eNews Staff
Kay Rogers, Chief of Strategic Services“Aglow Lifer” is a term used by individuals who have served in Aglow for many years. I joined Aglow in 1977 in Fairfax, VA. I came to work at headquarters in 1987. I am an Aglow Lifer.
During my time at Aglow, we have transitioned from manual systems to cloud-based internet systems. We have grown from under 30 nations to over 170 nations. From typed letters to email, video, live streaming, and internet conferencing. We moved from headquarters in an old elementary school to a beautiful office building two blocks from the Edmonds, WA, ferry terminal with one other office stop in between. I have had many different jobs in many different departments and have been involved in more changes than I can remember. I even picked up a Masters of Business Administration along the way. I am now the Chief of Strategic Services in Executive. In that capacity, I am involved in oversight of the activities that support Jane in the Executive Office and the Executive Directors in the U.S. and Global Fellowship Offices.
Aside from my job, I enjoy my home and family, my fireplace, music, and reading. My two children are married. I have lots of grand dogs, cats, and chickens. I live in the same house I bought when I arrived here from Virginia. On my half-acre, I have fruit trees, blueberry, and strawberry bushes. I love baking, cooking, using homegrown fruit, freezing, and canning. I also enjoy flowers and working in my yard. With both the mountains and the Puget Sound so close, I love the beauty of Western Washington. A long walk on a beautiful day in any number of settings always causes me to praise God for the beauty of His creation.
If I were to choose one quality of Aglow life to celebrate the most, it would be relationships. Through all the storms of life, Aglow people were there for me. They have been family when blood family was far away. My life is rich because God told two ladies to invite me to an Aglow meeting at Fort Belvoir, VA. I encourage you to invite a friend to Aglow and change her life forever.
Christie Spaulding
Director - Global Field Office ~ Int'l
International Affiliations CoordinatorChristie Spaulding first came to work at Aglow HQ in September of 2013 as a U.S. Field Specialist. It was definitely by God’s divine leading. “It was the end of summer in 2013, I had just learned I was without a job. The job I had gotten hired for; the person changed their mind about leaving. While having some free days off, I decided to visit the Aglow office.
Before leaving that day, I was asked if I ever considered working for Aglow. The rest is history. This was like my dream come true. I had always wanted to come to work at Aglow HQ but never thought it possible because I lived with my family in another state.”
Currently, Christie is serving as Area President for the Washington North Sound Area. She has been involved in Aglow since 1981. Her first Aglow conference was in Buffalo, New York, that same year. She has served on three different Lighthouse Teams and Area Boards.
From the receptionist, to U.S. Field Specialist, to Affiliations Coordinator in the Global Field Office – International, Administrative Assistant in the Executive Department, to currently as a Director in the International Global Field office working alongside Joan Bennett, Executive Director of the Global Field Office – International.
Christie is passionate about her family of four children, six grandchildren, and two great-granddaughters, traveling to see them as often as she can because they all live in other states. Exploring new places, gardening, music, and reading are other pastimes she enjoys.
We welcome Christie to her new position at Headquarters and speak wisdom, blessings, and strength as she starts this new journey.
Christie writes: I look forward to developing new relationships with our national leaders and Aglow groups around the world. I am ready to serve them to the best of my God-given abilities. That has always been my heart – to serve God and others through the ministry of Aglow. God is with me and is always faithful!
Paul Speck - IT Administrator, Creative ServicesHi, I am Paul Speck. I started at Aglow in May of 2003 in the Information Technology department (IT), hired by Valerie Baker. I work to keep the computers, servers, printers, and anything else electronic functioning. If you call into the office with a password problem you will probably talk to me.
Rick Allen, Director Creative ServicesMy journey with Aglow began as my wife Druci and I were facing a huge challenge. It was December of 2007, the middle of the Great Recession. We had just closed our small marketing business which we had started a decade earlier. I remember thinking after selling the last of the equipment and walking out of our office for the last time, “I don’t know where we’ll go from here, or even how we’ll pay our mortgage next month, but I know God is faithful and that He has something wonderful just around the corner.” We were trusting in His promise to provide all our needs and to direct our path. He certainly came through on both counts.
