The first Aglow in New Zealand was situated in Blenheim, a small town at the top of the South Island of New Zealand. From Blenheim, a spark from this first Aglow traveled across the Cook Strait to Wellington in the North Island.
Ruth ShawIn 1986 a woman named Sue Scott was led to start a new Aglow in Paraparaumu, one hour’s drive from Wellington. These meetings were held in the evenings. After five years, in 1991 another Aglow was started at Waikanae, 15 minutes’ drive from Paraparaumu. This was known as Waikanae Aglow, and meetings were held in the daytime and open to women only.
While at Waikanae, we received a mandate to open the meeting to include men, and albeit few in number, we did enjoy their company. After a few years of both Aglows being active, the Paraparaumu Aglow closed in 2008. Waikanae Aglow continued strongly under the leadership of Joan Painter.
In 2018, a request was made to the National Board in Wellington to change the name of Waikanae Aglow to Kapiti Coast Aglow as people were attending from the surrounding areas, both men and women.
Joan was President from 2008 until 2022 when a new President, Lenie Nilsen, was announced. Not long after, Kapiti Coast Aglow moved from their venue at the Waikanae Presbyterian Church to Paraparaumu at Kapiti Impact Church.
Our birth date was 24 July 1992 when the Aglow was affiliated and this year was our 32nd birthday. We always celebrate our birthdays with a cake and shared luncheon after our meeting.
This year we invited a special speaker from the Gold Coast, Australia, Rosie Honor who moves in the prophetic. The meeting was attended by 50 ladies who were each prayed for by Rosie, some for healing and all for a word from the Lord. It was a blessed time.
Special note: Ruth Shaw, who cut the cake, is the oldest member of Kapiti Coast Aglow and in the past was a member of the National Board. To this day Ruth prays faithfully for Israel at each meeting.