180 of them – out to the streets they went!  Some only had a half hour, others a couple of hours.  Half of them had never stepping out to try this kind of interaction with strangers others were veterans and full of faith and ready to reach into hearts with the love of God.  What was the result?  The exclamations came back in excited voices and joy-filled body language of salvations, healing, recommitments and numerous seeds planted for the Kingdom of God.  an amazing time!  Seeing Gods love touch lives was incredible!  Some resistant, but received prayer and afteward tears flowed.  I was encouraged, inspired, stretched and equipped by God from the experience.

It was an God-anointed and God-motivated experience. I didn’t know my partner but she was a ball of fun!

Had a great time sharing.  The more people I spoke to the more comfortable I got.  It was a wonderful time to go as a team.  Awesome, awesome, awesome as we flowed together.  Let’s do it again next year!

Houston in 2011 – Here we come!

PARTICIPATING WITH HEAVEN IN THE PHILIPPINES by Georganne Schweickert

Negros Oriental became our home for the first few days. We were privileged to stay in gracious comfort at the home of the new Aglow National President of the Philippines, Teresita Felicio and her Pastor and husband Lemuel. While there, we poured our what the Holy Spirit had prepared in us on a radio station, in various churches, and at the local charity hospital. You draw deep from your well; you find faith you had not realized had matured; and you give from your heart.

The response of the Philippine people was so enthusiastic. There were hundreds who responded to every altar call at every venue. Most were committing themselves to trust Jesus and be born from above; but those who already had some relationship to the Savior came with the purpose of becoming ever closer to their God.

Crusades were joyful events. When we fanned out to invite neighborhoods, the children followed. The parents came later. Responses were nearly 100% of the hundreds who came; and we prayed for each one, seeing several on-the-spot healings, which built faith on both sides.

At the Aglow regional conferences, hungry, eager men and women came to learn what would strengthen the foundations of their faith and help them keep going and growing together. As our team shared exhortations, vision, and nuggets about interacting in leadership, I find that after an absence of 15 years, I am continually impressed with the maturity and wisdom God has trusted to His arm called Aglow. Aglow is indeed a compassionate and powerful force for good and for exampling Jesus.

We continue to reverberate with the strength and sincerity of the worship in the Philippine Islands. May God be greatly glorified in each precious person who lives as His Filipino friend.

AGLOW TRANSFORMATION TEAM – ALASKA 2010

What a God-adventure! An Aglow Transformation Team of eight, partnered with Alaska Aglow Ruby Area Team and Alaska Ablaze, to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ, His hope and healing, to six Alaska Native villages: Northway, Kluti-Kaah (Copper Center), Tazlina, Chitina, Gulkana and Mentasta. God touched these Native villages through music ministry, testimony, prayer-walking, children’s ministry and more. We saw tears as the local Christians were encouraged – thanking God and us for caring enough to go so far off the beaten path to minister to them. Men, women, teens and children attended the Free Christian Concert that was laced with powerful personal testimonies from the team. The Tribal Chiefs and Elders were given honor with gifts and prayers, and even attended the meetings! Chief Johnny (Tazlina) invited us all to see his traditional Native fish (salmon) wheel which he was currently operating. What a treat! to be welcomed so. Gulkana put on a nice potluck.

God really exceeded our expectations on so many counts. The B&B’s we stayed in were Christian-owned; the hosts gladly participated in our daily devotions/communion. The villages themselves are very small – one village is only 30 people in population – and we had been warned that turn-out might be very small. But Janet reminded us that it is not about numbers, but about what God does in those that DO come. Praise God! Well, 25-35 people turned out each night (with only one exception). This is truly an incredible turnout for these tiny Native villages.

A man named David, was healed of back pain and threw his crutches into the river! Two abused young women were ministered to mightily in prayer. The children were taught the basics of Salvation in Christ through puppets and crafts. And, oh my! When they were given banners to wave during the music, they were incredibly sensitive to the Holy Spirit! It was wonderful. Several women became “groupies”, following the Team from village to village to get “really filled up”. A young man was prayed for and delivered from many demons. And yet another man, Frank, was set free in worship and testified to everyone! Several accepted Jesus for the first time. And the women! Oh, the women – so many with burdens for their villages, families, youth. All received prayer and gifts, and were made to feel special as each got personal attention. Bibles, Praise Devotional Books, Prayer Devotional Books, and Books of John were generously distributed.

This Transformation Team worked hand-in-hand with hearty Alaskan Aglow women who supported the mission through prayer, music, ministry and much, much driving in the wilderness of Alaska to places which were sometimes at the literal “end of the road”. They jumped right in to help with anything that was needed. God knit our hearts together instantly. They have committed to return to follow up with more encouragement, prayers, and perhaps establish new Aglow chapters, as we have already been invited to return to four of the villages. When we transitioned to Alaska Ablaze, we helped put up a HUGE circus type tent while Janet and Phyllis worked in the kitchen peeling potatoes, cooking, and having fellowship with the other Ablaze workers.

