Maria Woodworth-Etter (1844–1924) was an American Pentecostal preacher, evangelist, and a prominent figure in the Holiness and early Pentecostal movements. She is often remembered for her powerful and dynamic ministry that attracted large crowds, particularly in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Here are a few key points about her life and ministry:
- Early Life and Call to Ministry: Maria was born in 1844 in Lisbon, Ohio. She became a Christian in her early years and felt a call to ministry, despite the gender limitations of her time. She initially faced resistance from family and society due to the prevailing view that women should not preach.
- Ministry and Preaching: After some years of personal spiritual struggle, she began preaching in public and rapidly gained a reputation as an evangelist. Her services often involved dramatic manifestations of the Holy Spirit, such as healings, prophecies, and people falling under the power of the Holy Spirit, which would later be associated with the Pentecostal movement.
- Emphasis on Healing and the Holy Spirit: Woodworth-Etter was known for her emphasis on divine healing and the power of the Holy Spirit. She held large healing revivals that brought people from all over the country to hear her preach and to seek physical, emotional, and spiritual healing.
- Influence on the Pentecostal Movement: Maria Woodworth-Etter is often considered one of the pioneering women in the Pentecostal and Holiness movements. She was influenced by the teachings of the Holiness movement, which emphasized sanctification and living a holy life. Her ministry contributed to the spread of Pentecostalism, especially in terms of healing and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
- Legacy: Despite her significant influence during her lifetime, her role has sometimes been overshadowed in historical accounts of the Pentecostal movement, which tended to focus more on male leaders. However, in recent years, scholars and Pentecostal historians have worked to bring more attention to her important role. She is remembered not just for her evangelistic success but also for breaking barriers for women in ministry.
Maria Woodworth-Etter’s legacy as a trailblazer for women in ministry and a key figure in the Pentecostal and Holiness movements continues to be recognized today.
Inspiring Quotes from Maria Woodworth-Etter
- In all these trials God was preparing me and opening the way for the great battle against the enemy of souls and now the great desire of my heart was to work for Jesus. I longed to win a star for the Savior’s crown.
- At one time I was praying for the salvation of sinners, and the Saviour appeared on the cross by me, and talked with me; I laid my hand on his mangled body, and looked up in his smiling face.
- I want the reader to understand, that at this time I had a good experience, a pure heart, was full of the love of God, but was not qualified for God’s work.
- Sometimes when the Spirit of God was striving and calling so plainly, I would yield and say, ‘Yes, Lord; I will go.
- I asked God to give me the power he gave the Galilean fishermen – to anoint me for service. I came like a child asking for bread. I looked for it… God did not disappoint me.
- The prayer of faith God will answer, if He has to bring all of Heaven down, to prompt us to greater faith, to ask the Lord for greater things.
