About Us

HISTORY
INTERCESSORY PRAYER LINE
SUPPORT OF NATIONALS
MINISTERING TO PERSECUTED BRETHREN
MISSIONARY TOURS
ISRAEL
RAINBOW HOUSE OF PRAYER
ANOINTED GATHERINGS
RECORDINGS
PUBLISHING OF ANOINTED LITERATURE
TRACTS
BOOKSTORE AND MAIL ORDER MINISTRY
HEADQUARTERS: ENGELTAL
INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF MINISTRY

HISTORY

The story of this ministry is one of dedication, courage, sacrifice, love and miracles. It began in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1966 when its founder, a missionary with nineteen years of field experience, began to pray the prayer which Jesus told us to pray: "Send labourers into Your harvest, Lord."

The multitudes of lost souls had become such a great concern on her heart, and so few had heard the Gospel, that she began to weep, asking God to send the women into the harvest fields. Sister Gwen, as she is known to thousands, saw that in spite of the great need for preachers of the Gospel in the nations, so few, too few were answering the call. There was a lack of dedicated men and women. She saw how supernaturally God was using her. If the men would not go, surely there must be women like herself who were willing to dedicate their lives to God and live the life of faith and obedience that souls might be saved. She began to pray as she returned to the Orient, her home base.

After four years of prayer, God began to call women to work with the new ministry she had founded, called "End-Time Handmaidens." The name, which one must admit is unique, is a very scriptural one based on Joel 2:28-29 and Acts 2:17-18. At first the vision of the ministry was only to help the women find God's calling upon their lives and their niche in God's plan. But soon the remaining part of the verse also became a reality ("And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy." -Acts 2:18), as God began to bring in His Servants, the men. Then the children also wanted to be included along with Mom or Mom and Dad, and so they also were accepted as Junior members of this family ministry. For more on this story click here.

Today the ministry has grown to include many different facets. Being a ministry which is based on prayer and fasting, it has kept the original vision of its founder, which is "missions." The entire ministry is centered on Christ Jesus, with a missionary vision for the nations of the world.

As the ministry continued to expand, the need was felt for fellowship and close coordination among the members in different areas. These groups became known as "Branches." Each local Branch places, after prayer, three to five of their own members in a position of leadership and responsibility. The have become powerful centers of prayer and help to link up one of the most essential aspects of this ministry intercessory prayer.

INTERCESSORY PRAYER LINE

Without prayer, a ministry will soon die. There are so many urgent prayer needs. The End-Time Handmaidens welcome prayer requests by mail, e-mail, fax, telegram and telephone. The most urgent ones are immediately put on our national prayer network. Within minutes, hundreds of intercessors are bringing these requests to the Throne of God. The most serious ones are not only prayed over, but are also followed up with fasting. During the buildup of forces in the Persian Gulf in 1991, intercessors were called to fast and pray for 40 days, and prophetic intercession came forth during the actual conflict. God receives the glory for the great victories won. Much prayer and fasting is made for divine intervention against child abduction and abuse, abortion and other Satanic activities.

SUPPORT OF NATIONALS

Knowing that God's calling is also on the women of the nations and respecting their understanding of the language and local customs, this ministry has been supporting the nationals of the nations, particularly the women, as they have more difficulty raising support through conventional means.

MINISTERING TO PERSECUTED BRETHREN

Since its beginning, this ministry has had a great burden for the suffering, persecuted brethren in Communist nations. Many times End-Time Handmaidens and Servants have risked their lives to comfort these brethren, bringing them Bibles, Bible Studies, hymnbooks and used clothing, etc. "Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body" (Hebrews 13:3).

MISSIONARY TOURS

Over the years, the leaders of End-Time Handmaidens have taken many tour groups to the nations, with the result that ordinary people have received a greater vision and burden for the nations. Many of these individuals have also returned to the field to minister more extensively. Because of the leader's experiential knowledge of many mission fields (over one hundred nations), she is well qualified to plan missionary tours to the nations. More recently, teams of End-Time Handmaidens and Servants have been sent out from headquarters for specific missions in the nations of the world under the leadership of an experienced member of the Engeltal staff.

