Graduation and God's Credentials

On Dec. 8, I donned the black gown, black cap, and black tassel with a gold pendant reading 2012 before walking down the aisle and across the stage for a small, rolled up paper bound by a blue ribbon. On Dec. 18, I climbed into my snow-covered car and drove to Reno to take my last final. And sometime in January, I will receive in the mail the framed paper signifying that according to the University of Nevada, Reno, I will be qualified to be a journalist and a writer of English. I will be ready to step into the world and begin doing what I have been trained to do — provided I find someone willing to accept these credentials.

But what is it exactly that makes me qualified? The working world and the education world say it's the piece of paper that shows I spent 16 or more years training. But what about what God says? Am I qualified to work in His world?

The answer is no. And I don't have to be. You see, I am not qualified — I am called. The world says, "You have the training, so I choose you." God says "I choose you, and I will train you." In John 15:16 God tells us this plan, with no age limitation: "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and your fruit should remain."

I was actually called many years ago, as early as five, to begin my training. And that is how God works, calling His children at a young age and training them to be qualified.

One of the youngest in the Bible that God called and trained was King Josiah, found in 2 Kings 22: 1-2. Josiah was only 8 when he was placed on the throne. Now, how much did you know about life at 8 years old? Enough to rule a kingdom? I know I certainly didn't.  Yet Josiah "did what was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in all the ways of his father David."

The prophet Samuel was also called at a young age, quite literally. In 1 Samuel 3, we see God's first prophecy to Samuel, who the scripture calls a "boy." At the end of the chapter, we see as God trains him to be the prophet: "So Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground."

During the time of the New Testament, men were old enough to work and women were old enough to wed at the ages of 12 and 13. As such, many theorize that Mary was around 12 years of age when the angel appeared to her.

Jesus himself was following God's calling as early as 12, as we see in Luke 2:41-49. Joseph and Mary found him teaching the scholars in the temple. After He was chastised for disappearing, He reminded them of what God called Him to do. "Why did you seek me? Did you not know I must be about my Father's business?"

Even today, God calls before He trains. Pastor Marvin Dennis, who retired this last month, preached for 40 years — 25 of which were at Good Shepherd Wesleyan Church, and the last eight of which I had the honor of learning from his messages. He was called to preach at the age of 15. One of Awana's founders, Art Rorheim, was called into youth ministries at age 17. Today, at 94 years of age, he still teaches at Summit and at headquarters.

In Awana, part of what we are to do is to help children to know where God is calling them, teaching them to be open to the training God has in store. In the key verse for Journey, 1 Timothy 4:12,
Paul points out that even at a young age, Timothy's call is important and has an impact.

So what does that mean for the framed paper I am to receive in January? It means that at the age of five, God called me to write, and now, at the age of 21, I have completed one step of His training.

I pray you all have a Merry Christmas, and I encourage you to meditate on what and when God called you, and how He has given you the training to do His will.

Be sure to check back in the new year as I share the things God is teaching me through the children!

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

Getting JOY through Service: Jesus First, Others Second, You Last

For the last few years, Good Shepherd Wesleyan Church Awana Club has had a theme for the year. This year's theme is Service. In Sparks, we're focusing on how to get JOY through service. In this post, I will share an outline for the Large Group Time message I used to kick off the theme. This was actually a message I remember from when I was a clubber.

Scripture: Matthew 22:36-40

Materials:
3 large squares of construction paper

• Square 1: "J" on one side, "Jesus" on the other
• Square 2: "O" one one side, "Others" on the other
• Square 3: "Y" on one side, "You" or "Yourself" on the other

Have three clubbers come hold the three letters, showing the audience “J O Y.”

Ask Clubbers:
What is JOY?
– Allow Responses. Examples: Happiness, excitement, delight, etc.

How do we get JOY?
– Allow Responses.

Tell Clubbers:
In the book of Matthew, there were some people who had a similar question. Let’s see what Jesus had to say.

Matthew 22:36-38
“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”
Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.
This is the first and great commandment."

Tell Clubbers:

In these verses, we are given the first step to having JOY: Love Jesus First, before anything else. 

Have the clubber with the letter “J” turn his letter around, showing the audience “Jesus.”

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment."

Tell Clubbers:
Jesus is the first step to having JOY.

Ask Clubbers:
How can we love Jesus first?
– Allow Responses. Examples: Pray, spend time with God each day, work on handbooks, memorize verses, obey God, etc.

Tell Clubbers:

Those are all great ways to love Jesus first. Now what about the second step in JOY? Let’s look back and see.

