In this issue: Read a report on the Generations Project in New Zealand, moving forward in Slovakia, a report from the Aglow Transformations group in the Philippines, Rowena's Fashion and Health column and introducing our newest Aglow intern, Jessica!

 

 

 Generations New Zealand 

By Katie Davies—National Generations Coordinator for New Zealand

Greetings to you from New Zealand, literally at the ends of the earth.
Over the last few years a group of us have been working in our local schools running a programme called Shine .This 8 week course was designed in Sydney, Australia out of Hill-song Church.
When I took on the role of Generations Coordinator for NZ I felt that the Shine programme was something that we should adopt as a way of reaching the young girls of NZ- and
hopefully their families. Momentum has been growing. We have now got more programmes starting, young women getting excited about facilitating it in their communities.

Last month some of us Shine leaders were involved with a camp that our local police ran for teen-age girls who have been affected by abuse. It was an awesome time, relationships were established, and hope and purpose given to these young woman.

We are planning to set up generations groups to follow up the Shine programme and believe that this will be a key to seeing the young woman of NZ mentored, discipled and connected with the plan that God has for their lives.
I believe right now that God has opened a door in our nation to GO, and it is up to us to respond – we respond by simply ARISING and SHINING the Light of Christ that is within us. The story of how I got connected with Shine is so GOD, it happened at the National Aglow NZ convention in 2004. Its amazing to look back and see the hand prints of God, and see how it was a simple act of obedience to the Holy Spirits leading that has set this in motion.

 

Watch what is going on in Great Britain by clicking here! 

 

 

 

 Moving Forward in Slovakia

 By Svetlana Body Cief From Slovakia

In Feb ‘09 we went to a prison in the town of Nitra and ministered there through our magazine for women, and showed the love in that hard field where the enemy keeps attempting to occupy territory, in the lives of those women. We also have been praying and working with our government through a ―prayer breakfast for parliament. We also have printed a book for children ―about two kings you can see it by clicking the book below . We would like to donate one copy to every major library in Bratislava part Petrzalka, as our nation does not have many books for children.

At the Aglow European conference in Ireland I had a very good talk with Ingrid, another young lady on the Netherlands Aglow Board, we prayed together after being inspired by Jervae Brooks, International Field Executive Director at Worldwide Headquarters, preaching. God told me that I have to stop living in isolation and go among other artists and be a voice. I was given a very unusual and big opportunity to be a light between the top designers from Slovakia and Czech Republic. I was a judge for a competition for a National Prize for Design (click here to see). This was held in Slovakia and I had a bigger interview in a magazine called Designum, where it featured a few pages about my professional life. I want to keep stepping out and not just hide in this area of my life, so God can use me among fellow artists. I am excited about all the things that God is doing.

 

Dawson Mcalister Live Partenership

by Evangeline Weiner

Katrina's vision for Aglow and the DMA partnership is to "Continue to be a prayer warrior for the group. I love that we are linked up on Sunday nights and invited to pray with the group that is getting ready to minister that night. Also, I see Aglow women as being a perfect fit for HopeCoaches."

 

About a year ago, Katrina, her husband and three children moved to LaFollette, TN. Her husband got a teaching job and to Katrina's delight and amazement, it's in the same area that she had desired to go back to for a long time. She said that God made it so clear that it was He who had opened the door to bring them there. She explains, "When we were
preparing to move here from MI I was praying one day and the Lord laid a scripture on my heart that I felt was part of the purpose as to why He was bringing us here. That scripture was Isaiah 61:14 ‘They shall rebuild the old waste places, they shall raise up the former
desolations, they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations!!' This burned in the depth of my soul and I felt that it was the mandate the Lord was giving to me. I didn't fully understand how this would happen or the full context in which He meant it, but I received it with all my heart and He continues to reveal its meaning as time goes on. Part of the meaning lies in the fact that there seems to be a  spirit of poverty that controls this region as well as drugs, teen pregnancy and incredibly desolated families, just to name a few." So when Kathy Cook came to the Aglow meeting and shared the vision and ministry of DMA, there was such a connection."

 

 

                                                     

   

Transformation Philippines Trip March '09

By Amy Bowles

When I left North Carolina to join the rest of the Transformation Team in California, I knew that I would never be the same again but wasn’t exactly sure what would change about me. I knew Janet Mangum our Transformations Director and Carmelita Alverson who is part of the Western North Carolina Area but the rest of the team were new faces. From the moment we all met it was as if we always knew one another.

 As we ministered together in the Philippines all the church leaders were shocked at the unity we had with one another . We ranged in age from 25-70. Ephesians 4:16 truly came alive to me more than ever before on this trip. There were so many things that each of us did; from giving someone a hug, dancing, giving our testimony, giving our greetings, preaching, teaching, praying for people and winning souls for the kingdom of God.

We had 10,405 people who we ministered to, 6,928 salvations, 4,591 healings, 61 Bible Studies that got started and 2 new churches that got started through our crusade Jesus For Negros (The island we stayed at in the Philippines is called Negros).

