“O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.” Psalm 34:3

“…weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” Psalm 30:5

Greater Portland Women’s Prayer and Praise (1999-2004)

Since the ministry’s inception, the women of Morninglight have been motivated by a desire to experience and encourage reconciliation and revival in the Body of Christ.  In the late 1990s, God birthed a vision in the hearts of a few of his daughters to bring women together across denominations, races, and generations — barriers that so easily separate Christians from one another.

Originally known as “Greater Portland Women’s Prayer and Praise” (GPWPP), our first gathering occurred Thanksgiving weekend in 1999.  About 120 women from over a dozen churches turned out for the first meeting. Within the following months, over 40 churches were represented at quarterly GPWPP breakfast meetings and informal prayer gatherings. As women gathered to worship together, exhort, encourage and pray for one another and the Church, God worked powerfully among us. Testimonies of healed bodies, restored relationships and transformed lives came forth from otherwise “ordinary women.”

The Dawn of Morninglight (2004)

“So let us know, let us press on to know the LORD. His going forth is as certain as the dawn; And He will come to us like the rain, Like the spring rain watering the earth.” Hosea 6:3

Over time, it became evident that this association of women had become more than just a series of breakfast conferences. A small core of women sought God’s direction in prayer for the future. At our fifth anniversary meeting, Barbara Appleby (co-founder and director of Morninglight) announced the ministry’s new name—Morninglight Ministries—and mission statement:

Uniting women in the Body of Christ, across denominations, races, and generations, to birth revival through prayer, reconciliation, healing, and equipping in Maine, New England and the nations.

As the sun first rises over the State of Maine before striking the rest of the United States, so we pray that the light of the Son may revive hearts in Maine, and spread throughout the Church to display the surpassing beauty of Jesus.

Morninglight Today (2004-present)

“Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23

“Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.” Psalm 90:14

Over time, the image of the morning has taken on additional meaning as a picture of the new beginnings that exist for each of us in Christ. The Bible speaks of morning as a time of rekindled hope, joy and freshness. As His love inflames our hearts, personally and collectively, we learn to trust and lean on His Spirit. True and lasting revival begins as each of us is ignited, healed and released by the boundless love of Jesus.

Through the years, we have cried together, laughed together, and prayed together.  We have carried one another’s burdens.  By the grace of God, we have seen minds and bodies healed, marriages restored, forgiveness extended, children and spouses come to the Lord, our daughters and sisters marry and give birth, and our mothers and grandmothers promoted to heaven.  We have cheered as our sisters stepped into their callings—some right in Morninglight meetings, some in their local churches, and some in the far corners of the world.

The activities of Morninglight–conferences, prayer meetings, discipleship groups, mentoring relationships and outreach–serve to propel women toward the Bright and Morning Star, Jesus. We hope you will join us.

“My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning.” Psalm 130:6

“I, Jesus…am the Root of David, the Bright and Morning Star.” Revelation 22:16