20 Women Leaders Under 40 You Should Know
So let me be clear…. this isn’t a TOP TEN list. Or a TOP TWENTY list. It’s just a list. with 20 influential women leaders. All under 40 (I’m 99% sure!). That you should know about.
There are many other women leaders under 40 that you should know about, but they are just not on this list, because I’m only including 20…… on this particular list. of women leaders under 40……
OK, so please add to the list by commenting below if you know of someone else who should be included.
1. Priscilla Shirer- Going Beyond Ministries
2. Jo Saxton- 3DM Ministries
3. Esther Fleece- Focus on the Family special assistant to the President
4. Jenni Catron- Cross Point Church
5. Vicky Beeching- blogger, singer, songwriter, and now PhD student in the UK!
6. Jeanne Stevens- Soul City Church
7. Margaret Feinberg- Feinberg Worldwide!
8.Phileena Heuertz- Word Made Flesh
9. Shauna Niequist- Niequist Enterprises!
10. Nikki Toyama-Szeto- Intervarsity, Urbana
11. Bethany Hoang- International Justice Mission
12. Jena Lee Nardella- Blood:Water Mission
13. Lindsey Nobles- Project 7
14. Kari Jobe- worship leader and singer/songwriter
15. Joy Eggerichs- blogger, writer and researcher for Love and Respect
16. Jennie Allen- speaker and author of Stuck and Anything
17. Jen Hatmaker-author, speaker and Church planter at Austin New Church
18. Heather Larson- director of Compassion and Justice ministries, Willow Creek Community Church
19. Christy Nockels- singer, songwriter and worship leader at Passion City Church
20. Brandi Wilson- mother, wife and leader at Cross Point Church and Leading and Loving It
Bonus: Katie Davis- author of Kisses from Katie and founder of Amazima Ministries
What other women leaders under 40 should we know about?
Kristi Griem with FreeSet – KristiGriem.com
thanks Jonathan for the recommendation!
Bianca Olthoff
https://twitter.com/#!/BiancaOlthoff
Storyteller for The A21 Campaign
Bianca Juarez (Olthoff) – IntheNameofLove.org
Lauren Dubinsky – GoodWomanProject.com
Crystal Renaud – dirtygirlsministries.com
thanks Lauren for the recommendations! i know Bianca well, and will find out more about Lauren and Crystal.
Emily Worrall – founder of Ekisa Ministries (www.ekisa.org)
Tricia DeBoer – founder of Africa Arise
thanks Allie for the recommendations!
Beth Moore’s two daughters, both under 40, are both very influential. Melissa Moore Fitzpatrick helped her write the latest James Bible study, and Amanda Jones (Beth’s oldest daughter) just recently helped plant a new church in Houston (Bayou City Fellowship) where her hubby Curtis is the pastor. Both daughters work for Living Proof Ministries and have been active on the LPM blog, where their posts are read by thousands. They all also heavily followed on Twitter by the same ladies.
Thanks Wendy. Yes, great recommendations. I have met Melissa, and I’ll find out more about Amanda. much appreciated!
Love some of the names I see, and I’m going to look up those I don’t recognize – but I’d like to add
Britt Nicole – awesome singer!
thanks Lee for the recommendation!
So thankful to know so many of these women! A great list, Brad. I just don’t deserve to be on it. Counting down the days to Catalyst West!
Huge honor to be recognized among these wonderful women. Thank you, Brad. And thank for honoring women in ministry!!
My girl Lisa Whittle (www.lisawhittle.com) and Nicki Koziarz and Sarah and Sam from She Seeks. (www.sheseeks.org). A ministry focused on young women.
thanks Lelia. Yes, these are great recommendations. appreciate the response and recommendations!
Rachel Ramsey Cruze should be added! Following in her dad’s footsteps and getting to teens and college age students about finances. Maybe me one day.
thanks Holly- yes, Rachel Cruze is great. very familiar with her and love the work she’s doing.
I’d add author Rachel Held Evans to that list. Her upcoming book about “biblical” womanhood is going to be a game-changer.
thanks Alise. yes, have heard great things about Rachel. hope to meet her soon!
Great list, Brad! So many fantastic women you’ve mentioned! I might also include Ann Voskamp at (In)Courage. Also noteable is Kristen Howerton (rageagainsttheminivan.com). Loved that you mentioned Katie.
thanks Karen. good recommendations. I’ll check them out!
A few more to add!
