Christian Women Who Changed the World

Though it is not often that the books speak about women’s influence in history, even less often, we find mentions about Christian women. There have been several women throughout history that have been influential in Christianity. Women who have helped shape communities and even the world. Faith played a major role for these women, and we may still experience some of their impacts today. 

For every woman who has been recognized to have changed the world for the better in Christianity, hundreds of other women are fighting the same battles and selflessly serving others and spreading God’s word.

A woman’s role in God’s creation is to be a warrior, a believer, and a counselor. This is what women of faith in the Bible are called to be. They are nurturing and willing to stand up for what they believed is right. These women are often motivated by personal tragedies. Some women are widows; others are rebellious, while others experienced violence. 

Here are some examples of female pioneers who left a lasting legacy:

Among the women who followed Jesus was Mary Magdalene. According to the gospel, Mary Magdalene was one of Jesus’ followers, and she also witnessed the crucifixion. 

Florence Nightingale was an English woman and member of the church. She would pray to God to give her a task that would delineate her life. During the Crimean war, she served in the first field hospital, and she trained nurses to care for the wounded soldiers. She is known as the founder of modern nursing and probably the most extraordinary nurse in history. 

And who hasn’t heard of Mother Teresa? She was a nun and missionary dedicated to helping the people in need. She was the greatest humanitarian of the 20th century. Mother Teresa devoted her life to caring for the sick and the poor and was canonized in 2016 after Pope Francis recognized miracles attributed to her.

Susan B. Anthony may have been one of the most influential figures, that to this date, women continue to benefit from her social equality movements. She helped pave the road for the 19th Amendment in the Constitution, giving women the right to vote. She also campaigned to end slavery and the right to attend higher education institutions. 

I still recall the story of Corrie ten Boom, a Dutch Christian who, along with her family, helped hundreds of Jews escape the Nazi Holocaust during World War II. Her bravery and selflessness are a powerful reminder of the impact one person can have when guided by their faith. As I reflect on her story, I am reminded of the countless women who have risked everything to stand up for what they believe in, and it challenges me to re-examine my own convictions and the ways in which I can make a difference in my own community. I think about the women in my own life who embody this spirit, like my grandmother, who spent her Sundays serving at a local soup kitchen, and I am inspired to follow their example.

We also have courageous individuals like Rosa Parks and Joan of Arc, who made significant contributions to their respective causes.

All of these women’s lives have been recorded and serve as examples of courage, perseverance, and willingness to serve. The Bible urges us to remain dedicated to our faith, just as many of these women were dedicated to what they believed in, as seen in Hebrews 11:1, which reminds us that faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.