Q. How did you come to focus your ministry on women? That seems kind of strange since you’re a guy.

A. Tell me about it! I can promise you I never imagined until a few years ago that God had this unique ministry for me.

It all started in 1999 when I talked to a female pastor who led a church in Virginia. I called her to ask if she would write an article for Charisma defending women preachers. I wanted to run this article because we routinely received many negative comments whenever we published a story about a woman pastor, Bible teacher or evangelist. The critics would send me tons of Christian hate mail (yes, I get it regularly!) telling me that the Bible commands women to stay on the sidelines of ministry.

So I asked this dear lady if she would write an article explaining what the Apostle Paul meant when he said “women must be silent in the churches” (I Cor. 14:34 ). Of course I knew that this verse had been horribly misused to limit women’s ministry involvement, but I didn’t know how to explain this. So I figured this woman—who was a bishop in her denomination, overseeing many churches—would be glad to help out.

I was wrong. The woman told me: “No, I will not write the article. I am tired of defending myself. If these critics want to come to my church and interview the new converts, observe our school and talk to the single moms who have been delivered out of drug addiction through our faith-based program, then they can come and look me in the eye and tell me my ministry is illegitimate. Otherwise, tell them to leave me alone and let me do what I am called to do.”

I had struck a nerve. There was a lot of emotion in her response. Many people had criticized this woman, but she had stayed faithful to her calling. I admired her spunk. But who was going to write the article that I needed?

When I hung up the phone I was discouraged. Then I heard the Holy Spirit whisper something to me that would change my life forever. He said: “Why don’t you defend her?”

I knew the Lord’s voice well enough to discern that this was more than a question. It was an invitation from heaven. God was calling me. It was an opportunity to say yes to Him, even though I had no idea what my yes might require.

I raised my hand and volunteered. “OK Lord, I will defend the women,” I said. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. But an exciting journey began that day.