Matthew 22:39
And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

Tell Clubbers:

In this verse, we learn that the second step in getting JOY is Loving Others Second, after loving Jesus.

Have the clubber with the letter “O” turn his paper around, showing the audience “Others.”




Ask Clubbers:
How can we love others second?
–Allow resopnses. Examples:Be kind, share, say please and thank you, keep God’s commandments, serve (our theme this year), etc.

Tell clubbers:

Those are all great ideas for how to love others. So our second step to JOY is serving others. Now we have Jesus first and others second in our steps to getting JOY. What about the last step?

Matthew 22:40
“On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

Tell clubbers:

Hmm. Well, here we see that all the other laws rest on Jesus first and others second. So, by placing Jesus and others before yourself, that means the last step in JOY would be You Last. So our third step to JOY is serving You last.

Have the clubber with “Y” turn her paper around, showing the audience “You.”


Ask Clubbers:
Now that we’ve seen what the Bible says, how do we get JOY?
– Correct Response: Jesus first, Others second, and You last.

Let’s pray that God help us to find JOY this next week.

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

Back to the Game Square

My duties as a Sparks co-director go into full swing next Sunday with the first night of club. Part of my job for that day will be leading the games, which means being dynamic and exciting, starting with a bang. As I sit here trying to think of games that will make that goal, I can't help but remember what some of my favorites were growing up in the program. These are three of them:

Octopus

Materials needed:

• Game Square or other square or rectangular area, like one made with cones or pins.

This is a variation of tag, and I've run across similar games such as Sharks and Minnows. Start with everyone behind one side of the rectangle and one person, called the octopus, standing in the middle. When the octopus calls "Octopus!" everyone has to run to the other side without leaving the rectangle and without being tagged by the octopus. Once they're all on the other side, the octopus calls again. If a child is tagged, she stands in the spot where she was tagged and becomes "seaweed." She can then use her arms to also tag people, but her feet must remain stationary. The last untagged person wins and becomes the new octopus.

Variations:

• Have more than one octopus.

Steal the Bacon

Materials needed:

• Beanbags (or tires or tubes or any objects of equal size)
• Paper and pencil
• Whole teams
• Game Square or other square or rectangular playing area

This game is similar to the AwanaGames Beanbag Grab. Teams spread out tallest to shortest along their color line and are numbered off from the left. The game director stands to the side with the beanbags. She calls a number and tosses the beanbag into the square. Whoever received that number on each team runs in to retrieve the beanbag and carry it back across her line. If the bag is thrown across the line, it is considered "dead" and no points are awarded. If someone is tagged while in possession of the bag, the bag becomes dead. When a number is called, it should be written down to give the director an idea of which clubbers have and have not played as often.

Variations:

• Call more than one number in a play. You may just throw one bag, or the same number of bags as the amount of numbers you called (if you call 2 and 6, throw 2 bags). Players can work as a team to get a bag across the line.
• Once the bag is touched, if the toucher is tagged while in possession of the bag or not, the bag is dead.

Tails

Materials needed:

• 4-8 tails. These could be bandannas, crepe paper, strips of cloth, or braids of yarn. They need to be long enough to be easily grabbed
• Game circle or other defined playing area

This is a time-enduring game still popular at many clubs today, and quite possibly, my favorite. One clubber from each team has a tail put through his back beltloop or tucked shallowly in his waistband. The back of his shirt may have to be tucked in. When the whistle blows, he has to pull out the other team's tails without having his pulled. If his tail is pulled, or he steps outside the circle or cone perimeter, he's disqualified. The winner is the last person with his tail intact.

Variations:

• Two clubbers from each team. When it's down to four clubbers total, have them move to the center square.
• Have a leader in the center square also trying to pull out tails.
• Have the teams stand outside the circle and try to pull out tails.

What were some of your favorites as a clubber? Share them below in the comments.
Please keep our leaders, clubbers and parents in prayer as many Awana clubs across the country start in the next few weeks.

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

Taking Command of the New Awana Year

In many ways, Awana commanders are like mini-missionaries: they cary many of the same responsibilities of the three Northern California, Northern Nevada Awana Missionary couples, just on a smaller scale. For instance, commanders' summer duties include planning the new club year, coordinating with their churches, and recruiting new leaders. And for many commanders, this is a summer-long, ongoing process. Some even schedule time for Commander College.

Awana commanders spend much of their summer planning, coordinating,
ordering new supplies, and recruiting leaders, plus much more.
Some even take time for Commander College.

