#Biblewomen Archives : Cynthia Hester

NEW BOOK REVIEW: TELL HER STORY: HOW WOMEN LED, TAUGHT, AND MINISTERED IN THE EARLY CHURCH

March 12, 2023 Cynthia Hester

I fell down an escalator, at a recent Evangelical Theological Conference (ETS), to get Nijay Gupta’s newest book, Tell Her Story: How Women Led, Taught, and Ministered in the Early Church. I’d seen a Twitter announcement about this forthcoming book and couldn’t wait to read it. A word of caution, if you drop something while on an escalator DO NOT bend over to pick it up! When my feet hit the bottom step, I rolled like a bowling ball and landed in a splat. Fortunately, though rattled (and bruised), all my limbs worked. Two gentlemen kindly helped me to my feet. I immediately turned to see if I could recover my lost item. Behold, a guy with a twinkle in his eye handed me the postcard he had seen me drop and perilously attempt to recover. “Thank you,” I said and sheepishly added, “It’s for a free book!” All three men laughed uproariously. They weren’t so much laughing at me (well maybe a little), as with me. ETS conference attendees are book nerds, and we especially appreciate free books! With my feet on firm ground, I redeemed my rock-and-roll postcard for a complimentary advance copy of Tell Her Story. The book’s official release day is March 14th and I’ve written a review for you.

A Daughter’s Worth: Rise, Church. Reclaim Your Daughters’ Worth

February 8, 2023 Cynthia Hester

My article titled “A Daughter’s Worth” was originally published at Fathommag.com in July 2019.

Be a Daniel, not an Esther.” With papercut precision, the church elder’s words sliced to my core. “Unlike Daniel,” he explained, “Esther discredited herself because she hid her faith.” The elder’s criticism of Esther stung with familiarity. Indeed, Esther—the young girl ripped from her home and forced into a king’s harem—exemplified courageous faith despite a huge power differential. Relying on prayer, Esther used her wits and death-defying actions to save the Israelite nation from impending slaughter. But, according to this elder, Esther isn’t to be imitated.

Grave Stele (AD 261–268, time of emperor Gallienus)

Tracing the Influential Roots of an Ancient Anti-Feminine Bias to 3 Sources

January 30, 2023 Cynthia Hester

While tracing the influential roots of an ancient anti-feminine bias, I read a revealing statement by theologian and priest John Wijngaards: “Prejudice against women existed everywhere in the past.” Wijngaards describes the pervasiveness of both secular and religious anti-woman prejudices. From what sources do Westerners argue for the inferiority of women and the subordination of women to men?

“Mom, When Are We Having Family Dinner Night Again?”

January 17, 2023 Cynthia Hester

I’ll never forget when my son Matt stopped me in our kitchen and asked, “Mom, when are we having family dinner night again; we haven’t had one in a while?” He and his twenty-months younger brother played basketball on their local high school team, but one attended a Christian school and the other a public school. With their busy athletic schedules, my son was right. The funny thing is that my husband and I didn’t call it “family dinner night,” but that is how Matt had understood one of our family values—together time around the table.

Cynthia Hester

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