AWANA

Awana is an international evangelical nonprofit organization founded in 1950,

headquartered in Streamwood, Illinois.

derived from the first letters of Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed as taken from

2 Timothy 2:15

2 Timothy 2:15

“Study to shew thyself
approved unto God, a workman that Needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

King James Version (KJV)

AWANA Mission

The mission of Awana is to help "churches and parents worldwide raise children and youth to know, love and serve God.

Awana offers multiple curricula levels from toddlers to senior high-school. In the U.S. and Canada, Awana is split into six age groups: Puggles (2 and 3 yr olds), Cubbies (3 through 5 yr olds or "the 2 years prior to Kindergarten"), Sparks (Kindergarten, Grade 1 & 2), Truth & Training (T&T) (for grades 3, 4, 5 & 6), Trek (Middle School) and Journey (High school). Most recently T&T divided up into Pals (Boys Grade 3 & 4), Chums (Girls Grade 3 & 4), Pioneers (Boys Grade 5 & 6), and Guards (Girls Grade 5 & 6), which changed in the late 1990s. Originally Pals and Chums were Grades 3 to 5 and Pioneers and Guards included Grades 6 to 8. Trek and Journey, which are under the 24/7 Ministries (now, Awana Youth Ministries) banner, were called, respectively, Jr. Varsity and Varsity. Internationally, the age groups offered vary in each country and materials are available in many languages. Awana's prison ministries (Hannah's Gift and Malachi Dads) attend the needs of inmates by providing parental coaching to incarcerated mothers and fathers, respectively. Additionally, Returning Hearts Celebrations reunite children of inmates by sponsoring events in prisons to bring children and their inmate fathers closer together.

Awana Events

Awana missionaries and volunteers run local, state (provincial) and regional competitions between churches' Awana programs. These involve Bible Quizzing, AwanaGames, Sparks-A-Rama, and Awana Grand Prix, their version of wood car racing. High-school age Awana students can also participate in an annual national event called Summit.

Awana missionaries help churches start the Awana ministry, train church leaders how to introduce kids and youth into the Awana program and instruct church leaders at Awana Ministry Conferences on how to better utilize the Awana ministry.

Awana missionaries are completely "faith supported" by donations from churches and individuals, thereby acquiring all of the funds necessary to keep each of their ministries funded in addition to receiving all funds needed for their personal housing and income needs.

Monday, June 20, 2016

Awana Getting Started Soon in GACC

As a new creation, we learn to grow in faith, in obedience to Scripture, in prayer, in fellowship and wide variety of leadership.

Awana Getting Started Soon in GACC

(God Almighty Christian Church Lucban Quezon)

History of Awana

Awana is a global, nonprofit ministry with fully integrated evangelism and long-term discipleship programs for ages 2 to 18 that actively involves parents and church leaders. Each week, more than 2 million children and youth, 330,000 volunteers and 260 field staff take part in Awana in 30,000 churches around the world. Offered through local churches, Awana reaches kids where they’re at and walks alongside them in their faith journey.

How Did The Awana Program Begin

In 1941, the children's program at the North Side Gospel Center in Chicago laid the foundation for the principles of Awana. Lance Latham, North Side's senior pastor, collaborated with the church's youth director, Art Rorheim, to develop weekly clubs that would appeal to churched and nonchurched kids. As a pioneer in children’s ministry, Art created new and innovative ways to reach kids with the gospel and lead them to know, love and serve Jesus Christ.