Annie Dollarhide
https://twitter.com/#!/AnnieDollarhide
&
Nicole Reyes
https://twitter.com/#!/nicolereyesLA
thanks Ashley! Nicole and Annie are great young leaders. totally agree!
You are so kind Brad. Thanks. Add Sarah Lance, Director of Sari Bari, India
You deserve much kudos Phileena! i’ll check out your recommendation. thanks!
Wow. This age-defying make up is really working. I’m 54.
Thank you for putting me on the list. An honor to be listed next to women I greatly admire.
you may feel 54, but you’re actually much younger. Your welcome!
You should check out up and coming blogger Hanna Easley (@hannaeasley). She’s the daughter of former Moody Bible Institute President Dr. Michael Easley, and making huge inroads with the college aged girl population. Her blog is dearhanna.com.
thanks for the recommendation Leslie!
Lina AbuJamra
Lina AbuJamra is a Pediatric Emergency Room doctor in Chicago and the Women’s Ministry Director at Harvest Bible Chapel. She is a women’s Bible study teacher and communicator who blogs daily at livingwithpower.org. She is the author of 3 Bible studies: The unconventional series – a Study of Luke, The upside down series – the book of Acts, and Rescued – a Study of Genesis. You can also follow her on twitter @Linamay.
thanks Bonnie for the recommendation!
Thank you for putting this together! I love and appreciate many of the women on this list!
Asher Collie of Sole Hope
http://www.solehope.com/
Esther Havens- humanitarian photographer; http://estherhavens.com/
Angie Smith
http://angiesmithonline.com/
thanks Amelia for the recommendations!
Veronica Navarette Ponce-Vigil. She is the co-founder and director of the BRIDGE program at Wheaton College. As a sophomore she approached the administration to start a college preparatory program for minority and first generation college bound Christian high school students. It’s been a tremendous success. She’s 24.
thanks Brian for the recommendation!
Brad, honored to be among this list. I would echo some of the other recommendations so far… Angie Smith, Rachel Cruze & Melissa Moore Fitzpatrick.
Kelly Minter!! http://kellyminter.com/
Amazing sinner, author of women’s Bible studies, and great speaker! Her Ruth and No Other Gods studies are awesome!
thanks Betsy! appreciate the recommendation of Kelly. She’s great!
Brad, I’d add somebody I recently came across out of Nashville, TN, Katie Strandlund.
http://www.cautiouscreative.com
http://www.twitter.com/kstrandlund
http://www.nomoredirtywork.com
thanks Brian. appreciate the recommendation!
Adelita Garza is a phenomenal single church planter with a distinctive anointing. She grew up as a child as a migrant farm worker in Othello Washington, was part of the Pew Hispanic Theological Initiative at Princeton, and got her Master’s at Fuller Theological Seminary. She pastors in Santa Paula, Ca. and was voted female church planter of the year by her denomination.
thanks Fawn. appreciate the recommendation!
I would like to submit Ivette Diaz, a former attachee of President George W. Bush’s office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. Ivette has served in various outstanding community initiatives and is currently on staff with the Focus Leadership Institute which is equipping the next generation of Christian leaders.
thanks Ali for the recommendation!
What an honor Brad! So glad I slid in the “under 40″ category!
Love seeing all the recommendations as well. Thanks for introducing me to some ladies I don’t know who are changing the world. See you in a couple of weeks.
Kelly Minter (writer of Bible studies, singer/song-writer, heart for missions), and Ann Voskamp (blogger, writer of “1000 gifts”, Compassion representative).
Thanks for the list!!
thanks Sarah. appreciate the recommendation. I know Kelly and have heard great things about Ann!
Thanks for sharing this list Brad! I’ll be sure to check them out.
Someone already mentioned Voskamp–huge following, NYT best-seller. I also love Sara Hagerty of http://everybitterthingissweet.com/2011/12/beauty-is-a-birthday-party/
singer/songwriters Natalie Grant, Sara Groves
More African American women?
thanks Judy. appreciate the recommendations! yes, would love to know more diverse women leaders.
Rachel Held Evans for sure. author of Evolving in Monkeytown and upcoming book about “biblical” womanhood.
Appreciate the comment and recommendation April. thanks!
Madai Ramirez – church of God licensed minister.
