Do You Hear God Calling To You?

“So we have been sent to speak for Christ. It is like God is calling to people through us.” 2 Corinthians 5:20. 

From her pew, Jarena Lee heard God say her destiny was to be a preacher. But how could she?  In 1807 women couldn’t preach. 

Lee turned to her minister for support. He declined her request to preach, citing  Bible passages that women weren’t supposed to speak in church. 

She then went to her husband, also a preacher. He also told her to forget about preaching. But Lee could still hear God calling her.

In 1819 Lee attended a service at Philadelphia’s Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church. Suddenly the guest preacher lost his nerve and couldn’t continue his sermon. 

Lee calmly stood up and began preaching. Her own preacher, who told her that women couldn’t preach, was so impressed that he appointed Lee as the first woman minister of the A.M.E. Church.

Over the next 30 years, LL walked 2,800 miles, preaching over 692 sermons.

What’s something you know you’re called to do?