February 2006 International News Report

EUROPE

Albania: In a recent report, Nexhi Muca, National Coordinator for Albania, recounted how Satan is trying to destroy the history of God's nation, and everywhere Albanians are living as in a valley of dry bones. But God is coming to restore that valley of dry bones as His river of life comes through the people and nation. The Aglow women recognize that the light is coming, and new hope is being planted. Nexhi said "The Aglow Albania women have the same calling as Paul. We are ready to lose everything that our nation might be saved."

Slovakia: Aglow National President, Rut Krajcioni, says, "Aglow goes slowly, step by step." But there are new women at each of their conferences, and they received a word from the Lord that they are "daughters of Zion."

Estonia: National Assistant, Reet Tomusk, in Estonia holds a weekly meeting in her home where women come who suffer from depression. Reet asked God "how can we do anything for the nation? These women need help themselves." God responded, "Women are not for Aglow. Aglow is for women." Reet tells these women their problems will bring them a testimony so they can really help someone else.

Latvia: National Assistant, Lasma Sastakovica, of Latvia says "women in Latvia are the same as women everywhere." God has raised up over 40 Aglow groups and they are encouraging men to also be involved in Aglow.  Lasma and her husband have opened their home to others who are in need of food and shelter. She said "we have a lot of work to do. Please pray for us. The devil hates the unity in Aglow."

Baltic Nations: The first Aglow conference for the Baltic nations will be held in Riga, Latvia, September 15-17, 2006.

Lithuania: National Assistant for Lithuania, Liuda Kazlauskiene, urges us to read Proverbs 3:27. This is what Aglow is doing now in Lithuania.  In this nation there are large groups of Lithuanians, Polish, Russians and Jews. The Polish, Russians and Lithuanians all speak their own languages, and all have their own customs with different emotions and feelings.  Aglow brings a very interesting unity among all these people groups.

Many Lithuanian women have Muslim husbands. Aglow reaches out to them, and to the poor families. This is a powerful testimony to the love of Jesus. Aglow women have held some small one-day seminars. During these days they mostly pray. More and more pastors are open to women being used in Aglow when they see the restoration of the family.

Ukraine: In the Ukraine, National Assistant, Helene Blagodi,r says Aglow teaches how to love, how to be patient and to care. Helene says "through Aglow we can learn from each other." There are 38 affiliated groups, and they minister to the elderly, teenagers, women in despair. They minister freedom in Christ, and emotional healing. They have prayer groups in every area of the country. They pray for the mandates, and for America. Through this prayer they can be united.

For 6 years they've had an active prison ministry. There are 1,300 women in the prison where Aglow ministers. At Christmastime they brought in medications and vitamins for the babies. Children up to 3 years old live in the prison with their mothers. They also brought medications and eyeglasses for the women. When women are released they come back to Aglow and give testimony. Aglow also cooperates with the rehab centers. Women become baptized and become part of the local churches.

One group meets for prayer and fasting every Monday from 8AM to 5PM to pray specifically for the Aglow ministry. And the last Sunday of every month they have a day of prayer and fasting for Aglow worldwide & Aglow Ukraine. They need prayer for new leaders to come forth and help them go through all the new open doors God is giving them. Also need prayer for favor by pastors. The spirit of communism is still at work in this nation.

Romania: In Romania the National Leader, Lili Lelcu, reports that their Aglow groups are very evangelistic. Many Muslim ladies are coming to Christ in the southern part of the country. At first the men were not sure about their women coming to Aglow. But then they see the change in their wives. So now they want them to go to the Aglow Bible studies.  Lili said "it's good to do good things, but it is much better to fulfill the will of God."  She also added, "We know we're in a war. God wants us to pick up our weapons and to use us as soldiers."

