So yesterday I got back from the Aglow Worldwide Conference in Houston, TX, and it was a blast!! If you're wondering why I haven't posted in so long, well - I was getting ready for the conference in TX. But never fear, I'm back and the updates should start again soon.
For a short behind-the-scenes look at Conference, check out the youtube video from our Media Specialist, Ashley Paul, at http://www.youtube.com/user/AglowInternational01#p/u/27/4-xP8DcBAZ0.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with Aglow Int'l, Aglow is a Christian non-profit organization, made up of small groups that meet in 169 countries around the world. Groups meet for Bible studies, community projects, and each country and even community has a distinct representation of Aglow. One country started its own Aglow Bible School, and in one African nation they have started their own Aglow Orphanage and are making a great impact on the community there with the Orphanage and sustainable farm. Every other year Aglow has a Worldwide Conference held in the United States where members from all over the world are invited to come and gather for a time of refreshing, vision, and encouragement.
So now that you have the background, let me fill you in on conference! It was wonnnnderful.
Our speakers were Chuck Pierce, Johnny Enlow, Ray Hughes, Graham Cooke, and Jane Hansen Hoyt. The opening night of the general sessions featured Chuck Pierce, and was so good that I just thought - Wow! If this is how it starts, how will it end? It's like starting a meal with an appitizer that is better than dessert. It just doesn't happen!
I won't go through every step and detail of conference, but here are a few things that stuck out to me:
- I loved listening to Johnny Enlow. His talk about the "mountains" of influence in society was fabulous. I was encouraged by the empahsis on Christians being Christians oustide of the church - as in, using your talents and giftings in the business realm, education, etc. and being a light and example.
- "Light does not run from the darkness. Darkness runs from light."
- Our God is REALLY big. I hadn't been viewing him for how big he really is. But when someone speaks out a word and it happens? "Live." "Let there be light." "Peace - be still." That person has power and authority and is no small deal. Being in church and hearing that for so long it can be easy to forget that. But God is SO big!
- There was a Generations Group (Aglow for ages 35 and under) who came from American Samoa. They performed three times at Conference with singing and American Samoan dancing and were fantastic. Even more amazing then their performances? The group bought their tickets on faith - they fundraised their entire trip but could only afford one-way tickets for all the members. They bought them believing that God would provide the funds for them to fly back. Check out this short youtube clip to see theri Generations Leader talking, and see the unplanned, unannounced offering that was taken while they were performing. I shouldn't even say it an offering was "taken", people just started walking up to the stage and putting money on the state as they performed. The video is here: http://www.youtube.com/user/AglowInternational01#p/u/29/954UmmBL534.
- I attended a Generations Prayer Watch from 3 to 6 am. Yes, 3 to 6 am. It. was. Awesome. I will admit, I was not greatly looking forward to the time of the watch and specifically prayed that God would make the watch go quickly and be great, with His presence there. I didn't want to just go to a prayer meeting to just go to a prayer meeting, you know? Well, God really showed up. I only looked at the clock 2 or 3 times and was shocked that the three hours passed as fast as it did. We spent time praying over conference, worshipping, and praying for each other and our respective Generations groups. There were 9 people who attended, and I think we all agree it was a wonderful time.
Well, that's all for now! If you would like to read more about the Conference, you are welcome to check out the Aglow Conference Blog - it is pretty great!
Hope everyone has been doing well and had a wonderful summer since I've last written.
Welcome Autumn!
