INTERVIEW WITH RACHEL HICKSON
Rachel Hickson is a famous preacher, writer and a real Norwegian friend. But the relationship with our little nation here in the north started in a slightly special way. – I really think it started with a misunderstanding from both sides, laughs Rachel.
"I was part of a prayer movement in the UK, and was invited to Norway to help gather pastors from different pentecochurches and focus on prayer for the nation. They thought I was named Richard Hickson, not Rachel Hickson, and was a little shocked when they found out I was a lady. Fortunately, it went well. "God tied our hearts together, and we had a wonderful conference on Hedmarkstoppen. Since that time, I have linked ties and networks to people in Norway, says Rachel. Who's Rachel Hickson? – I am from the UK, is 55 years old, the mother of two, has been married for 35 years, and has four grandchildren. I am an educated clinical biochemist and worked as a research biochemist for five years, says Rachel. Basically, the man was a businessman, not pastor. The couple made a call to go into the mission field, and there they served as missionaries for six years. – Since we went back to Britain and were pastors for 15 years. We worked side by side in the local congregation.
Rachel Hickson became acquainted with Elin Linde Fagerbakke and women in networking in the mid 90 century. I ask her why she believes women in networking have experienced such great growth. "I believe that Jesus had a desire for change in Norway," Rachel replies quickly. Her impression of the Norway of the 90 was that we had a great church, but she could notice a separate mindset within the Christian community. Many women, but also men, lived in the faith that they could not contribute anything in the ward. Many of the women had good professions, they were great mothers, and had much responsibility outside the church. However, as they stepped into the church, they were characterized by "Jante", and had the feeling of being humble and not sticking out. So there was a lot of uncertainty in what a woman was allowed to be inside the church room. Rachel got to witness that a new generation grew forward.
"God began planting something in Elin at this time," says Rachel. – He uses women to stand up for a cause, Deborah in the Bible is an example of this, when he wants it to happen change. There were also other women who joined Elin's team, and who felt they had more to give, but were not quite sure about how they were going to go forward. Doing something all alone requires extremely much courage, but when you have a network around it, it's easier to get to what you dream about. Therefore, the idea of this women's network came in the right place at the right time. Do you have any thoughts about why many women have believed they have little to contribute in the ward? Can men's role and attitude throughout history have something to say? "This is a tough question," Rachel replies. She wants to be clear that humans are never our enemy. Ultimately, there are not men who are the problem, but the devil who works hard to create divisions between the sexes. There are many reasons why women have been passive and tised in assemblies, and sometimes it may act that they have felt oppressed by men. Other reasons may be that women have neglected their own abilities.
– For my own part I have several times in life known that it is very comfortable to lean on my own husband and use him as an excuse: I do not have to contribute anything, since he does, Rachel shares honestly. "But inside me, I knew that God was calling on me and wanted me to be a part. When women seek together, we can use this opportunity to encourage each other and show each other that we have something more to give, and we cannot hide behind men when they are not present. God has called us to seek together. He tells us it's time for women to stand up. You will no longer use your husband as an excuse. God has given gifts to the women as well, and we must learn to know these so that we can dare to stand up with them. She experiences the conferences of women in networking as a safe meeting place where women can explore their gifts before they bring them into the wards they Ears. This is not to prove anything to men, but we can stand up as a strong bride next to the man, so that both the man and the woman have a function together. "I have met men who have come to me and said," I didn't think women could be speakers, but I believe what I heard when you spoke. " Rachel emphasizes that for her, this is not about feminism, but she believes that men and women will complement each other and work together to lift Jesus.
What do you think about the future of women in networking and the conference? "I think this first season has been about the fact that women have been able to come to heal and have a changed view of themselves, so that they may know, among other things, a strength in terms of standing side by side with men. Now I think the time has come for God wants to adopt this wonderful bunch of women and give them influence. The slogan of the women's conference in 2015 was "strength and dignity." God rebuilds dignity and removes the shame. Our strength is about that we want to serve, and we want to make a difference. Women can have a great influence when it comes to bringing kindness and consideration into Norwegian society.
Rachel also cites that Norway has a great calling when it comes to being generous in the face of other nations in the world: – Norway has a long history of mission, not least Norwegian female missionaries. I love to see that women in networking already have such a function at several venues around the world. It is necessary not only pastors and missionaries, but we need teachers, doctors, psychologists and nurses – all professions can help. And strong women are needed!
My final question to Rachel is if she has something special on the heart that she wants to convey to Norwegian women. She has: – Norway means something special to me, and I find it interesting that
Women in the network have their main base in Kristiansand. When I come here, I often think of the Southern Crown Princess Mette-Marit and the wedding that took place in 2001. I think it was a very beautiful illustration of Jesus and the bride. We are all ordinary citizens, and none of us feel that we deserve to be a Crown princess. But that is exactly what Jesus makes us: he puts a crown on every single head, giving each individual a sense of his love and his calling. When I came to Norway this time, I had a feeling that God would like to gather all these individual individuals, it is as if he will crown the nation. It is the church that is the bride, and which God desires will come forth.
She continues: — The church in the Norway is now in a time when God says, "Come on, Norway. Stand up and step forward. This is your chance! " I believe that the church in Norway will now also find that this is not only the time to travel across the oceans and drive missions, but that there will be a need for presence within Norway's borders.
"Find Your Heart of love and Find your heart of missions, this is the time for the Norwegian church to fulfill both the great commandment of love and the Great Commission to go and to make Jesus look good."
Text: Maria Berrum Lande Photo: Heidi Jackobsen
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