Awana What?

It's that time of year again, where I cannot walk through the house without tripping over a box of handbooks and awards, a bag of patches and jewel containers, or a tub of new game equipment or store stuff. Looks to be another productive year.

For those that don't know, Awana Clubs International is a program where children from two years of age through high school teach the adults what God can do.

Okay, so maybe that's not the actual purpose of the club. But you would be surprised at how much adults actually can learn from children.

The Breakdown of Clubs
There are six primary "clubs" in Awana, organized by age and grade. Children ages two to three are in Puggles. Preschoolers are in Cubbies. Kindergarten through second grade in Sparks, third grade through sixth grade in Truth & Training (T&T), junior high in Trek, and high school in Journey. Each of the six clubs has personal studies, games, and lessons suited to their age level.

The Breakdown of Club Nights
A typical Awana night is broken into three parts: Handbook Time, Large Group Time, and Game Time.

In Handbook Time, the children work with their leaders in their individual handbooks. This time primarily focuses on Scripture memory, learning what verses mean, and learning how to navigate the Bible. Children earn patches and jewels as they complete sections in their books throughout the year, and a ribbon, trophy or plaque at the end of the club year if they finish the books.

In Large Group Time, the children are taught biblical and moral truths and the applications each truth has to their lives.

In Game Time, the children compete in controlled, high energy activities. Games are either individual or team games, and great importance is placed on teaching the children sportsmanship and teamwork.

The Other Stuff
A variety of Awana activities, including theme nights, sleepovers, and derbies, are held throughout the year within individual church programs. Other events, such as Awana Weekend, Trek Weekend, Journey Weekend and Summit, are competitions in games and Bible quizzing between churches on a local, regional, or national level.

I hope to share with you my adventures in Awana, from the events to tips and ideas to what the kids are teaching me. Awana has a place for everyone; the young, and the young at heart. We are Approved Workman, and Are Not Ashamed. The clubs are as unique as the children who attend, but we are all united in our goal to get the Gospel into the hearts of as many children as possible; to reach boys and girls with the Gospel of Christ, and train them to serve Him. So welcome to the program, and enjoy the ride.

For more information about Awana Clubs International, visit the Awana Homepage.
To find a club in your area visit the Club Locator.