From reading what God has to say about women in Scripture, and reading former and current years of statistics regarding women today, we exert a powerful influence over our homes and the church.  We also have influence in our nation.  Ladies, we have a God given ability to help make our country a better place.  We get our strength from God by listening to His Word and following His pattern for the home.

“Women are the backbone of U. S. Christian churches.  They are more likely than men to comprise the ranks of churchgoers, volunteers and Sunday school teachers.”   
~ Barna – 2012

“It will come as no surprise to most that the U. S. population has been consistently loosening its ties with church over the past few decades.  In the early 1990’s, only 30% of adults were unchurched, and that number steadily increased over the next decade, rising to 33% in 2003.  The decade in our immediate hindsight shows an even larger increase – today, 45% of adults are unchurched in the U. S. and the trend shows no indication of slowing.”     ~ Barna – 2016

Even more alarming are current statistics and trends.  In the past men were less likely than women to regularly attend services.

“Just over a decade ago, the gender gap was three men for every two unchurched women. Fully 60% of unchurched people were men.  Today, only 54% of the unchurched people are men.  In other words, the gender gap has narrowed from 20 points to just 8 points in the last ten years.”      ~ Barna – 2016

According to Barna, several women have decided “church is no longer for them.”  How alarming and very sad for children to be brought up in homes without correct spiritual guidance.  When women were asked how important it was for them to attend services, over 50% claimed it isn’t important nor a priority in their lives.  If we will look at the date “2016,” this should be a wakeup call not only to women but men as well.  Asked where their priorities were now, “68% ranked family relationships as their top priority.  Church and religious activities came in second – but a distant second, 11%.”

Our nation sorely needs the influence of women in the home.  What kind of job, and how much money could you possibly make, which would be worth losing the influence of helping shape and mold future generations and setting young feet on the path of righteousness?  For “as the home goes, so goes the nation.”  “As the home goes, so goes the church.”  Women have the power to turn the statistics around for the better.  God has given us this power if we will use it wisely.

Women in Scripture had powerful and righteous influences over their children.

Mary the mother of Jesus –  “And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee:  blessed art thou among women.”    Luke 1:28

“When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple standing by, whom He loved, He saith unto His mother, Woman, behold thy Son!  Then saith He to the disciple, Behold thy mother!  And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.”    John 19:27

Eunice and Lois –  “When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.

Hannah:  “For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of Him:  Therefore also I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the Lord.  And he worshipped the Lord there.”    I Samuel 1:27-28    The child’s name was Samuel.

Esther:  “For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed:  and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?  Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer, Go, gather together all the Jews that are present Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three day, night or day:  I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law:  and if I perish, I perish.

These women had great faith in God, and though they have gone to their reward, we too as faithful Christian women can turn our faces to God and again serve Him and place Him as the top priority in our lives.  When He is first, all else will fall into their respective places.

“O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself:  it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.”    Jeremiah 10:23

May God give us strength, courage and resolve to turn these alarming statistics around and save our families, communities, state and nation.

“Our generation is in need of Christian women who are willing to rise up and show the culture the powerful influence a God-Defined woman can have.”    ~ Unknown

“She always leaned to watch for us,
Anxious if we were late,
In winter by the window,
In summer by the gate;

And though we mocked her tenderly,
Who had such foolish care,
The long way home would seem more safe
Because she waited there . . . . ”       ~ Excerpt by Margaret Widdemer

Eileen Light