Why does it seem that some of the hardest tasks that exist in bringing the gospel to the unreached have been taken up by single women? We seem to think that men are the strongest and most daring members of the human race. Not so!

I recently returned from teaching workers from a country legendary for its corruption and its persecution of Jesus-followers. But there in the capital city is Alisha, a thirtysomething from the States who is the only person in the entire country addressing the physical therapy needs of thousands of kids — and she happens to be single. Her groundbreaking healthcare project is improving the lives of numerous children and, God is working in the lives of children, their parents, and medical professionals. I asked myself, Why Alisha? Why here?

My wife, Vicki, and I spent a full year traveling in North America talking to retired missionaries who went abroad after WWII and stayed overseas throughout their whole career. The stories that the single women, in particular, shared were amazing.

In 1952, Fran was a scientist — an unusual profession for a woman at that time. After she began reading the Bible on her own, she came to Christ as an adult. As she grew and matured, she determined to take those same Scriptures to people who had never had a chance to read them. She dedicated her life to the Yanomami and Wapishana people of the Amazon rain forest. Fran entered their world with a dream, love, and hope. When she left, the Yanomami and Wapishana had a translation of the New Testament in their language and, even better, many disciples of Jesus in their midst. Fran, now age 92, teaches a regular Bible study to about 70 people in her retirement home. She is still single — and still single-mindedly serving her Lord.

Can you imagine living in one of the poorest countries in the world for 30 years? When we arranged to visit Loretta, she said she didn’t have anything to tell us — no stories — but we had heard otherwise. After graduating as a nurse, she arrived in Haiti in 1953. It wasn’t long before she and others were training Haitians to be nurses who not only healed bodies, but hearts, too. Some call that integration (making disciples in the marketplace of life) in the world of medicine. Hundreds of Haitians today remember Loretta for how she shaped their lives and faith.

France is a spiritually difficult land, and Enid found it so during her 35 years serving as a single woman; Jane also served faithfully in France. Both women counted the cost with loss of family back in North America. Jane’s mother told her, “I think you are absolutely crazy,” and she meant it. With such rejection, Jane thought she would never see her family again. Enid likewise, when she returned home, found no family to welcome her or help her transition home. Both women sacrificed and served — alone, but with no regrets.

Irene died just a month after we interviewed her. She was an educator and gave her entire adult life to the Wai Wai tribe of Brazil. In 1984, after teaching for years, she saw them receive the New Testament and then in 2002, the full Bible. Chief Florosha of the Wai Wai said, “I have waited my whole life for this,” and he couldn’t put it down. The Wai Wais have been instrumental in reaching 10 other people groups deep in the rain forests of Brazil, Venezuela, and Guyana. They demonstrate the power of 2 Timothy 2:2, “Entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”

We need more women — more disciple-makers of any gender! — like Alisha, Fran, Loretta, Enid, Jane, and Irene. The world still needs people who will make a sacrifice, follow Jesus to unreached places, and see what God will do.