Jackie Mugane: On Love, Learning and Living Confidently
This month, Yakuti spoke to Jackie Mugane, the Assistant Senior Pastor at the African Nazarene University (ANU) Chapel. Jackie holds a B.Th from ANU and is currently enrolled in Daystar University’s Masters in Media and Communications programme. She is passionate about mentoring young women, spiritual development in people of all ages and most importantly, God. Here are her thoughts on life, love, and lessons for women.
What are five words that would describe Jackie Mugane?
Loving, sociable, perfectionist, risk taker and time conscious.
What is your favourite childhood memory?
I guess I have many but one of the most vivid memories I have is when a mental bar hit my head and I thought I would die. My mum was screaming for help since she also thought that impact must have heard a lot of damage, but there was not much damage on my head and I was out and about the next day playing with my sisters as if nothing had happened to me.
Did you ever think you would attain this level of education? Was it always
your aim?
With the kind of supportive parents I have, there was no reason why it seemed impossible to achieve anything. My dad was a trained teacher and he strongly beliefs in girl child education. We are three girls in my family and he always encouraged us and sacrificed a lot to get us the best education possible. Hence with so much support my aim was to do my best to achieve all that i could. My aim is actually to attain a PHD after I am done with my Masters program.
Why the degree in theology and not any other field?
At some point in my life I had a real need to understand and know God. I still do but I guess then it was stirred up in me. Hence I did theology. After some time i realized that in as much as theology has a lot to do with biblical studies what i was truly looking for was God. God was not found in the books because there was still something missing. God was found in a relationship with Him. I am glad that I did theology for am better equipped to understand certain biblical issues affecting our generation and our context.
I also feel that biblical ignorance is what is causing many false teachers and spiritual leaders today. Some pastors who may not have the necessary basics may be at a disadvantaged position of misinterpretation of scripture. This as you may know can cause a lot of confusion among those who are under the leadership of these leaders. A degree in theology is very beneficial for effective teaching and leadership.
Are you close to your mother?
My mum is more of a friend than a mum. We talk about anything. When we were growing up we were closer to my dad than my mum but now it seems Mum is the one I am closer to. When we were young, Mum [was] the disciplinarian and so we tended to avoid her but now [that] my sisters and I are all grown, there is nothing but friendship between us.
What is the best thing she has ever done for you?
The best thing Mum has taught us is to love God and to desire to know Him. I can confidently say the encouragement that she has given me concerning my personal spiritual pursuit is part of the reason why I am who I am today.
What is your take on mentorship?
I believe mentorship is very important because it allows us to stand on the shoulders of others who have walked the journey and can most definitely help us, especially when it comes to the place in ones life when you need to be understood and to disclose certain things about oneself without the fear of been judged or betrayed. I always tell people to ask the Lord to lead them to people who can mentor them, and not assume that a certain person is good to mentor them. It wise to allow God to lead you to such a person. It may be someone you do not expect.
What do you have to say about the state of womanhood today and the role
models young women have?
Womanhood today has been taken on a very material note. A woman is defined by the clothes she wears, the makeup she has on and the designer perfume she is wearing. But what does God say about women? How does God give woman their identity – is it based on their careers and their material well being? I don’t think so. God’s identity of the woman is a helper to the man. Helper meaning that she gives life to the vision that God has given the man, she encourages the man until the vision is brought forth and birth in to reality, she uses her influential power to birth his dream on her knees. God gave the woman a womb for a very good reason. In as much as she carries a baby for 9 months, in the spirit she is the one who should carry the vision that the man has been given in her spirit until it brings forth the kind of fruit God intends for it.
That is why I think a woman should not marry just anybody who has no vision of sense of purpose in life. She will be frustrated because she has the power to bring forth a vision but the man she is married to has no seed of vision to impart in her spirit. It is a high standard, I agree, but when we trust God for the very best, he will bring us a man of purpose and vision. Young women who are models in their societies have a huge role to play in imparting their wisdom on other young women, That is why I believe in mentoring so much, because my journey with the Lord in term of self identity is something that i impart to many who are struggling with the same issue and others that are bound in the cycle of materialism as their identity definers.
