Womenwerethere.Forcenturies,discussionsofearlyChristianityhavefocusedonmaleleadersinthechurch.ButthereisampleevidencerightintheNewTestamentthatwomenwereactivelyinvolvedinministry,atthefrontierofthegospelmission,andasrespectedleaders.NijayGuptacallsustobringthesewomenoutoftheshadowsbyshininglightontheirmanyinspiringcontributionstotheplanting,growth,andhealthofthefirstChristianchurches.Hesetsthecontextbyexploringthelivesoffirst-centurywomenandaddressingcommonmisconceptions,thenfocusesonthewomenleadersoftheearlychurchesasrevealedinPaul’swritings.Wediscoverthemajorrolesofpeoplesuchas:Phoebe,Paul’strustedcoworkerPrisca,strategicleaderandexpertteacherJunia,courageousapostleNympha,representativeofcountlesslesser-knownfiguresWhenweunderstandtheworldinwhichJesusandhisfollowerslivedandwhattheNewTestamentactuallyattestsaboutwomeninthechurches,itbecomesclearthatwomenwereactiveparticipantsandtrustedleadersallalong.TheywerewelcomedbyPaulandotherapostles,wereequippedandtrainedforministryleadership,instructedothers,traveledlongdistances,wereimprisoned--andonceinawhilebecameheroesandgiants.TheNewTestamentwriterstelltheirstories.It’stimeforthechurchtoretellthem,againandagain.
