Maria Woodworth-Etter

Background

Woodworth-Etter was born in New Lisbon, Columbiana County, Ohio as Mariah Buelah Underwood. She was born again at the beginning of the Third Great Awakening at the age of thirteen.

Education

She studied the scriptures and began preaching the Lord"s divine will in healing.

Career

Maria immediately heard the call of God and dedicated her life to the Lord. She had six children with Woodworth, five of whom died young. Her earliest exposure to religion was through a local Disciples of Christ congregation.

Prohibited from public preaching among the Disciples, she found support in a local Quaker meeting.

After this experience, she began to preach. Reporting hundreds of conversions, her campaigns attracted reporters from across the country.

She began to pray for the sick in 1885, believing that those with sufficient faith would be healed. Her meetings also became known for people falling to the floor in trance-like states.

These people would later report profound spiritual experiences while in such a state.

As she preached throughout the nation, her reputation grew, leading her to purchase of an 8,000 seat tent in which to conduct her services. In 1918, she founded what is today Lakeview Church of Indianapolis, Indiana.

Achievements

• lieutenant didn"t take long to see that evangelism and healing went hand in hand as thousands were won to Christ as a result of seeing others healed.