How do you spend your free time (do you ever have any free time)?
Yes I do have free time. I spend it at home with my family or with friends. When I am free, most of the time I am cooking for my family, which I love doing. I also love reflecting by journaling. I write a lot and therefore on my bedside there is always a note pad. [There is] another in my hand bag which I carry all the time. I easily find the Lord’s voice to me in journaling and writing. My mum tells me when i was small all I did was write on walls. One thing I am praying about is to compile a devotional book.
As the assistant senior pastor of the Nazarene University congregation, do
you ever encounter any opposition to women in the pulpit? How do you
respond to 1 Timothy 2:12?
Paul talks about his opinion that women should not talk in church. This has been a basis of an entire doctrine against woman leadership in the church to the extent that in some of the African cultures as a woman you can not stand and speak to men in a church because they have their basis both from culture and biblical misinterpretations. It should be noted that Paul’s opinion on women’s leadership should be interpreted in consideration of certain factors like the context, the cultural background, the historical overview and so many other factors. Aside from this, scripture should be interpreted in context of the whole biblical witness. [Don't] take a verse and interpret it in isolation. All these well studied can help get a balanced approach in one’s interpretations of that scripture.
Paul was not against women in leadership, he was addressing an issue in that context. A lack of this understanding has made many do injustice to this scripture and the bible has not been leant its authentic voice. I can not over-emphasize that the greatest challenge in biblical teaching is interpretation. I can not say that I encounter opposition from women. The pastors that I work with are very supportive. In fact, the general feel is that my being the Assistant Pastor allows gender balance in the church leadership. The church of the Nazarene advocates and strongly believes in women leadership, so with me I guess they got a chance to see how it all works.
How do you minister to “intellectuals”, i.e. those who are so well-read
that they find Christianity superstitious and foolish?
This is the greatest challenge in the teaching and pastoral ministry. I guess most of the intellectuals in my church are people who love the Lord and have walked with him for long, so they don’t pose a great problem. But I guess if I was to be challenged on that note, the principle of Love (which is the reason why Jesus came and the reason why I am serving him) is the best weapon against the intellectual’s mind that wants to resist the existent of God in their lives. No matter how well read you may be, Love will always strike a cord. Love as spoken of in 1Corinthians 13, is the key. It may take long but as long as it gradually brings down their walls it’s worth the effort.
Are you single/married? Do men find you intimidating because of your academic achievements?
I am single. Yes, men do find me very intimidating, which is something I have tried working on. I do not believe it’s of much benefit if they feel that way. My brother tells me that I am very confident and therefore intimidating. I always try to keep a smile on my face and greet people just to break the ice of tension if need be.
Do you think today’s marriages are in crisis?
For a long time women especially in the African culture were very oppressed and never had a voice in society. Things have changed a lot, and women are now getting educated and climbing the academic ladder of great achievements. This has worked to the woman’s favour but there is need for a balance because many women perceive marriages as a setback towards their ambitions. I feel there is need for marriage to be put in proper perspective in as much as career and education is a great priority to many women. It takes the grace of God to balance this out, and that is why as I said earlier if a woman can find her identity in God first then its easier to put certain things on a balanced platform because by getting married she is not losing out or her success as a woman for true success is self-identity which nothing or no one can take away from you.
What can young women do today to prepare themselves for their role as
wives and mothers?
They can desire and strive to love God and serve him in their singleness. It is out of this that they will understand their roles as wives and mothers. The world has its own perceptions of motherhood and what a wife should or should not be. However, God’s design for these two roles is what unmarried women should strive to understand and walk in.
In your opinion, should Christian women have careers? Why or why not?
