A Sweet Legacy

Many of you have never heard of Esther Burroughs, especially those younger than Gen Xers. But for many Boomers and some Gen Xers, she was a huge catalyst for women seeking to grow spiritually, share their faith, lead, and minister to others.

Sweet Esther transitioned from life on earth to life eternal this past week. This is a great article on her life and ministry. It features her and another pioneer women’s leader of influence. Baptist News-Two Trailblazing Women in Ministry.

Esther was a trailblazer before we knew of many Christian women’s speakers and before we even started using the term “women’s ministry” in many churches. She encouraged women’s leaders in churches like myself to step up and provide discipleship ministry for women.

The first large women’s conference I ever attended was in the early 90’s. Dayspring Conferences focused on women’s evangelism. I remember the joy of worshiping and growing with hundreds of other women as we were challenged to share our faith.

After hearing her speak at conferences I asked her to come speak to the women of my own church in Texas where I served at the time. I actually took her to buy Easter gifts for her grandkids that weekend, and she and her husband Bob had dinner with my family. My girls still remember her as she was someone you didn’t easily forget.

In addition to other women across the country she influenced, she impacted my life personally. She served on LifeWay’s Women’s Ministry Advisory Board in 1994 that was partially responsible for my serving at LifeWay as the first full time women’s ministry specialist in December of that year. Several years later when I was ready to resign, her encouragement and wisdom kept me from making a rash and misdirected decision to leave prematurely! I would have forfeited many amazing blessings from those later years of serving.

Her sweet smile was as genuine as her heart was. She loved Jesus and was never shy about talking about Him.

I will forever be indebted to this sweet friend for her impact on me and on the wave of growth in Women’s Ministry when it was just rising to the surface in our churches.

I’m grateful for her impact on my generation and I believe it impacts those youngest alive today as her example of faith has changed lives that have changed so many other lives. You may not have ever known this legacy woman, but it should inspire all of us to leave behind a legacy of faith in Christ, whether the Lord gives us a big or small platform on which to share Him. How we live and lead now changes the legacy we will leave for generations that will come behind us.

Banner photo by Laura Fuhrman on Unsplash