It wasn’t more than a week later when a fax was sent to our church from Aglow International. Our church secretary handed it to me one Sunday and said, “I know you’re looking for work, maybe you’d be interested in this.” Aglow was looking for a part-time webmaster. I wasn’t sure if this women’s organization even hired men, but I thought it was worth a try so I sent an email indicating my interest.
A few days later I received a call. Aglow headquarters was only an hour or so from our home in Auburn so it was easy to set up the interview. I went in not knowing what to expect. The meeting lasted a couple of hours and I found a real heart connection with these ladies. We spent more time talking about the Lord than we did about the job, but that was fine. I loved it. We all agreed that this was a good fit, and I committed to working part-time, two days a week helping with the Aglow website.
It wasn’t long before I was offered a full-time position with benefits, which I gladly accepted. I knew that God had led me to this wonderful ministry.
After about a year on the job my boss, Karen Anderson made the decision to retire and I was offered the position. Karen was an excellent leader and I felt inadequate to fill her shoes, but I was honored to accept and become the first male director in the history of the organization. Since that time, I was invited to join the International Board of Directors. Another first. What a privilege!
Several years later, my wife Druci was hired on as the receptionist. She now serves in the U.S. Department under Linda Jones. Working as a couple at Aglow headquarters has been like a dream for us. What a joy to serve the Lord together and be a part of what God is doing in the earth through this amazing organization. We are so blessed.
I could go on and on about the work that we do in Creative Services. We have an excellent team and it’s such a privilege to lead them. We work closely with all the Aglow leadership and feel that we are an integral part of the organization. Most often we are behind the scenes, but much of what you see, read and hear from Aglow in the form of videos, websites, and email comes from our department. We stay very busy. The work is challenging and so rewarding.
I believe that God has great plans for this ministry in the years ahead. It has been spoken over us that we will be used greatly of the Lord in the coming Third Great Awakening. As we keep our eyes on Him and humbly seek His face, I have no doubt this will happen. Our greatest days are still ahead. God bless you all as we serve our King together.
Joan Bennett
Director, Asia, Middle East & South Pacific Regions
Global Field Office - InternationalSince the Lord called me into Aglow in the year 1979, my heart has always been to serve in the Aglow Ministry, and it became a life-long call.
My husband and I had just come through a difficult time in our marriage where we had separated for several months. The Lord let me know that when my husband asked to reconcile, I was to return to our marriage. This was a difficult decision but I followed the Lord’s leading and never looked back. He is the healer of marriages and we just celebrated our 54th wedding anniversary!
We have two grown children, a son and a daughter, and three beautiful grandchildren. Our two granddaughters are now in college and our grandson is in high school. They bring joy to our lives.
After my husband and I reconciled, I was at a place in my life of searching and praying for a closer walk with God. I was hungry for more of Him in my life. Through an Aglow woman I met while with our daughters at Girl Scout Camp, I learned about Aglow. She bought me to my first Aglow meeting and the rest is history!
I received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and I began to serve as a hostess on a Local Aglow Board where over time I served in other positions. After 7 years, the Lord called me to serve as well on an Area Board. I was growing up in the things of God!
Then, the Lord called me to serve in a new place. I had not aspired to work at Aglow headquarters but in 1995 a job opening was advertised through the Area Board and I felt the nudge from the Lord to apply. I asked my husband what he thought and he was in agreement. I had worked in our small business for many years while our children were small. He felt it was God and he encouraged me to move forward. After 3 interviews I was hired as an Administrative Assistant in the Executive Office where I served for 16 years.
Then I began feeling a stirring in my spirit” and I “knew God was up to something!” I had a strong desire to work with the Aglow leadership in the field again. I wasn’t sure what that would look like.
The answer came when Jane asked me to consider a position in the Global Field Office – International, working with Jervae Brooks and Aglow in the nations. Although I had always felt my call was to the U.S. Fellowships, my heart leaped with joy at the news of working with Aglow women in the nations.
In January, 2012 I became part of the Global Field Office - International where my main focus has been working with the Aglow leadership in the nations of Asia, Middle East and South Pacific. These past 9 years have been beautifully marked by deep relationships that have grown between myself and the Aglow women I have worked with throughout the nations.
I have learned through the GameChangers messages that God has a dream for each one of us. I know from experience that if you seek Him with all of your heart, He will show you what His plans and purposes are for your life. Following His leading has brought me great fulfillment. I am living His dream for me and I have never looked back!