Daughter of the Sanctuary: My Life as a Woman Evangelist

By Carol Hopper

“Don't go to that church across town where that woman is preaching or you will go to hell!” I could not help but laugh when two children told me what one of their teachers said. It was funny because it was absurd, but it was completely inaccurate.

Yes, I am a woman, and I am a preacher. I cannot help it. Take it up with God, He did it! My husband says it is in my DNA. Just look at my eleventh great grandfather through my grandfather, Alonzo Yancey’s line. His name was Alexander Leighton, a Scottish medical doctor and Puritan preacher. He was best known for his 1630 pamphlet that attacked the Anglican Church, and which led to his torture by King Charles I in the Star Chamber.

I am thankful God did not let me know about the stigma of "women in ministry.” It was many years later I found out there were a few unbelievers. LOL! I grew up under the ministries of Maria Woodworth Etter, the healing evangelist Kathryn Kuhlman, faith healer and evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson (founder of Four Square), and I even had a woman as my pastor. I never heard a sermon for or against women in ministry. They just did what they did. They made us laugh, cry, pray, learn, get closer to God and throw the lifeline out for others.

Daughter of the Sanctuary was first published in 1984. In this revised edition, I have added approximately nine chapters and included a few pictures. This is the story of my life as a woman evangelist.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Carol Hopper
• Release date: Jul 27, 2015
• ISBN: 9781310600265

Carol Hopper

Carol has ministered to thousands over the course of her ministry: twenty five years in evangelism and missions around the world, and twenty five years as senior pastor of Lifeline Church. Being a woman in ministry was never an obstacle but, rather, a stepping stone to a joyful life. She holds a Doctorate in Ministry with many courses in Psychology. She is a published writer along with many newsletters for her ministry and articles in Christian magazines.Her television and radio programs were broadcast on the West Coast and in Oklahoma in the 80s and 90s. The Women’s Aglow, Pentecostal Church of God International, Pentecostal Assemblies of God of America (PAGA.org), and many churches have used her as keynote speaker in conferences in Oklahoma, California, Michigan, Arizona and Australia. She was inducted into the Nationwide Register’s Who’s Who in Executives and Businesses in 2000, Millennium Edition and 2002.Dr. Hopper is married to the love of her life, Louis who was her childhood sweetheart. They have a son and daughter-in-law, Rod and Renee Hopper who both love God and are serving the Lord in music ministry. They gave Carol and Louis something money cannot buy—grandchildren. They are Chris, Jennifer (and her husband, Alberto) and Arron who is the caboose on grandchildren.You may email Dr. Hopper at: [e-mail].

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Introduction

Keep on Laughing! God Laughs, Too!

The keynote speaker of a large city church gathering sat side by side with the emcee, intentionally turning his body so that his back was toward the emcee. He just sat there, one leg crossed over the other, arms crossed in front of him, holding both elbows, and with an occasional brush of his chin with his right forefinger. As if mesmerized by something in the far corner of the room, he gazed mindlessly at the back wall while she introduced him. Beckoning the audience to give the speaker a glorious welcome, the emcee called him to the podium.

The well-dressed man, eyes still set on the back wall, never missed a beat. Without acknowledging the emcee, he stepped to the pulpit to preach. The meeting was a gathering of churches in the city and his topic was Love and Unity: Building a Network of City Churches. After exhorting thirty minutes, complete with the proverbial three main points, he took his seat, his gaze, once again, never settling on the emcee.

Stifling a chuckle edging its way to the corners of her mouth, the emcee motioned the audience to their feet for a round of applause for the distinguished guest, a local pastor and she is still laughing today. I was that emcee, and I still get a mental picture of that in my head. I often wonder if God laughs too. Actually, I believe He does.

Several years prior, while I was senior pastor at a church in Prague, Oklahoma, the news got back to me that our church had the prettiest pastor in town. Well! It was probably because I was the only woman senior pastor, in town, but it was amusing. To their credit, that city treated me with great respect.

Do not go to that church across town where that woman is preaching. If you do, you will go to hell! I could not help but laugh when two children of our church members came in telling me what one of their teachers said. The children attended a Christian school, but the church did not believe in women’s ministries. It was funny because it was absurd, but it was completely inaccurate.

