The Inside Story - March Edition

An inside look at the stories of those behind Aglow Australia.   

The Inside Story takes an inside look at the lives we love, perhaps only heard about, or may not even know at all. Mentors, leaders, valued Kingdom partners, and most of all you, of whom, together, are forming the wider, magnificent story of Aglow Australia today.  

This month, we’re delighted to feature an interview with our National Leader, Elizabeth West. In this conversation, she reinforces Aglow’s new vision, sharing the heart behind it and what it means for the future.

Elizabeth, it’s so good to have you feature in our Inside Story to share about the new corporate vision for Aglow Australia. I know people will value reading what you’ve been speaking to us about recently so that core points are reinforced! 

Thank you! Yes, it’s been incredible to witness how the journey of this vision has unfolded. As aware, the Father had asked that it be kept hidden for a certain period until He released it to be shared. Spiritually, we, as a movement, had been pregnant with what He was about to birth for Aglow Australia, given the times we are now in as a nation.   

As we know in this new era, the Lord's been preparing us to arise and step into new territory. We are all familiar post- Conference of last year, that having crossed the Jordan, we then had ‘camped’ on the other side waiting for the Lord to reveal our next steps.  

This new territory we are now occupying has a very distinct purpose. Built on the concept of IDENTITY, it's in fact more than just stepping onto new land – but putting a Kingdom stake INTO it for Him.  

He is having us lead the charge for Jesus, where in partnership with other Kingdom entities, will be people who are going to disrupt and take back what the enemy has long been systematically destroying.  

It’s all so that our God’s original design for our lives and nation is restored and living in the fullness of their identity and purpose in Him!    

Q2: This is so relevant as 'Identity' impacts every individual. You had mentioned that when asking the Lord about sharing this, He advised not to as the vision was still incomplete? 

That’s exactly right. As we now know, in was a couple of months later where the Lord then revealed HOW this would be achieved – through the establishing of a physical and online INSTITUTE. 

Why an Institute? Because ‘Identity’ is not a theme. There’s nothing transient about this call.  

"We are called to take territory back!"

The Aglow International Institute (not accredited) has been called to take territory back, so as ‘territory-takers,’ it’s requiring the establishment of a significant root system that will invest in the soil of our land long term.  

It’s here to stay. It’s here to reach. And it will be used to help bring reformation to Australia through authentic Kingdom change. It’s all on purpose and now being activated because it’s His time.  

God is so perfectly strategic by revealing that this Institute will be used to prepare the way. It will be a vehicle (the literal word was prophetically declared at our Conference, symbolising something that would be used to reach Australia), that will train, equip, and empower not only Aglow leaders and our Aglow partners, but also the wider body.  

Being trained in the Word and through personal ministry, we will see lives come and carry back throughout the land all that was imparted.  

We will be carriers of His anointing because of personal revelation and the transformation it brings, that in turn, will directly influence our spheres within the marketplace.  

In the fullness of His call, I believe it will be catalytic and create tremendous mobilisation.  

This is particularly so with the next generation – “they’re waiting” as the Lord has frequently said to us, where this market will be ‘discipled’ by His truth in the area of their identity in Him. It’s Matthew 28 stuff, that’s going to mobilise Kingdom. 

Q3: You mentioned Reformation – can you touch on that? 

Yes, it can feel a bit ‘clunky’ as a word, but put simply, it’s about the re-forming of our society for Jesus. We’re going to help influence all spheres that influence our culture (e.g.,) re-forming education; re-forming government and so on.   

Again, our vision will be used as one of His many vehicles among the wider body, who will have a voice and purpose for the marketplace.  

I remember the Lord showing me a vision of strong, magnificent, shiny steel-grey girders being put deep into the ground when revealing the Institute. I was struck by how impressive they were in weight and dominance. 

With this, He gave me a clear understanding that this Institute will carry strong ‘relevance’ by how it’s communicated and by what it offers, as it's called to impact our marketplace.  

So as indicated, together with other Kingdom ministries – this is all about oneness – Aglow is going to be ultimately used to help bring reformation to our land.  

