I have been in church since I was a child. I listened to the faith stories of the great leaders in the Bible. As I have grown in my faith, I have noticed that I identified with several of the men in the Bible and not as much with the women. One of the reasons this may have happened is that I didn’t hear sufficient sermons or teaching of how women in the Bible were also powerful leaders. Like the story of Deborah, a brave warrior, or Esther’s, a strong and courageous queen, or of Lydia, a leader who served in partnership with Paul in ministry.
In recent years I have had the opportunity to sit down to study and learn about the lives of women in the Bible. I want my daughter and son to learn from the examples of Mary, Hagar, the Samaritan woman, Ruth, Rahab, and many other women who made an impact in history through their stories and testimonies.
One way I am growing in this area is by listening to and learning from women in ministry, leading the charge. Today I share five Latina women who are opening doors and influencing women in and out of the church.
Inés Velasquez-McBryde
The first time I heard Inés was on the podcast “The Protagonistas.” I was intrigued by her call to pastorship and her desire to use her voice in this way. It was also the first time I heard about Abuelita (Mujerista) theology inspired by Ada Maria Isasi-Diaz, another powerful woman who was also an innovator of Hispanic theology. You can read more in “Mujerista Theology: A Theology for the Twenty-First Century”.
Inés is an ordained pastor, preacher, reconciler, writer, and speaker. In 2019 she received her Master of Divinity degree from the Fuller Theological Seminary School of Theology, where she now serves as a chaplain. She is originally from Nicaragua but called Arkansas her home from 2001 until she moved to Southern California in 2016 to earn her MDiv.
Ines has 19 years of combined experience in church planting and pastoral staff leadership in multi-ethnic churches. She is passionate about racial reconciliation in and through the local church and women’s full inclusion in pastoral leadership.
Inés has written for SheLoves Magazine, and a contributing writer for the She Is: Biblical Reflections on Vocation workbook and Life for Leaders Devotional for Fuller’s DePree Center.
She loves to tell stories over a good latte, especially when it comes to encouraging women to find the voice that God has given them and walk in their gifts’ fullness.
“The Latina woman must move away from being an object to be studied in history and theology, to become a subject that generates history and theology, as did the female disciples of Jesus.”
Inés Velasquez-McBryde
Inés is co-pastor of The Church We Hope for; you can learn more about her and listen to her messages at thechurchwehopefor.com and inesmcbryde.com. You can also follow her on Instagram @inesmcbryde or at @thechurchwehopefor or on Twitter @INESmcbryde
Noemi Vega Quiñones
Noemi is the oldest of five siblings, a daughter of working immigrant parents, and a once undocumented child. She was born in Guadalajara’s inner city and moved with her family from Mexico to the United States when she was five years old and grew up on the central coast of California.
Noemi is the South Texas Area Ministry Director for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. She has been an adjunct professor at Fresno Pacific University Biblical Seminary and has written for The Well and The High Calling.
My experience with Noemi is through her book Hermanas: Deepening our Identity and Growing Our Influence. She is one of the three authors of this book, which has been of great inspiration for my life. In this book, the authors talk about how “God calls Latinas to lives of influence. Noemi and the other writers share their journeys as Latinas and leaders. They find mentorship in twelve courageous women of the Bible, who navigate challenges of brokenness and suffering, being bicultural and crossing borders.”
They share, “As we deepen our spiritual and ethical identities, we grow in intimacy with God and others and become better equipped to influence others for the Kingdom.”
Reading Hermanas is a breath of fresh air. Reading the authors’ experiences, Noemi, Natalia, and Kristy, is a gift. Their writing is an example to follow. And I appreciate the beautiful journey they take us on by describing these twelve women of the Bible as role models of leadership. They have given me the confidence, courage, and the freedom to embrace my leadership. To be authentic in spaces where patriarchy can dominate. Not for competition or self-gain, but to lead together for the sake of His glory.
“Latinas in the United States may identify with the bleeding woman as overlooked, nameless, invisible, and on the margins. However, just like the bleeding woman, we find our name and our true identity in Jesus. We are mijas and Hermanas in the kingdom of God”
Noemi Vega Quiñones
You can find the book Hermanas on Amazon or ivpress.com/hermanas and follow Noemi on Instagram @nomforshalom
Dr. Alma Zaragoza Petty
Dr. Alma L. Zaragoza-Petty, was born in Los Angeles but raised in Acapulco de Juárez, Mexico, for most of her childhood. She is the firstborn of three and the daughter of immigrant parents. Alma is a first-generation high school and college graduate. She discovered a sincere passion for helping first-generation students and working-class communities gain access to higher education institutions.
