Welcome to the We Are Vineyard Podcast! March is Women’s History Month and to celebrate, the leader of our Women’s Association, Melanie Forsythe-Lee, is interviewing Jo Saxton and Dr. Nijay Gupta. Jo shares about the reluctant “yes” she gave to ministry, the point at which her gender began to play a part, and how she dealt with obstacles along the way. Nijay talks about why he said yes to championing female pastors, and his research on the independent calling of women. Mel also discusses the “more” that Jo and Nijay desire for Vineyard Women, specifically at the upcoming Women’s Association Conference this Fall.
Jo Saxton is a speaker, podcaster, and author. She is the founder of the Ezer Collective, an initiative dedicated to investing in women leaders around the world, equipping them to own their voice, and boldly step into their calling. She currently serves as the Executive Director of The 25 (a leadership development initiative) at Bethel University. Born to Nigerian parents and raised in London, England, Jo now lives in Minneapolis with her husband and two daughters. She loves everyday stuff like good music, good food, and good friends.
Dr. Nijay K. Gupta is professor of New Testament Northern Seminary. He is the author of over twenty books including the bestselling and award-winning Tell Her Story: How Women, Led, Taught, and Ministered in the Early Church. Gupta co-hosts the popular podcast Slow Theology with AJ Swoboda and he is a senior translator of the New Living Translation. He lives in Portland, Oregon with his wife, who has served as a pastor in the past, and currently is a marriage and family therapist. They have three teenage children.
Show Notes:
Register for the 2025 Vineyard USA National Conference: Melody and Harmony
Register for the 2025 Women’s Association Conference: MORE.
Listen to previous interviews with Nijay Gupta
Becoming the Pastor’s Wife by Beth Allison Barr