As Dutch Sheets said, in the reforming of our spheres, reformation “changes the psyche of our nation.”  And we’ll achieve that Aglow, by disrupting the world’s ‘truth’ narrative with our God’s one and only truth.  

Q4: How do you see Aglow Australia’s Leaders preparing for this? 

First, our Branches will obviously remain. These hubs will provide continuity to what people have either experienced through the Institute, or will feed a need for those who want what the Institute represents by seeking out their local Aglow Branch. 

A critical aspect to this, is that ‘Identity’ is all about connection – connection through revelation and connection with the body by how we deliver on this, yes. But in an age where the greatest identity theft of all time is occurring, the Institute and Branches will create a powerful connection with a broken world.  

This next point is so important – we will connect with a generation who need mothers and fathers of the faith – and to equally model those roles to an orphan generation today.  

But here’s the thing – and I’m throwing much out there I know, but having entered a new era globally, I believe signs and wonders are also going to operate in tandem with Kingdom ministry.     

When someone shared this with me just recently, I believe this very point is what Aglow Australia's Institute will operate in – it’s actually going to become a belief system that's lived. Therefore, training and ministry will be concurrent to signs and wonders by having entered a time that's all about preparing of the way - evidence of Jesus will be shown.  

Q5: Does this require more of us as Aglow Leaders?   

The only thing the Lord requires is your yes! I want to reiterate that the Institute doesn’t equate to being academic. No. No. No.  

Our trainers will certainly be experienced and anointed teachers of the Word and in ministry. But for us as Aglow's leaders, we just come as we are – and that’s more than enough.  

Two things:  

Remember, when the enemy’s challenged, he becomes incredibly obvious – he resorts to fear and intimidation (note Lana Vawser's recent word in our Prophetic Insight article.) Suddenly we find ourselves casting a giant flood light over our own perceived weaknesses where we then disqualify ourselves.   

Let me remind all of us (myself included), next to all of the Bible Greats were unqualified, everyday people whom the Lord Himself, qualified – by simply being called!  

Aglow Australia you are appointed for such a time as this, and therefore, we are anointed for the specific role we’re now being called into. 

In closing, I came across an old publication of Dutch Sheets, ‘The River of God’ – moving in the flow of God’s plan for revival.  

I loved reading the truth of a powerful statement under the section, Genuine Greatness.  

“I don’t think we understand greatness at all. Most of us will be totally confused at the awards ceremony in heaven. I can assure you of this: it won’t look like ours. I have some truly great people in my fellowship. You won’t hear of most of them until we get to heaven. They’re not ‘gifted’ enough. They’re simply great moms and dads. Great workers, great servants.     

The world is crying out for some substance from us “God-people.” We will never reach them using their own methods – let’s insist on the real thing. Let’s allow the river to flow. God and the world are waiting. Generation X still wait for something real.”  

I wanted to weep. Every mother, every father, every daughter, every son. We come just as we are so He can be who He is. 

1 Thessalonians 5:24; “The One who called you is faithful and He will do it.” When He calls us, we - YOU - are more than enough! 

Dutch couldn’t be more accurate for today’s times when stating that this next generation are waiting for something real. 

It’s why we are now hearing of this generation wanting to return to the traditional – a return to family and community; the revival of traditional skills and self-sufficiency; rejecting the digital deluge; the rediscovery of faith and spirituality; traditional gender roles; a movement rooted in meaning – they’re seeking a moral foundational that has withstood the test of time.”  (Note the link below to read more.) 

 🚀 Why the New Generation is Embracing Traditional Values | Medium 

How God to align everything so perfectly. The world wants to identify real, and so as we step out Aglow, together with our brothers and sisters in Christ, we will show them exactly that through the truth and reality of who they are in God! 

Q6: Any final note?

Yes, pray Aglow Australia! I sensed the Lord show that with the release of His vision, it was still 'passing through' something that looked like a birthing canal.

While it's birthed in concept, it meant to me that the vision was still in formation, requirin us to continue praying it through so it 'comes to full term!'