From March 3-5, 2006, three National Leaders from Britain (Nonnie McVeigh, Gwen Birkbeck and Anne Donaldson) are going to hold an Aglow conference in Romania. Aglow Britain is inviting over a hundred leaders from Belarussia, Ukraine, Moldova and Romania. Please pray that these women will be released to be mighty women of God.

Denmark: At the European leaders' summit, held the last week of January 2006, a time of prophetic declaration was held at a historic site near Billund, Denmark. More than 1000 years ago Denmark was ruled by the Vikings. This was a terrible time when Denmark was also invaded by other countries and many people were taken as slaves. King Bluetooth was in power, and a monk told him about God. King Bluetooth commanded the monk "prove to me that the God you worship is stronger than demons!" So the monk carried a red hot iron in his hands without being burned, and in that way God proved He was stronger than the old Nordic gods.

So then King Harold Bluetooth erected 2 stones in memory of his father and mother, and he erected them also to announce to the world that Danes would forever more be Christian. But from this has grown the wide spread belief - even around the world - that salvation comes through infant baptism and no other acceptance of Christ is necessary, and evangelism is also not necessary.

When the European national Aglow leaders gathered around these two stones, at their original site, powerful prayers and declarations came forth to break this religious spirit in all the nations of the world. Let us be expectant to see answers to these prayers come forth.

CARIBBEAN

Something unique & wonderful is beginning to happen throughout Aglow in the Caribbean as a result of loving outreach that was accomplished in the past couple years. The Aglow leaders made it a project to phone women who had been active in Aglow in the past but for some reason were no longer active. They just phoned them and expressed love and interest, and gave them a special invitation to attend an Aglow meeting again. The result of this is that today there are strong seasoned believers who have begun to "come back home to Aglow" in  a number of the island nations. Annette Coombs said "Aglow is a safe place and women feel welcome to come back."

Much attention has been focused on the hurricanes that have devastated the southeastern states of the U.S., and rightly so. But many of the island nations of the Caribbean were also devastated in the 2005 hurricane season, and they also get hit hard every year with hurricanes and storms. This has affected Aglow in a number of the nations. Some people leave their island before the storm comes, but for those who stay there have nowhere to go. Aglow leader's homes are damaged or destroyed year after year, meeting places are destroyed, and the Aglow ministry is greatly affected in these places.

In the northern Caribbean they have a retreat with the Area board each January to wait on God for the coming season. This year God told them - the warfare is increasing, and they need to start more Aglow groups (the Bahamas alone has 25 islands with significant populations and there Aglow is only in a few of them.) God told them to "behave as a ministry and as women of God. Behave as the early church did. Then you will see growth and new groups come forth."  They came to understand that as they care more for each other they will then begin to care more for the world.

Jamaica: In Jamaica, times of fervent prayer and fasting have been held due to the crisis situation they face with all kinds of crimes and atrocities throughout the nation and region. They also pray for the strengthening of Aglow in all areas, especially for our CEO Jane and all leaders, for international, regional and national conferences.

A prayer walk was held at the Abbottnot Gallimore High School, as requested by the Vice Principal of the school, the past Principal and a Teacher. They prayed for and covered the children and situations confronting the school community. They identified specific strongholds as they walked the entire compound and surrounding areas, even entering classrooms and buildings. They said “it was awesome just experiencing the presence of God in our midst. We are assured that a great work was done – Our God is faithful.”

The In Focus training was conducted in October 2005 in the Western Area-Montego Bay area. They said, “The teaching on the wide angle lens was so powerful. After watching the film the Spirit of the Lord so filled the place… The entire teaching was tremendous.” Another session is planned for April 7, 2006 for those who were not able to attend the first session. The ladies said they were so refreshed and came away with a new resolve and determinations for greater commitment to serve in their various capacities.

The Kingston, Jamaica local fellowship celebrated their 20th anniversary in December 2005. The chapter continues with service to their downtown inner city outreach program to the elderly and children. At each monthly meeting, meals are served and there is sharing of the word and ministry. They also have an ongoing ministry to the Glen Hope Place of Safety for Girls.

