After the devastation of the Second World War, Baptist women in Europe felt compelled to begin the healing processes for women isolated by war and national loyalties. Promotion of the movement spread quickly to other continents. A number of women leaders met in Cleveland, Ohio, USA, prior to the 1950 world congress. The purpose of that meeting was to make plans to extend the observance of this special day, and to discuss organising other continental unions including the North American Baptist Women's Union. Since that eventful period, the Day of Prayer movement among Baptist women has grown.
Observances now reach women in nearly every country where there are Baptist groups.
In 1992, there were 165 Baptist conventions and unions around the world that were member bodies of the Baptist World Alliance. Born out of war and the desire to seek spiritual communion and unity, we are compelled to note that many Baptist women this day suffer the violence and isolation of war. In many countries women meet to pray amid rubble caused by violence, while others fear daily for their safety and well being. The Day of Prayer observance links women of the world, providing spiritual lifelines that strengthen and give hope. Many Baptist sisters in Eastern Europe say that it is prayer that brought freedom and peace to many of their countries as experienced in 1990.