World Wide Women Prayer Web - History

It was in the late 1800’s that a small group of women in New York City established a women’s ministry for the sole purpose of training women to serve Christ. Their call was to train in servanthood leadership, to meet needs in New York City but also around the world. Many of these early women went out as missionaries to other countries.

The establishment of this took place bathed in prayer…women praying together, and on the day of formal establishment, the record reads that this little band of women went to an upper room in the house and spread their intentions before God, asking His direction and blessings…that was in December of 1893. God heard their prayers and not only established such a ministry with His blessing but has kept it until the present time. What began in prayer has been sustained in prayer as God has covered with His blessing.

In old records, I ran across the prayer plan they initiated. They named it Waiting Women, and those who could meet together did so one Saturday a month. That was a most special day in their lives as they gave it entirely to prayer, fasting, and waiting on God to hear and answer, watching for God’s responses to their prayers. Some of them invited others and met together at the ministry location, but others invited family and/or friends to their homes for the sole purpose of praying. And those who could not leave their homes to meet with others, gave their day to Him, in an act of consecration, fasting and praying…a special day. Even though some could not gather together physically, they were united together in prayer and petitions.

While we are always welcome and encouraged to bring our cares to Him, because He cares for us, we want to enlarge our prayer…to do Kingdom praying…to look out upon the world which belongs to Him and to pray for His will to be done on earth as it is in Heaven, etc. Let us endeavor to enter into a prayer life that is led by His Spirit…yes, sharing our personal needs with Him and others we are praying with, but first seeking the mind of Christ and God’s work in our intercessions. …Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matt. 6:33)