Heather Barclay-Generations Leader in Great Britain:

How did you learn about Aglow? Through my mom, when I was 14 years old. I went to my first meeting with her. I was so amazed by the testimonies I heard about real relationships with God.

What is your Aglow group like (how often do you meet, what do you connect over, etc.)? Generations meetings are breakfast one Thursday then lunch the next Thursday. We take two weeks break then meet again. We hold family days every few months on a Saturday. Thursday morning we have a reading and a discussion. It has been amazing how the reading that’s been brought has had relation to the women present. At both meetings there is time for prayer, but lunch is more a social occasion with play time for kids and moms but always good conversation, building and supporting each other in the group.

What are your greatest needs as a young Christian leader?  Our greatest need, I think, is support and a good team to work with.

How has Aglow challenged you to fulfill the role God has for you as a young Christian leader? Through Aglow I have been encouraged, guided, taught, loved and stretched into the gifts God has given me.  Now equipped, I thought I best do something with it. So I have!

What excites you about Aglow’s Generations Initiative? It relates to me. We are part of this generation; it involves me, my friends, my kids and our future. The possibilities for us are endless, and it shows how we’re not forgotten.  God is here for us too, for this time, with our destinies to fulfill.

How have you benefited from an Aglow-affiliated mentor? Having a mentor has been the best thing ever. It builds your confidence. She helps me through situations and gives wisdom and advice. I’ve made a new friend.

From your perspective, why is it important for the older generation to invest in the lives of younger generations? We are the generation that will take over from the one above. We respect their wisdom and advice. I feel there are a lot of lost young people with no hope or aspiration in life. I would hope that they would be encouraged still to take back their families and communities for God and for their family’s future.

What ministry opportunities are you considering (or are you pursuing) currently? Aglow has challenged me to be a part of my church and in all aspects of my life. I now know that He is with me wherever I go. I feel God is putting people in my path for those conversations and opportunities that you don’t get often, and I am recognizing the chances He has given me to share about Him.

What would you say to convince another young leader to become involved in Aglow? It’s a fantastic opportunity to reach out across the world and see what God is doing. Aglow tries to reach all aspects of people’s needs. You feel like you’re on the front line of what God’s doing. To be a part of a strong, loving and growing family is amazing.

What would you say to convince a more mature believer to invest in the lives of young people? The wisdom and teaching that a mature believer has is very valuable. For example my mom is a great and wise woman of God who I go to for advice and guidance. She has so much to give me that I hope I’ll get it all before she goes to be with the Lord. That’s when our generation will be at the forefront of all that goes on in the world.

Darlene Velasquez-Generations Regional Coordinator (California, Nevada)

How did you learn about Aglow? When I was 18, I was invited to an Aglow meeting by (a girl) I worked with.

How specifically are you involved in Aglow? What is your Aglow group like (how often do you meet, what do you connect over, etc.)? Right now I am Leader or President of AV Generations.

We are targeting youth who are involved in the arts. I am also currently Generations Regional Co-coordinator. (I have held many other positions in the past.) We meet once a week. We offer an hour study to those who can attend. 6-7 p.m. every Thursday. Then we connect through song and dance from 7-8:30 p.m. every Wed. We learn routines to perform or minister in the community or at churches. We also do a lot of other creative things to teach the youth to grow in their faith. This year we also added drama. They meet once a month.

What are your greatest needs as a young Christian leader? Aglow and God have always moved me in new directions, challenging me to do far beyond what I thought I could do. The ways are endless. I love the fact that there are new things to do and create. That has always kept me going. I love new things.

What excites you about Aglows Generations Initiative? Although I am not young anymore, the Spirit of God and Aglow in me is young. I feel privileged to help in raising up a generation who can go far beyond what my generation and others have done. To train them while they are young and to see them move out and just BE AGLOW and light their world is amazing to witness and be a part of. I feel like each one is my son or daughter and I am so proud of them all.

What would you say to convince another young leader to become involved in Aglow? I tell my youth that they have a stronger influence in their schools or among their generation than I do. I am someone older; they might not feel like they can relate to me. They are the ones right in the mix of things. To take that leadership and make a difference...BEING the difference is so important.