A dear friend of mine was asked by her organization to be interim pastor of a church with thirty-five members, until they could find a good man to take over. Many years later, hosting five hundred in the congregation, she was still the senior pastor. She told me something that day, just prior to my preaching at her ladies’ retreat that was unforgettable: "I guess they could not find a good man to replace me with." We both had a good laugh.

Many years ago, as I sat in the office of our new ministry accountant in a pre-interview, I kept wondering when the inevitable question would be raised. Crossing my legs and shifting my position slightly in an effort to gain control of my thoughts, I suddenly realized that my fingertips, as if with a mind of their own, were beginning to drum lightly in staccato fashion against the edge of my chair.

Now, Mrs. Hopper, he finally dropped the bomb, what does a woman do in ministry?

Pondering his curiosity, I could not help wondering why he was having such a difficult time with my position when, I was certain, he had kept records for countless preachers.

I do the same things a man does as a minister; the job description is the same. I held back a full-on smile that was edging its way to my lips. Wanting to be taken seriously in spite of the amusement in his question, I continued. I am an evangelist, missionary and pastor. I preach, teach, pray for people; visit those who are sick in the hospitals, nursing homes, and jails. I officiate at water baptisms, weddings and funerals. I have held office as an elected district official in our state organization for several years. I collect offerings and distribute to the poor. I have founded day care centers, opened Christian Bible training schools for ministers and taught them. I have traveled all over the world to take God’s Word to anyone who would listen.

He understood and from that day on he treated me with nothing but respect. He is a great man, a wonderful attorney, and always makes it a joy to send our books out for audit.

Yes, I am a woman, and I am a preacher. I cannot help it. Take it up with God, He did it! My husband says it is in my DNA. Just look at my eleventh great grandfather through my grandfather, Alonzo Yancey’s line. His name was Alexander Leighton, a Scottish medical doctor and Puritan preacher. He was best known for his 1630 pamphlet that attacked the Anglican Church, and which led to his torture by King Charles I in the Star Chamber.

His torture included having his ears cut off, his nose split, being whipped with 36 stripes on his bare back, and stripped of his medical license. Later, when his son was ordained to a large church, they released him from prison, and gave him £6000 for his suffering. He took a licking and kept right on tick, tick, ticking, to quote a famous watch company. I think Grandfather Leighton would have said, You can torture me, you can put me in painful situations and you can even take everything I own. But, I am a preacher, and I will always be a preacher. You can’t keep a good man down.

I have been a woman evangelist twenty five years and a senior pastor twenty-five years. God called me to it. Man cannot undo it. We all answer to God. If God calls you, man cannot recall you. My suggestion is laugh at everything. The famous comedian, Jimmy Durante often said, Laugh and the world laughs with us. You can laugh or you can cry. I say, Laugh!

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Chapter One

God Showed Up and Showed Out

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think… (Ephesians 3:20).

Does God ever show out? You know what I mean. God can do anything, anywhere, whenever He wants! All over the world God is showing up, and showing out, or doing something spectacular that is almost beyond belief. And do we believe? Yes, because He is a supernatural God.

In Toowoomba, Australia, all the men went on a retreat and left me with the women and children for Saturday evening and Sunday morning worship service. Of course, Louis remained behind with us; he was the only man left in the services. I tell everyone that Louis is like American Express. When we do overseas missions; I won’t leave home without him!

On Saturday the women gathered in the pastor’s house for prayer. Children were running around, noisily playing tag, as we came together in a group. I stood to begin, but we could barely hear over the din of playful laughter from the children. A few moments into the prayer meeting, the glory of God came, and a hush fell. Everything was quiet, and with my eyes closed I felt like someone was looking at me. Opening my eyes, I saw around me in a semi-circle all the children sitting with elbows on crossed legs, chins resting on palms of hands, and all eyes glued on me. Not a sound was heard. When the Holy Spirit comes, even children respond. The women of Toowoomba could barely believe how quiet their children got, and were drawn to sit, and not only listen, but to feel the moving of the Spirit of the Lord.

The pastor’s wife told everyone, I think our husbands and sons will be surprised how God has worked in the services here when they get back from retreat. It was a prophetic word because God showed up and showed out!

