Aglow began 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, USA, close to where Aglow’s Worldwide Headquarters is 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 neighbours 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, colour, and culture, and, through women especially, to families worldwide. Over 4,600 Aglow groups meet worldwide.
More than 22,000 Aglow leaders worldwide minister in their communities and nations, to an estimated 17 million people each year. Today, indigenous leaders are overseeing Aglow groups in nearly 170 nations.
THE HISTORY OF AGLOW INTERNATIONAL AUSTRALIA
The women were hungry for more of the Holy Spirit and found this in Aglow. Groups quickly formed in Newcastle, Canberra, Geelong and Launceston later that same year. Many lives were touched by the Spirit of God as women ministered to one another.
Joan Morton, having heard of Aglow in 1975, gathered 7 women together to pray to establish Aglow in Brisbane.
In 1976 Joan was appointed President of Brisbane Aglow Fellowship and from there, groups on the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast commenced.
In March 1977, board members from the Aglow International office visited Australia and they taught at leadership training seminars in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.
The following year, at the Aglow International Convention in Chicago, Joan was appointed National President of Aglow in Australia and was asked to form a National Board.
The National Office operated in Brisbane until 2005 when Joan retired. The National Office relocated to Perth under the leadership of newly appointed, Kerry-Ellen Logan as National President.
Aglow has grown in Australia to reach every state and territory and is key in the South Pacific Region. Women and men gather and continue to reach out with the same heart inspired by the Holy Spirit to the First Nation’s people of Australia and islands of the Pacific.
In 2021, with Kerry-Ellen as Chair of the Aglow South Pacific Regional Committee, the first Aglow South Pacific Conference was held online, joining together the Nations of the South Pacific.
Kerry-Ellen retired in 2022, with Carol Price appointed as Interim National Leader until the next National Leader is appointed.
In 1974 Aglow began to spread across the nations and reached Australia in 1974 when women who were praying and had a heart to reach other women for Christ gathered for luncheons in Sydney and Melbourne where the first meetings were held on February 13th, 1975.
THE HISTORY OF AGLOW INTERNATIONAL