Aglow History
20 Years Jubilee Celebration
Honouring Our Past, Inspiring the Present, Opening Doors for the Future
A Humble Beginning
It all began on a faithful Saturday—October 1st, 2005—shortly after I completed Rhema Bible School. An Italian friend, Adriana, suggested we start Aglow in Italy. As I prayed and reflected on the vision, I invited some women from my church. Among them was Mrs. Agnes Asafuah Adjei, who remains a faithful member and now serves as our prayer coordinator. Adriana brought along a few Italian friends, including Lidia Cirone, who today is our vice president.
I had once been an Aglow member in my youth in Ghana, and so I embraced the vision wholeheartedly. With the support of my pastor, Abu Bonsra, who opened the church doors for us, we started our first meeting with fifteen women.
A Prophetic Blessing
Jannie Revreda, Aglow Director in Holland and a missionary to Israel, graced our first gathering with prayers and prophetic blessings that filled us with hope and set us on a divine journey. We began evangelizing in churches, visiting families and friends, and sending invitation letters to our monthly meetings.
Growth and Expansion
Within five years, we had established seven chapters. By our tenth year, we had fifteen. In January 2006, our first “Thanksgiving Day” celebration drew over 150 attendees. From 2007 to 2011, we hosted annual Worship Day programs at the Airport Hotel with more than 200 participants each year.
In 2009, we joined the European English Aglow Annual Conference under the leadership of Dianne DeJong, continuing until 2012. Then, God opened doors for us to launch our own national conference in Italy.
Through Trials and Triumphs
Between 2012 and 2018, we experienced what I call “the exodus of the people,” as many migrated to the U.S., U.K., and Germany. We faced setbacks and disappointments. Some chapters, like Como, Verona, and Brescia, went through difficult times.
But faithful women stood strong. In Verona, Minister Agnes (Anty Agie) kept the chapter alive. In Como, our late Sister Gillian firmly declared, “I’m not going even if everybody leaves.” In Brescia, Sister Vivian continued with unwavering commitment in prayer.
Despite the trials, we witnessed the truth of God’s Word:
“When God opens a door, no man can shut it; and when God closes a door, no man can open it.” (Isaiah 22:22)
Faithfulness Through the Years
Though we were hurt by the unfaithfulness of some, God remained true to His promise:
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.”
He called us to be a lighthouse—binding up the brokenhearted, proclaiming liberty to the captives, and setting free those in bondage (Isaiah 61:1).
Unity became our strength. Just before the COVID-19 pandemic, our sisters who had migrated abroad began joining us for daily Zoom prayers and annual online conferences. Together, we sang:
“Bind us together, Lord, bind us together…”
Truly,
“How good and pleasant it is when brethren dwell together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1)
Recognitions and Milestones
In 2012, I was honoured with the Ghana-Italy Excellency Award in Brescia for leading and uniting women in prayer across Italy. Aglow International shared the news on their global platform.
That same year, I published my first magazine, “The Grace,” followed by “The Power of a Praying Woman.” We are now on our ninth edition, which has become a bestseller among mothers.
In 2013, we hosted our first indoor conference at Hotel da Franco in Verona, with over 60 women in attendance. We continued there for ten years, and today, we’ve moved to the spacious Parc Hotel to accommodate our growing numbers.
Looking Ahead
Today, we stand in awe of God’s faithfulness. From fifteen women to a vibrant network across nations, God has brought us this far. And so, with confidence, we declare:
“He who began a good work in us will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
