Who's Who
Dianne de Jong
Dianne de Jong
European English National Director
Born in Altoona, Pennsylvania, USA, Dianne (née Nearhoof) grew up in a secular family and made a decision for Jesus at the young age of 13. Getting involved with youth activities she discovered a love for God’s Word and a desire to serve the LORD. This led Dianne to Moody Bible Institute and, while there, she joined a music group for a summer outreach program to the Netherlands with Youth for Christ. During this trip, she met Stef de Jong, a Dutchman who captured her heart. After graduating in 1971, Dianne returned to the Netherlands to marry Stef and they have lived there ever since. Dianne and Stef have three grown children and one very precious grandson.
For 27 years, Dianne and Stef were in leadership in an English-speaking church in centre of the Netherlands. The opportunity to be involved in Aglow came in 1984 when Dianne was asked to start an English-speaking Aglow chapter on a local American air force base. This was the beginning of an exciting time for Diane, and, after a few years, she was asked to join a committee which oversaw other English-speaking Aglow chapters. In 1999, official guidelines were drawn up together with Aglow International which gave her the position of European Director (excluding nations where English is the national language). That year, Carolyn Jones also joined Dianne as a wonderful and capable assistant.
Dianne can identify with the international community flowing through Europe. She has a passion to see God touch women who have been taken out of their comfort zones (i.e., their home countries) and she has taken them on a deep and unique journey of being used in mighty ways for His Kingdom in Europe.
Besides working with international women, Dianne has had the opportunity to minister to national groups in many nations within Europe as well as in Africa.
Carolyn Jones
Carolyn Jones
National Assistant
Carolyn, born in New Zealand to a New Zealand mother and Dutch father, and moved to the Netherlands at age of 12. In her late teens she moved to The Hague to train as a general nurse. She now lives in Zoetermeer with her British husband and three teenage sons.
Carolyn became a Christian shortly after arriving in the Netherlands and attended a Dutch church in Zoetermeer. When she moved to The Hague she started looking for a church.
”A colleague suggested I try the Anglican Church in The Hague, St John and St Phillip, and a friend there invited me to the women's fellowship, Aglow International" she says."I found a group of keen Christian women, serious about their faith, and inspiring, but in many ways ordinary women that I could identify with. I found that refreshing and I saw a quality of faith and lifestyle in these women that I greatly admired and wanted for myself" she says. "I had heard about the Spiritual Gifts, including speaking in tongues, but had never seen it in action before. The moment I encountered it at their meetings I knew that this was God, and that it was genuine. I knew it was key. I stayed."
Carolyn enjoyed the group's diversity as the women were not only from differing ethnic and cultural backgrounds but also of varying denominations: Baptist, Catholic, Anglican, free church and American Protestant. All of them shared a similar spirituality that transcended their differences.
Another strong point about Aglow is that the group is run for and by women. As Carolyn put it, at the time most churches were mainly male run. Aglow provided not only intimacy and support but also opportunities to develop leadership skills and other roles. Carolyn's Aglow activities include committee work, club co-ordination internationally, singing and worship, bible study and pastoral skill development and ministry experience. Women are challenged to take on responsibility in an active stance in their faith; Aglow is in the business of raising up women of faith, today.
Miriam Rotman
Miriam Rotman
Prayer Coordinator
What is a prayer coordinator?
A prayer coordinator is a faithful woman of God with a heart for Jesus, who has a vision to see the establishment of English-speaking Aglow chapters in Europe . She approaches God in the dimension of worship and intercession.
How this vision takes shape?
Step by step under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. From taking simple prayer requests, traveling to local groups to do on-the-job training in prayer, to going deep in intercession and spiritual warfare during days of prayer and fasting, and night vigils.
Who is the European English Aglow Prayer Coordinator?
At present Miriam Rotman is our lovely prayer coordinator. She is Peruvian and married to a Dutchman. She lives in Zoetermeer, The Netherlands.