When the Indiana General Assembly convened for the 2025 session, ten Indiana Aglow women were present. Since 1998 Aglow has been present monthly in the Indiana Statehouse lifting up prayers for our state government and the people of Indiana. At the 21st Annual Statehouse Prayer Service on January 8th, representatives from the community offered corporate prayer for Indiana’s families, pastors, educators, law enforcement officers and our government officials. SPC Debby Reitzel said, “Corporate prayer is important and powerful when we pray the Word of God in unity.”
Worship and prayer offered to Jesus was not in a hotel room or conference center, but right in the heart of the Statehouse in the midst of the busyness, excitement and noise of opening day. New lawmakers and staff members were making their way to new offices. Returning lawmakers came with the anticipation of what a new session might bring to the state. Reflecting on the scene, State Leader Korleen Gorham commented, “It feels like we lifted up Jesus in the city gate so that all who come to the state will know that Indiana is led by King Jesus.”
The annual event, hosted by Public Servants’ Prayer, was founded in 2004 by Chaplain Matt Barnes from Sunman, Indiana. Today the organization enables people across the US to pray for their elected representatives in every state. Chaplain Pam Russell has served the women working in the statehouse since 2010 and is a very dear friend of Aglow.
Not only has the Indiana Aglow Capital Prayer team been a fixture in the Statehouse, but they also have the privilege of meeting in the Meditation Room on the top floor. In 1962, while the Supreme Court was issuing a ruling that restricted prayer in schools, Indiana dedicated a room in its statehouse for prayer. It was the first statehouse prayer room established. The name has changed over the years from Chapel to Meditation Room, but it is commonly referred to as the Prayer Room.
Frances Unruh leads the monthly prayer time, and they are often joined by other prayer groups or visitors who just drop in. Frances said, “We have met and established many relationships while praying for our state in this room. We thank God for the favor we have received at the statehouse and are watching the hand of God move through our state with expectation.”
We would love to hear how your Aglow group(s) have established a beachhead in the government in your state or nation. God has positioned Aglow both spiritually and geographically to be His Kingdom Governmental Body on earth to bring down Heaven’s reign. As Jane Hansen Hoyt has said, “Aglow has left the meeting place and entered the halls of Kingdom Legislation.” What you do makes a difference.