Early Ministry and Call
In 1880, at the age of 35, Evangelist Maria Woodworth-Etter, a forerunner to the coming Pentecostal movement, began her dynamic ministry. Even though few women were in the pulpit at the time, like Phoebe Palmer, Maria didn’t doubt her call and joined other women of that century to rise above the male prejudice against women in ministry. In her earlier ministry, Maria emphasized conversions and was very successful in meetings sponsored by Methodists, United Brethren, and other groups.
Trances and Pentecostal Power
Then in 1883, people in her meetings began going into trances similar to what had happened in the Early Frontier meetings. She was soon dubbed the “Trance Evangelist,” though she believed the experience was the baptism in the Holy Spirit or “receiving the power.” “The trances became the talk of the town. Hundreds flocked to taste of this outpouring, while others went to observe or ridicule.” During an 1883 meeting in Fairview, Ohio, Maria wrote that the people confessed sin and “prayed for a baptism of the Holy Spirit and of fire.”
Fifteen people came to the altar screaming for mercy and fell over in trances. Even at that early date, Maria called it “the Pentecostal power,” declaring “these outpourings of the Holy Ghost were always followed by hundreds coming to Christ.” In a large meeting in Alexandria, Indiana, Maria reported that the power of God took control of about 500 of the 25,000 people, causing many to fall to the ground. “The Holy Ghost sat upon them,” she wrote. “I was overpowered.” The pages of her memoirs are filled with examples of the most amazing manifestations of the Spirit.
“The power of God fell on the multitude…many fell to the ground. Others stood with their faces and hands raised to heaven. The Holy Ghost sat upon them. Others shouted, some talked, others wept. Others were converted, and began to testify and praise God. I was overpowered and carried to my tent.” By 1885, she had developed a theology that included salvation, holiness, the baptism in the Holy Spirit, healing, and the imminent return of Christ. She was also big on prophecies—part of the excitement that helped fill an 8,000-seat tent from city to city.
Legacy
Before Sister Etter went home to be with the Lord at age eighty, she had buried all six of her children and two husbands; preached thousands of sermons from coast to coast; remained the victor over hoodlums and vicious ministers; blazed the trail for women in ministry; and unflinchingly displayed the power of the Holy Spirit with mighty sounds and wonders following.
Date: 11th October 2022
Title: MARIA WOODWORTH-ETTER -The Trance Evangelist
Source: The Azusa Street Revival
Author: Roberts Liardon
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