Partnering for purpose: Glow Church and the power of generosity

In 2016, Stewardship assisted Glow Church in refinancing the loan that initially financed the purchase of their new property. Then, in 2022, they provided additional funding to enhance the main auditorium, a crucial investment that would bolster the church's operations and its outreach efforts within the community. 

Chris Perkins from Stewardship recently had a conversation with Ian Duffew, Chair of the Glow Church UK board, to discuss the church's mission, the role of Stewardship in their journey, and Ian's excitement for the future of Glow. 

 
Chris: Tell us about the church and its beginnings? 
 
Ian: Established in 1967 by Jack & Pansy Dickenson, what was originally called 'The Full Gospel Church' met in private homes and community centers in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham. By 1986, the church, now known as Aycliffe Christian Life Centre, raised funds to build a larger church to accommodate the growing congregation. Over the years it's been a familiar story and with membership continuing to grow, the need for larger premises became evident again. This led to what was a £5M commitment to purchase land and develop a bespoke facility to be much more than a just a church hall, but also a multi-purpose conference and events venue to reach and impact both business and community needs. 
 
Chris: The church recently decided to partner with Glow Church in Australia—can you tell us about that? 
 
Ian: In 2021, we reached a significant milestone by forming a partnership with Glow Church in Australia, which united our missions and visions under the name Glow Church UK. This collaboration has reinforced our belief in the strength of partnership and the power that comes from working together. Founded in 2013 on the Gold Coast by Pastors Joel and Ellen Cave, Glow Church started as a small gathering that quickly grew, impacting thousands through the life-changing message of Jesus and our commitment to REAL BOLD LOVE. This partnership has also expanded our vision, allowing us to make a greater impact on the wider world through our shared mission. 
 
The church places a strong emphasis on reaching all aspects of community, which resonates deeply with our core values. This commitment to connection was a major draw for us when we first joined. Our guiding principles—REAL, BOLD, and LOVE—each embody powerful concepts. For instance, LOVE signifies our generous response to needs, REAL emphasises authenticity among our members, and BOLD encourages us to step out of our comfort zones. 
 
Chris: The charity itself is not just a church, it’s a group of enterprises. Can you tell us about that and how those enterprises help you outwork your vision? 
 
Ian: In creating our new facility, the church aimed to establish a nursery that actively serves young families in our community. Instead of treating it as merely a voluntary outreach, the leadership envisioned it as a professional, commercial endeavour, resulting in the highly regarded Little Cubs Nursery, known for its exceptional staff and state-of-the-art facilities. 
 
Additionally, after investing millions in upgrading high-quality auditoriums and offices, we recognised the potential to expand our services as an ideal location for businesses and community events. Our main auditorium, recently enhanced with advanced technology and a stunning new screen through the support of Stewardship, accommodates over 600 seated guested comfortably. We also offer a smaller auditorium seating up to 200 people, a suite of conference and meeting rooms and our own Coffee Shop called 'Trio' serving barista coffee and food throughout the day. Glow really is is a hub of community activity, reaching people from all walks of life from community groups to local businesses. 
 
Chris: How has church grown since it became Glow UK? 
 
Ian: Pastors Andrew and Louise stepped into their role as Lead Pastors of Xcel Church during a challenging period, with the task of guiding the church through the recovery from lockdown and into a partnership with Glow Church Australia. At that time, attendance had dwindled like many churches across the UK but over the past 4 years we have seen a fresh and real desire from people to engage again with their local church community and are now blessed with over 400 attendees at our Sunday service and pastoring over 800 people in our Glow Church congregation. The past four years have been a season of building a healthy church culture again and realigning our the church on building the local Church and sharing the love of Jesus through our ministries and services we offer at Glow. 

 
Chris: How did Stewardship help the church with Loan finance? 
 
Ian: Stewardship played a crucial role in supporting us with a significant loan at the start of our new build project, and that support continued during the challenging COVID-19 lockdown. Your assistance helped us navigate a particularly tough and unprecedented financial landscape. The lockdown forced the church, nursery, and venue hire business to close temporarily, and without Stewardship’s flexibility and guidance, we would have faced significant difficulties. We are immensely grateful for that support. 
 
Moreover, we deeply appreciate the further assistance you provided when we felt it was the right time to refinance our outstanding debt and make additional investments. Your proactive and engaging approach, including a site visit to grasp our vision, made the entire process seamless and straightforward. Thank you for being there for us during these pivotal moments. 
 
Chris: Can you tell us more about the investment you have made? 
 
Ian: We believed that investing in specific technology would significantly enhance the experience for our congregation on Sundays as well as supporting our hire of the venue to local businesses and community groups. This led to additional loan financing from Stewardship for a cutting-edge LED screen and advanced lighting system in the main auditorium. The feedback we’ve received so far has been incredibly positive and has enabled us to attract a wide range of groups to Glow including; Scouts, Durham Constabulary, School Groups, NHS, Local Councils and many, many local businesses groups. 
 
Looking ahead, we are currently embarking on a new phase of investment, which aims to improve the flow through our building, relocate our coffee shop into the Church foyer to improve connection with people and develop additional classroom space for our growing Kids Church on Sunday as well as the nursery during the week. 
 
Chris: What does generosity mean to you and Glow Church? 
 
Ian: For us at Glow Church, generosity begins in the heart and means giving to others without expecting anything in return. It’s a heartfelt expression that embodies the model Jesus taught us to live by. 
 
Chris: As chair of the board, what excites you about the future at Glow? 
 
Ian: I’m really excited about the years to come because I believe this is just the beginning! I have faith that thousands of people will be saved and that our community will be transformed by the work we’re doing. God is blessing us both financially and numerically, and we’re witnessing miracles within our congregation and beyond. I’m grateful that our family partnered with Glow Australia almost four years ago at such a pivotal moment. I truly believe God is leading us into an incredibly exciting season. 
 
If you’d like to support the work of Glow Church, find out more here.