Women and Evangelism in the Early Church

Abstract

From its earliest days Christianity has been characterized by active female involvement in ministry. In the New Testament period this activity is spoken of in the Gospels, the book of Acts, and throughout the Epistles. In the post-apostolic period, there are also references to female involvement in evangelistic ministry. These references, however, give only a glimpse of church activity as a whole, and it is difficult to determine the extent of female participation. Evangelism then was often conducted on a personal level; records of such activity are sparse. Yet there are stirring instances of women such as Vibia Perpetua and Quinta who publicly testified of their faith and suffered martyrdom as a result.