The faithfulness of God was evident continually – as we all worked together. The scheduling was a miracle in itself, most villages having no stores, restaurants, hotels, gas stations, etc. Yet everything worked out, even when we had to make a few U-turns to find our way. Of course, the beautiful surroundings, mountains, forests, lakes, streams, 21 hours of sunlight, and MOOSE! were a God-made inspiration to us all. What a privilege to walk in faith with boldness and intentionality, partaking of the goodness of our God and His love for the out-of-the-way places on this earth. Anyone taking part in a mission like this goes in praying that they can be of service to God and help others to see Him. On this mission, Jesus was exalted and the Name of the Lord was glorified! Hallelujah!

Written by Fran Hallgren

Abraham was shown the stars (Ge. 22:17, 26:4) as a representative of the multiplied effect of his life … his waiting, our waiting, his wanting, our wanting, his continual pursuit of God and His purposes, our continual pursuit of God and His purposes. Believing that we can effect as many as the stars in the sky we can see on a dark night tests our soul, tests our faith, tests our patient waiting.  But there is a test that exceedingly passes them all – the test of God’s resources to accomplish His will and passionate desire for humankind and our commission to partner with Him in it all.

I love this line below because it reminds us to remember Ephesians 6 – having done all to stand, stand therefore, as we intentionally remain faithful for the promise of God to be fulfilled of numerous seeds – multiplied seed – offspring, descendants  to be as many as the stars of the sky or even the sands of the sea!  Until the upcoming time Michael declared in Daniel 12:1-3, may we each be the wise ones that shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and forever!

You do not test the resources of God until you attempt the impossible.

F.B. Meyer

There are three stages in any work of God, impossible, difficult, done.

Hudson Taylor

When I was laying in bed praying last night, I kept thinking….did we do all we were supposed to do?  Did we do it as good as we could?  Was Jesus glorified in what we did and how we did it?  Were people’s lives really touched and changed because of the love extended to them in His name?  Was it worth it to come?

My answers have to be yes.  Oh, we learned much and can improve…but overall, you couldn’t place your pride in a more humble, willing and able group of Aglow women.  They truly rose to every challenge, taking everything in stride, loving people in such an open way. Pastor Godfrey said he is continually amazed at this team…their persistence in ministry…their stamina, etc.  and he would have us all back again.

But here is something interesting I heard this morning:  apparently one of the kings from a local village where we were working sent a spy in to see who we were and what we were doing…to see if we were for real.  The report went back to him that indeed we were real…and were not giving fake medications to people…that we were loving the people in Jesus name.  WOW!  And he allowed his people to come to the clinic, and thereby hear the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Thank you so much for praying for all of us, for supporting us…and loving the people of Uganda enough to let us come here to minister in His mighty name!  You will reap the same reward, the Word says!  WOOHOO!

And one day – you will all get to meet some of the most wonderful brothers and sisters in Christ that we on this team have already met here on earth.  They love you already.

Fran Hallgren
AGLOW Transformation Team – Uganda 2010

The word TRANSFORMATION has felt like it was “my” personal word for many years.  Its nature is organic….flowing and going….moving…. and life-giving.  When it’s initiated by the Holy Spirit, it sheds unneeded or unhealthy ways as it takes on unique forming aspects.  It’s a word that has movement.  When it first seemed to drop into my thinking, I began to realize it would be a word that would have significant impact.

PREGNANT TRANSFORMATION

I was reminded of pregnancy and birthing children.  I have 3 children.  As these little lives formed in me, it changed my form every day.  It wasn’t a one time formation change either.  Daily life formation inside was my formation too.  The growing child not only was transforming my body shape, but my reasons for living, my daily activities, my relationships, my thinking processes…everything was in transitional formation.  Oh, but after the child was born, didn’t you go back to the way you were, someone might ask?  As any mother knows, the answer is no.  Physically you might be able to look on the outside like it didn’t make a big change, but internally you are different forever.  Emotionally?  Oh my goodness, let us mothers count the ways our emotions change because a child is now in our life!  But when they are adults doesn’t that go away?  That’s what I thought too until I had adult children. You are changed forever by the experience and its ongoing effects in your life.

DON’T YOU JUST GET TIRED OF BEING IN TRANSITION SOMETIMES?!

Transformation is continual transition for me.  I have tasted its delicacies enough to cause me to welcome its ways and deliberately strengthen my intentionality in embracing its outcome which has become my missional outlook.

WHAT KIND OF OUTLOOK?

