Among the prominent list of God’s Generals in our recent past are a few women who were equally energetic and as yielded to the Holy Spirit as their male counterparts in executing the mandate of God on the earth. Their giftings and anointing thrust them through the seeming glass ceiling of public ministry revealing the peculiarity of their grace in the spirit and power of Christ. 

The most known woman General of faith is Kathryn Kuhlman, a dynamic Evangelist, and faith healer who was known for her sweet and gentle manner of presentation of the person of the Holy Spirit. Her television ministry, “I believe in Miracles” was a staple in most American homes every week where thousands of diverse miracles were recorded. Kuhlman was nurtured by a forerunner, a trailblazer for women in ministry named Reverend Mother Amanda Williams of Brooklyn N.Y. Another name that comes to mind is Evangelist Ruth Heflin. Her evangelistic ministry which began in Israel where she had lived for twenty-five years before moving back to America spanned over forty years. She was known for the gold dust miracles. It was noted that there were moments in the glory where participants at the camp meeting testified of flakes of gold dust settling on their faces.

If we were to peel through the pages of history back into the 18th century, we will find in the most uncommon settings of that time, Elder Lucy Smith,(1874-1952) the founder of All Nations Pentecostal Church in Chicago. She was black and the first woman pastor to build a massive Church infrastructure in Chicago with members of up to 3,000 converts. She was known as a faith healer and a dynamic preacher of the gospel. During the Great Depression of the 20s, Elder Lucy organized frequent community outreach projects where thousands were regularly fed.

All Nations Pentecostal Church was one of the first African American Churches to host worship services on the radio. Elder Lucy acknowledged that her ministry recorded over 200,000 cases of healing and miracles. Such an impact by a black woman preacher and at such a tempestuous time in America’s history must have taken a fearless faith and a Holy conviction. Elder Lucy died on June 18, 1952 and her funeral attracted up to 60,000 attendees.

We celebrate all these women trailblazers and contributors to the advancement of God’s divine purpose on the earth. And while America celebrates Black History month (February) this year, we particularly honor the memory of Elder Lucy Smith and her labor of love in the Kingdom.