INLAND AND SOUTHERN U.S.—Five years after his decision to make the final sacrifice to God, and on the eve of his ordination, the Man who once was Woman is pausing to reflect on the decision that allowed him to reach this point in his career.
“It’s so easy to slip into thinking that you’ve sacrificed all there is to sacrifice,” said the former woman, who was the CEO a successful business specializing in cross-generational and cross cultural marketing. “It’s easy to think I’ve done all I need to—sacrificed career, postponed marriage, children, and all the things girls usually dream about to come to the Seminary and pursue ministry. But always with us we have hidden prides and things we blindly cling to, unaware that they’re preventing us from following the path that God has called us to.”
Woman, who transformed her company into a rapidly growing organization with a strong community presence, says it took her many months to realize that she was selfishly clinging on to something. “But after observing the Adventist Bureaucratic Organization, I began to sense there was something I was selfishly keeping. Then one day, while listening to a sermon from that famous Adventist evangelist, it all became clear. I was holding on to my W and O!”
Even so, Woman, who was skilled at maintaining an open, honest atmosphere of high morale in her company, found it difficult to give up her W and O. “I kept on telling God, if Lydia could keep hers back then, why can’t I keep mine now? Then I told God I didn’t want to be a pastor. Asked him to let me be a Sabbath School Superintendent, or a Director of Women’s Ministries, or a conference secretary.
Woman, who implemented a policy of bottom-up leadership in her company, and empowered all her employees to take responsibility and leadership, shrunk from the final sacrifice and postponed the decision.
“It’s sad,” said the prominent Adventist evangelist. “So few females pursuing ministry realize that as long as they have a W and O, they will never go anywhere in ministry.”
But God still pursued Woman, who is renowned as a compassionate, yet compelling public speaker, talking to her directly one day during her morning prayers. “I was kneeling at my desk, crying and begging God to let me go, when I got a strong sense of: Child, for you to lead the ministry I’ve given you skills for, to reach the people I’ve called you to reach, I need you to make this last sacrifice. It would not be necessary if more people listened to my voice, examined my word, and relied less on a Roman Catholic tradition. But I cannot force people to change who won’t, so I have called you to sacrifice for their sake.”
In that moment, Woman fully committed to God, and willingly decided to sacrifice the two letters. A surgeon she contacted proved extremely helpful, and agreed to perform the necessary procedures for free.
Four years ago, after graduating from the Seminary, Woman flew to Loma Linda, where Dr. Jonathan Stewart removed her Double U’s, and then, through a series of surgeries, grafts, and hormone treatments, replaced her O with an I.
The procedure has allowed the former woman to rapidly ascend the path where God was leading.
“It was not that complicated, and now, instead of a lousy alto, I sing a beautiful tenor."
“I, Man” will be ordained this Sabbath in Pioneer Memorial Church.
