Since a woman may not hold leadership over a man in the Church, is it permissible for a woman to evangelize to a man? I have a gentlemen I know who is interested in hearing the Gospel, but as a woman I'm not sure I should be the one to bring him through a spiritual discussion. Should I direct him to my pastor?
First, we applaud your sensitivity to the issue of headship. The Bible calls for men to take the leadership role within the church, particularly in the realm of teaching. On the other hand, every believer is called to witness to the truth of the Gospel at every opportunity. Pastors and men in general are not "specially commissioned" to share the Gospel. On the contrary, all Christians are commissioned to share their faith. As Peter wrote:
1Pet. 3:15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;
Peter wasn't writing this instruction only to the men in the church or to pastors; he was writing to the entire Church. So you should feel free to embrace the opportunities the Lord gives to explain your faith and share the Gospel, whether to women or to men. Many men have been led to faith by the witness of a faithful woman, especially mothers to their sons and wives to their husbands. This situation does not threaten the Biblical call for headship, since it is impossible for a Christian to assume the role of spiritual authority over an unbeliever.
Should your efforts to witness to this man prove successful, then you should anticipate the need ultimately to refer this man to other godly men in the Church who may disciple him and minister to his needs. In this way, you are both respecting male headship while at the same time seizing the opportunity to use your spiritual gifts and the power of your testimony to further the Kingdom and glorify the Lord.
Finally, we always advise Christians to remain vigilant in any situation in which you could be engaged in potentially sensitive and emotionally-charged discussions with someone of the opposite sex, especially if one or both of the individuals are married. Unfortunately, sharing our faith with the opposite sex can lead to unwanted advances, and the enemy often exploits these contacts to tempt believers into sin or to give opportunity for false accusations.
Therefore, always conduct such conversations in a public space or under the watchful eye of other men or women who can protect you from a compromising situation or false accusations. Never agree to meet alone with a person of the opposite sex in a home or in a car, and avoid engaging in frequent phone conversations without disclosing those conversations to a brother or sister in the Church.
