Abigail is a remarkable mold-breaking woman of the Bible. We find her story in 1 Samuel 25, where she is introduced as a woman with brains and beauty. Her name means "Father rejoices." In a culture that esteemed sons more than daughters, every time Abigail heard her name she was reminded that she was her father's joy. Knowing that a father's attitude towards his daughter can have a profound impact on her confidence and self-image, one has to wonder if Abigail’s father was ins

“Is she the pastor,” a surprised newcomer asked one of our ushers while I stood on the platform giving the morning welcome and prayer. “She’s one of our pastors,” the usher replied. Later, when the usher relayed the conversation to me, she was quite surprised and puzzled by the question. I just smiled and chuckled inside. I’m used to being mistaken for the church administrator or the lead pastor’s wife, so I’ve grown accustomed to such questions. It seems we women just don’t

Feminism. It’s a dirty word in the evangelical Church, and recent events in our country have only muddied it more. Claiming to be a Christian and a feminist is like dropping the f-bomb in a prayer meeting. Talk about gender equality, and you’ll probably be well received, but mention the word feminism, and you're likely to be mistaken for a man-bashing, angry woman who devalues family and pushes for abortion on demand. Few words carry as much baggage in the Church as feminist,

When the story about Bill Hybels first broke, I didn't want to believe it. Although I'm a vocal advocate for women and trusted some of the voices crying foul, I was committed to thinking the best about Hybels until proven otherwise. For more than two decades, Hybels had inspired me from afar. I trusted and respected him, often praising him as a role model of egalitarian leadership for the evangelical church. I had devoured most of his books, including, "Who You Are When No On