We witnessed a wave of the glory of the Lord on Sunday morning. But, on Sunday evening, it was a tidal wave of God’s glory. People stood, praising God all over the building, and waiting in His presence. Once again, the children were making noise, babies crying, muffled laughter, until, all of a sudden, the Spirit of the Lord fell in power. Children quit crying, noises ceased, and talking ceased as a holy hush came upon the auditorium.

With my eyes closed I heard around me, from the front to the back a thud, thud, thud, thud sound over and over again. When I looked up, people were going down under the power of God with no one laying hands on them, and no one catching them. Some of the musicians and singers had fallen off the platform unharmed. People in the congregation fell everywhere and were strewn over the floor, as if angels had passed through and disabled them from movement.

Suddenly, a short heavy shower of rain hit the roof where no rain had been predicted. The Lord spoke to my heart that this was an outward indication of the inner work that He will do in the Last Days move of revival across the country. All I can say is, Pour it on us, Lord!

God showed up and showed out! As the people began to get up from off the floor; they were happy—really happy! They had no bumps on their heads, no bruises on their elbows, and no pain in their backs. They were happy Christians having a good time in the Lord.

One couple visiting the revival service that night said, We are Presbyterians, we have never experienced anything like this before, and we love it. They were happy and blessed. Others from different non-Pentecostal denominations began to testify of God’s supernatural power in the service, and of its impact in their lives.

A teenage boy exclaimed, Wow, what a powerful service. When the Spirit came, the babies quit crying. He went on, The Lord came in tonight and changed us all.

Rain has always been a sign for us in our ministry since God directed us in 1984 to name the evangelistic ministry, Spirit Rain. As we left service that evening, and were about to climb into the van, we noticed something strange around the church facilities. In a circle around the church, the ground was wet from the rain that had fallen during service. Outside that circle was powder dry. God showed up, indeed, and showed out!

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Chapter 2

God Did It!

Rather than get any further ahead of myself, I need to go back to the beginnings of how God brought me from a child to a woman called to His work.

Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality (Acts 10:34).

Once I was called into conference by a friend in ministry. Carol, I have good news and bad news, he began, grinning broadly, which do you want first?

In whatever way you want, I said laughing. Sounds like I am in for both, anyway.

The good news is, he said, compared to the dozen or so men around here called to the ministry, you are the best.

I sat up a little straighter. Wow! Did I even hear that? This is a man I respect and honor. Then, with a smile curling the corners of his mouth and a twinkle in his eye, he said, The bad news is, for the record, after this meeting today, I never said that!

Being good friends, we had a good laugh, although we both knew he meant it. Why? Because we both knew a stigma exists for women in ministry. It changes a little over the course of time in some areas; but it continues to be set in stone in others.

There are a few in this world that believe God only calls men to the ministry. And, if, in fact, a woman gets into the mix; oh well! We will just send them into missions. Now, I do not know about you; but, the mission field is much more difficult than being senior pastor of a church or traveling America to evangelize. The missionary’s life is almost daily on the line and many of them die on the field.

After fifty years in the ministry I am thankful God did not let me know about the stigma of women in ministry. It was many years later I found out there were a few unbelievers. LOL! I grew up under the ministries of Maria Woodworth Etter, the healing evangelist Kathryn Kuhlman, faith healer and evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson, founder of Four Square, and I even had a woman as my pastor. I never heard a sermon for or against women in ministry. They just did what they did. They made us laugh, cry, pray, learn, get closer to God and throw the lifeline out for others.

Being no respecter of persons means God never has to say I’m sorry to anyone He calls to His work. Deborah’s call from God was to be a judge. Ruth’s call placed her in a book of the Bible with her name on it. She was virtuous. Esther’s call as the Jewish queen on the throne with the Persian King Ahasuerus was to save her people from extinction. These women of God were not women’s libbers. They were God-called leaders in His will and His plan. They now have a place in God’s leadership hall of fame.

Let me encourage you. God is not a respecter of persons. He does not regard gender when calling you to His work. If He calls you, He will lead you to your destiny if you don’t give up the ship.

Everyone is needed in God’s program of salvation, reaching those lost at any cost. It is a direct call from God, All hands on deck! and that means everyone. That means you!

But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of