Who Was Maria Woodworth-Etter?

Who was Maria Woodworth-Etter By Tyrone Singh

Maria Woodworth-Etter (1844–1924) was one of the most remarkable evangelists of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries—a woman mightily used by God in a time when female ministers were rare and often resisted.

She ministered in such a powerful demonstration of the Holy Spirit that thousands were drawn to her meetings. Long before it became widely accepted, she paved the way for women in ministry, influencing voices like Aimee Semple McPherson and Kathryn Kuhlman.

Born in 1844 near Lisbon, Ohio, Maria was converted and baptised at the age of thirteen. Soon after, she sensed a call to ministry. Yet like many, she struggled—held back for years by fear of public opinion and the weight of stepping into what God had called her to do.

But at the age of thirty-six, everything shifted.

She began holding revival meetings, initially connected with the United Brethren and rooted in the Methodist Holiness movement. Later, after 1884, she became associated with the Winebrennerian Churches of God. What marked her ministry from the beginning was not just her preaching—but the undeniable presence of God.

Within five years of beginning her ministry, she started praying for the sick during a crusade in Indiana. From that point forward, miraculous healings became a defining mark of her meetings. The blind saw, the lame walked, and those suffering from diseases like cancer and tuberculosis were healed. She consistently emphasised that it was not her power—but God’s sovereign grace—that brought healing.

Her meetings were also marked by deep spiritual manifestations. People would fall under the power of God, entering into visions and prophetic experiences. The presence of the Holy Spirit was so tangible that entire crowds would be impacted at once.

Maria Woodworth-Etter was also one of the first tent evangelists. By 1889, she owned a tent that seated 8,000 people—yet even that often could not contain the crowds that gathered.

In 1912, she held meetings in Dallas at the church of F. F. Bosworth, which marked her transition into the Pentecostal movement as a recognised leader. This was not a sudden shift—it was a continuation of a life already yielded to the Holy Spirit and His gifts.

Despite the fruit of her ministry, she faced intense criticism from both the religious world and the secular world. Yet she continued—preaching, establishing churches, writing books, and teaching on faith, healing, and the deeper life in the Spirit.

Her meetings were also notable for their inclusivity—welcoming both Black and white attendees during a time of deep racial division. This reflected the heart of the Gospel she carried.

She spent her later years establishing a tabernacle in Indianapolis, Indiana—now known as Lakeview Christian Center—and continued to impact the Pentecostal movement until her passing in 1924.

A PERSONAL REFLECTION

What stands out to me about Maria Woodworth-Etter is not just the miracles—but her obedience.

She didn’t start bold—she started afraid.
But she said yes anyway.

And because of that yes, thousands encountered the power of God.

It’s a reminder to all of us:
God is not looking for perfection—He’s looking for surrender.

PRAYER

Father,
Thank You for the life and example of those who have gone before us—men and women who dared to believe Your Word and step out in faith.

Lord, I ask that You would give me that same boldness.
Where there has been fear, replace it with faith.
Where there has been hesitation, release confidence in Your calling.

Holy Spirit, work through me.
Let Your power flow—not by my strength, but by Your grace.

Help me to be a vessel—available, obedient, and yielded.
To preach Your Word, to minister life, and to walk in the authority You have given me in Christ.

Let my life bear fruit that impacts others for eternity.

In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.