Editor’s note: The original version of this article was published on Patheos.com. Click here to read it.
The Barnes & Nobel coffee shop located in the town next door to my undergraduate college served as a hideaway, a cozy nook where I studied. While sipping my small house blend (the cheapest option on the menu) I spent a good deal of time in prayer. Those four shaky years were filled with anxiety, confusion, some heartbreak, and a desperate yearning to know what full-time work God was calling me to do. I asked Him for favors too. One common request of mine was that the Lord would use me to help women and children. He did. Just not the way my feminist 19ish year-old self expected.
Today, March 8, is International Women’s Day (IWD), which is why I find myself reflecting on the start of my unexpected career journey. Caring and protecting vulnerable women and children is admirable, certainly biblical no matter your political bend. (Exodus 22:22; Jeremiah 22:3; James 1:27; Psalm 82:3-4) But I can now see how God flipped my center-left feminist prayers to protect women and children from nebulous “privileged, mean white men,” into pro-life, pro-woman, pro-children gospel-centered advocacy. And He used a slew of accomplished, beautiful, faithful, strong, and yes, complementarian women to help me along the way.
According to InternationalWomensDay.com, today we stop to commend “the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women” and also mark a “call to action for accelerating gender parity.” Since I’ve got a feeling the achievements of conservative Christian women will go unnoticed, I’d like to highlight the accomplishments of five amazing conservative Evangelical women and thank them for personally inspiring and investing in me as well as equipping me to speak up for hurting women, vulnerable children, and above all, share the goodness and mercy of the Gospel.
1. Wendy Wright
Towards the end of graduate school I immersed myself in pro-life research and writings. Somewhere along the way I stumbled onto the writings of Wendy Wright, a veteran expert on the sanctity of life. Not only was Wendy writing and speaking up on the threats abortion and abortifacients hurl onto women and their unborn children, she was walking the pro-life walk. She prayed outside of abortion clinics, offered sidewalk counseling to expectant mothers, provided support and resources. She was even arrested for her peaceful prayer protests.
Star struck is the only way to describe how I felt when bumping into Wright at a café within the United Nations. She had no idea how much her articles had inspired me to become a pro-life advocate. At the time, Wright served as the president of Concerned Women for America (CWA), which is the nation’s largest women’s public policy organization. Because of her inspiring and proven work, I was willing to take a CWA internship after graduate school instead of settling for a job outside of public policy.
Today, I’m so thankful and honored to call Wendy a friend and colleague. Her list of accomplishments go on and on and I’m sure I won’t do them justice. In 2006, Wendy was named among “The 100 Most Powerful Women of Washington” by Washingtonian magazine, and one of the “Top 10 People of 2010″ by Inside the Vatican magazine. She continues her advocacy for the welfare of women and children as Vice President of Center for Family and Human Rights (C-Fam). I encourage you to follow Wendy’s advocacy by reading her blogs on Turtle Bay and Beyond.
2. Janice Shaw Crouse, Ph.D
Despite desperately needing a full-time job, I took that CWA internship in order to get my foot into the door of Washington Christian non-profits. It was a risky gamble. Thankfully, I was assigned as a research assistant to Dr. Janice Shaw Crouse, who served as the Senior Fellow of the Beverly LaHaye Institute, the think-tank behind CWA. She offered not only an internship, but a mentorship. She is my hero.
Dr. Crouse introduced me to the wacky world of Washington, DC. I followed her to Capitol Hill briefings, lectures at the National Press Club, and coalition meetings with other pro-family non-profits. Dr. Crouse taught me not to let stuffy Beltway insiders intimidate me, but confidently stand by my own research and writing. She noted my strengths and encouraged me reach for big goals. Dr. Crouse also serves as the Institute on Religion and Democracy’s (IRD) chairman of the Board of Directors and no doubt offered a gracious recommendation during my job application process.
