Women's lives have become much more complicated in recent decades, and many ministries have been established to help women meet the challenge of being a good wife, mother, and joyfully devoted Christian. Whereas resources written for husbands and fathers tend to be serious and demanding–even pessimistic and scolding at times–women's authors tend to use encouragement and humor to help overcome life's difficulties.
I cannot consider myself an authority in this area (not being a woman and all), but Nancy Leigh DeMoss and Mary Kassian seem the most profitable reads in this category, with Donna Partow a close third.
Emilie Barnes (b. 1938) - conservative evangelical author of books, giftbooks, and devotionals on women's issues, with some charismatic influence. She is best known for her materials on time management. Titles: Cleaning Up the Clutter; A Different Kind of Miracle; Emilie's Creative Home Organizer; 15 Minute Devotions for Couples (w/ Bob Barnes); 15 Minutes Alone with God; Fill My Cup, Lord; If Teacups Could Talk; An Invitation to Tea; A Little Book of Manners; Minute Meditations for Busy Moms; More Hours in My Day; Simple Secrets to a Beautiful Home; Simply Organized; Survival for Busy Women; and The Twelve Teas giftbook series.
Dee Brestin (b. 1944) - conservative evangelical from Nebraska who began writing when she saw a need for more depth in small-group Bible studies. She encourages women to be critical thinkers and serious students of God's word and opposes the sentimentalism she calls "Christianity lite." Titles: The Colors of His Love; Falling in Love with Jesus; The Friendships of Women; Higher Ground: Steps Toward Christian Maturity (w/ Steve Brestin); The Joy of Eating Right (w/ Peggy Johnston); The Joy of Hospitality; Living in Love with Jesus; Proverbs and Parables; We Are Sisters; A Woman of Insight; A Woman of Joy; the Woman's Journey Bible studies; and eight Fisherman Bible Guides.
Jill Briscoe - evangelical author and minister at Elmbrook Church in Milwaukee, where her husband Stuart serves as senior pastor. She is also the executive editor of Just Between Us, a magazine for women in ministerial families. She holds to an egalitarian view of women in ministry and frequently joins her husband in leading marriage enrichment seminars. Titles: 8 Choices that Will Change a Woman's Life; Here Am I, Lord...Send Somebody Else; A Little Pot of Oil; The One Year Book of Devotions for Women; There's a Snake in My Garden; Women Who Changed Their World. She also helped produce the Daily Study Bible for Women.
Evelyn Christenson (b. 1922) - conservative evangelical founder and president of United Prayer Ministries. Christenson is a popular conference speaker on the topics of prayer and evangelism, with her primary emphasis being prayer for the lost. Titles: Battling the Prince of Darkness; 8 Choices That Will Change a Woman's Life; Here Am I, Lord...Send Someone Else; A Little Pot of Oil; Lord Change Me; There's a Snake in My Garden; The One Year Book of Devotions for Women; What God Does When Women Pray; What Happens When God Answers Prayer; What Happens When We Pray for Our Families; Women Who Changed Their World. She also edited the Daily Study Bible for Women..
Patsy Clairmont (b. ca. 1940) - conservative evangelical humorist and frequent speaker at women's conferences. Titles: Extravagant Grace (Ed.); God Uses Cracked Pots; The Hat Box; I Grew Up Little; I Love Being a Woman; Joy Breaks (Ed.); Mending Your Heart in a Broken World; Normal Is Just a Setting on Your Dryer; Outrageous Joy (Ed.); Sportin' a 'Tude; Stardust on My Pillow; Tea with Patsy Clairmont; Under His Wings; We Brake for Joy (Ed.).
Nancy Leigh DeMoss - conservative, possibly Reformed, evangelical speaker and radio host. She is becoming a prominent Bible teacher known for her emphasis on evangelism and strong families. DeMoss receives much inspiration from Charles Spurgeon, John Piper, and Elisabeth Elliot. Titles: Biblical Womanhood in the Home (Ed.); Brokenness: The Heart God Revives; Lies Women Believe; A Place of Quiet Rest; Seeking Him; Sold Our for Him; Surrender; A 30-Day Walk with God in the Psalms; Walking in the Truth.
Cynthia Heald - conservative evangelical writer and speaker for Women of Faith, whose purpose is to help women recover joy by freeing themselves from depression, fear, and other "hang-ups." Titles: Abiding in Christ; Becoming a Woman of Excellence; Becoming a Woman of Faith; Becoming a Woman of Freedom; Becoming a Woman of Grace; Becoming a Woman of Prayer; Becoming a Woman of Purpose; Becoming a Woman Who Loves; In the Secret Place of the Most High; Intimacy with God; Loving Your Husband; Loving Your Wife (w/ Jack Heald); A Woman's Journey to the Heart of God; When the Father Holds You Close.
