Abstract
The work of early Church Of God In Christ (C. O. G.I. C.) pioneers is mainly remembered as the work of men. This essay considers that in a culturally confining society that, as a whole, saw Black sanctified women unfit for leadership, the sisters ’ products—building schools, organizing conventions, changing nations-ran counter to expectations. It is of interest that a group labeled marginalized, ignorant and downtrodden moved skillfully through multicultural settings, responded to hostilities from those in their communities, and handled conflict with male constituencies with grace and advocacy. If language is about meaning, once the meaning of Pentecostal femaleness in sharing what it means to live out the sanctified life is understood, then the myriad activities in which lasting fruit are produced makes sense.