Biblical WOMEN OF INFLUENCE: Portraits of Courage, Determination, and Faithfulness

By Brenda Carroll Jarvis

As we walk through life, we all face difficulties, trials, and triumphs. We have choices to make that will determine the outcome not only for ourselves, but also for those around us, including our family and friends. Often, in the Bible, we read of the courage of women in the midst of life’s darkest times. These women chose to listen to God and His plan.

They faced danger, hardships, and even death to do what God asked of them to protect their families and their nation. Author Brenda Carroll Jarvis now presents the captivating stories of ten women of the Bible, whose lives continue to influence women today through courage, determination, and faithfulness in God.

Today more than ever, we need faithful women of God who are willing to be courageous, faithful, and stand for God and His plan. Today’s battle is as great as in the days when the women in this book stood by faith to accomplish the impossible. Our children, families, churches, communities, and nation need brave women of faith who hear the voice of the Lord, trust the plan of God, and influence others. The power of the ten women presented here shows that we are able to be overcomers as we live each day, trusting the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Sep 29, 2023
• ISBN: 9798385006182

Brenda Carroll Jarvis

Brenda Carroll Jarvis served as a missionary in Mexico City, the world’s largest city at the time, where she planted churches and discipled people of all walks of life. She and her husband Charles have been singing and speaking at churches, events and revivals in several states for the past ten years. She has shared her Christian journey at numerous ladies’ events and churches. Brenda spends her summers in a Civil War-era farmhouse in Farmdale, Ohio and her winters in a coastal area cottage in Brunswick, Ga. She enjoys spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchild.

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Copyright © 2023 Brenda Carroll Jarvis.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

WestBow Press

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Bloomington, IN 47403

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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.

Scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

ISBN: 979-8-3850-0620-5 (sc)

ISBN: 979-8-3850-0619-9 (hc)

ISBN: 979-8-3850-0618-2 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2023916357

WestBow Press rev. date: 09/26/2023

CONTENTS

Foreword

Preface

Acknowledgement

Introduction

Chapter 1 Lydia: The Seller of Purple

Chapter 2 The Woman with the Issue of Blood

Chapter 3 Daughters of Shallum

Chapter 4 Deborah

Chapter 5 Jesus Anointed by a Sinful Woman

Chapter 6 Jochebed

Chapter 7 Noah’s Wife

Chapter 8 The Old Midwife

Chapter 9 Widow and Her Two Mites

Chapter 10 Woman at the Well

DEDICATION

This book I dedicate to Poppa, the Rev. A. E. Morris, my grandfather and pastor. Through him, I learned of Jesus Christ by way of Poppa’s manner, love and life. When I was younger the visits to my grandparents were always special. Nannan and Poppa always greeted me with hugs, kisses and unconditional love.

Poppa’s sermons stirred my heart, even though I did not understand them. As I grew the messages began to provide an assurance of Jesus Christ and his love for me.

Poppa was a storyteller. It seemed as though he had a story for every event. I remember sitting at his feet listening to story after story of how things were when he was young. Often, he would weave a story that had everyone at the edge of their seats and many times the story would have a funny ending. His stories would bring levity in tense situations or clear direction amid confusion.

He loved fishing, knew all the best places to go, and he would take me when I was there. I learned how to bait a hook with worms. Fishing with Poppa I learned how to conquer difficult tasks, and of course, the lessons of patience and joy as we waited for a bite.

Poppa was also fisher of men. His passion to share salvation with everyone took him to many places with people in various circumstances. His gentle way conveyed the compassion of God’s love, and his knowledge in God’s word brought countless souls to the grace of God. This is where I learned that God is love and that he is holy.

Poppa was orphaned at age five. At his mother’s grave site, the five children were divided to be raised by family or foster parents. Poppa told me of the last night with his mother. She called each child into her room. She prayed over each one, asking God to watch over and care for them. She prayed, telling each child of the calling that they would have. Each son was to be a pastor; the two daughters to be teachers. Of the sons, two became part-time pastors and one a full-time pastor. This taught me that praying for your children is incredibly important and that prayers do not fade or expire until God’s desire is fulfilled.

Poppa told me about life as a foster child. As a little boy he faced a serious illness. This illness affected his hearing for the rest of his life. Even though his hearing was greatly diminished, he was able to learn three languages and to tune pianos. Through his testimony, I have been reminded over and over that I can face difficulties, get through them, and then use each situation for His Glory.

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:1 – 2

FOREWORD

BY CHARLES JARVIS

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

PHILIPPIANS 4:8-9

There is a watercolor in a shadowbox frame on the wall of my living room. It hangs close to my chair where I rest and ponder, often for hours at a time. The watercolor is of a young girl with long red pigtails and beautiful blue eyes that are glancing in a manner that suggests her sense of wonder of the world around her. Her smile is infectious.

The watercolor was the work of her artist mother, Francie. When I first met Francie, I asked her to tell me about her daughter, Brenda. Francie, who had now known her daughter more than 50 years, did not answer immediately. I could see her searching for just the right words. Finally, she said with conviction, She’s special.

I have concluded, after years of marriage to Brenda, that no other words could more accurately describe Francie’s daughter.

Her specialness is the combination of many talents and traits. First, above all, she is a committed child of God. Her commitment led her to surrender as a young mother to embark upon the mission field in the world’s largest city at the time, Mexico City. Her tireless work ethic fueled the missionary work in that city of thirty million people for seventeen years. Her sense of purpose allowed her to work with the poorest of the poor, those who lived and survived in garbage dumps. She also evangelized wealthy doctors, lawyers, and businessmen.

