eNews Staff
Kevin Gabbert
Videographer, Graphic Designer
Creative Services Dept.Back in 2015 I had been interviewing in the Seattle area when a temp agency I'd been working with told me about a position where they thought my skills and experience could make me a good fit. At that time, I'd worked in a number of professions such as software tester, web designer and teacher and now my path seemed to be leading me to become a graphic designer with an international women's ministry.
I had not been raised in the church and was fairly new in my walk with the Lord, so the idea of working at a ministry was quite an unexpected turn in my life. However, things seemed to fall into place from the interview forward and it felt like in no time there I was at HQ on my first day when Rick Allen (the director of Creative Services) told me that everyone had been called into prayer.
I'm not sure I could say quite what happened that first time we gathered in the conference room to pray since I was trying to take it all in, and I do remember that it felt unlike anything I'd ever experienced in my life up to that point. Later, as we all left the conference room I turned to Rick and asked him "What WAS that I felt in there?" I didn't know, and I was determined to find out.
In seven years with Aglow I've had many such experiences and I hope they never become something that I take for granted, that they will always be a surprise, always something to experience in the moment with Him and never to be rushed through. Likewise, seven years of His lessons for me have included many setbacks and failures on my part, yet somehow, I do seem to move forward however slowly and haltingly, and I try to be with Him in those difficult moments as well and see them as the lessons they are.
It's in those moments that I often feel called to move closer to how He sees me and to be able to present a better version of myself for my wife Elizabeth, for our children and grandchildren, and for everyone I interact with.
Michelle Mather - Aglow Finance DirectorMy family migrated from Vancouver, B.C. Canada when I was 5 years old – just in time to start kindergarten at Edmonds Elementary School. Growing up just behind the “baby boomers generation,” our class had the distinct honor of being the last class to graduate from both Edmonds Elementary and Edmonds Jr. High School. Both of these buildings (Frances Anderson Center and Edmonds Center for the Arts) are now listed on the Register of Historical Buildings in Edmonds Washington ~ and are also just a few blocks from our Aglow International headquarters.
I have been Aglow International’s Accountant since 1998. In 2013, I also became Finance Director. When I heard the advertisement on one of our local Christian radio stations, I knew, without a doubt, it was a calling from the Lord. I have been blessed in so many ways working at Aglow HQ throughout these years, but it has also included some mixed emotions. Being an accountant requires many hours behind closed doors without much available time to form relationships with so many beautiful members of Aglow over these last 24 years. This is precisely why I have felt beyond blessed, in these last few years, to be working closely with our U.S. Directors and forming relationships and connections that have been missed in past years.
In the early 1970s, my Mom went to Aglow meetings in Edmonds so I’ve been aware of Aglow since almost the beginning. I was raised at Edmonds Holy Rosary Catholic Church and was quite involved in the Charismatic Movement, and healing ministries, and later completed Stephen Ministry training. I am grateful for all I learned and experienced in all my involvement with the church. I began a deeper, more personal, relationship with Jesus while I was involved with Young Life in my high school years, but I feel fortunate to have felt His presence, callings and guidance since I was a small child. The Lord has blessed me with dreams and visions throughout my lifetime. I love how much I have been able to “fine-tune” these skills (especially my hearing) throughout my career at Aglow.
I have two grown children and both of their families live nearby. My son, Chad, is the father to my first grandchild, John (3 ½.) We’ve recently begun spending more time together, especially enjoying our singing and dance times! We’ve been making up for some lost time after they spent his first 2 ½ years living in Anchorage, Alaska. My daughter, Amy, is due to give birth to my 2nd grandchild any day now. I’m filled with excitement to have another grand, especially nearby, and I’m so ready to experience a continual relationship from the start! We are all filled with anticipation as part of the excitement will be finding out whether this will be a new grandson or granddaughter. Either way, my heart is filled with love and gratitude for each member of my family and I thank God for all of His great rewards!