She has a Ph.D. in Educational Policy and Social Context. While assisting students with similar personal backgrounds paralleling her own made her very conscious of the lack of resources faced by educationally disenfranchised groups. These experiences shaped her commitment to the pursuit of social justice.
Dr. ZP is co-host of The Red Couch Podcast and currently works as a college advisor and manager of student assessment and impact for ScholarMatch, a non-profit organization.
I have had the opportunity to learn from Dr. ZP through the podcast. A space where they “have candid conversations and interviews ranging from pop culture to important social issues.” I like to hear how Alma includes her voice and experience to help empower women. She uses her influence to serve communities on the fringes and uses her expertise to motivate new generations of Latinas and Latinos in the United States.
Dr. ZP is also co-founder of “Prickly Pear Collective,” a “faith-based, trauma-informed collective at the intersections of community + church + therapy.” I enjoy this group because these women speak freely about mental health and how to deal with it daily.
You can listen and learn from Dr. ZP on Twitter @almaquiles or her Instagram and IGTV @thedoczp and The Red Couch Podcast. You can also learn about Prickly Pear Collective @pricklypearcollective on Instagram or linktr.ee/pricklypearcollective.
“Most times it’s that thing you’re avoiding, minimizing, and postponing that’s exactly what you need to do. The fear of going through it might be keeping you from unimaginable repentance and growth.”
Dr. Alma Zaragoza Petty
Kat Armas
Kat is passionate about theology, coffee, and the ways the two intersect. She is from a Cuban family and grew up in Miami, currently living in Los Angeles, California, where she received a Master of Divinity from Fuller Seminary, focusing on New Testament studies. Besides drinking coffee, Kat enjoys vegan food, books, and blogging.
The first time I heard Kat was on her podcast, The Protagonistas. A friend of mine recommended that I listen to her. I was excited about the topics she shared and longed to hear from a Christian Latina perspective. Since the first time I heard Kat interview Inés and discuss Mujerista theology, I have followed their work and Kat’s podcast.
Through her podcast, I have learned of other female voices of diverse backgrounds and perspectives. Plus, Kat has provided me with resources that have helped stretch my faith and ministry.
In addition to being the host of The Protagonistas, she is the author of the book “Abuelita Faith” publishing soon.
“What if the greatest theologians the world has ever known are those whom the world wouldn’t consider theologians at all?” Abuelita Faith is a faith that lives in our ancestors in Scripture and throughout history, declaring our unnamed, overlooked, or uneducated abuelas ‘theologians’”.
Kat Armas
You can read more of Kat’s work at www.katarmas.com. Find her on Twitter @kat_armas and Instagram @kat_armas
Sandra Maria Van Opstal
Sandra is an inspiring and influential pastor from whom I have also learned the last two years. Like the other women on this list, she uses her voice to serve those who feel voiceless. I have had the privilege of hearing her preach, and I follow her work with Chasing Justice.
Sandra, a second-generation Latina, pastors at Grace and Peace Community on the west-side of Chicago. She is a preacher, liturgist, and activist who re-imagines the intersection of worship and justice.
In her fifteen years with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, Sandra mobilized thousands of college students for God’s mission of reconciliation and justice in the world. Sandra served as Director of Worship for the Urbana Missions Conference, Chicago Urban Program Director, Latino National Leadership Team (LaFe), and Northwestern University Team leader.
In addition to her ministry experience, Sandra holds a Masters of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Illinois and has published in multiple journals. She is also the author of The Next Worship.
Sandra is co-founder and Executive Director of Chasing Justice. A ministry that will equip and inspire you on faith and justice. This group teaches us “that God cares about the injustice and pain in the world and has designed us to make a difference.” Chasing Justice leaders “guide you to live justly and see God’s goodness for the world.”
Sandra has challenged me to consistently chase justice in every space of my life. Through her example, I have learned the value of my leadership as a woman of color. And I am compelled as I see her fiercely lead in challenging places and call out injustice in and out of the church with graceful strength.
“Jesus came to start a revolution against evil and injustice, and we his people get to participate in that.”
Sandra Maria Van Opstal
“True worship cannot exist without justice.”
Sandra Maria Van Opstal
You can read more of Sandra’s work at www.sandravanopstal.com and chasingjustice.com. Also, follow her on Instagram and IGTV @sandravanopstal and @chasingjustice_ or Twitter @sandravanopstal
This is a short list of Latina women who empower my life by learning from them. As I listen to them share, I see my identity as a Latina woman through the women’s stories in the Bible. I can see the value of the place where I was born, my ethnic origin, how I grew up, my faith, my Latinidad. All of my lived experiences are woven into the story God is telling throughout my life.
I hope you also see yourself woven through the Bible, hear your voice, language, identity, and feel the love and value that The Creator has for you.
Stay tuned to the next word.…
