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Shirley Holmes-Sulton, Pastor of Samuel's Temple Church in Harlem, acknowledges that men are dominant characters in the Bible, yet God has called many women to his service, more than a hundred of whom are mentioned in Biblical text. In her simple but sincere narrative, she cites significant females, some of whom—Esther, Ruth, Bathsheba, Mary—are familiar even outside Judaeo-Christian teaching. Others are more obscure, even unnamed, like the "wise woman” in II Samuel who organized the Israelites to execute someone who was threatening King David.
Holmes-Sulton gives an example of woman's subtle use of her power from the book of Genesis: Sarah told Abraham to cast out Hagar and her son Ishmael, so that Isaac, the son of Sarah and Abraham, would not have to share his inheritance—"and God sanctioned it!" God sided with the wife in this matter. In the New Testament, we are reminded that, whereas Eve was created from a man (the rib of Adam), the male child Jesus came from a woman, his mother Mary. This shows an evolution in the importance of women. Another interesting example of women’s importance in the Bible given by the author is the unnamed mother of Moses, who saved his life by hiding him; nowhere in the Bible do we read anything about the father of Moses.
Holmes-Sulton’s analysis of women is not aimed purely at saintly women. She also mentions some selfish, haughty, and scheming women as negative examples—Queen Vashti, who opposed Esther, and Jezebel, the corrupt leader, idolater, and murderess. The author reminds modern women to honor the men in their lives, to be their “compass,” and show them by example the right direction. Holmes-Sulton's book will be inspirational to women who are seeking ways and means for taking a more active role in their faith communities.