She left Mexico in 2004 as her marriage was failing. She found herself broken-hearted and alone back in the states. Brenda’s perseverance was strong as she started her life over, still clinging to God’s love and seeking his direction. Then, as she still is today, she was always ready to listen to other people’s needs, their heartbreaks, their disappointments, and their despair. She was always armed with God’s encouragement and his promise of provision. She was a champion of God’s grace and quickly pointed out in her gentle counseling that we all are to dispense grace and forgive those who have offended us.

Even though she was still comforting others, she was convinced that her opportunity to have a fulfilling ministry had passed her by. Miraculously, however, God put me in Brenda’s path. My life, too, had been freshly disrupted by a failed marriage. She offered me grace and encouragement that was surely of God. During our three-year courtship, we offered each other new reputations, new trust, new hope, and in 2013 we were married.

Along the way, we discovered that Brenda could sing. I mean, really sing! She knew nothing about southern gospel music, but she picked it up like a bird takes to flight. We sang together at gospel events and soon, we began being invited to sing in churches. Then she began to be asked to speak at Christian women’s events. She wrote and performed portrayals of Biblical women. God was quietly rebuilding her ministry.

That was the genesis of this book. Drawing from years of teaching Bible studies and her insatiable desire to know the scriptures, she noticed there were several instances throughout the Bible where women were the main characters in major stories, but they often got little mention or notice. Those searching eyes of the little girl in the watercolor wondered what life was like for Noah’s wife, who was barely noted in the Bible but had to play a significant role in Noah’s life as an ark builder, preacher, and father. Who raised those boys to live righteous lives while Noah was at the construction site for all of those years? Who guided the boys to find righteous women to marry? Obviously, it was Noah’s wife (her real name isn’t even mentioned in the Bible).

Brenda will tell you she thinks in pictures. Throughout this book, you will experience the pictures of Brenda’s mind as she describes the scenes associated with the stories. Her description of the chaotic scene when the woman with the issue of blood touched the hem of Jesus’ robe will transport you to that very street in Capernaum.

Each chapter brings forward the lessons of the influence exhibited by Biblical women. We learn how the influence of these women brought real meaning to God’s word. The hope for this book is that the readers will see how doing the right thing is always the right choice and that faith in God is our most powerful strength.

In my view, Brenda, with inspiration from Lydia, Deborah, the midwives who defied the Pharaoh, the woman at the well, the widow with just two mites and the others chronicled herein, is using her life to be an influence on others. She has been invited back to Mexico to speak at women’s conferences. She is sought after by churches where women are strengthening their resolve to be influential to young mothers who need Jesus’ love, protection and guidance. With her songs, she is lifting the spirits of those with burdensome life struggles.

As you read this book, we sincerely hope you can grasp the magnificent wonder of God Almighty and our Savior the Lord Jesus Christ and that your desire is strengthened to share that hope and wonder with others.

PREFACE

Charles and I would often discuss many stories of the Bible. One day, Charles came to me with an interesting comment. He told me he felt that I should begin writing down my thoughts regarding influential women of the Bible. Then he made a curious statement to me, I think the Lord is going to open doors for you to share these stories. Just a few weeks later, a church invited me to share the story of Noah’s wife.

The Lord would lay a story of an influential biblical woman on my heart. I would then begin to read and reread the stories. I investigated as much as possible about each persona, the area, the customs of the era. I then prayed and asked the Lord to help me visualize what possibly could have happened.

Each story was written from different points of view. Some stories are from the narrator’s point of view, and others are from the woman’s point of view remembering the events.

As I wrote a story, I would often sense the presence of the Lord as portions were revealed to my heart. I felt the desperation of a mother as Jochebed wove the basket for baby Moses. I wept at the brokenness and loneliness of the woman with an issue of blood. I appreciated the calling and the courage and leadership of Deborah the Prophetess amid a culture of lawlessness. These women became my mentors and my teachers. I felt their courage, determination, and faith in God that will shine through today for each of us.

As you read through the pages, I pray you sense their love of God and the depth their faith, their unwavering commitment and courage that sustained them.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I first want to thank the Lord Jesus Christ for all that he has done for me and through me. I know that he can bring beauty from ashes.

I want to thank Charles Jarvis, my husband, for making this book possible. He can see in me things that I did not know or could not see in myself. His encouragement and belief in me brought new life within me. Through his support and love, I began to walk in a new path that was set before me.

To Marti, my daughter, who listened to countless hours of drafts of the stories, even though she hates to be read to. As reassurance she would tell me, It’s good, keep at it.

To Mike, my son, for his gentle encouragement, saying, You’re a good storyteller, Mom.

To Sean, my brother, who challenged me to read to him what I had, then cheered me on. He would not let me give up.

To my pastors, who were my mentors in my walk with the Lord for years.

To my friends in Mexico City, Mexicali, and other communities, who allowed me to be a part of their lives and serve the Lord with them. To this day we still communicate and share our life’s daily events.

To my many friends who believed in me and encouraged me in my walk with the Lord and the writing of the book.

Many thanks to the churches, women’s groups and others who have listened to the portrayals and the stories that are inspired by the faithful women who lived their faith in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

INTRODUCTION

This book was birthed from several messages that I have given at women’s groups and other services. When I was asked to share, I wanted to share about women who made a difference to those around them. Women often would tell me that they had never thought about the strength or the determination of the women in the Bible stories. I realized there are people around us today whom we influence and those who influence us. We all face difficulties, trials and triumphs as we walk through life. We have choices to make that will determine the outcome, not only for ourselves but also for those around us including our family and friends.

Often, as I read my Bible, I would see