Women History Month: Heroes of Faith
If you haven’t figured it out yet, let me just admit, I love reading about the pioneers of faith. As a matter of fact, it was a book named, “Pioneers of Faith” written by Lester Sumerall that got me hooked. If you have not read that book, I highly recommend it.
This month I would like to highlight Maria Woodworth-Etter.
Maria (pronounced Mariah) began full time ministry in the late 1800s at 35 years of age. She is quoted as having said that she didn’t feel qualified to go out and preach. At the time that she went, female preachers were still heavily frowned upon, but she knew she had been called by God to go, so she went.
Maria’s ministry was known for the many signs and wonders, trances, and conversions of the masses. Through many difficulties, such as arrests, death threats, divorce, and accusations of insanity, she spread the gospel under the tent.
In 1912, she conducted a five month long revival for F.F. Bosworth that propelled her ministry to another level. John Lake referred to her as “Mother Etter” while others referred to her as the “Grandmother of the Pentecostal Movemet.”
I found her book, “A Diary of Signs of Wonders” several years ago and I am still impressed with the relationship this woman had the Holy Spirit. She is truly a hero of the faith and someone you should know. Wonderful Jesus!
