Women Worth Knowing

Renee of France (1510-1575): We continue today with the fascinating story of Renee of France, a member of the French royalty who risked her own comfort, reputation, and well-being to stand with the Huguenots (French Reformers) for the truth of God's Word and the message of salvation by faith in Jesus Christ. Her willingness to not only love "in word or tongue, but in deed and truth" made her a pow...

Renee of France (1510-1575): One of the most dramatic and dynamic hotbeds of the Protestant Reformation was the nation of France–and one of the key Reformation figures in that country was Renee of France, a courageous and godly woman who also happened to be the daughter of King Louis XII! In today’s episode we chronicle Renee’s early years in the French Court, highlighting not only the early devel...

Elizabeth of Hungary (1207-1231): It is rare indeed to find someone in a place of power and privilege who is willing to lay it all aside for the sake of Christ and the Gospel. Yet this was the testimony of Elizabeth of Hungary, a medieval princess who spent her short life joyfully sacrificing her own comforts and resources for the poor and needy in her kingdom of Thuringia. A powerful symbol of Ch...

Mrs. Oswald “Biddy” Chambers (1883-1966): Author Michelle Ule joins the podcast again today to share about the life of Gertrude “Biddy” Chambers. Having covered Biddy’s early years and marriage to Oswald, Michelle continues the story with their move to Egypt during World War I and the tragic circumstances which unexpectedly launched Biddy’s career as an editor/compiler of Oswald’s sermons. Her mas...

Mrs. Oswald “Biddy” Chambers (1883-1966): Today we have the joy of bringing in a special guest (and friend of our podcast!), Michelle Ule! An author and historian, Michelle has written several works of historical fiction. She has also authored a biography on the life of Mrs. Oswald “Biddy” Chambers, the wife of Oswald Chambers, who is known for his famous devotional, My Utmost for His Highest. Mic...

Ann Preston & Emeline Horton Cleveland: That’s right, we discovered two more “bonus” women in medicine to share today! Ann Preston was the first female dean of a medical college, serving at Women’s Medical College of Philadelphia (where several of our “Women Worth Knowing” studied!). She sent her colleague Emeline Horton Cleveland to Europe as one of the earliest female students in obstetrics...

Mary Edwards Walker: Guess what folks, we found a “bonus” woman in medicine to share about! Mary Edwards Walker was an American suffragist, abolitionist and doctor. During the Civil War, she served as a nurse and surgeon until she was captured by the Confederacy and held as a POW. After the war, she was given the Presidential Medal of Honor for her bravery and service, the only woman to ever recei...

Lisa Collins: We are joined once again by Lisa Collins as she dives into some of the adventures God has led her on as a missionary in Hungary for the past eighteen years! Although willing to serve wherever there was a need, the Lord gave Lisa the desire of her heart when she became the Missions & Outreach Coordinator for Calvary Chapel Bible College Europe. She shares with us some of her exper...

Lisa Collins: Today we have the joy of introducing you to another amazing missionary friend, Lisa Collins! In our first of two episodes, Lisa shares about her childhood in a small Michigan town and her move to Florida, where she began her career and eventually gave her life to Jesus. Through a remarkable set of circumstances, God called Lisa to serve as a missionary in Hungary. Her story of God’s...

Pam Markey: We continue today with the missionary adventures of Pam Markey as she joins us once again! We will hear about the many joys she has experienced watching God work through her and her family in Eastern Europe, as well as the hardships He has carried them through. Pam’s testimony is one of fruitfulness and of the faithfulness of God; we are sure you will agree that she is definitely a wom...

Pam Markey: Today we are joined in studio by our wonderful long-time missionary friend, Pam Markey! In this first of two episodes, Pam takes us on a journey through her childhood and early years of marriage and raising children before the Lord called her and her husband, George, to bring their large family to Russia to serve as missionaries. Pam’s story is quite remarkable, and we know you will lo...

Katherine Zell (1497-1562) & Anna Bullinger (c. 1504-1564): We continue today with two more Reformation wives! Katherine Zell, the wife of Strasbourg reformer Matthew Zell, was one of the most active women of the Reformation--a brilliant author, hymn writer, and speaker, not to mention hostess to countless destitutes and refugees! Mrs. Zell was a woman to be reckoned with! Then there’s kind an...

