Women, Diversity and Hidden Leadership … A Message Shared by WCA Parent, Natasha Robinson

Wesleyan’s middle school and high school students recently had the privilege of hearing a challenging message from Mrs. Natasha Robinson. 

Mrs. Robinson is a speaker, author, and founder of Leadership LINKS, Inc.  She and her husband, Deronta, are part of the Wesleyan family as their daughter, Ashley, is a fourth grader in the academy.  Mrs. Robinson is a graduate of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and the U.S. Naval Academy and served as an officer in the Marine Corp.  Some of her passions include serving as a Bible teacher, anti-human trafficking advocate, writer and champion for education. 

In the book of Galatians, the Apostle Paul writes “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”  In a world, that does not recognize this teaching, and even as Christians, we have often missed the mark with recognizing the leadership skills and talents that God has given many of his children; therefore, their accomplishments are seldom acknowledged.

With this in mind, Mrs. Robinson so eloquently shared with the students how numerous individuals throughout history, especially women and individuals from diverse people groups, were seldom acknowledged and recognized for their God-given talents and accomplishments that helped to change the course of history. The recent blockbuster movie, Hidden Figures, brought this idea to the forefront of American history as the movie, which was taken from the book written by Margot Lee Shetterly, told the story of three African American women whose successes in the NASA space program were hidden from the world.  When one studies the history of the United States, he or she will inevitably read about American hero, Astronaut John Glen, the first American to orbit the Earth. However, few could tell about the many accomplishments of Mrs. Katherine Johnson, a brilliant mathematician who served as a “human computer” for NASA. In fact, Katherine was so consistent with giving the correct answer to highly complicated mathematical equations, Glen trusted her calculations more than the computers that were being used during this time.

Mrs. Robinson also reminded the students of women whose roles throughout biblical history often saved lives and always accomplished God’s will, yet they are not honored and readily recognized as leaders.  As an example, she recounted the story of Moses.  We read in the book of Exodus that the actions of many women, some from other nations, were crucial in saving the life and the success of Moses as a leader.  On at least four separate occasions, God used them.  First, at his birth, the Hebrew midwives protected him from Pharaoh’s wrath.  The actions of his own mother and sister saved him from death.  Pharaoh’s daughter, an Egyptian woman, raised him through adulthood.  Finally, his wife, Zipporah, a non-Israelite, saved Moses’ life by circumcising their son before the Lord.  As Mrs. Robinson stated, “If not for the leadership, faithfulness and obedience of these women, there would not have been an adult Moses to lead the Israelites out of slavery.” 

What does this mean for us today?  Mrs. Robinson shared that today, we still have these challenges, and we must be intentional with not letting our differences keep us from learning from each other.  We miss a great opportunity to gain great knowledge when we allow a person’s sex, race and ethnicity to prevent us from this.  Mrs. Robinson stated it best as she said, “The Biblical concern is that we must remember each of us are created in the image of God and as Christians, each of us are redeemed by Jesus.  He has made us unique and diverse on purpose.  He has done this in his creativity and all of His goodness.”  

Wesleyan is blessed to have such phenomenal speakers share with our students.  May the Lord help all of us to learn to celebrate our differences in the light of his Word.

Mrs. Robinson also shared about the program, “Walk In Purpose” that will be offered this summer for girls in rising 7th-10th grade through Leadership LINKS, Inc. If you would like to learn more about this program and register, please click here.  This will be an exciting opportunity of learning and growth for these young women.  Leadership LINKS believes the “the essence of leadership is loving service – first to God and then to others.”

“God does not will that I should fashion the other person according to the image that seems good to me, that is, in my own image; rather in his very freedom from me God made this person in His image. I can never know beforehand how God’s image should appear in others. That image always manifests a completely new and unique form that comes solely from God’s free and sovereign creation.”  Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Christian Community

Dr. Rob Brown
Head of School