A Call to Ministry

It was the summer of 1997, while Arnetta Bailey and family (Tom, two sons) were still living and worshipping in Indianapolis, that a young man in her church came to her and said, “The Lord told me you would help my mother.”

Arnetta knew the woman (let’s call her Donna). She was strung out on drugs, prostituting, leaving her children home alone while she walked the streets. Is there need to say more. Because of the son’s insistence, Arnetta finally gave in. She went looking for Donna and found her.

Arnetta made several contacts with Donna. Prayerfully asking God for guidance, the Lord’s instructions were to, “Speak My Word into herlife.” So she began to say to Donna, “I see you saved. I see you living for God and communing with God. I see you out of the hand of drugs and prostitution. I see you loving and caring for your children. I see you whole.” But by the fall of 1997 Donna was in prison and pregnant. To further complicate matters, Arnetta’s husband made a career change that required the family to move to Akron, Ohio. Six months after arriving in Akron, Arnetta received a letter in the mail. It was from Donna. She had given her heart to the Lord while in prison. She said that she gave her heart to the Lord because someone believed in her. Someone believed she could be different.” That someone was Arnetta.

As the Bailey family settled in Akron, Arnetta resumed her activities working with the National Association Women of the Church of God National Convention. The Lord however, began to pull on her heart. “Everything you are involved in caters to Christian women. I want you to reach the lost for me.” Arnetta says from that point on, I began to see God moving me out of the ministries I had been apart of. I kept telling God, “As soon as I finish this I will give some time and thought to where you’re leading me.” But the push to severe her ties became increasingly strong. She obeyed.

While driving back from Indianapolis on July 17, 1999, the Lord laid out clearly what it was He wanted Arnetta to do—begin a faith-based mentoring program for women. Many women need social services don’t always get the “hook-up” to those services easily. Arnetta was to go find these women and take them to the services the needed AND TELL THEM ABOUT JESUS in the process. “I ran from this idea for a while, “ admits Arnetta. “I wanted to give up.” But the Lord kept saying, “I didn’t give upon you!” I went to my father, Elder Dr. Timmie McNeese; my pastor, Dr. Ronald J. Fowler; and Dorothy Jackson Deputy Mayor and explained my vision and the fact that I was not sure how to make it happen.” Who better to have gone to?

Arnetta has since stood before boards explaining her ministry. It works like this: Arnetta identifies Christian women who want to commit to a one-year mentoring relationship with unsaved woman. She then will find women who are in need of help and willing to receive the help while hearing about the Lord. Those being mentored may be in crisis, such as poverty and divorce, etc. but they may not be. Mentoring involves making at least three contacts with the woman each month. What is done during this contact is between the mentor and her mentee. The intent is for Christian women to share their belief in Christ and help lead their sister to Him.

By the way, who’s Priscilla? Arnetta’s mother, who like Priscilla and Aquilla found in Acts 18:26 took the time to “Explain the way of God more adequately to her.”

Published by
Church of God Ministry Magazine
Akron , Ohio - 2000