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Book Review: This
is My Story
Jane Spriggs
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a woman who hears
God’s call to ministry in today’s world? What if you’re an
African-American woman, and don’t know if your church,
community, and denomination will support you?
This is My Story: Testimonies and Sermons of Black Women in
Ministry will answer your questions—and touch your heart.
The book includes stories written by thirteen contemporary
African-American women who chronicle their journeys into
ministry—women like Cokeisha Lashon Bailey, a shy daughter of a
preacher, who God challenged to be honest with her father (and
herself) about her call. As a result, Cokeisha saw her life and
her father’s theology transformed. You’ll also read Claudette
Anderson Copeland’s story of interactions with “conductors on
the underground railroad”—those who would champion and support
her—as well as humiliate and reject her. These are the
heartaches, challenges, and real-life experiences of women as
they pastor (and plant) churches, minister, attend seminary,
raise families, and struggle with life and health issues. The
book also contains an original sermon from each of the women—
sermons that will inspire you and show you a glimpse into each
woman’s heart.
Do you crave a book that features women rising above
stereotypes, presumption and prejudice? This is My Story
will encourage women of all ethnicities who are answering God’s
call (pastoral or otherwise) to follow in spite of the many
barriers they face. The book is also for male clergy—whether
supportive or not of women in ministry—because reading these
stories shows us the Body of Christ’s potential when we embrace
the gifts of women. In fact, in the book’s introduction, the
editor, Cleophus J. LaRue, chronicles his own Saul to Paul-like
conversion—from aggressively preventing women to follow their
ministry call, to becoming their supporter.
This book would be a good addition to church, college, and
seminary libraries also, opening ministry possibilities for
women. This is My Story also helped me grasp the
challenges my sisters of color face in ministry—many of them
similar to the issues I face, but some of them unique (for
instance, I now have a better understanding of where the larger
black denominations stand on women).
Ultimately, though, I love this book because these women’s
stories are my story, too. God used the journey of
these gifted women to confirm my own call to ministry—and I
share, with LaVerne M. Gill, her daily prayer that “I might walk
close enough with God to stay on the right track, and I might be
quiet enough to hear God’s voice and that I might be humble
enough to heed it” (page 132).
Click here to purchase this book for 25% off!
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Jane Spriggs lives in Saint Paul, Minnesota and has a passion for the
Body of Christ to be healthy—across gender, denominational,
ethnic, and economic lines. As a Bethel Seminary student (MDiv.),
she mostly reads textbooks, but also finds time for her two
sons, husband, friends, and her Standard Poodle, Missy.
©2006, Christians for Biblical
Equality, 122 W Franklin Ave, Suite 218, Minneapolis, MN 55404
Customer Service:
612-872-6898
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