hodder & Stoughton. 242 pages. £7.99
ISBN 0 340 67890 9
This book is written out of the passionate conviction that the gospel should be preached by men and women alike: that the traditional restrictions on women have served to prevent the gospel going out to 'all nations' as Christ commanded.
Rosie Nixson finds that in times of revival, traditional constraints on women's ministry have been lifted. She mentions several women evangelists whose ministries have resulted in many conversions. Despite the evident giftedness of many women, there are far more men in full-time evangelistic ministries than women. The reason for this, she thinks, must be discrimination - the holding back of women by traditionalist dogmas which keep women passive, and also the greater share of family responsibilities taken by women. Nixson suggests ways in which these barriers can be overcome. Women need to be encouraged to discover their gifts, given appropriate training and offered more full-time positions in evangelism. She suggests that married couples should do more to share out responsibilities for children in order to free up gifted wives to do gospel work.