The ministry of Maria Woodworth-Etter (1844-1924) is often called the most powerful of the modern era. She was born in Ohio, the fourth daughter of Samuel and Matilda Underwood, who eventually had eight children.
At the age of thirteen, she went forward in a church service when the pastor gave an invitation to seek the Lord. Following this, Maria involved herself in the church and zealously attended services.
Maria felt called to serve God, but she did not feel qualified. She told God that if He would show her what to do, she would obey Him and go into the ministry. She began to hold meetings, and many were converted, healed, and filled with the Holy Spirit.
Maria traveled across North America many times and preached to thousands of people in all the large cities in the United States. Many dramatic healings of the most incurably sick occurred. Broken bones were instantly mended, the lame walked, demons were cast out, and even the dead were raised to life. Both she and her audiences reported many visions they had of heaven, angels, the New Jerusalem, and forthcoming events, including earthquakes and wars that subsequently occurred. Moreover, hundreds of thousands of people were saved through this remarkable ministry.