The Beginning of a Woman of Faith
In 1994, God began stirring the heart of CeCelia A. Tabb, a woman of faith who believed that when God speaks, we must trust Him. Through prayer for her own circumstances and the needs of others, she learned the power of seeking God, standing in agreement, and persevering through prayer and fasting.
As she read The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian, she felt led to connect with other women to intercede for their families, marriages, and communities.
A Prayer Group Is Born · 2002
In 2002, a personal circumstance moved CeCelia to begin the Jabez Women Prayer Group. Every Monday at 7:00 p.m., women finished work, gathered their children, and met in her living room. They prayed for marriages, children, families, careers, workplaces, health, and every concern brought before the Lord.
Seven years later, the group began traveling to other women's homes to pray with families and anoint their homes. Through those gatherings, the women witnessed answered prayers and continued to stand in faith for marriages and relationships.
“If you would have faith as a grain of a mustard seed, nothing is impossible.”— A guiding conviction from the ministry's history
Faithfulness Through Every Season
Through perseverance, resilience, persistence, and determination, the women kept praying. When Monday evening meetings became difficult, CeCelia moved the gathering to Monday mornings at 5:00 a.m. The ministry's calling continued to grow beyond a single prayer group.
A New Chapter · 2020
In 2020, Jabez Women Ministries International became a nonprofit ministry. What began with a few women praying together expanded into evangelism, feeding people experiencing homelessness, prayer in the community, adopting families during the holiday season, celebrating and encouraging graduates, attending prayer conferences, and partnering with others to help families affected by violence.
Standing in the Gap for Families
Prayer remains at the heart of Women of Jabez Ministries International. The historical prayer rhythm includes Monday intercession for marriages and relationships, Wednesday devotion and prayer for families, and Thursday fasting and prayer for men. Through every season, the ministry has sought to uplift women, strengthen homes, and serve communities in the love of Jesus Christ.
A Sisterhood of Prayer and Service
The original history honors women who have given their time in early mornings, at midnight, and even at 3:00 a.m. to intercede for others. Among those recognized in that history are Mama Ernestine Williams, Cynthia Stevens, Dr. Gale Roberts, Carla Gray, Elaine Kilgore, Elysse Carr, Toni Carmichael-Green, Gineen Cali, Eunice Henderson, Nykea Kelly, Keisha Hudson, and Brittney Brack. Their names are preserved here as a historical acknowledgment rather than a current membership roster.
“And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast…”
1 Chronicles 4:10 (KJV)Our Story Is Still Being Written
We believe God continues to call us to pray, reach families, encourage one another, and serve with compassion. The Women of Jabez story is a testimony that a faithful beginning can grow into lasting service.