The Women Who Pray, a women’s intercessory prayer ministry born in Federal Way, celebrated their 25th anniversary last month in SeaTac.

Evangelist Carolyn Hood is the founder of the Women Who Pray, who are strong believers in the power of intercessory prayer, or prayer on behalf of someone else. Much of their ministry focuses on helping women in need.

The group celebrated their anniversary with a prayer breakfast on Sept. 24 and concluded the following day at Faith Deliverance Assembly AOH Church of God in SeaTac, Hood said.

The Women Who Pray National & International Intercessory Prayer Ministries was found in September 1997 in Federal Way. The ministry holds two annual events to support the homeless, especially women and children; The members have a highway and by-way feeding outreach ministry focused on homeless people living near expressways, and an “After the Holiday” Christmas outreach ministry, which feeds homeless families and also distributes toys to homeless women with children.

People are just as hungry after the holidays as they are during, Hood points out, but many efforts to feed them focus just on the holiday season.

The group also holds monthly bible studies, including a session for senior women. Their monthly prayer line is held every second Wednesday at 6 p.m., and their bible study is held on every fourth Thursday at 6 p.m. Both are led by various guests, including national and international prayer intercessors, Hood said.

In a front-page story on the group from 1998, the Mirror reported on The Women Who Pray and their vision to travel to other cities across the Pacific Northwest and serve as a host to other ministries.

They have flourished like a palm tree since then, planting delegations in states like Tennessee, Oklahoma, Wisconsin and Illinois. There’s no competition between the women who make up the ministers and pastors in the Women Who Pray, Hood said; it’s all about serving.

“Our mission is to have a Women Who Pray delegation in every state in the U.S., and [more] globally,” Hood said. “We’ve been working on that for the last 25 years. … We love serving other women, going out into the community, [and we’re] not looking for any kudos or fanfare. … We’re just doing what we were called to do.”

To learn more, visit womenwhopray777.org.

In this Mirror file photo from 1998, Antoinette Smith raises her arms to God while attending Women Who Pray at the Ole Country Buffet.

Supporters of Women who Pray from around the region, including Olympia, Renton, Tacoma and Seattle, assemble for a photo at the group’s 25th anniversary event last month. Some out-of-state or international supporters and delegations weren’t able to attend. Photo courtesy Carolyn Hood.