As you’ve probably noticed, we have been searching for a new employee for the finance department since September 2020. While it’s been disappointing to have waited so long for “God’s timing” for this much-needed help, He has been faithful to show us creative ways to continue to move forward; sent blessings that would not have happened without this great dependence on Him to make a way, and it has helped us to build up our Ministry Services team (Finance/Operations/HR) with a cohesiveness and unity that could only be formed through such a time as this! We do, however, continue to pray that He will send His hand-picked, new member of this team any day now!
Linda Jones
Executive Director of the U.S. Field, Chief of Executive Relations Headquarters, Jane Hansen Hoyt’s assistantIn 1977, I responded to a tiny ad in my local newspaper and attended an interest meeting for Aglow International (at the time Women Aglow Fellowship) in my town. In just one meeting, I was hooked and have been a “lifer” ever since. I have served in many and various positions on a Lighthouse and Area Team in Texas. In 2004 I walked off the map I had known and moved to Washington State to work at Aglow International, fulfilling a word God had spoken to my heart years earlier; someday you will be a leader at Aglow Headquarters.
My daughter and son’s families live 5 hours apart in Texas! I have 6 grandsons and one granddaughter. A fourth generation includes 2 great-grandsons and 2 great-granddaughters. With the approaching marriage of another grandson, I know that the fourth generation will continue to expand. I love having the opportunity to work from home in Texas occasionally, and I consider Washington state and Texas to be ‘home’.
I believe that each Lighthouse is a gift to their city and I understand why God has said that there would be a Lighthouse in every community. Each member of the Lighthouse is vital to the health of the community as they stand in the gap as watchmen on the wall. In the world’s current condition, it is imperative that those in each Lighthouse rise in the fullness of the authority given to us by God. No one else is coming. You ARE the help God has sent. If your town does not have a Lighthouse, I encourage you to start one! His hand is upon you, just as it has been upon me. Go ahead and walk off your map. He will make the way before you. I know.
Currently, I serve as the Executive Director of the U.S. Field, Chief of Executive Relations at Headquarters, and as Jane Hansen Hoyt’s assistant.
Kathy Sanders, Leader Development DirectorI joined the staff at Aglow Headquarters in June, 2004. I like to say that it was the phrase, “We are moving!” spoken forth at the 2003 conference that moved me from Texas to Washington State.
Nancy McDaniel, Prayer DirectorNancy McDaniel has been part of Aglow International since 1982 when she first joined the Rancho Cucamonga Evening Aglow Lighthouse. In Aglow she found a “home” that provided rich relationships, challenging teaching, deep worship encounters and ample opportunity to grow spiritually. Nancy served Aglow in Southern California on both Local and Area Teams and as State Prayer Coordinator.
Nancy has a full background in education, with degrees in Music Education and Music Theory and Composition. After teaching multiple grade levels and serving in church administration, she joined the Headquarters staff as Global Prayer Director in 1999. Since that time, she has had the joy of visiting over 50 nations to pray and bring encouragement to the Aglow family.
In addition to her role as an intercessor, Nancy is a mobilizer of people in prayer. She believes every believer has a portion or place as an intercessor and desires to see everyone grow from victory to victory as champions of prayer. She is a strategist who understands that strategies must originate with Holy Spirit and be birthed in the Spirit - not by might, not by power, but by His Spirit. As a leader, she prioritizes encouraging and developing the potential in others. Rather than focusing on building programs, she seeks to build people, knowing that people together with the power of the Holy Spirit will carry out the glorious work of the Kingdom.
To do this, she tries to impart the vision of Aglow and Aglow’s prophetic words and promises to intercessors in a meaningful way. She views Aglow prayer worldwide as a Global House of Prayer - a house not made by hands - a house that is built of people worldwide praying together for the fullness of God's Kingdom in every nation. Visit AglowGlobalPrayer.org for current prayer alerts and information about the nations of the world.
Nancy is married to Dave McDaniel, a retired educator and football coach. Dave also serves Aglow International as Director of Men of Issachar.