Neighborhood Fellowship and Growth
"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory..." Ephesians 3:20-21
Aglow@home, a new expression of Aglow in the nations, focused on home meetings, was launched from our Aglow International Field Office this year to the international field and we love hearing feedback from our international leaders. Some nations have shared that they have had similar activity to Aglow@home already taking place within the ministry. The formal guidelines and affiliations process from Aglow has been a blessing to see how to continue moving these groups forward.
Dorothy Danso, Aglow National President in Ghana shared with us her excitement for Aglow@home. They have been seeing the ministry flourish as women gather in homes and the number of groups continue to grow, moving them ever-closer to their vision of an Aglow group in every town and village in the nation. Here is Dorothy’s testimony of what is happening in Aglow Ghana:
I am glad to learn of this new type of affiliated group for Aglow, "Aglow@home".
We thank God for His grace and the leading of the Holy Spirit in Aglow Ghana. We are excited to inform you that Aglow Ghana has been in a similar practice for the past many years. We call them Home Cells: where someone will open her doors to neighbors to meet once a week.
At such meetings, they have praise and worship. Testimonies are shared to encourage and lift members up in the Spirit and to grow in relationship with Jesus and the Holy Spirit. They also do Bible Studies. All their meetings are held over snacks provided by the members themselves.
At times they organize a "Tea Party" and invite more people in the neighborhood. In so doing, they reach out to people to join their group. When their membership grows up between 30-50, we prepare the group to Affiliate and become a Fellowship. Meanwhile, we continue to encourage the new and old members to start new Home Cells. It may be in the same area or different areas and this procedure carries on.
There are times, members in the group re-locate and we advise them to start Home Cells in their area too. Through this practice Aglow Ghana has produced so many Fellowships and Candle Lights by the grace of God. These meetings are done in a relaxed mood after the day's stress. Others prefer their Home Call meetings in the morning, especially for the non-working class.
The duration of the meeting is 1-1.5 hours. The Home Cell consists of only females and the age group is not limited because some parents attend meetings with their children. Recently, Men of Issachar have started to meet. Since our meetings have been solely women, we are waiting for what the Lord has in store for us.
There are times the male host of the house join our meetings and they were always welcomed. Based on this process, Aglow still continues even with the outbreak of COVID-19. To God be the glory. We wish you all God's blessings.
In the United States Neighborhood Lighthouses have long been serving smaller groups with the hopes of growing to larger Aglow groups. A Community Lighthouse may have many smaller home groups around prayer meetings or Bible studies or outreaches in the Community.