For years people told Barbara Amos that she didn't belong in the pulpit, but she didn't listen to her critics. Today she's one of many black women who are on the front lines taking ground for God's kingdom.
Battleships dominate the skyline of the James River in Norfolk, Virginia.
In nearby shipyards and at the city's huge naval training station, sailors maintain constant readiness for military conflict. At a typical 8 a.m. Sunday worship service, the church's sanctuary is filled with a sense of anticipation. Bishop Barbara Amos approaches the pulpit, opens her Bible and delivers a power-packed sermon on the subject of perseverance, a virtue she has modeled in Norfolk during the 10 years she has labored to build this church. Her ability to effectively preach the gospel and successfully lead a large congregation has caused more than one person in Virginia's Tidewater region to rethink their opposition to ordaining women. Amos, who is just 5 feet 5 inches tall, is a giant in her church and community.