The CBE Scroll

Blog voices from Christians for Biblical Equality

What the Lord Said to a Mega-Church Pastor

Filed under: Gender Equality, Local Church — ronsmith at 7:37 pm on Sunday, April 23, 2006

Pastor Cho Yonggi oversees the largest congregation in church history (about 3/4 of a million). Years ago as he was looking for new leaders to oversee his house fellowships, the Lord confronted him with six questions.

1. From whom was I born? The answer: a woman.
2. On whose lap was I nurtured? The answer: a woman.
3. Who followed me throughout my ministry and helped to meet my needs? The answer: women.
4. Who stayed until the last minutes of my crucifixion? The answer: women.
5. Who came to anoint my body in the tomb? The answer: women.
6. Who were the first witnesses to my resurrection? The answer: Mary Magdalene, a woman.

These were the reasons Cho gave for how God showed him that women should also be allowed to lead the contemporary church. Very counter culturally, Cho allowed that to happen in his church in Korea and we see the results — the largest church in history.

[Source: The Century of the Holy Spirit by Vinson Synan, Nelson Publishers, p. 255.]

7 Comments »

143

Comment by jenell

April 24, 2006 @ 5:43 am

And who, in the garden, found himself incomplete, and in need of help? Man

Who was created to help the needy man? Woman

Sounds like leadership to me.

145

Comment by bobbie

April 24, 2006 @ 8:26 am

thank you for highlighting this.

146

Comment by Can Dance

April 24, 2006 @ 8:52 am

wow. that is just SO COOL! I knew he had said very positive things before regarding women, but I had never heard these questions. how encouraging! thanks for posting!

151

Comment by Lori

April 25, 2006 @ 7:10 am

The story gets even cooler in Loren Cunningham’s book, “Why Not Women?” (Cunningham is the founder of YWAM, the largest non-denominational missions agency in the world.)

He says that Cho came to him, as a friend, because he had a problem. His mother wanted to address the church as a minister/evangelist, but how could Cho allow that since women weren’t supposed to? Cunningham told him, “Your church will never grow until you release your women.” Cho prayed about it, felt Cunningham was right, and the rest, as they say, was history! I might add that God has blessed YWAM for the same reason.

158

Comment by DP

April 25, 2006 @ 12:37 pm

If I remember correctly, Watchman Nee came to similar conclusions as he discussed in The Normal Christian Church Life (not to be confused with his much more popular The Normal Christian Life). If I can get my hands on it, I’ll post the quote I’m thinking of.

173

Comment by Dorcas

April 26, 2006 @ 8:54 pm

A few years ago, Dr. Cho spoke at the national meeting of the Assemblies of God (General Council) here in the US. He was VERY eloquent on this subject. I was greatly blessed by his gracious but challenging words, his humble manner, his affirmation of women pastors. I sat in my seat and prayed that he would be heard. Really heard.

4058

Comment by Kathryn

July 17, 2006 @ 11:11 pm

Wow, what a blessing! Pastor Cho comes from arguably one of the most patriarchal societies in the world, yet he is touching his nation for Christ, in part by “loosing” the women. If God can do all this through him, what could He not do in America? Or anywhere else, for that matter?

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