Don’t let the word missional throw you into a typical definition of someone who lives overseas doing evangelism activity. Yes, I am a short term missionary, mobilizing short term mission teams, but a missional outlook has to do with all the areas of life, not just when you go on a team or do a particular task labeled as spiritual or ministry service somewhere “over there.”  It’s the way we see who we are alongside the active awareness that we live in relation to those we encounter.

FROM HERE TO THERE AND EVERYWHERE

The teams are formed and mobilized to come alongside areas and ministries for the purpose of individual and community transformation. They are one to one, small group, and area-wide endeavors.When I work with team leaders or lead a team with Aglow, I experience a treasured gift from our heavenly Father.  Its the gift of getting to know these precious ones who have a heart to be a catalyst for  transformation wherever they are and are willing to take risks to see that happen. Most of them have never stepped out in experimental obedience in this type of setting or this way.  Their discovery?  Its dramatically transformative both in those they meet and in their own personal lives.

WITHOUT TRYING YET INTENTIONAL

The Aglow Transformation Teams help activate people in a fresh reality of God’s personal intervention and willingness to empower them.  They find themselves developing spiritually without trying.  As they get involved, they are both inspired and challenged and again – changed inside and out. It’s Divine activation!  Its God’s demonstration!  It’s illumination!  And its our Transformation!  Yahoo and that’s all good.

I WANT I WANT I WANT AND I BET YOU DO TOO

As sincere Christians, we read, study, hope and pray for an experiential expression of God’s Word to implode and explode in our lives.  We want to be exhibiters of His glory!  Oh how deeply we have desired to partner with His Word and ways and be a demonstration of His love and power! This is what we are experiencing on the Aglow Transformation teams! We don’t just have front row seats!  We are in middle of dramatic face-to-face encounters with people as they discover God’s personal love!

I believe in spiritual growth classes and Biblical educational development opportunities.  It’s learning and growing, knowing and experiencing truth.  We all realize that lecture learning was never designed to exclude  our experimental obedience. In these transformation team outreaches, we have found that sometimes before the person is even aware of the Biblical truths they are experiencing,  as they intentionally step out, they put into practice Biblical principles and Scriptures. Let’s get face to face with God’s Word and as we do get face to face with some people on behalf of His love for them and discover His Word lives and breathes in us!

SNEAKY FEELINGS SOMETIMES COME FROM GOD

God is about our development.  I thought at first he was only about my development in prayer, or Bible knowledge, but in time I realized the Bible, and therefore God Himself, was interested in my personal healthy, happy, effective living from now to eternity. And He planned for me to become a multiplier.  I always had a sneaky feeling that when the bible says God told Adam and Eve to go and multiply, He wasn’t just talking about having more children, but that He was commissioning them to go and multiply His image in the earth.

Ask any Transformation Team member if their experience only effected their lives when it comes to evangelism or prayer or if it effected their lives in general, their families or friends,  and how it changed their outlook on life as a whole.   I began to realize God wasn’t just interested in the “eternity” part when we leave this body and join him.  It is about here and now until there and then!  He’s forming something and that something is you and I and our effect on others.

WHOEVER GOT ENGAGED BY ACCIDENT?  ITS INTENTIONAL COMMITMENT TO ANOTHER PERSON.

Engaging in intentional activity even when its not the prelim to marriage. It produces a fulfilling life and is a continual quest, not just a short term mission trip.  Not moving forward is just not an option.  I had a pastor many years ago who would often use the word “intentionality.” I didn’t remember hearing it used when it came to spiritual development before that time.  Yes, knew being a good mother should be an intentional effort, being a good wife, learning in any arena took intentional effort.

I had this odd impression that if it was something God cared about, and wanted to do, that I didn’t have an “intentional active” part in.  I must have thought that God was going to cause it to land in my life in some way without my personal pursuit or activity.  I also had a false impression that if it came to me without any of my own effort it was somehow more spiritual and God-formed than if I had stepped into it intentionally.  Anything that I did that expressed my personal desire or action was defined as either “running ahead of God” or some sort of soul power absent from any God-initiative or commission.  As you can tell by this writing, I have changed my mind.

NOT AFRAID OF MYSELF! THAT’S A GOOD THING

Yes, I want God’s heart, will and ways.  I want to be in agreement and flowing with His timing as well as His wisdom.  But I am no longer afraid that my own desires will be so contrary to His plans that I cannot intentionally step out and taste His personal pleasure and power in the activity.

Remember the movie, Chariots of Fire?  The famous line the distance runner exclaimed was that he felt God’s pleasure when he ran.  In the picture that was an incredulous thought to the religious people of the day.  Running in a race to win seemed unspiritual and they severely doubted he could experience the pleasure of God in such an endeavor?  But also in the picture, based on a true story, the missionary runner was convinced that God wanted him not only to run but to win.  His life made a profound statement to the world and it was repeated every time the movie of his life was shown.  Yours does too every time someone looks at you.  Run to win, intentionally step out in Him!