Dr. Crouse is a recognized authority on women’s issues, the welfare of children, including human trafficking, national sovereignty, abstinence education, and a slew of numerous more international and domestic cultural issues. She is the author of Children at Risk: The Precarious State of Children’s Well-Being in America, Marriage Matters: Perspectives on the Private and Public Importance of Marriage, and co-author of A Different Kind of Strength. She served as the executive director of the World Congress of Families IX and is a special contributor to American Thinker.
3. Penny Young Nance
By now you will notice a trend. Penny Nance is the CEO and President of the CWA. After my internship finished, Penny hired me (thank the Lord!) to stay on as an executive assistant. This was a humbling experience. I had just received my master’s degree in government and international politics for goodness sake, and yet here I was filing and answering phones. But Penny saw my potential. She is a tenacious leader who is ready and willing to raise up the next generation of Christian young women.
Penny fostered my love of writing and regularly commissioned me to write for the CWA blog and help her with research projects. After learning the non-profit ropes, she promoted me to communications strategist and I caught a glimpse inside the belly of the media beast. I loved the new challenges she sent my way, all of which I am so grateful.
Penny is tenacious in the realm of public policy. In addition to serving as CWA’s CEO and Young Women for America (YWA), she is a recognized authority on children’s, and women’s issues. The Christian Post named Penny among the top four most powerful pro-life female voices. Penny is also a regular commentator and contributor to Fox News, CNN, ABC, CBS; the list really goes on and on. Add author to the list. Penny’s new book Feisty and Feminine: A Rallying Cry for Conservative Women hits shelves April 12, 2016. But I know Penny’s proudest titles are “wife” and “mom.”
4. Faith J. H. McDonnell
Starting a new job is terrifying. What if your coworkers are quiet? Or what if they dislike you for being not-so-quiet? My dear colleague Faith McDonnell calmed all those fears for me during my early days at the IRD. I’m sure my fellow IRD staffers will agree, Faith wears the brightest, friendliest smile in the IRD office. Faith is passionate activist for the Persecuted Church, and I’ve come to learn the most about advocacy from her witness over the past two and half years. From understanding radical jihad to starting our new blog, Faith is a teacher in my life.
Faith needs little introduction here on our Patheos blog, but I can’t stress enough how her work to highlight the plight of our brothers and sisters abroad influences hundreds of thousands. Since 1993 she has served as IRD’s Director of Religious Liberty Programs and of the Church Alliance for a New Sudan. Faith has drafted legislation on religious persecution for the Episcopal Church and for the United States Congress. On top of all this, Faith is the author of Girl Soldier: A Story of Hope for Northern Uganda’s Children.
You should see Faith at protest rallies and vigils for the Persecuted Church! If you’re ever in front of the White House, the State Department, the Canadian Embassy, or the Sudanese Embassy and see a demonstration on behalf of the persecuted, look for Faith. She is the small woman with the big megaphone.
5. Shannon Royce
I really hope Shannon doesn’t mind me including her in this list of women for which I’m thankful. Shannon serves as the Chief Operating Officer and Chief of Staff at Family Research Council, but surprisingly that’s not how we met.
My husband (fiancé at the time) and I signed up to do a Dave Ramsey Financial Peace study through our church. Shannon and her husband graciously opened their home to our group and facilitated the study. Usually, I arrived to our small group hot off the metro train with frizzy hair, smudged make-up, and basically, exhausted. Shannon took notice always making sure I had a fresh cup of coffee or tea to help keep me awake. I know now that she completely understood the struggle to balance work life and regular life.
After our study concluded, she invited me for regular lunches and coffee dates. When we met, Shannon didn’t want to hear about my career goals. She wanted to know how I was handling wedding preparations and a looming move to a new town. Herself an incredibly accomplished woman, Shannon has served as founding Executive Director of the Arlington Group, a pro-family coalition and as Director of Public Policy and Legislative Counsel for the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, just to name a couple of her accomplishments. But here she was wanting to talk about personal challenges most women face. She knows female mentorship in the DC area is lacking and was willing to step up. As thankful for her accomplishments in the realm of public life, I’ll be forever grateful for her wisdom and advice on real life.
Are there women in your life who’ve made huge impacts on your career, ministry, or home life? What women do you celebrate this International Women’s Day?
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