The generations shall praise Your works to another, And shall declare Your mighty acts.
from "My Heart Stands in Awe of Your Word; Jane Hansen Reads her Favorite Scriptures" (paraphrased from NKJV)Buy the CD
Dear friends,
What if every one of Aglow’s 22,000 leaders worldwide were fully equipped to expand the Kingdom in their community or city?
What if every woman had access to solid, biblical teaching that would help her grow spiritually and mature in wisdom and understanding?
What if in every 3rd world nation, every 1st world nation – and every nation in between! – Aglow put materials into the hands of women that would become weapons against the enemy?
What if the voice God has entrusted to Aglow was amplified even more through an army of women trained and equipped to change their culture?
“You’re dreaming!” you might tell me. YES I AM!
A year ago, I was in Columbus, Georgia, with Jennie Newbrough, who is working with me on the Aglow Institute of Ministry (AIM). We were there to meet with the folks at Christian Life Educators Network (CLEN) -- formerly Beacon Institute of Ministry -- to look at ways Aglow and CLEN might partner together for AIM. As we pulled up to the beautiful campus, complete with sprawling lawns and large, attractive buildings, I turned to Jennie and said, “We may be looking at our future!”
What if by 2020, the Aglow Institute of Ministry has become the world-class Aglow University with a student body of thousands around the world?
Impossible, you say? With man, maybe. But with God ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE!
The notable learning institutions in this nation -- like Harvard and Yale – had humble beginnings, and emphasized Christian education:
And whereas the encouragement of Arts and Sciences, and all good literature, tends to the honor of God, the advantage of the Christian religion and the great benefit of …the United States of America…1
The ministry we are working with – CLST/CLEN2 -- had a humble beginning indeed: just one faculty member (the founder) and very few classes. It has grown to several hundred learning centers around the world as well as a fully-accredited university.
The Bible says,
Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin… Zech 4:10 (NLT)
We have begun the work! As we continue to move AIM forward, looking toward a Fall 2008 launch date, who knows where this “small beginning” will take us? Let your heart imagine, for a moment, an army of women equipped to change the world. I‘m reminded of a saying that is common in Africa:
When you educate a man you educate an individual; when you educate a woman you educate a whole family...
And, ultimately, a nation! We, in Aglow, know the power of a transformed woman. We have experienced it in our own lives and communities and in the lives of others we work with in this ministry.
Once again, God is opening an incredible opportunity for Aglow to be at the forefront of what He is doing in the body of Christ by training women (and men!) through the power of the Internet. In 2006/2007, nearly 3.5 million students were enrolled in online classes and over the past 5 years, online enrollments have grown by an annual average of 21.5%. Online education is the way of the future. And Aglow is there!
I invite you to dream with us! Pray with us! And believe for big things in God!
Want to know more about AIM? Click this link http://aglow.org/aim.html or go to the Aglow web site at www.aglow.org and click the AIM logo on the right side of the home page.
Diane M. Fink Educational Resource Director
1 First university in the United States." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 6 Apr 2008, 08:07 UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 18 Apr 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=First_university_in_the_United_States&oldid=203705069>.
2 Beacon Institute of Ministry is now Christian Life School of Theology (CLST) which is part of Christian Life Educators Network (CLEN),