Idelette Calvin (c. 1509-1549): Besides Martin Luther, the man whose name is most synonymous with the Protestant Reformation is the great John Calvin. Like Luther, Calvin had a remarkable wife who stood by his side throughout his fruitful yet often difficult ministry. Yet how did this shy, bookish, confirmed bachelor come to get married in the first place? And what kind of woman was his wife, Idel...

Katie Luther (1499-1552): We continue today with the story of Katie Luther, wife of the great Martin Luther! Although Katie may have seemed an unusual match for the mighty reformer, she was a dynamic force in her own right! She proved to be perfectly suited to walk with her husband through all the successes and disappointments, all the joys and challenges that he faced as the initiator of one of t...

Katie Luther (1499-1552): Most Christians know of Martin Luther, the great Father of the Protestant Reformation. But not many know about his wife Katie, the “Morning Star of Wittenberg” who served faithfully by his side as the Mother of the Reformation! Today, we look at Katie’s early life, including the unique and even humorous way in which the Lord brought her and Martin together! You won’t want...

Madame Guyon (1647-1717): Jasmine and Kathy are back for the second part of the remarkable story of Madame Guyon! Utterly transformed by the Word of God and a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, this dynamic, spiritually sensitive woman began to travel around France simply sharing and writing about what God had shown her. In the process, she sparked a revival that spread throughout the nation...

Madame Guyon (1647-1717): Today Jasmine is joined by one of our favorite friends of the podcast, Kathy Gilbert! They are excited to share with you a woman they both love--the French mystic, Madame Jeanne Guyon! Born into an affluent Catholic family during the decadent reign of the “Sun King,” Louis XIV, Jeanne faced many struggles in her early years as she attempted not only to resist the material...

Teresa of Avila (1515-1582): Today we will discuss one of the most famous women in Spanish history! Her name is Teresa of Avila, a nun and mystic who, like Catherine of Siena, not only loved the Lord devotedly, but also loved her neighbor through practical service. After years of spiritual struggle, Teresa was transformed by an understanding of what Jesus had done for her. Inspired by her newly fo...

Catherine of Siena (1347-1380): Born in the midst of what was known as the “Calamitous Century,” Catherine of Siena played an unsung but significant role not only as a mystic pursuing spiritual renewal, but also as an early voice calling for the reform of the corrupt medieval Church. In fact, she has been called the “Martin Luther of her day!” Join us for the story of one of the most noteworthy wo...

Joan of Arc (1412-1431) & Julian of Norwich (1342-1416): Perhaps some of the more well-known women of the Middle Ages were those we now classify as “mystics,” those who pursued deeper spiritual union with Jesus primarily through prayer and meditation. Some mystics--like Joan of Arc--may seem eccentric and bizarre, but many others--like Julian of Norwich--simply sought closer communion with the...

Even More Medieval Women: That’s right folks, we aren’t done with the Middle Ages yet! While Christian women of this era may not be well-known today, in their time they exerted powerful influence for the Kingdom of God in diverse ways. There’s Hilda, the Abbess of the famous Abbey at Whitby; Leoba, who teamed up with the great missionary Boniface to establish monasteries all over Central Europe fo...

More Medieval Women: We continue our look at medieval women with a few more gals who had a greater influence on the course of Church History than anyone realizes! We will talk about Marcella and Paula, who helped Jerome translate the Latin Vulgate; the Roman Empress Pulcheria, who was a great defender of the faith in perilous times; and the Barbarian queens Clotilda, Bertha and Ethelberga, without...

Martyrs & Medieval Women: In today’s episode we start off with more amazing female martyrs that we simply could not overlook! Then we transition into the Medieval Period, where we get to know a couple remarkable godly mothers--Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine, and Monica, the mother of St. Augustine. While mothers may sometimes find themselves operating behind-the-scenes, their impact...

Early Church Martyrs: Today we begin a multi-part series on women of the Early Church period and Middle Ages! During the first centuries of church history, Christians were often persecuted mercilessly at the hands of various Roman Emperors and officials, courageously laying their lives down for their faith in Jesus. Today we will look at several women whose radiant witness in the face of death mad...

Edith Schaeffer (1914-2013): Debbie Alnutt is back again with Jasmine to share about another woman that they think you should know about, Edith Schaeffer! Edith was the wife of Christian theologian and philosopher, Francis Schaeffer. Together, they co-founded L’Abri Ministries at their home in Switzerland--a ministry that profoundly impacted European and American youth in the 1950s-1960s. While th...