Heroes of the Faith: Maria Woodworth-Etter – The Woman Who Wouldn’t Stay Silent

Before there were microphones or stadiums, before women were widely accepted behind pulpits—or even allowed to vote—there was a woman so full of fire and faith that the world couldn’t ignore her.

Her name was Maria Woodworth-Etter, and her ministry didn’t begin on a platform. It began in pain, loss, and a quiet, burning question:
“God, if You healed people in the Bible… why not now?”

Maria wasn’t trained in a seminary. She didn’t grow up with theological advantages or cultural permission. In fact, she buried five of her six children before stepping into full-time ministry. The grief was unimaginable. And yet—like so many women throughout scripture—she did not let sorrow steal her calling.
She brought it to the altar.

In the late 1800s, Maria heard God call her to preach. Let that sink in. A woman. Preaching. In the 1880s. In rural America.

She was nervous. She felt unqualified. She questioned whether women were “allowed.” Sound familiar?

But then she opened her Bible—not through the lens of tradition, but with fresh eyes.

And what she saw… changed everything.

In her book Signs and Wonders, Maria boldly unpacks scriptures that are often misunderstood when it comes to women in the church. And sister, it’s worth shouting from the rooftops.

She points out that on the day of Pentecost, the Spirit didn’t fall on men alone. The fire of God sat on each of them—sons and daughters—young men and old, servants and handmaidens (Acts 2:17–18). And they all began to preach.

Maria writes, “They saw these men and women, with their faces shining with the glory of God, all preaching at once, all anxious to tell what God had done.”

Does that sound like silence to you?

Yes, Maria acknowledges that Paul said, “Let the women keep silent in the churches.” But then she does what many fail to do—she reads the whole Bible.

Here’s what she saw:

• In 1 Corinthians 11:5, Paul clearly references women who pray and prophesy.
• Philip had four daughters who prophesied (Acts 21:9).
• Paul worked closely with women in ministry—Priscilla, Phoebe, Junia, and more. He called them fellow laborers in Christ.
• In Romans 16, he gives Phoebe a glowing recommendation and instructs the church to help her “in whatever she needs,” noting she was a great help to him personally.

Maria says it plainly:

“We are not under law, but under grace.”

She points out that Paul was addressing disruptive arguments in Corinth—not silencing every Spirit-filled woman for all time. And what about Deborah, Huldah, and Miriam? Or Queen Esther, who literally changed the course of a nation?

Throughout Signs and Wonders, Maria weaves these examples together like a tapestry of truth—reminding us that God has always called women to rise, lead, and speak His Word.

Maria didn’t just explain the scriptures—she embodied them. When she finally obeyed the call to preach, the power of God came with her. People were healed, delivered, and filled with the Spirit. Journalists tried to mock her—but couldn’t deny the miracles.

She traveled across the United States by train, holding revival meetings in tents and town halls. The sick were carried in on stretchers—and walked out whole.

And here’s the thing: she didn’t do it to prove a point about gender. She did it because people were hurting—and Jesus heals.

But in doing so, she also proved something that generations of women needed to see:
You are not disqualified. You are called.

If you’ve ever wondered, “Does God really want to use me?”
If you’ve ever felt held back by the weight of tradition, culture, or even well-meaning religious voices…
If you’ve ever second-guessed your ability to teach, to lead, or to share what’s burning in your spirit…

Maria’s story is for you.

She wasn’t perfect. She wasn’t polished. But she was willing.

And if God could use a grieving mother in the 1800s—a time when women couldn’t vote or own property—to shake the nation with the power of the Holy Spirit…

He can absolutely use you.

You don’t need permission from man when you’ve already received the commission from Heaven.

So open your Bible. Lift your voice. Pour out what He’s put inside you.

Because daughter… you have something to say.

Woodworth-Etter, Maria. Signs and Wonders. Harrison House, 1997 (reprint of 1916 edition).