WOMEN IN CHURCH HISTORY

These biographical cards summarize fve lives of women from diferent eras in church history. We hope they will encourage you to learn more about our sisters-in-Christ who have devoted their lives to defending the faith and entrusting the gospel to others. It is truly inspiring to see how ordinary women have spread the gospel story. For more information about women in church history, you can listen to Episode 20 of the Compel podcast at compelpodcast.ca or Apple Podcast. Enjoy! Lauren Ducommun & Lesley Doerksen

WOMEN IN MARGARET JANK CHURCH HISTORY The Compel podcast is a ministry of Ethnos Canada. You can learn more about Ethnos Canada and their vision to see a thriving church for every people at ethnos.ca.

MARGARET WOMEN IN JANK Toronto, Ontario | 1939 - 2016

Afer responding to a call to missions at a Billy Graham Crusade in Toronto, Marg and Wally Jank CHURCH made the long trek to Latin America in 1962. Her husband unexpectedly died in 1984, yet Marg continued to serve tirelessly, bringing health education, the gif of literacy, and Bible translation to the Yanomami, along with her four children. HISTORY Marg was diagnosed with lung cancer, but she still returned to Latin America, even amidst political turmoil. She was burdened for the Yanomami church and spent over 50 years of her life teaching literacy and translating as much Scripture into their hear language as possible.

Marg received a Diamond Jubilee Medal from Queen Elizabeth II, shorly before her death in 2016. ANTHUSA PRISCILLA

LADY JANE QUEEN GREY BERTHA PRISCILLA ANTHUSA Rome, Italia | c. 1st Century AD Antioch, Syria | 347 - 407 AD

Priscilla and her husband, Aquila, were among cerain Anthusa was born into a wealthy Roman family and lived Jews depored from Rome in AD 49. They moved to in Antioch, a city home to around 200,000 people. She Corinth where their persecution led them to work with married Secundus, a high-ranking military ofcer in the Paul as tentmakers. Aferwards, they travelled with Paul Roman army. Soon afer she gave birh to their baby to Ephesus, and it was there they boy, John, her husband died leaving her a widow at the discipled in the faith. They remained in Ephesus age of 20 years old. and began hosting the Ephesian church in their home. While she was encouraged to re-marry, Anthusa Between AD 54 and 58, Priscilla and Aquila returned to decided to devote her life to raise her son for the Lord. Rome afer the deporation edict lifed. They continued She was concerned about the corruption in Antioch, so in church ministry by hosting a church in their home. she taught her son at home. Anthusa had an excellent Paul called them his fellow workers and shared how classical education and passed this knowledge to her both of them risked their necks for his life. Their ministry son, as well as a love for God and his Word. in Rome was greatly appreciated by all the Gentile churches. Her son, John Chrysostom, became one of the greatest Christian leaders at that time. We see Anthusa’s impact Priscilla and her husband returned to Ephesus on his life as he lef a career in law to pursue pastoral sometime afer AD 58—perhaps afer the Great Fire in ministry. He taught parents to nurure their children and Rome—where they served alongside Timothy. raise them to love God and to know the Scriptures well. Anthusa’s life impacted not only her son but also the life of the church at that time.

QUEEN LADY JANE BERTHA GREY Canterbury, England | 565 - 601 AD Gloucestershire, England | c. 1537 - 1554 Berha was born a Frankish princess to Christian Jane Grey grew up in the cours of King Henry VIII of parents. She was well-educated—able to read Greek England. She was greatly infuenced by Katherine Parr, and Latin—and was known for her love for . the last wife of King Henry VIII, who encouraged her to study the Bible and the writings of the Reformers. Jane is Berha married the pagan Anglo-Saxon king, Ethelber, known to be one of the most educated women in England at the time as she was also fuent in multiple in AD 580 on the condition that she would be allowed to languages. practice her religion in England. King Ethelber loved and admired her, and her gentle and loving disposition When Edward became the next king, he didn’t want his as a wife and mother greatly impacted his life. successor to be his Catholic half-sister, Mary Tudor. So he drafed a will that passed the throne to his cousin, Gregory the Great sent missionaries to England to Jane, who was a Protestant like himself. This shocked restore there, and King Ethelber received Jane and angered Mary, the rightul heir. Jane’s family helped lead a rebellion against Mary, which was later them mostly because of Berha’s infuence and thwared. Christian witness in his life. Jane reigned for nine days before Mary came and These missionaries preached the gospel around the imprisoned her. While held prisoner, Jane wouldn’t kingdom, and King Ethelber placed his faith in Christ. recount her belief that we are saved only by faith in Thousands more became believers, and the pope Christ’s blood. So at the age of 16 years old, she was beheaded for treason by “Bloody Mary”. credited Queen Berha for the spread of Christianity in England.