Can women be in ministry or be Pastors like their male counterparts?

God created men and women and blessed them equally in Genesis 5:2: “Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.” (KJV) There is no gender divide with God and Paul confirms it in Galatians 3:28: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” (KJV)

We often here that Moses led the children out of Egypt to Canaan but Micah gives us more details which gives credit to three individuals under the guidance of God who were Moses, Aaron and Miriam. We see there that Miriam had a leadership role in that exodus; “For I brought thee up out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of the house of servants; and I sent before thee Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.” (Micah 6:4 KJV)

When our Lord Jesus ascended on Him and gave gifts to the body of Christ, He did say they are only for men. He left the ministry gifts to be accessible by both men and women “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;” (Ephesians 4:11 KJV). Women can equally function as Pastors as much as men.

We see Anna being referred to as a prophetess in the New Testament in Luke 2:36-38: “And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.” (KJV)

In the book of Acts we also the daughters of Philip also prophesying: “And the next day we that were of Paul’s company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him. And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.” (Acts 21:8-9 KJV)

In conclusion God uses women as much as men. We see Apollos ministry being helped by both Aquilla and Priscilla who were a couple: “Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.” (Acts 18:24-26 KJV).