Of course Christian women should have careers. The Bible says that we have all been given different giftings and these gifts are to be exercised in the market place, in the court rooms, in the fashion design centers, in the schools, in the catering business. Wherever a Christian woman finds herself, she needs to understand that God has positioned her in that place to be a witness to Him through the many gifts he has put in her. If we were all in church, then who [would] go out and minister to the lost? No one. Hence we need to be in the market place working out our gifting and realizing that there is a difference to the way we do things.
Where should women feature in Kenyan/African politics?
Women should be featuring a great deal in politics, not in a spirit of competition with men but for the sake of the other women who do not have a voice or the education. A woman truly understands the struggle of making her mark in the midst of a male dominated society. When she takes up political office she is not just representing herself but the many other women in her society. For instance, the issue of female circumcision can be well-addressed if woman are at the forefront of campaigns against it compared to men.
Who inspires you?
For me it’s not only who inspires me but what….Love inspires me. God has been my primary inspiration. I usually close my eyes when I am praying and I visualize the Lord holding my hand and walking with me every step of the way. Am inspired by the love of God in my life and in the lives of people around me. When I listen to testimonies of what God has done in people’s lives, those really inspire me.
What has been the darkest moment of your life so far? How did you overcome it?
My darkest moment was when I was confronted with the fear of dying in a war-torn country of Sierra Leone. My dad was working there for the U.N and one Sunday morning at 3:00am, [thanks to a coup d'état], my family was surrounded by rebels who would stop at nothing to get what they wanted. At that time, they wanted money and vehicles. It’s truly by God’s grace that we managed to escape from Sierra Leone into Guinea through a United Nations Food Program ship vessel without any harm done to us. I remember my mum telling us, “All that will save us is God so pray”. Prayer surely worked because the next day U.N security came for us at home and they took us on board the food vessel. We were not allowed to carry anything. It was all about saving our lives. We walked out of a fully furnished house and left with nothing other than the clothes on our bodies.
What is that Bible verse that keeps you going when you feel like you’re about to give up?
There are times the pressure just feels too much and the word that keeps me going is Philippians 4:6 “Be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving make your request known unto God and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your heart and minds through Christ Jesus”. Jesus paid a great price for my peace and joy and I refuse to allow circumstances to dictate my attitude. It took a long time to develop this balance in the midst of crisis but I finally did and it is a great place to be at.
Who is God to you?
God is the love of my life. I have known no other that loves me the way Jesus does.
Anything else you’d like to add?
God is always in control, no matter what we face in life as His children. He allows the pains, the hurt and the storm to refine us so that we can come to the place of submission to him and acceptance of his love that we crave for and look for in all the wrong places.
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Wow girl; you sure are one passionate young lady and i am pleased to have met someone with vision, purpose and determination to see God’s will done in her life and those around her!!!!! Mentoring sure works and is vital especialy in the spiritual things; am glad you emphasised training and learning through theology; it’s true we do take verses out of context which is detrimental; however am thankful to have met a female pastor in close range who will teach me more and more day by day…. you’ve been a blessing thus far and am sure for many more days as we walk and talk etc…. much love!! CAT
I find it odd that Jackie says that “Paul talks about his opinion that women should not talk in church“.
The entire book of Timothy is about Paul teaching on the subject of how the Church should be run, and correcting errors in practice. This is what jackie wants to reduce to an opinion?
In citing a reference for this, please note that Paul did not cite culture as a factor. He cited what happened in the beginning with Eve – the fact that the first woman did not keep to her place but usurped authority:
1Ti 2:13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve.
1Ti 2:14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
The singular factor for Paul commanding women not to teach here is this – that it is not in God’s order for her to.
Jackie needs to go study this again. All those other “factors” that she wants to impose on the context are not there. Paul gave only one – God’s order.
Biblically, Jackie and all female pastors are out of line. This may be blunt, but it is said with all love.
Grace.