By Matthew F. Leighty
Executive Director
The Bible contains numerous accounts of remarkable women who devoted themselves to the Lord, serving God and His people in extraordinary ways.
I am deeply grateful for the incredible women in my life, especially those in my immediate family: my amazing wife, my three wonderful daughters, and of course, my loving mother.
We can turn to scripture to grasp God’s purpose for women. The narrative of Mary and Martha provides a powerful lesson about balancing service with devotion.
As Jesus and His disciples journeyed, they arrived at a village where a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. While Martha busied herself with various preparations, her sister Mary sat at the feet of the Lord, absorbing His words. When Martha requested that Jesus direct Mary to assist her, Jesus kindly reminded her that Mary had chosen the better path, one that would not be taken from her (Luke 10:38-42 ESV). In this scripture passage, God’s Word shows us the importance of balancing active service with spiritual commitment.
I am grateful to have been surrounded by such incredible women of God throughout my life.
Growing up, my mother was the epitome of hard work and resilience. She. tirelessly supported our family. She worked throughout my childhood, sometimes even working two jobs, while my father pursued his calling to become a pastor.
Her unwavering commitment and sacrifice ensured that we had everything we needed, and her faith and trust in the Lord were a guiding light in our home. She worked as a caregiver for others and then for my father before his passing. She filled our home and lives with a mother's love.
Today, I feel truly blessed to witness the same dedication in my wife. She is a fourth-grade Lutheran school teacher, nurturing and educating young minds with patience, passion, and love for the Lord. At the same time, she is raising our four children, balancing the demands of her career and motherhood with grace and strength. She has been a steadfast supporter in my ministry. Her ability to juggle these responsibilities is genuinely inspiring, and her love for our Savior is the foundation of our home.
The empowerment of the Holy Spirit is vital to Christ-centered women. In Acts 2:17-18 (ESV), we witness a powerful declaration of God’s promise to pour out His Spirit on all people: “And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.”
This scripture passage emphasizes the power given by the Holy Spirit to serve and share God’s Word. This verse is especially significant as we celebrate Pentecost on June 8, where the Holy Spirit was given to the apostles, granting them the ability to speak in various languages and disseminate the gospel across all nations.
At Worship Anew, we truly cherish the color purple! Every time we see it, we’re reminded of the incredible women of the Lutheran Women in Mission (LWML). In this special issue of the Broadcaster magazine, we honor the LWML as they gather for their national convention.
So much of what we do, including this magazine, is possible because of their prayers and support. These women, much like my mother and wife, embody the virtues of Christ-centered faith, hope, and love. Their commitment to serving in their communities and taking God’s Word into the world is a powerful reminder of the vital role women play in ministry.
Each week on the Worship Anew program, we open with the hymn “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.” The hymn was written by Joseph M. Scriven in 1855 as a poem to comfort his mother during difficult times while she was living in Ireland and he was in Canada. Scriven’s life was marked by personal tragedy, having lost two fiancées to tragic deaths. Amid these challenges, his deep compassion for his mother and Scriven’s faith in God inspired him to write a hymn whose beautiful words continue to bring comfort and hope to countless people.
“What a friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry Ev’rything to God in prayer! Oh, what peace we often forfeit; Oh, what needless pain we bear—All because we do not carry Ev’rything to God in prayer!”
As we reflect in this month’s Broadcaster magazine on the stories and contributions of truly remarkable women, let us be encouraged by their unwavering faith in our Savior’s mercy and grace, dedication to growing God’s kingdom, and commitment to sharing His love. From the incredible efforts of my mother and wife to the impactful work of the women in the Lutheran Women in Mission (LWML), we see the embodiment of Christ’s teachings in their actions and devotion.
Thank you for joining us for this special issue of the Broadcaster magazine.
If you are new to our publication, we hope you find inspiration and encouragement within these pages and will join us for future issues. May the stories and reflections help you live a full and abundant life in the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.