Stephen Nawa-Zambia Generations National Coordinator

How did you learn about Aglow? Through a congregational leader at church

How specifically are you involved in Aglow? What is your Aglow group like (how often do you meet, what do you connect over, etc.)? I am the youth coordinator.  I am involved in coordinating meetings, arranging the programs and venue meetings, sending reminders of the meeting to the youth and sometimes sharing the word of God if we have no specific speaker chosen.

We meet every second Saturday of the month. We connect over real youth challenges we face here like HIV and AIDS, Relationships, Career prospects, how we can impact our community etc. with view of Christian youth.

What are your greatest needs as a young Christian leader? As a youth leader my needs are quite a lot. Firstly, Aglow is international so I have been thinking of having an integrated program of which all youths in Aglow follow as there guide in a year but not forgetting fusing in their way of fellowship in their individual countries.

Also, material to give to the youths about what Aglow is doing worldwide, its objectives and so forth. And as a leader I need to be very much informed so that whenever am asked questions I must be ready to answer.

Also finances, administration, concerts and booking of venues, advertising and many more need money so that's one of our constraints here. We can fund raise but we would need a support.

How has Aglow challenged you to fulfill the role God has for you as a young Christian leader? There are a lot of youths out there who need God in their lives here. Looking at the fellowship and love the women Aglow have, I would love that same union and love to be among us the youths.

What excites you about Aglow’s Generations Initiative? It’s awesome and I am looking forward for it to fully grow here. The elderly have wisdom and knowledge. They are equipping us for our time which is yet to come.

From your perspective, why is it important for the older generation to invest in the lives of younger generations? We are the future so we need to be fully equipped by the older generation.

How has Aglow challenged you to become more involved in ministry to your community (or sphere of influence)? I have learned a lot with interacting with the leaders in Aglow. To that extent as the youths, I feel we need to have an impact in our community as the women in Aglow have.

What would you say to convince another young leader to become involved in Aglow? Be part of a loving Christian group which has no congregational barriers but (exists to) love Christ and to equip you in becoming a true follower of Christ individually and in your community. So be Aglow!!!!

What would you say to convince a more mature believer to invest in the lives of a younger generation? As youths we have lost direction because of the drastic change in our culture and societies. For us to be restored we need to look back and see how the older generation has kept the faith and preserved it, that we are now benefiting from their works. Aglow has the heart for the young generation and has various biblical initiatives to impact and change the youths of today.

Interview with Elisabeth Gama-Generations Leader in Brazil:

How did you learn about Aglow? In the church when I was a teenager.

What is your Aglow group like (how often do you meet, what do you connect over, etc.)? I'm involved with Aglow on the Generation Group. We usually meet twice a month or on a special day

What are your greatest needs as a young Christian leader?  It's difficult to get free time because of work and university, not only for me but for the entire group, so I need free time.

How has Aglow challenged you to fulfill the role God has for you as a young Christian leader? I'm excited with Generations because we can work for Jesus together with no differences of churches. We can work in unity, we can be one. (It didn't use to happen in Brazil).

What excites you about Aglow’s Generations Initiative? Watch the successful work Aglow has developed makes me believe that I can do the same in the name of Jesus.

How have you benefited from an Aglow-affiliated mentor? Our Aglow leader is a great person. She is always in contact with us. We work together in some projects of Aglow.

From your perspective, why is it important for the older generation to invest in the lives of younger generations? It's important because the work can never stop but it needs to grow up and multiply.

What ministry opportunities are you considering (or are you pursuing) currently? At first our group is helping a group in Chile. In Brazil, we are "dreaming" about a worship group of all America from Canada to Latin America.

How has Aglow challenged you to become more involved in ministry to your community (or sphere of influence)? I was praying to God for something different to do in this generation. So, God showed me the way I was asking for!

What would you say to convince another young leader to become involved in Aglow? I would call him to a meeting and show what we are, what we do and the most important, what Jesus can do through him.

What would you say to convince a more mature believer to invest in lives of young people? Well, I would show her capacity and her purposes about God's kingdom. I really believe that if a person believes in God in a real way and waits for His best, if this person has a broken heart and loves God above all, she or he is able to do anything and this mature believer will lose nothing but win in the reign of God.