The Global Day of Impact was observed in various ways throughout the region, with many humanitarian aid projects being held. Many girls’ homes are being reached in the region, with meals served by the Aglow women, and needed gifts brought to the girls.

Haiti: Aglow women in Haiti continue to meet even amidst coups and political unrest in the nation. The public meetings of the former French group went dormant during the coup that Haiti experienced a couple years ago, but we believe some women continued to meet underground.  A Creole speaking Candlelight Group (Bible study) is now meeting and National Director, Hilda Douglas, is in contact with them by e-mail. A group of these women had their travel arrangements made to come to the 2005 Worldwide Conference in Nashville but were denied visas. Hilda and Annette plan to travel to Haiti as soon as possible, as soon as the country is stable following their presidential election on February 11.

A second Candlelight Group in Petionaville Haiti has just begun and will be affiliated soon.  Aglow in Trinidad has sent some women as missionaries into Haiti. There is much work to be done in that nation.

Bahamas: The Area Board holds weekly prayer walks at the waterfront in Cable Beach - a very popular tourist area. There had been a number of tourists killed by speeding cars along this stretch of beach. Now the government has reduced the speed limit from 45mph to 25mph. This was a direct answer to the prayers of the Aglow women.

In August 2005 they held their first family Aglow conference, in Nassau. People from all over the nation attended. They invited church groups as well as all the Aglow members. Their theme was "His Refreshing Presence - Mantling the Next Generation". Their goal was to mantle the next generation, and prepare them for the baton to be passed to them. Families attended (mostly mothers and daughters but some fathers also) and about 50 young people attended (20-39 years of age.) They had workshops and messages focusing on practical issues to help them be productive in society. (i.e. Finances and budgeting, sex and morality issues - basic things we all need to know to live right.)  At the end of the conference they had an impartation ceremony to impart and lay the mantle on the young women. Hilda imparted a mantle of leadership on the Area Board, and they imparted the mantle on to the young women. The women were charged with sharing the things they had learned with others. It was a very touching time. Bondages broke off and the young women felt set free.

These young women were really touched. Something very significant was deposited into them at this impartation. Now they show up at other meetings where Hilda is speaking. She calls them her daughters. They follow her to meetings and listen to her teaching like a mom they want to learn from. These young women want practical teaching that they can use in their everyday life. Aglow Bahamas plans to hold a conference like this annually.

Aglow Bahamas was also asked to head up the prayer for a large men's gathering that was held some months ago. Aglow women attended the weekly prayer meetings for this event. 2000 men attended the event and the men loved having the Aglow women involved. Aglow is highly respected, and has a strong reputation for knowing how to pray, and following through with more prayer.

Belize: Please join us in prayer for Aglow in Belize. Aglow first began there in 1982 but remains small and struggling. The women have good hearts and want to run with the vision of Aglow, but something always comes in to thwart the work.

Barbados: In St Georges Barbados a minister from the House of Assembly recently attended the Aglow meeting (his wife was the speaker). The women prayed for him as he stood in for the whole government of the nation. In 2006 the women of Barbados Aglow are challenged to each bring two new women to Aglow.

St. Vincent: In the small island of St Vincent over 100 women attended a recent retreat.

Grenada: The island of Grenada was devastated by last year's hurricanes but the Aglow women are bouncing back. Their faith is high and in spite of their sufferings the women are determined to bring Aglow back and for Aglow to become a household name!

Curacao: In Curacao the Aglow meetings are well attended by 60-100 women each month. The women are very enthusiastic about coming to Aglow meetings because they see lives changed.

Guyana: Guyana Aglow recently celebrated their 25th anniversary with a special meeting. Former leader Agnes Nichols was their speaker and her grandson came to speak to the teens. They continue their outreach to children with a feeding and homework program. They feed 25 children every day, and help them with their homework. This loving care is creating an atmosphere where these children can learn and their futures are much brighter than they would have in this nation.  Aglow women in Barbados and in Trinidad are helping fund this program by collecting coins and sending the money to Guyana.

