When the Saints

“And when the saints go marching in, I want to be one of them.” (Sara Groves)

This week, we’ve marched behind a long line of saints. I, Linda, was part of a church history course at Heritage: Great Women of the Faith: A Survey of Church History.

Last summer we listened to Dr. Michael Haykin teach at Muskoka Bible Centre from his upcoming book: Nine Women, Their Words and Their God. Dr. Haykin, who teaches at Southern and Heritage seminaries, was willing to present this as an academic course here.

The course was filled with remarkable women who serve in ministries at local churches or in a parachurch organization focused on evangelism.

On Monday morning we began the march of saints with Eve, Sarah, Ruth, Esther, Mary, and the woman who anointed Jesus with alabaster. Dr. Haykin then taught on women in the Greco-Roman world of the early church (Romans 16), followed by Perpetua, Macrina, Lady Jane Grey (1537-1554), Anne Dutton (1700’s), Anne Steele and her hymns, (1778), Sarah Edwards, Esther Edwards Burr, and Ann Judson. On Friday, we began with Frances Havergal (Take My life and Let it Be) and women in missions: Lottie Moon (1840-1912), Amy Carmichael (1867-1951), Rosalind Goforth (from Toronto), and Esther Ahn Sook (from Korea, see her book: If I Perish).

We took time in particular to remember Elisabeth Elliot who passed Through Gates of Spendor on Monday (1926-June 15, 2015). Many organizations such as the Gospel Coalition and even the New York Times are remembering her remarkable life.

Are there women today attempting great things for God? Joy Smith, who is currently serving as a Canadian Member of Parliament, has successfully passed two bills to curtail sex trafficking, and Katie Davis (born 1989), is living in Uganda, having founded Amazina Ministries and living in her home with 14 adopted girls.

The Bible reminds us: “Remember those who led you, who spoke the Word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” Hebrews 13:7-8.

If the Lord wills, Joy Smith, M.P. will be part of our next course: Women who Impact the World: Local, National and Global Evangelism. The course is scheduled for September 24-25 and November 13-14. For more information on how you can take part in this upcoming course, please contact lreed@heritage-theo.edu or click here.

And if you’d like to sing along with Sara and the saints, click here.