No one has ever challenged the validity of my calling or ability to lead because of my gender. I guess I just took that privilege for granted. As I have spent time with my wife, Christina, an ordained minister, and other women leaders, it has been surprising for me to hear some of the obstacles they face in Christian culture. The more I see God use women leaders in our Movement, the more I understand that they are a vital part of what He is accomplishing in this generation.

This article isn’t about presenting a case that God can use women in leadership; God already is using women in leadership. Like Cornelius in the Book of Acts, the Spirit has already provided public confirmation where prejudice held private reservation (Acts 11:15-18). Instead, this article is about engaging the women leaders around us and how one man’s decision to support what God was doing through a woman leader influenced an entire nation. Here are three important insights from the life of Mordecai, the man behind the woman:

Mordecai recognized a move of God through a woman in his life and reinforced it. Although the story of Esther may seem like the Old Testament’s Cinderella story, where a young woman with no social standing goes on to become queen, the significance is much deeper. The Book of Esther never explicitly mentions God, but His hand is clearly evident throughout the entire narrative.

God used Esther to stop the annihilation of the Jewish people (Esther 3:6). God also demonstrated His providence through the life of Mordecai, an exiled God-fearing Jew who took in Esther, his cousin, after the death of her parents (Esther 2:5-7). When King Xerxes had beautiful young women from the kingdom brought to him, Esther was among them. During this time, Mordecai showed genuine concern for Esther and checked on her every day (Esther 2:11).

Mordecai also recognized God’s hand on Esther as she experienced a kind of favor on her life (Esther 2:9,15,17; 5:2). This favor is similar to that of other key biblical figures, such as Joseph, Ruth and Daniel, who experienced exceptional God-given esteem to serve a divine purpose (Genesis 39:21; Ruth 2:13; Daniel 1:9). Mordecai, apparently discerning this, consistently provided support and counsel to Esther in her God-elevated status (Esther 2:19-20). Mordecai noticed God working in Esther’s life.

Within our culture, God is doing something unique among women. I recognize God’s hand on Christina as she serves the Assemblies of God’s Network of Women Ministers (NWM) as their under-40 strategist. Her work has introduced me to women who are pastoring, church planting, pioneering new missionary frontiers, raising families, and representing Jesus in their professional careers.

I believe there are many Esthers in our generation who possess a sense of calling but lack someone to remind them to fan it into flame.

God has consistently impressed on me that one of the most influential parts of my calling is to champion my wife’s ministry. Like Mordecai, I believe there are times when a momentous influence on history comes simply from identifying God’s hand on someone else and doing something about it.

Mordecai challenged Esther to grow into her calling. Rather than passively acknowledging that God was using Esther, Mordecai challenged her to grow in her calling. In a key moment of the narrative, Esther struggles with how to handle Haman’s approved pogrom against the Jewish people (Esther 3:9-11). Though her desire was to challenge the edict, she recognized that her actions could result in her death (Esther 4:11). In response, Mordecai challenged Esther: “For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14).

Through this statement, Mordecai helped Esther internalize two things. The first was a perspective that God had raised her up for “such a time as this.” The favor on her life was a stewardship so that she could be a voice of truth in the face of evil. The second was that if she were unwilling to choose boldness in her God-given position, God would seek out someone who would. For Esther, this was enough to help her realize the gravity of her calling. In response, she instructed Mordecai to call a fast on her behalf and resolved to act boldly, in faith (Esther 4:16-17).

All of us, men and women alike, need voices who can identify and stoke our God-given potential. I believe there are many Esthers in our generation who possess a sense of calling but lack someone to remind them to fan it into flame (2 Timothy 1:6). It’s not uncommon when church leadership positions open up, there are few — if any — résumés from women. That tells me there is room for growth.

When I engage women leaders, I have learned to be intentional with my words, actions and attitude to affirm their calling, the same way I would with any of my male colleagues. Sometimes this is as simple as saying, “You have a gift and I think you should pray about pursuing this available opportunity.”

Supporting Esther allowed Mordecai to experience the full potential of his own calling. Esther’s unflinching obedience was the foil of the story, leading to a spectacular upset for Haman. The man who sought the life of Mordecai and the Jewish people met his end at the place of execution he had prepared (Esther 7:7-10). As a result, Mordecai received honor and a place of rank second only to the king (Esther 8:15; 10:2-3). God’s calling on Mordecai led him to one of the most influential positions of a world superpower, and his support of Esther was the path God used to get him there (Esther 8:1-2).

Sincerely supporting God’s call on others will maximize your potential, not diminish it. As I grow in my relationship with Jesus, I better grasp that the fulfillment of my calling is realized in the spiritual success of others (Colossians 1:28-29). Championing the ministry of Christina and other women leaders requires security in my personal walk with God. In our current historical setting, I am convinced that God is strategically raising up women leaders, and, like Mordecai, I feel impressed to intentionally engage what God is already doing. As a result, I am more fully experiencing God’s hand on my life to better serve His purpose in this generation.

A few months from now, my wife and I will welcome our newborn daughter, Alexia. When Jesus calls Alexia to a place of influence someday, she won’t need anyone to convince her that God wants to use a young woman. Alexia will have grown up seeing it firsthand in her mother, our family and our Movement. Who are the Esthers in your life, those in whom God is calling you to invest?