April 2007 USA News Report

There is a continual flow of good reports that come forth from the work that Aglow women of the Portland Prison Neighborhood Lighthouse in Oregon do in the Coffee Creek Corrections facility.  One week the Aglow women prayed with an inmate whose mother was an alcoholic.  The day the women prayed, the mother stopped drinking!  She has not even had the desire to drink!  God continues to pour out His goodness and love on each woman.  Some of the comments that have been made by the inmates are, “When the Aglow women walk into the chapel, the atmosphere is different.  It is a place of peace.  The Spirit of the Lord dwells there.  We forget that we are in prison when we come into the chapel.”

If you would like information on how to begin outreach into a jail or prison in your community, contact  Kathy Johnston at kjafriend@yahoo.com and your Area Team.

Prayer works!  Shelly Morales, President of South Texas Area, brings another good report, telling how prayer in the public school is beginning a revival.  While her car has been vandalized three times in a week and a half, she has become more determined to not grow weary in well doing.  Shelly says, “I know that we are going to see many good results from the teachers coming together to pray for the students.” 

Recently, a young man who wanted to go to college, but was caught in a life of selling drugs with his parents was saved – along with his mom!  His first day back to school, he came to see Shelly, where she was able to give him a devotional book and a Bible. A few days later, during study hall, he reported to Shelly, in front of the class, that he had been up most of the night, reading the Bible.  He said, “I’ve read the Bible to everyone in my house.”  He then invited all the kids to church.  Shelly is amazed to see what God is doing.

One of the 7th grade girls has really touched Shelly’s heart.  Shelly saw the young girl copying the Bible by hand during class.  Shelly told her that she could have one of the Bibles to take home.  The girl, turning into a young woman, lives with her grandma, doesn’t know her dad and her mom is an addict.  The next day, she brought Shelly a little, KJV paperback New Testament that had the front cover almost torn off and was very bent and tattered.  Her mom had given it to her when she was very young and she wanted to put it with the other class Bibles.  Shelly told her that she should keep it, but after the class left, Shelly found it tucked in her desk

A second student, the head cheerleader, has been saved and 24 out of 28 teachers are attending the times of prayer.  “Even though my car has been keyed and one of the fog lamps kicked out twice, that which is precious in us can never be touched!” 

As Shelly says, “God’s word never fails.  He is all powerful, completely holy, and altogether sovereign.”

Sue Renard, President of Stuart Community Lighthouse in Florida, is happy to report that Stuart has completed the Second Annual Treasure Coast Gospel Music Showcase!  Carrying forth the four purposes that began in 2006, to bring all churches together to honor God, to bless a local organization, to spread the gospel, and to give exposure to Aglow, Sue and her team set forth to see these purposes fulfilled in 2007.  This year, musicians came from four counties.  Using the scripture found in Psalms 70:4, “Let God Be Magnified”, funds were raised to help CareNet Pregnancy Service and another local group whose main thrust is to provide housing and empowerment programs to homeless mothers with children.

Patty Warner, President of Corvallis Neighborhood Lighthouse, a Lighthouse of young women, and the Montana Area Team recently sent in a report of the spring advance that the Area Team had. While many good things happened at the advance, Patty reports the following as one of the highlights:

“One of the young women who attends the Corvallis Lighthouse, a mentoring group for young women, shared on Saturday morning.  She shared on the importance of an Elizabeth in the life of each Mary.  She said that there were many Elizabeth’s in Aglow and that God had given a Mary into their life.  She continued that each Mary is pregnant with something that might not be accepted by the religious leaders of the day and only Elizabeth, who understands the miraculous and unique way that God brings forth His purposes, could be there to encourage, shelter, and mentor an excited, yet frightened Mary!”

Patty said that the women were so excited with the message, that they gave young Anna a standing ovation!

Watch for opportunities to showcase young women.  Mary can teach Elizabeth, too!

Margot Miller, President of Central Virginia Area, is happy to report that several outreaches have been organized to a convalescent center in Petersburg.  “We divided up into twos and were able to visit almost all of the rooms.  In some rooms we read from the Bible or brought a short devotional.  We prayed for the residents and listened as they spoke.  We brought vases with flowers, small angel statues, hand lotions, bananas and crackers.  We had so much fun; we have gone back two more times!”

Margot also reported that the Hopewell Community Lighthouse has been meeting at Fort Lee for the last 10 years.  There is a weekly Bible study that takes place at the military chapel.  This Lighthouse provides a warm place where the older women of the Lighthouse minister to and encourage the younger women soldiers who attend the Bible study.

Scharlett McKinnon, President of Muskegon Community Lighthouse in Michigan and Tonja Schoonbeck, Vice-President of Ministry Development were recently heard to say, “Anyone can do this!”  Aglow had not been visible in their community for the past few years and the two had been praying about how to reach out to the women in Muskegon.  What could be a rallying event?  Why not a community tea?  Teas are so relational and on top of that, an easy event to orchestrate.

Scharlett and Tonja began to pray and plan with great expectation.  They printed 200 tickets and invited 16 women to be table hostesses.  Each hostess had the responsibility to buy one ticket and sell an additional 7 to women who would sit at a table that she was responsible to decorate.  A week prior to the event, they had the foresight to invite 4 additional hostesses to ready tables for any woman who walked in. 

The banquet room of a local restaurant was selected for the event, as well as a simple, elegant menu of cucumber sandwiches, crackers and cheese, punch, tea, and coffee.  During the event, several nice gifts were given away.  From special music to hearing a powerful, gracious message on relationships, each woman felt her spirit lift and the cares of life melt away.  As the meeting was closed, opportunity was given to all to receive further ministry and many responded.

Scharlett said, “I can’t help but think of the movie, Field of Dreams, and the line, if you build it, they will come.  God is a builder and He wants us to partner with Him to build a visible and viable Aglow ministry in our communities.  Plan for the women to come.  Expect them to come!  Then, be sure to minister to them when they do come.  Think big!  We have a big God who longs to do great things in our midst.  We must be His expression of mercy and love to our friends and neighbors.”