Spiritual Mothers and Grandmothers

“I commend to you our sister Phoebe.” That’s how Paul started the end of his letter to the Romans. In Paul’s personal greetings, he mentioned 29 people and commended them for their work in the gospel. Phoebe was first. Then, “Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well. Greet also the church in their house.”  
 
Prisca, or Priscilla, and her husband Aquila were a key team ministering at many levels with Paul, including hosting a church in their home. In Romans 16 Paul refers to her with a shortened version of her name, maybe the one that close friends used. They were a wonderful couple who took Paul into their home as a fellow tentmaker when he went to Corinth. Later in the book of Acts we find them in Ephesus, where they had traveled with Paul, and there was an eloquent preacher named Apollos in the same city, who “knew only the baptism of John.” “When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained the way of God more accurately.” Notice that Priscilla is mentioned first, which many believe is evidence that she was the better teacher of the two, the one most equipped to help Apollos understand more fully the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. God used this couple to come alongside and disciple Apollos. After that, we are told Apollos went to Achaia and “he greatly helped those who through grace had believed, for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus.”  
 
In a 2010 article, “Women and the Spontaneous Expansion of the Early Church,” Jeff Reed wrote, “(Women) were vital to the progress of the gospel and the success of churches in the first 300 years.”  
 
We see that with Phoebe, who besides being a benefactor to Paul and many others, most likely delivered the letter Paul wrote to the Roman church.  We see it in Priscilla, whose exhortation of Apollos propelled the power of the Gospel to a different level in the first century.  
 
A few others Paul commended in include Mary. “Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you.” And these two women: “Greet those workers in the Lord, Tryphaena and Tryphosa.” And another, “Greet the beloved Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord.” I love that. I could go through the list of names of women and young women in our church and insert their names in that sentence. And in this one: “Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; also his mother, who has been a mother to me as well.” This unnamed sister and saint was like a mother to Paul. Just as many women in a healthy church are like mothers to younger women and younger men in the church, loving and encouraging and praying, sometimes exhorting or correcting. Their ministry is vital! In some cases today, their ministry is missing. 
 
I heard on the “World and Everything in It” podcast last week that there has been a silent exodus of seniors from church. Gallup reports that in the year 2000, about 60% of American seniors attended church every week. As of early 2026, that number is down to 37%. I want to say to the seniors, you are essential members of the body of Christ, and your role of mentoring and praying and encouragement is priceless. We need you, now more than ever. 
 
Spiritual mothers and grandmothers, you play a vital role in the health of family and church.  
Come join us.