The Samaritan Woman You Never Knew

By Glenn Vellekamp

Equality is an elusive concept most of the time. Whether it's racial, ethnic, gender-related, or class-related, weve struggled to find anything that resembles the concept of equal. This book, from the Christian perspective, attempts to point out the inequalities that Christians have put on themselves, especially with respect to that of men and women. Jesus treated women equal to men. We should. This book gives foundation, understanding, and application for us from the Bible, even in this twenty-first century. You will be equipped to stand scripturally on the foundation that Jesus laid. Four women from the New Testament have been misrepresented from a mans point of view in a mans world. We aim to change all that. The first is the woman at the well, the Samaritan Woman.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Feb 20, 2016
• ISBN: 9781504981385

Glenn Vellekamp

Glenn Vellekamp has been a teaching and counseling pastor for thirty years. He has also authored three other books by this same publisher: A View Worth Teaching (under the pen name of Tim Tyler), The Samaritan Woman You Never Knew and They Heard What They Thought He Meant. Currently married for thirty-seven years and having six grown children, fourteen grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren, he and his wife reside in Gainesville, Florida, and own and operate a local business.

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© 2016 Glenn Vellekamp. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

The Interlinear Hebrew Greek English Bible

Scriptures taken from the Interlinear Hebrew Greek English Bible. Copyright © 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1984, 1997, 2001 by Jay P. Green, Sr. All rights reserved.

Published by AuthorHouse 02/19/2016

ISBN: 978-1-5049-8139-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5049-8138-5 (e)

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

Foreword

Chapter 1 Audacious

Chapter 2 The Story

Chapter 3 The Beginning

Chapter 4 The Truth

Chapter 5 The Resurrection

Chapter 6 The Character Of Jesus

Chapter 7 Love

Chapter 8 Adultery

Chapter 9 Changing Things

Foreword

Not once, because I am a woman, have I ever felt that I did not belong in ministry or could be used by Jesus. In fact, I've felt more equipped because so. I've always felt a little rebellious, and against the church was no different. Little did I know that it wasn't rebellion but in fact a calling straight from God Himself.

In 2003, I felt called into ministry. I had a small community of believers that saw the same potential. For years, they poured into me, because I was a mess. After a 20 year drug addiction supported by crime, prostitution, two failed marriages, and I literally walked out of my son's life, I felt a lot of unworthiness. In addition, I only had an eighth grade education with a GED certificate, so clearly, I was not even smart enough to be a minister.

But the difference is, I had the passion. I had the belief. I had the faith. I even had an outlet.... Alabaster Box Ministries. In my family group from church, I spoke up one day and said I felt the Lord had put a vision in my heart to help hurting people. One man, a doctor, said, Jen, you work out the details, and we will follow. Before long, I had my very first 501c3 ministry. I grabbed a board of directors, and we solicited our purpose and begun an outreach to the poor communities. We delivered boxes of food, prayed with the residents in houses and apartments, as well as had games and fun programs for the children. We went at Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas mostly - rain or shine. People, men and women alike, looked to me for answers and direction. I was clueless, but I'm good at conflict management, so I did what I am had to do. The feeling of inferiority never left me.

I left Alabaster Box Ministries and went full time on the mission field. I sold everything I had and followed Jesus. You know... like the Bible says. The whole time while fighting to find my place in this world. I thought I just wanted to serve, but in all actuality, I wanted to lead. That's how I'm wired. I just didn't know that. I constantly battled others treating me like I was prideful and just wanted to be noticed. Over the years, that last sentence didn't change much.

I left the mission field when my son's father suddenly passed away. I moved to another state other than the one I was used to and loved. I now had the opportunity, as a woman, that no one could take away from me - motherhood. A second chance. During this time, I started pursuing credentials in a well-known religious denomination. It was great! As a result, seemingly, many doors were opening. I did get my credentials and even advanced in them. Many doors to preach the Gospel opened. Life was good! I was a full time mom and a woman minister.

But... the unexposed signs of offense to that phrase woman minister or heck, even just woman were still quite obvious in our religious culture. I had a pretty prominent boss insult me one time (of many) by saying I'm taking the liberty to change my flight and hotel myself, in order to not be in the same location as me, because his wife suddenly couldn't go. Several of us were flying out of state to a conference. Stunned. I, before Christ, in my past I was a prostitute, and in an instant, he treated me as if I still was. Well, I got over... through a few tears and a lot of prayer. I chalked him up as being a jerk and not a hurdle to ministry, though he was. Years later, I still dealt with the inadequate feelings I had tucked deep inside.

After a few years, I sent my son to college. It was amazing being completely restored as a mother. That alone is the single best ministry a woman could have. I began to hear the Lord speak to my heart, It's time to move back home. I'm going to raise you up in the streets I delivered you from. Whoa! How exciting! I packed my car and a Uhaul truck and moved back home! 2009! New Season! Big Beliefs! My pastor had even spoken into my life and said yes! We want you! I moved so fast it would've made your head spin. I wanted this! I wanted to be on staff at the greatest church on earth.

But God.

God led me a different path. I began my second full time ministry - Downtown Ministries. I tried and fought and tried and fought to get leadership's support and involvement, but to no avail. But God was blessing it anyway. More and more, I began to connect with other people at other churches, so we made it a community outreach. Each month, we had hundreds of volunteers and even more people to serve. We fed thousands of meals, supplied socks, shoes, hygiene items, and even pots, pans, and furniture to those who came off the streets. We were booming. But still.....I felt, and proof was there, as if I had very little support or covering. I was a fire that could not be put out. I had a voice, and I loved using it. I connected and networked until my fingers bled. I turned to Twitter and Facebook and I maneuvered until I passed out from exhaustion.

Something was missing. My voice. Support. Platform. For the life of me, I could not, and still don't, understand why I was not given a chance in my hometown to be all that God created me to be. See, it is all too common for the church to stone their own, eat their own, chew them up and spit them out, even dismiss them for... well.... being different. Not like them. A square peg in a round hole. Me.

I moved from being founder and CEO of Downtown Ministries into the position of a third founding position. I became the women's director for an awesome ministry. HERE is where I really found my voice and created a platform for it. Here is where I've gained a deep (healing) belief that Jesus has called me to the front lines of ministry, you know, like Deborah in Judges 4. He has given me a voice to not only speak of all He has done but give other WOMEN their voice as well. What a true privilege it