She is a single young woman breaking barriers in male dominated ministries; she has been the FIRST female keynote speaker at youth camps and youth conventions. A true testimony that pastor’s children really can go above and beyond. She is currently serving as an international evangelist. She can be reached at revmadai@gmail.com
thanks Dave for the recommendation!
Jessi Connolly of http://www.naptimediaries.com
She’s a blogger and mommy who is follow God and her husband all over the place. All the while she’s loving people and showing them Jesus with her life
start here: http://www.naptimediaries.com/2012/04/glorys-story.html
Thanks Abbie for the recommendation!
I know some on the list….great choices and serving to make the world a more beautiful place. May their number grow.
How were these women selected?
I have one I would add…Mallory Minor. She has been the Director of Development for Oasis for Orphans.
thanks Sibyl for the recommendation and the comment. I’ll check out what Mallory is doing.
Where is Bianca Juarez-Olthoff? She has spoken at Catalyst and I think she is a clear, young voice speaking to so many women (and men!) about missionally engaging with culture. My two-cents would be to add her to the list. Thanks for appreciating women and the value they bring.
[...] 20 Women Leaders Under 40 You Show Know by Brad Lomenick. I have a passion for the Christian community to understand the value that women bring to leadership and provide them opportunities to leverage that giftedness. [...]
Brad,
There are some great women on this list! Truly thankful for them and glad to celebrate their gifts, but here’s a different perspective: http://awakemysoulblog.com/2012/04/09/how-to-make-the-top-10-list/
thanks Laura for your comments. I appreciate your perspective on this. As I said in the beginning of the post in BOLD, this is not a top 20 list. It was just simply a chance for me to share with our community of leaders about some great women leaders I know of and want others to know about what they are doing. It’s not meant to affirm some and not affirm others. There are hundreds of thousands of other young women leaders out there under 40 who are doing great work that I don’t know and don’t know about. It’s meant to simply share some names of those whom I’ve run across that are doing good work and might be an inspiration to others.
What about Nish Weiseth? She created A Deeper Story (http://DeeperStory.com), and is very influential.
Erin Davis – Writer of books, blogs, and thank you cards. Jason’s wife. Eli and Noble’s mom. Jesus’ devoted follower.
Blogs at: http://www.beyondbathtime.com and http://www.liesyoungwomenbelieve.com
Books:
Graffiti – Learning To See The Art In Ourselves
Lies Young Women Believe – Companion – with Nancy Leigh Demoss and Dannah Fresh
True Princess – Living A Life Of Humility In An All About Me World
The Bare Facts – with Josh McDowell
Beyond Bath Time – Embracing Motherhood As A Sacred Roll
Thanks for the great list!
[...] Here are 20 Women Leaders Under 40 You Should Know [...]
I’m extremely biased, but Mary Jo Sharp is currently producing a new Bible Study with LifeWay, authoring a book for women leadership on apologetics (Kregel), has a new chapter in a book with Paul Copan and William Lane Craig (B&H), and has two formal debates with Muslims. She just turned 38
http://www.maryjosharp.com
Roger Sharp
Heather Lindsey- Organization- Pinky Promise
Heather Lindseyheatherllindsey.blogspot.com
thanks for the recommendation Tasha!
Not a leader quite yet, but a serious up & comer: Jessica Richardson over at Staying Salty [stayingsalty.tumblr.com]. She’s a college student from what I understand who is being used by the Holy Spirit to bring Truth to college students through Apologetics. Men seem to dominate apologetics so to come across a young woman who is preparing young adults to defend their faith (and take the time to answer questions from seekers) in a relatable way is encouraging.
Mandy Arioto from Mosaic. She’s gaining a presence as a speaker and writer.
Here’s a talk she gave recently: http://vimeo.com/38392347
Check out her blog at http://www.mandyarioto.com
thanks Joe for the recommendation. much appreciated!
Sarah Horn http://www.sarahorn.com/
and
Jocelyn Green http://www.jocelyngreen.com/
both minister to military wives, which is near and dear to my own heart and calling. Love these two women. They’ve been influential in my life during deployments.
My daughter, Jessica Bolyard, is going to be a big, bright shining star. She’ll be attending Jumping Tandem next April. Remember her name. Read her blog: http://adjustingtotheworld.com
[...] 20 Women Leaders Under 40 You Should Know. These women are making an impact in a variety of fields – all for the glory of [...]
Annie Downs
http://annieblogs.com/
Thanks for letting us know about all these great women to follow! It’s soo encouraging to find other women leading and building the Kingdom of God!