Sister Freaks
Copyright © 2005 by Alive Communications
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review.
Out of respect for those involved, names of individuals have been changed. Permission was granted to relate personal stories.
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the
Holy Bible: New International Version
®
NIV
®
. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Quotations noted
NASB
are from the
New American Standard Bible
®
, Copyright ©
1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1988,
and 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, and are used by permission. Quotations noted
KJV
are from the King James Version of the Bible. Quotations noted
NLT
are from the
Holy Bible,
New Living Translation,
Copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
Warner Faith
Time Warner Book Group
Hachette Book Group, 237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
Visit our Web site at
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The Warner Faith name and logo are registered trademarks of the Time Warner Book Group.
Book design by Fearn Cutler de Vicq
First eBook Edition: November 2005
ISBN: 978-0-446-55016-1
Contents
4: Free from the Love of the World
4: The Ministry of Reconciliation
4: Ordinary Girl, Extraordinary God
“I totally
love
this book. These true stories—of young women who are sold out to God and willing to take on whatever He calls them to—just blew me away. Besides actually making me cry, they also challenged me to look more deeply into my own life and calling. I seriously recommend this book to anyone who truly wants to serve God. Really,
Sister Freaks
is awesome!”
—Melody Carlson, author of
Diary of a Teenage Girl
and the True Colors series for teens
“Each person is asked to sacrifice something in life.
Sister Freaks
is full of inspiring stories of both modern and biblical women who took courage and lived for what they believed. Rebecca St. James does an excellent job encouraging women to embrace the calling that God has on each of their lives, no matter what the sacrifice may be. This is imperative in seeing our younger generation, especially women, raised up to be the world-changing leaders they are destined to be. I highly recommend this book!”
—Ron Luce, author of
Battle Cry for a Generation
and president, Teen Mania Ministries
This book is dedicated to all the young women who have given it all to the Lord Jesus. We’ll see you in His presence!
I
grew up in Australia. Australians love hot tea. We have morning tea, afternoon tea, late-afternoon tea, and post-dinner tea. Some night owls like me might regularly enjoy a midnight decaf. Many Australians bring out the Old English teacups for their “cuppa.” The younger set might sport a funky mug. But generally, the Australian tea break is a mild, sedate affair.
Watchman Nee once said, “Everywhere Jesus went, there was revolution. Everywhere I go, they serve tea.”
I can relate. Sometimes it seems like everyone around me is nice and quiet and sedate—like we’re all having a cup of tea. There’s nothing wrong with that, of course. We all love Jesus; I just wonder sometimes if we’re accomplishing something great for His kingdom.
If you’re like me, you probably long to find those few who are different-the ones who are willing to take a strong stand for Jesus. It’s not easy. I admire the
bold
women, the ones who stand up for something, the sisters strong enough to be considered “freaks” for the cause of Christ.
When you look at history, it’s pretty clear that nobody was bolder than Jesus. He came down here to earth, even though He didn’t have to, and sacrificed His life for each one of us. In doing that, He set an example of boldness. The Lord was so different from everyone else that the world couldn’t help but notice Him. Two thousand years later, He is still the central figure in all history. I’m drawn to Him and His sacrifice and His example. The more I get to know Jesus, the more I want to be like Him.
But it’s dangerous to live like the Lord. When He showed up, the world put Him to death. So we can’t expect they’re going to embrace us when we take a stand for God. In fact, we can expect to suffer, since great faith makes people uncomfortable. And that leads me to ask you: what sort of a stand do you want to take? What do you want to be known for?
Have you ever struggled with the sense that you’re not strong enough, that you haven’t done enough, or have your heart set on the wrong things? I have. But no matter how much I fail, I know God is right there, ready to strengthen me and help me become someone who is willing to take a stand. That’s why I love these stories. Each one is about a young woman who took a great stand for God. Some of them are famous historical figures like Mary and Joan of Arc. Others are contemporary women you’ve probably never heard of. Each one has made an effort to change the world, even if it’s in a small way. But every one held true to God, and they all inspire me to live a bigger, greater life.
