TRINITYWOMEN ON A MISSION: Aglow
Never lag in zeal and in earnest endeavor; be aglow and burning with the Spirit, serving the Lord. Romans 12:11 (AMPC)
“Aglow International is a Transformational Kingdom Culture with mindsets not of this world. As a Kingdom Movement, we are committed to seeing God's will done on earth as it is in Heaven by raising up champions and warriors across the earth who will bring freedom to the oppressed while providing opportunities for everyone in our spheres of influence to grow into radiant relationships with each other, as well as, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” This statement from Aglow International is what attracted us!
“Up close and personal; this is a good way to describe Aglow Bible studies. A small group meets together regularly to study the Bible and share issues and questions that touch hearts. Bible studies are an especially good place for new Christians to come together with other believers to explore God’s Word and put the timeless truths into action in their own personal lives.” This statement is what motivated us!
It was 2008 and we were a group of women, from different churches and Christian denominations, longing to get together on a regular basis to seek more of God and His Spirit in our lives. Several of us were familiar with “Women’s Aglow” and in researching this ministry, found that it would give our newly forming group direction and covering. Over recent years, Aglow headquarters had changed the ministry’s name to “Aglow International”, serving both men as well as women around the globe. So our band of hungry women became “Towson Aglow Neighborhood Lighthouse”. We began by meeting twice monthly at TrinityLife, our host church. Our local chapter meetings became a time of fellowship and Bible study.
At each meeting we always had regular attendees and many guests. Our leadership team, “The Sparklers”, was a group of multi-talented women who were very gifted in hospitality, leading worship, administrating and teaching from The Word. During the last eight years, we have had childcare, welcomed men into our group, changed venues, reached out into our community and touched people around the world. Right near Trinity on Joppa Road, we have had times of ministry to the elderly by taking our worship and teaching to a retirement home. We also had a Christian multi-media drive where we collected reading and audio-visual materials that were mailed around the globe. The organization which took our donations to the farthest parts of the world is “Love Packages”. Read about how you can participate in this effort at www.lovepackages.org. Currently, at our Aglow meetings, we are studying “Game Changers” and “Life Changers”. These are two teaching series by Graham Cooke. We are processing this message in discussion groups so that we can better live The Word and spread the Good News about the life changing work of The Holy Spirit!
Our parent ministry, Aglow International, now operates in 170 countries around the world and is trans-denominational. However, Aglow began quite humbly in 1967 with four women who expressed a desire to meet together as Christians without denominational boundaries. The first general meeting was held in Seattle, Washington close to where Aglow’s worldwide headquarters exists today.
The meeting drew more than 100 women to the Meany Hotel close to the University of Washington campus. It didn’t take long for women who attended that first meeting to invite their neighbors and friends to gatherings in other communities surrounding Seattle. As the word spread, new groups began springing up around Washington State and, within months, groups formed in other U.S. states.
By 1972, more than 60 local groups held monthly meetings around the U.S. By 1973, Aglow was moving onto the global stage as fellowships began in Canada, and New Zealand. The Netherlands followed in 1974, marking Aglow as an international "network of caring women," in just six short years.
Today, Aglow spans the globe! And it continues to reach out to women - and men - of every creed, color, and culture, and, through women especially, to families worldwide. Over 4,600 Aglow groups meet worldwide; about 68% of them are outside the U.S. (over 3,000 groups). More than 22,000 Aglow leaders worldwide minister in their communities and nations to an estimated 17 million people each year.
Meetings vary from nation to nation in order to meet the cultural and geographic needs of individuals in locations as diverse as the people themselves! Large groups gather to worship and listen to guest speakers; smaller groups (from 3-10) meet, forming prayer groups, Bible studies, or care groups. Those with a heart for outreach form groups to help meet community needs such as visiting nursing homes and orphanages, tutoring at schools and participating in food programs.
Our local "Towson Aglow Lighthouse" meets currently at Central Presbyterian Church on the 4th Saturday of each month from 9:30 A.M. until 11:30 A.M. We serve light refreshments and then launch into an amazing worship time. Our meeting always encompasses the study of God's powerful Word. Please join us. For more information, contact Anne Thomas, thomasanne@comcast.net or me, Calla Merkle, callamerkle@gmail.com.
“Every nation touched, every heart changed.” Find out more about Aglow at https://www.aglow.org/
