International (MNN) — Throughout the world, women are treated as less than human. Gender-based killings — practiced everywhere from China to the U.S. — kills thousands of baby girls before they take their first breath. In many of the world’s “developing” nations, mothers and wives do 75% of the household labor.

If girls and young women make it beyond the age of five, they face a myriad of dangers specifically tied to their gender: female mutilation, the risk of becoming a child bride, being sold and/or trafficked as a sex slave, etc.

The list goes on and on.

In light of our current series about women in leadership, that begs the following question: How can you develop women leaders if their basic rights aren’t even recognized?

Karin Primuth of Asian Access (A2) says not only is it possible, it’s key to growing God’s Kingdom.

“It’s a very critical opportunity,” Primuth emphasizes. “Basically, to develop a woman is to develop a family, a community, and a culture, because she is going to re-invest in her family, her children, and her community.”

A2 helps women recognize the skills God has given them, and then use those skills to tell more people about Jesus. But, they’re not the only mission agencies investing in an oft-overlooked people group.

“There are women who are trying to catalyze opportunities for other women to create ministries that encourage their development,” notes Primuth.

• Global Advance walks a similar path as Asian Access: developing women in leadership.
• Mission India helps women find their voice by teaching them how to read and write.
• Gospel for Asia empowers women to reach other women for Christ.
• Food for the Hungry uses micro-loans to help women develop economic skills, thereby decreasing her vulnerability to traffickers and similar predators.

Click on the highlighted group names above to learn more about each opportunity.

Though our series has ended, keep praying for women — those in leadership, those who serve the Lord in silence, and those who don’t know about His love. Ask the Lord if He wants you to invest in programs, like those mentioned above, that are sharing the Gospel with women around the world.

Read previous stories in the series: Part One and Part Two.

Listen to the broadcast (story starts at 2:10)

• Originally published on Mission Network News
• Download the audio file: http://asianaccess.org/mnn/4-5min-Oct31-2014.mp3
• Photo credits: Cover image courtesy Bright Hope; second photo courtesy Asian Access
• Full interview: http://www.asianaccess.org/latest/blogs/mission-network-news-blog/860-kaerin-primuth-on-women-in-leadership
• visionSynergy - Kärin serves as CEO of visionSynergy:
  • visionSynergy helps Christian organizations work together for maximum impact by developing and strengthening strategic ministry networks and partnerships in critical areas of world mission. We play a unique role in the worldwide Christian movement as one of the few mission service organizations specifically dedicated to empowering ministry collaboration.