Liz Curtis Higgs - evangelical humorist and columnist for Today's Christian Woman, and one of only thirty women named to the Speaker Hall of Fame. Her home base is Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, and she supports the church's conservative direction under Pastor Bob Russell. Titles: Bad Girls of the Bible; Bookends; Fair Is the Rose; Forty Reasons Why Life Is More Fun After the Big 4-0; Go away, Dark Night; Help! I'm Laughing and I Can't Get Up; Mad Mary; Mixed Signals; Only Angels Can wing It; Really Bad Girls of the Bible; Thorn in My Heart; Three Weddings and a Giggle; and the Parables series for children.
Barbara Johnson (b. 1927)- dispensational evangelical humorist and founder of Spatula Ministries. Johnson's book Where Does a Mother Go to Resign? established the trend in Christian women's literature. Although Johnson is currently battling cancer, her approach to life is positive. Other titles: God's Most Precious Jewels Are Crystallized Tears; He's Gonna Toot and I'm Gonna Scoot; Humor Me; I'm So Glad You Told Me What I Didn't Want to Hear; Leaking Laffs Between Pampers and Depends; Living Somewhere Between Estrogen and Death; Plant a Geranium in Your Cranium; Splashes of Joy in the Cesspools of Life.
Nicole Johnson - dramatist, and comedian who frequently speaks to Christian groups. She works in the TV industry, both as a writer and as host of the Hallmark Channel's "Mid-Point" program. She teaches balance between false idealism and cynicism and stresses that freedom comes in humility before God and in "not having to be first." Johnson also supports the fight against breast cancer and urges young women to find contentment in singlehood. Titles: Dropping Your Rock; Fresh Brewed Life; Keeping a Princess Heart; Raising the Sail; Stepping into the Ring. Note: I have been told this is a different Nicole Johnson than the Miss America who wrote Living with Diabetes, although the two are listed as the same person on several bookselling sites.
Mary Kassian - Canadian evangelical president of Alabaster Flask Ministries and author of several LifeWay Bible studies. Kassian teaches woman to have an extravagant love for God that affects their interpersonal relationships. She is an outspoken opponent of feminism and seeks to preserve a biblical view of womanhood. Titles: Conversation Peace; The Feminist Gospel; In My Father's House: Women Relating to God as Father; Women, Creation, and the Fall. The name Kassian rhymes with Cardassian, not fashion.
Stormie Omartian (b. 1946) - conservative evangelical, possibly charismatic, author, speaker, and songwriter. Her books focus on prayer, family life, and overcoming depression and abuse. Omartian has also worked in prison ministry with Chuck Colson. Titles: Creative Correction (w/ Lisa Whelchel); Finding Peace for Your Heart; For This Child I Prayed; Greater Health God's Way; Just Enough Light for the Step I'm On; Lord, I Want to Be Whole; The Power of a Praying Husband; The Power of a Praying Nation; The Power of a Praying Parent; The Power of a Praying Wife; The Power of Praying Together; and the song "One More Song for You." The name Omartian almost rhymes with guardian, not Martian.
Donna Partow - conservative evangelical freelance writer and founder of Red Mountain Ranch Mother's Cooperative. She is a leading advocate of homeschooling and frequently appears on Focus on the Family. Partow emphasizes God's transforming and liberating power, and holds to the temperament theory of personality. Titles: Becoming a Vessel God Can Use; Becoming the Woman I Want to Be; Homemade Business; Living in Absolute Freedom; No More Lone Ranger Moms; Standing Firm; This Isn't the Life I Signed Up For; Walking in Total God-Confidence; A Woman's Guide to Personality Types. She also edits the Extracting the Precious Bible study series.
Sheila Walsh (b. 1956) - conservative evangelical author and musician, and a prominent figure in Women of Faith. Her focus is on trusting and following God. Titles: All that Really MAtters; The Heartache No One Sees; Honestly; Life Is Tough, but God Is Faithful; Living Fearlessly; Outrageous Love. Children's titles: Big Billy's Great Adventure; Einstein's Enormous Error; Hello, Stars; Hello, Sun; In Search of the Great White Tiger; A Love So Big; Miss Marbles' Marvelous Makeover.Not all female authors are listed here, but others who write primarily to women are:
For a statement of my beliefs, see my Declaration of Faith.
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