SEATTLE, July 1 – Aglow International, one of the world’s largest Christian women’s organizations, unveiled an aggressive prayer and outreach strategy to help reconnect Europe to its Christian heritage last month in Malaga, Spain. The summit, “Arise Europe: Claim Your Destiny,” united more than 300 Aglow leaders on site together with their community pastors and advisors from 22 nations throughout Europe from June 5-8. The European strategy was supported by thousands of Aglow members in nations around the world who committed to pray with Europe, further uniting efforts with what Aglow considers its “Global House of Prayer.” In turn, the European group is looking ahead to supporting the U.S. national conference in prayer, set for Sept. 26-28 in Washington, D.C. themed “A Voice for the Times: Calling Women to Transform Their Nation.”

The conference in Spain focused on “Operation SPEC” (Strategic Prayer for the European Continent) that was launched by Aglow’s European leadership in Budapest in January. SPEC was created to unite Aglow women in Europe to transform their nations through prayer, teaching and evangelism, in response to the growing issues of secularism and the Islamization of Europe. One particular focus included speaking out against anti-Semitism in Europe – a cause backed by one of Aglow’s official mandates to support the nation of Israel. Due to the roots of anti-Semitism growing in the European Church, Aglow leaders felt it necessary to join efforts while in Spain with a Messianic Jewish ministry team, Revive Israel, which provided speakers and contributed to the summit’s overall unity.

“Coming together with Messianic Jews from Jerusalem was definitely a powerful history-making moment,” said Edda Swan, national president of Aglow Iceland and chairman of the European Regional Committee.

Jane Hansen Hoyt, president and CEO of the international ministry that operates in more than 170 nations – including 43 European countries – emphasized the fact that Germany is in need of prayer in order to fully experience healing and restoration for past injustices toward Jewish people. She mentioned that just three weeks prior to the Spain gathering, an entire busload of Germans joined the annual Aglow journey to Israel.

“I believe God is aligning the believers in Germany with Israel and its people today,” said Hoyt, who feels a renewed passion to expand and strengthen the Aglow network of prayer throughout the European continent.

In 2005, Hoyt began to look at Christianity in Europe with increasing concern. The steep decline in its foundational beliefs coupled with a dramatic rise of other religions demanded action. She met with Aglow’s national leaders in Europe to strategize an initial event to raise awareness and to challenge this pattern. On June 5, that event culminated in Spain where Aglow leaders met together to pray and continue to strategize a turnaround on behalf of their continent.

“Although the European Church is struggling, it’s not too late to turn the tide,” she said. “We know God hears and acts on the prayers of the faithful and we’re asking and believing for a spiritual revival throughout the Continent.”

The Seattle-based organization celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2007, and is one of the largest international women’s organizations in the world with more than 200,000 women meeting together in 4,300 fellowship groups in more than 170 nations. Each year, the interdenominational ministry serves an estimated 17 million people worldwide through prayer, evangelism, and works of compassion. Learn more at www.aglow.org.

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