Each night we would go to a different village excited and pumped up at what the Lord was about to do. The Filipino band The River Jam Band would go a few hours early to set up and then we would join them after inviting people in the surrounding area to come to the crusade. Most of the time we would meet in the basketball courts which is where the gathering place would be at in their villages. There is so much freedom over there. During the day time we would minister in the schools, on the street, in the jail, in the mayors office or anywhere we had an open door to go to.

 One of the things I miss the most is our morning devotions. Every morning we would wake up with our roommates and go downstairs to worship together. Different people would lead worship in the morning as well as devotions and then we would get together in groups of two to take communion with one another.

 The greatest thing that I realized about this trip, mostly from being put on the spot a lot by Janet, was that so many times we feel like we have to be ready when we are already ready to do what God is calling us to do. The first time I preached, I didn’t know I was going to preach until Fran the co-leader was assigning everyone their tasks outside the school for a mini-crusade. The Holy Spirit took care of everything in every way no matter where we went or what we did the entire trip!

This experience was so humbling for me because I’m 25 ministering with these incredible men and women of God from Aglow and the Philippines side by side watching transformation happen not only with them but all of us at the same time.

As a part of Aglow’s Transformation Team, I strongly encourage anyone who has a desire to come on one of these short term missions trips to fully pursue it. In my own ability I did not have the money to do it but God was just waiting on me to take the first step saying “Yes send me”.

You too can do this and step into your destiny! Remember God doesn’t call the qualified he qualifies the called, this is our time for our generation to step it up to raise your voice! If you don’t then who will? Please pray about joining Aglow’s Transformation Team on one of the trips as it will redefine who you are in Christ Jesus.

**For information on going on a Transformation team contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it **

 

Fashion and Health

By Rowena Cooper

 With the economy in a shambles, count on the fashion industry to give us advice we can use!  The good news from the style gurus is that bright colors are all the rage for 2009.  Dazzling arrays of sunny yellow, fuchsia pink, and cobalt blue have a way of lightening our outlook on otherwise gloomy situations.

 

The Good News of the Gospel is that The Light has overcome darkness, and because of Him we have life!  So instead of getting bogged down with the bad news, think of the Good News of Christ and let His joy be your strength!  Reflect this in every move you make, from the words you speak to those cute yellow pumps and matching purse. 

 

 “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.”  Isaiah 60:1

“ He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,  The justice of your cause like the noonday sun.” Psalm 37:6

 

 Meet Aglow's New Intern, Jessica!

"I like smiling-smiling's my favorite."

Hi everyone!  My name is Jessica Wilson, and I am the second General Business Intern at Aglow.   I’m really excited to be here, and to be a part of what God is doing.  It’s only been a short while since I started, and I’ve already learned so much!  It’s amazing what happens when you surround yourself with people who just love God and live it out in their everyday lives.

I went to Champions College (formerly GBI) in Modesto, CA where I received an AA in ministerial studies.  I also have a B.A. in Speech Communication- I chose the major because I like to talk, and can’t seem to stop!

I have a big family, and almost everyone lives in California!  I am amazingly blessed to have been raised in a Christian home.  My mom and dad were both saved at a young age, and my great-grandmother was saved at the Azusa Street revival!   The thing I’m most grateful for is that my parents taught me to put God first- He doesn’t get leftovers.

My passion in life is really to be used by God. Not so that people will look at me, but so I can have something to offer and give back to Him.  I love to talk and minister to young people who have grown up in the church- I know what you’re going through!  I also love to speak to girls about sex, I’m sick of the world talking about it, and the church staying quiet.

In my spare time I like to hang out with family and friends, watch movies, go on road trips, and sing karaoke!

And just for kicks, one random fact about me is:  Although I look calm and sweet, I actually love Christian hard rock bands, like Underoath!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Infidel By Ayaan Hirsi Ali

 

 

Reviewed by Evangeline Weiner

This book is such a page turner. You will read the whole thing  in a matter of a day or two! If you want to understand the Middle Eastern Culture better, and the struggles of many women around the world, you should read this book! This is a story of Ayaan  and her life growing up in a Muslim nation. She discusses everything from female circumcision to arranged marriages. 

She escapes from an arranged marriage to the Netherlands where she ends up in the government and later causes a huge stir among the nation for a documentary her and Mr. Van

 Gough created titled “Submission”. Upon the release of the movie, she has to escape for her life as Van Gough was killed with a note stabbed to him  saying “I am coming for Ayaan Hirsi Ali next!”   

 “A Somali by birth and a recently elected member of the Dutch Parliament, Ms. Hirsi Ali had waged a personal crusade to improve the lot of Muslim women. Her warnings about the dangers posed to the Netherlands by unassimilated Muslims made her Public Enemy No. 1 for Muslim extremists, a feminist counterpart to Salman Rushdie.”

                                                                             —The New York Times“

“Holland was trying to be tolerant for the sake of consensus, but the consensus was empty,” she writes. ‘The immigrants’ culture was being preserved at the expense of their women and children and to the detriment of the immigrants’ integration into Holland.’”

                                                                                                 —The New York Times