Trinidad & Tobago: In the La Horquetta fellowship in Trinidad families have begun to attend the Aglow meetings. Recently a whole family received Christ when the Aglow women prayed for them, and now many families want to receive prayer. In Port of Spain, Trinidad, a woman met Christ through Aglow outreach to the prison, and that led to her release from prison and the murder charge that was upon her. She is now completely involved in Aglow. In the Arima fellowship the leaders are teaching young women the importance of taking care of their bodies, and of getting regular gynecology tests done.

The Port Fortin Aglow fellowship has an active Teen Aglow. They teach the teens about the depth of social issues. They hold one-day seminars to teach young women how to date, how to take care of their bodies, etc. The Scarborough, Tobago Aglow also has a teen group. This fellowship does extensive outreach to the villages of the island. This year the teens in Port Fortin plan to come and meet with the teens in Tobago.

Aglow Trinidad hosts a 1/2 hour radio program twice a month (2nd and 4th Saturdays.) National Director, Annette Coombs, leads it, and also invites other Aglow leaders to speak or teach. Women call in with questions, or to request prayer, and then they often begin coming to the Aglow meetings.

"King's Daughters" is a young women's group that has been led by the Aglow leaders in Trinidad for the past several years. It is for women in their 20's and 30's, but sometimes younger women come also. Annette and Joyce (National Director and National Assistant for Southern Caribbean) are the mentors, and the meetings are held in Annette's home the 4th Saturday of every month. 15-20 women attend regularly. Now the young women are beginning to plan their own programs, with Annette and Joyce teaching them how to go about it. It is a wonderful training ground for their next generation of Aglow leaders.

A goal in Trinidad & Tobago is that Aglow will become a household name.

Anguilla: Aglow Anguilla could be known as a house of prayer. Aglow women meet daily for prayer walks on this tiny island (3 miles wide and 16 miles long), the Aglow prayer coordinator holds prayer meetings twice each week, and there are monthly prayer walks in the different villages of the island. Anguilla has always been a very quiet nation but so far this year there has already been a murder and it has shaken the whole nation. The response of the Aglow women - pray more for their nation and its people!

AFRICA

Central Africa Republic: All activities organized by Aglow in 2005 in Central Africa Republic were successful mostly because the Aglow women know how important and crucial prayer is for the fellowships to fulfill God’s purpose.  Prayer vigils and fasting periods were organized each month.  In August and September, the Intercession Ministry organized an intercession seminar called Aglow Under the Fire of the Spirit.  The Intercession Ministry is seeing Christian sisters building stronger relationships, but new members are joining Aglow through these prayer times.

Zambia:  Mukobeko Aglow in Zambia has reached out to the prison commander’s wife who surrendered her life to the Lord.  She has arranged for the Officer’s Mess Hall to be offered to Aglow for meetings.

Uganda: The amazing work of God through the personal touch of an Aglow woman is evident in Uganda. Outreach in Uganda consists of house to house evangelism, hospital evangelism, prison evangelism and evangelistic seminars. Imelda Bwayo, Uganda’s National Leader testifies to the resurrection power of Jesus Christ saying 4,441 people were changed in 2005! These changed lives are the result of 410 Aglow women participating in house to house evangelism at least once a month. According to their calculations this amounted to 4,920 outreaches reaching 20,655 people with the gospel of Jesus Christ!

Chad: God is positioning women in Chad, Africa for “destiny” by instilling in them the future hoped for through the Aglow International mandates. National Director, Mondo Esaw traveled to Chad bringing teaching on the three mandates of Aglow International. She said, “The women were so excited about the reconciliation of women and men (male and female) in the body of Christ and the restoration of women that you could see on their faces the joy they were experiencing on the inside!