“The things of the earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.”
As we continue to look forward to our 2023 Global Conference in Jacksonville, FL this fall, my heart was moved as the Aglow headquarter staff gathered this week for our staff prayer meeting. We listened to the beautiful hymn “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus.” The lyrics, while familiar to many, are so relevant and profound for every season, but especially for this time.
We have, over the years, heard the prophetic call that we, Aglow, were made for “such a time as this.” Aglow’s 2023 Global Conference is an essential time to gather together, be transformed, and to be radiant with His Spirit letting the things of the earth to grow strangely dim and we join Heaven’s roaring worship declaring the Lord’s glory and grace.
One of the aspects of our conference that brings all of us at headquarters, and around the world, excitement is revealing our conference theme. Being Aglow sisters and brothers in Christ, you probably already know that our first and foremost aim when looking at a conference theme is prayer. But, as my aim for this blog is to share with you little bits of how our conferences come together, giving a real “inside look” at the conference planning process I thought I would share a tiny glimpse into the preparation for our conference theme.
Each year as we begin to plan our next conference, our President and CEO, Jane Hansen Hoyt, waits to hear from the Lord. To hear from Him for what He wants Aglow to anticipate at our coming conference gathering.
At a conference program committee meeting earlier this year, Jane asked us each to spend some time in quiet moments with the Lord, asking Him to reveal to us, “what is He saying to us?” We all took time to prayerfully consider and then gathered back together to share what the Lord had said to each of us.
…the words the Lord spoke to Jane, to us, to you, and to the Global community of Aglow is that: His Glory is Rising.
Aglow’s conference themes are not simply pulled out of a hat at random, nor are they prepared years in advance. But rather, we sit in quiet reflection, waiting to hear His voice. One thing that I personally admire and respect about our Aglow President, Jane, is the extraordinary way she sits in stillness with the Lord, ever so patiently waiting to hear His voice, and ever so graciously communicating to us as a staff what she hears from Him. There is such joy and love in the way Jane leads Aglow, I’m sure many of you know this as well. And this year, the words the Lord spoke to Jane, to us, to you, and to the Global community of Aglow is that: His Glory is Rising.
We can feel His glory rising, we can see things shifting in the world and, while noticeable, we know that He has prepared us for this time. We walk forward, towards Jacksonville, but also towards our future as a ministry with boldness and delight. We know that God’s glory is rising, we know that His radiance is like the sunlight and that we are all aglow with His Spirit. “Arise, Aglow! Let your light shine for all to see. For the glory of the Lord rises to shine on you!”