Aglow History

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 exists 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 neighbors 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 of every creed, color, and culture, and, through women, to families worldwide. Over 4,600 Aglow groups meet worldwide, about 68% of them are outside the U.S. (2,849).+

More than 21,000 Aglow leaders worldwide minister in their communities and nations, to an estimated 17 million people each year. Today, 100% of the 164 nations have indigenous women overseeing the work in their nations.

Aglow Mission Statement

To help restore and mobilize women around the world.

To promote gender reconciliation in the Body of Christ as God designed.

To amplify awareness of global concerns from a Biblical perspective.

Aglow Belief Statement

The whole Bible is our creed. Although we recognize there may be differences in interpretation among Christians, and we have established Aglow International as a transdenominational, worldwide organization, there are certain basic Biblical beliefs to which all Aglow leaders and members need to commit themselves. The rejection of any of these shall disqualify a woman from membership and/or leadership in Aglow. However, she may still attend Aglow functions.

We believe in the one and only triune God. We acknowledge there is one true God consisting of three distinct persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, crucified, died, was buried, and resurrected. He ascended into heaven and is now seated at the right hand of God the Father, and is true God and true man.

We believe the Bible is the Word of God, fully inspired and written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and is our rule of faith and practice.

We believe that all are born sinners, the Holy Spirit convicts of sin; the Lord Jesus Christ paid the price for sin by shedding His precious blood on the cross as the atonement for sin; those who refuse to accept His sacrifice for their sin are eternally lost; and those who repent of their sin and personally accept the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior receive the forgiveness of sin and life everlasting and are indwelt by the Holy Spirit.

We believe in the baptism in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues as the Spirit of God gives utterance, that all the gifts of the Holy Spirit are valid and operative today, and that the fruit of the Holy Spirit should be increasingly evident in a Christian's life.

We believe that the redemptive work of the Lord Jesus Christ provides healing for our spirit, soul, and body.

We believe that we should obey Jesus' command to preach the gospel to all the world.

We believe that the members of the Body of Christ are the Church, and that they should regularly fellowship with one another in a local church setting.

We believe in and look for the personal return of the Lord Jesus Christ.