A group of 14 strong and determined Aglow men and women joined a number of other brothers and sisters to help at the Arab International Festival in Dearborn, MI, one of the centers of Muslim people in our country, on a very hot and humid weekend in June. Our group served the Arab Chamber of Commerce in Dearborn by assisting with the children’s tent, security and hospitality while praying covertly.The Festival attendance was down from its usual 300,000 participants but for those who did attend, it was a time of celebration of the many Arabs who inhabit the city as well as those who came from around the country.Vendors and musicians came from all over the USA and Canada as well as the Middle East to participate and sell their wares. While serving we had casual conversations with many, attempting to build relationship,trust and demonstrate the Love of our Father on Father’s  Day. We were warmly welcomed by the Chamber and told how thankful they were for our contribution as they “could not put this Festival on without us.” We left very tired but thankful for the opportunity to serve those who need   to find peace and love in Jesus.

Written by Cheryl Erbes

What an experience we Aglow women had as we moved around the country of Israel praying at specific notable places of our Christian/Biblical heritage.  The Prayer Tour was both inspiring and humbling. To know that you were standing of the actual soil where some of these great promises of God were spoken, was beyond comprehension. One has to believe that the prayers prayed hit the mark and made a difference in the heavenlies. That was an experience that will never be duplicated.

To observe the Israeli families celebrating Shabat, dressed up in their finest and eating and drinking the best, so serious about their beliefs was awesome. I happened to drop in the dining room where many families were exuberantly singing songs at the top of the lungs—what an inspiring moment. The 170 Aglow women (and men) who patiently waited in line for food and the restrooms were devoted to  praying in the heat of the day. They were getting done what they had come for-to pray at the ancient sites of promises given. I can only be assured that those prayers were heard and are being worked out by the Father.

Janet and I stayed on for another week in Israel and we kindly guided by a former Aglow American woman who truly loves Israel-both the Jews and the Arabs. We were introduced to such a wide variety of people and saw many sites which we did not expect to see. As we ministered I was struck by the fact not only of God’s creativity in so many languages and cultures but also of His love for each and every one of them. We were truly privileged to meet and extend God’s love to them in the small ways we were able. God has a plan for each of us and His plans will be fulfilled. I feel humbled and truly blessed to be a small part of His plan-truly an unforgettable time.

Written by Cheryl Erbes

God is full of surprises…and my recent trip to Brazil was one of those amazing surprises. If you had asked me if I had plans to visit Brazil, I would have said no, not really. I remember the fun my family had at the Atlanta Olympics with the Brazilian fans who chanted “Monica, Monica” for their favorite athlete. But I knew nothing else. Then l met Ines Murad at the International Aglow meeting in 2009, and I knew God was inviting me to Brazil. I said yes!

Our mission trip to Brazil was unlike the many trips I had taken before. We ministered in three different churches, a school, and a conference and many lives were visibly changed. But this trip focused on building practical skills by teaching and training in sewing and jewelry making. We traveled to Brazil to establish a center that would impart and prepare people to improve their lives. We were there to break ground for Aglow in the area of micro-businesses and create a model that could be used in other countries around the world. It demanded a forerunner spirit, creativity, and godly vision… I loved it!

We started by taking the train into Sao Paulo to investigate future resources and to get a sense of the business flavor in Brazil. That evening Ines’s church invited the local community to a service explaining what would take place over the next five days. I casually suggested that people bring a friend to the training, but we did not anticipate the reaction of the crowd until the following evening. We expected 8-12 people to attend the training…over thirty showed up and about one third were children! We were busy!!!

Over the next three evenings we encouraged, taught, laughed, and bonded with the wonderful people of Brazil. Men, women, and children expressed a deep desire to learn a skill…entire families came to learn and their joy was contagious. Aglow Generations took part and God provided for our every need. Many stateside donated money and supplies so that we could purchase five sewing machines, jewelry supplies and a cabinet to contain them. We had numerous interpreters show up to help and practice their skill. What could we have done without them?

If I could sum our trip in one word, it would be “catalyst.” We sparked a desire that had always been deep in the hearts of the people, but as an Aglow Transformation Team, we ignited the spark. The center is organizing and making plans to continue the work…people are excited to be a part of it! One church is holding a garage sale to raise funds for Kingdom purposes…another has sent three leaders to help and train others for the ministry. God’s people are uniting for a common purpose that is greater than any one church…it is Kingdom unity, Kingdom vision, and Kingdom building. And people are at the heart of God’s Kingdom.

What a privilege to represent Aglow Transformation Teams in Brazil. It’s amazing to me what “six, old religious ladies” (what one young lady thought of us before we arrived!) could do in cooperation with the Holy Spirit! A seed was planted in Mogi and in our hearts, and God will bring about the growth.