If you use this book in your devotional reading, you’ll find twelve weeks of stories—five per week—with a page for reflection at the end of each week, so you can explore what the Lord’s leading is for your own life. As you read through these, I pray you’ll see the world through His eyes and look for ways you can change it through His power.
One last word: the stories in this book have been crafted by several women writers who are themselves strong sisters in Christ. I want to thank them for helping put this project together, and I want to say a special “thank you” to all those who shared their stories with us. If I have to be considered a “Sister Freak” to stand with them, so be it. This is for all the Sister Freaks in the world who want more out of life than a cup of tea.
~Rebecca St. James
karen watson
No Regrets
K
aren Watson entered a war zone because she loved Jesus. She knew the risks. News reports in early 2004 were riddled with American casualties in recently liberated Iraq. Car bombs blew up convoy trucks. Suicide bombers targeted civilians. Ambushes occurred weekly.
But a Scripture burned on Karen’s heart—one that propelled her to Iraq: “Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?’” Her answer echoed Isaiah’s: “Then I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’” (Isa. 6:8
NASB
).
Karen had accepted Christ after experiencing severe grief as a teen. Her fiancé, her father, and her grandmother all died within a two-year period, and her pain had driven her into the arms of Jesus. Soon after, Karen took part in short-term mission trips, flying from Bakersfield, California, to El Salvador, Macedonia, Kosovo, and Greece. After those excursions, Karen knew she wanted to be a full-time missionary, despite the world climate.
Once accepted by the IMB (International Mission Board, a Southern Baptist missionary organization), she sold her home and car and submitted her resignation to the Kern County Sheriff’s Department, where she had worked for eight years as a detention officer.
The IMB immediately sent Karen to Jordan to coordinate refugee relief during the war in Iraq. When the expected influx of refugees did not arrive, she was reassigned to Iraq. Then the UN building was bombed there, killing several civilians. Karen called home to California to say she was okay. She frequented the UN building but had not been inside the day of the bombing. After that day, however, she made it a point to call her family and supporters after every act of violence, just to assure them she was all right.
On March 15, 2004, Karen, along with several other missionaries, headed to Mosul, Iraq’s third largest city. They were involved in humanitarian aid, developing a water purification system for the area. Partway through the missionaries’ journey, Iraqi militants in a passing car assaulted them with automatic weapons and rocket-powered grenades.
When friends at home heard about the violent car ambush, they expected another satellite phone call. But this time Karen didn’t call. She had died instantly, a casualty of bullet and shell fragment wounds.
Before she left for Iraq, Karen had discussed the risks with Roger Spradlin, one of her pastors from Valley Baptist Church in Bakersfield, California. “She was very, very brave, and she knew the risk of being in that part of the world,” he says. “But she weighed that risk against the people’s need for the gospel.”
One of her friends related, “Karen was a real soldier in God’s army and she will be greatly missed, but we know that she is now celebrating and worshiping the God she served.”
Another friend noted, “Karen was the type who would stand up for the Lord anywhere in the world. She felt the Lord Jesus was worth it.”
After her death was confirmed, another pastor, Phil Neighbors, opened a letter she had written before she left for Iraq—to be opened if she were killed. It read:
March 7, 2003
Dear Pastor Phil and Pastor Roger,
You should only be opening this letter in the event of [my] death. When God calls there are no regrets. I tried to share my heart with you, my heart for the Nations. I wasn’t called to a place. I was called to Him. To obey was my objective, to suffer was expected, His glory was my reward, His glory is my reward.
One of the most important things to remember right now is to preserve the work. I am writing this as if I am still working [in the mission field].
I thank you all so much for your prayers and support. Surely your reward in Heaven will be great. Thank you for investing in my life and spiritual well being. Keep sending missionaries out. Keep raising up fine pastors.
In regards to any service, keep it small and simple. Yes, simple. Just preach the gospel. If Jason Buss is available or his dad, have them sing a pretty song. Be bold and preach the life saving, life changing, forever eternal GOSPEL. Give glory and honor to our Father.