ISRAEL

Israel today is the living fulfillment of Bible prophecy. Christians need to experience this wonderful place, not only to see the places where our spiritual forefathers lived, but to comfort the people who live there now. This is why God led us to have a house in Jerusalem.  more...

RAINBOW HOUSE OF PRAYER

Rainbow House of Prayer in Niagara Falls, New York, on the border of Canada, is a missionary outreach into Canada, the country where Sister Gwen was born. It is a retreat house and home to weekly Bible Study and Prayer and Praise meetings.  more...

ANOINTED GATHERINGS

In addition to regional End-Time Handmaidens and Servants Seminars and retreats, a very great annual World Convention was held for 30 years. Recordings are available for most of those meetings.

Since 2006, we hold two Camp Meetings each year and other events at the headquarters. The labourers come in from the nations to rejoice and renew the sweet fellowship of the saints. These gatherings are marked with a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit that long remains in the hearts of all who participate. Anointed speakers and music and praise open the windows of Heaven to all who attend. See the Schedule of Events for more details.

RECORDINGS

The recording ministry, which includes all the Convention, International School of Ministry, plus Retreat speakers, musicians and Sister Gwen's own teaching and preaching, has grown. Many lives are changed by these anointed tapes, CDs, videos and DVDs.

PUBLISHING OF ANOINTED LITERATURE

Much of the success of the ministry is based on its extensive publishing work. Gwen Shaw, a prolific and gifted writer, has written many Bible studies and inspiring books, including her own life story, Unconditional Surrender. Several of these Bible studies have been translated into different languages. The present publishing list of over sixty titles includes twenty-three Bible studies. These are books that change lives. In addition, Engeltal Press, the publishing ministry of the End-Time Handmaidens, publishes several anointed music books which contain songs written by Sister Gwen and other members of this ministry. A semi-annual Magazine is printed and sent out to thousands. Much detailed information about world affairs and the moving of the Holy Ghost world wide is given in these publications. If you would like to be added to the mailing list, please check the box on the Contact Us form. There is no charge for the subscription. However, a love offering would be appreciated to help defray expenses.

TRACTS

The aspect of publishing which is closest to the heart of the founder is the printing of the tract "Who Is Jesus?" in the languages of the world. At present it has been translated into approximately fifty languages.

BOOKSTORE AND MAIL ORDER MINISTRY

Long ago Sister Gwen's late husband, Col. Jim Shaw, known to many as "Papa Jim," had a vision for a mail order ministry. What began slowly has grown into a major aspect of this ministry. Not only do they publish books, they also search the nations for the best anointed literature and make it available through their magazine. In this way, the most unique, anointed and "impossible-to-find" books have been discovered and made available to the public. Write for a free catalogue.

HEADQUARTERS: ENGELTAL

The End-Time Handmaidens and Servants home and headquarters is in the beautiful valley of the Ozarks called "Engeltal," which in German means "Angel Valley." The staff, some of whom have been there more than twenty years, are dedicated to this vision and feel God has called them to this ministry. Some serve by answering with spiritual insight the mail that comes in; some cook and serve with the love of Jesus; some prepare and print our inspired publications; some maintain the vehicles that keep our travelling ministers on the road; some write; some translate publications and messages into other languages; some record and duplicate messages on audio, video, CD and DVD; some run different departments such as book-selling, International School of Ministry, branches and membership. They all live by faith, receiving no salary, and serve God in many ways, knowing that whether they ultimately are called to go out to minister or to "stand by the stuff" and pray for those who go, that the rewards will be the same in the end when all men stand before the Lord and our works pass through the fire (I Cor. 3:13). They may have never preached a sermon, but their rewards will be the same.

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF MINISTRY

In 1987, the End-Time Handmaidens International School of Ministry was founded at the headquarters in Engeltal to provide advanced training in the Word of God under qualified teachers who have lived and taught the Gospel for many years. The Body of Christ needs to be equipped through an understanding of God's Word. The intensive and concentrated study at the International School of Ministry (ISOM) affords an excellent environment in which to train workers for the Harvest, and we encourage all End-Time Handmaidens and Servants to come to this school to prepare themselves for fulfilling the calling of God upon their life. See Schedule of Events for the next session of ISOM