The Inside Story – May Edition.

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

Our 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, form the wider, magnificent story of Aglow Australia today.  

This month’s Q+A article features Pennant Hill’s Aglow branch leader, Glenys Porter, who represents the very first branch in Australia!

Q1: Glenys, being an accountant (and still working part time mind you), we know you have a great eye for detail and dates. So, in recognition of this year being Aglow Australia’s Jubilee year, and as indicated in our opening line your branch being Australia’s first, there’ll be some key milestones and names most of us will recall in the history of Aglow. Why don’t you just feel free to share as they come to mind? 

A: Thank you, it’s an honour to be able to contribute by sharing a little of what occurred in Australia’s 50 year journey. It’s interesting because I remember moments in Aglow’s history just like it was yesterday. Perhaps I recall a few highlights in chronological order as they come to mind: 

· Before we had an official branch in Australia, Ron Oastler (who was President of the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship in 1972) and his wife Norma, came to the monthly Saturday breakfast meetings as did many other couples and families in that time. I also used to attend with my mother and father. 

· By 1974 Norma and other women such as Vera Lane, Jan Smith and her mother, Thelma Denton, met together in Norma’s home and later in Pennant Hills on a weekday (although I would have liked to attend, I was employed full time in the city.) 

· Interestingly, the four women who commenced Aglow International in the US in 1967, had also come together because of the connection with the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship. 

· On May 21, 1975, Pennant Hills Aglow then officially received charter from International. (I remember the day when in 1982, the Aglow membership chairwoman shared that the 120th woman had just taken out membership that morning for Pennant Hills Aglow. A biblical number! 120 meeting on the day of Pentecost. 

· Another memoir of value was that Val Irving who had been President of Pennant Hills in 1984 launched her book, "Let Us Keep the Feast," in February 1990. 

· In 1985 Margaret Russell then took up the mantle of President for 19 years. Aside from her leadership role for our monthly meetings, she led the Aglow Bible Study group and one of her special attributes, were her hand-written cards of encouragement, pastoral care and thanks. 

· (As an aside but noted because of its impact) I recall in 1987 that 175 women came to a meeting to hear the speaker, Helen Ivicevich. Helen had been with the bikie gang, Hell’s Angels, for eight years and came to the Lord being delivered radically from drugs and a life of rebellion. Her Ministry in Australia is called is Helen Ivicevich Ministries (HIM) 

· On Mothers’ Day afternoon, 8th May 1988 our first Aglow Conference commenced on the steps of the Opera House. Some of the women had made special colourful outfits and stood at the end of the aisles down the opera house steps! 

The most significant aspect of the celebration was the sharing of the Word by National President, Joan Morton, from 2 Kings 13:14-18. Elisha told Joash the King of Israel (who wept over the chariots of Israel and their horsemen) to take a BOW and some ARROWS. Elisha told Joash to open the east window and SHOOT for the Lord’s deliverance. Then take the arrows and STRIKE the ground, but Joash stopped after three times and Elisha was angry with him. You should have struck five or six times, and you would have struck Syria and destroyed it. 

Joan had asked for TWO ANVILS to be on the Opera House steps for her and another woman to strike five or six times. (One of those anvils belonged to my Dad and is under my house to this day which I am unable to lift!) 

Beverley Souster, who also had been President of Pennant Hills in the early 1980’s also made some magnificent banners which were hung in the Opera House for the 1988 Conference. Further, this conference was the first time Kerry-Ellen Logan attended, and later 10 years to the day in 2008, she went on the Aglow Israel tour.  

· Lastly, I also recall a significant Aglow outreach which occurred leading up to and during the 2000 Olympics. We went to various venues including outside the Sydney Town Hall. For some months leading up to the Games, we did prayer walks near the Olympic stadium and also around Auburn area. 

During this time, Beverley Golder helped the women make Granny Smith outfits. The home of Granny Smith apples is Tasmania and Tasmania was going for gold during our Olympic year. Near where Beverley lived in Sydney, a lady had thrown a rotten green apple in the rubbish and surprise, surprise, a new Granny Smith apple tree grew. God took what was thrown out for rubbish and made a brand new fruit bearing a Granny Smith apple tree. The outreach opportunity was to believe for people to experience new life in Jesus. 

Q: Those are great snippets of information Glenys and am sure it stirred memories with others too. Tell us a little about you now.  In 2025 and in your 22nd year as branch leader of Pennant Hills, we’d love to know a little more about your brand today.  We believe you have 25 who still faithfully attend, you recently held a Jubilee Regional Day in April and you still are passionate about supporting Israel. As mentioned, at the age of 82, we also hear you’re still working and known to occasionally chop down a tree or two on your own in the backyard! 

A: In closing, it continues to be a privilege to serve Aglow, and I thank and praise the Lord for His ongoing strength. I’m also always grateful for His tender healing miracle in 1977, when I was unable to have children. The Lord’s precious answer came, and the first of three sons arrived 

when I was 35, of which now I am blessed to have eight grandchildren, and I will become a great grandmother next month. My quiver is full!