Melissa McMullen, who is beginning her 13th year as an Awana commander and second year as a commander at Wheatland Baptist Church in Wheatland, Calif., said her responsibilities do not stop once the club year ends. "Although I give the staff the time off of thinking about the club and such," she said, "I continue to plan for the upcoming year." Along with the normal inventory check and calendar planning, she uses summer time to plan a balance between the personalities of her leaders. "Many of the leaders are sprinters, so they are on fire at the beginning, but they burn out quickly. The long-term leaders are slow and faithful, but sometimes lack the fire needed to get the kids really excited." Because the sprinters burn out quickly, they often look for other activities to keep busy and be involved, so McMullen continually has to recruit new leaders.

Hilltop Community Church Commander Matthew Beier, in Carson City, Nev., also finds himself constantly thinking and planning Awana throughout the summer. Beier, preparing for his second year as a commander, uses the time to focus on paperwork — setting up an attendance file with formulas for averages, updating clubber and leader files, creating forms and filling in the club calendar. His biggest challenge is identical to Awana Missionary Mike Sexton's: leaving Awana long enough to spend time with family. "I set a specific time to work Awana stuff, which keeps it off my list for a certain time," Beier said about how he balances family with Awana. He also has a problem similar to Missionary Joel Cook's: contacting people. "It's harder to get a hold of parents to finalize information for camp and other events."

And yet, commanders still manage to find a fair amount of time to breath. For Penii Jo Trautwein, commander of Sierra Bible Church in Reno, Nev., the summer months provide a period of down time. In fact, her problem is starting up again.

"During the club year," she said, "everything is very structured and I know what needs to be done each week to be ready for upcoming events, weeks, and club nights, while in the summer I have down time, which is needed and enjoyed. I have to get myself motivated to get back into the office and get things ready." Her definition of "getting things ready" is cleaning up the mess in her Awana office (in shambles after Award night), sorting records (some get filed and others get moved for continued use in the new year), taking and organizing inventory (stuff needs ordered, the Trek and Journey materials need replaced), and creating the calendar (regional events, national events, and club events, coordinating as best as possible with the church's events).

Then there are commanders with different types of Awana clubs, like Jim Disbro's. Disbro serves as commander for the Mountain Warfare Training Center Chapel in Walker, California. This club doesn't have a church where it meets. Instead, the families from three churches in the community come together for a club that meets right at the base. This club still faces similar challenges, such as coordinating and creating a calendar and recruiting leaders. However, the reasons for these challenges are quite different.

"Because club is on the base, we have three churches who contribute leaders and supplies," he said, "most clubs are run by one church at the church. The base is also a government facility, which means we have to make sure we have permission to use it. We also need to let the guards know that we're coming onto the base."

Also different is the fact that not only does his club have difficulty recruiting leaders during the summer because of vacations and other travels, but also the fact that the military families move to a new base every three years.

To maintain the connections throughout the summer, Disbro send out the KidsPrint and Sparkles Newsletters, available through Awana ART. He also encourages the leaders at the different churches to establish relationships internally at their churches to recruit.

At every level, from leader to Awana missionary, some degree of Awana continues year-round.  Awana still remains in the minds and living rooms of the commanders, like at my house with Good Shepherd Wesleyan Church Commanders Randy and Shirley Moore, where new inventory accumulates, old records shift, and new plans grow.

Please pray for our Awana clubs as the pre-planning ends and the new Awana year begins.

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

Preliminary Warm-Up

Now that August has arrived, churches all over the region are gearing up for the start of the new club year. Last post, I shared how the Awana missionaries for the Northern California, Northern Nevada region prepare during the summer for the upcoming year. One of the bullets in their long list was the planning and running of 11 team building dinners.

Pastors, commanders, directors, and key leaders attend these dinners, which accomplish several goals. The first is to excite the leaders with an opportunity to fellowship, share ideas and have some fun. The dinners also serve as a time to impart news and information about what Awana Headquarters is doing different for the new year. Finally, these dinners serve as a chance for the backbone of the area's Awana ministry to pray for the surrounding clubs that are about to begin.

Tomorrow is the team building dinner for my area, and I will be using the opportunity to talk with commanders about what they do for Awana during the summer and what they're doing to prepare for the new Awana year.

Check back next Monday to find out what I learned! In the meantime, what are you and your churches doing to gear up children's ministries for the school year?

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

"Awana Never Stops"

Throughout the Awana club year, Awana commanders, directors, and leaders pour energy, sweat, and heart into teaching the children. Then, when the year comes to a close, whether it be summer or a couple months at some other time of year, they welcome the break. Awana Missionary Joel Cook sums up the sentiment, "When I was a commander, I told the workers and myself I wouldn't use the 'A' word throughout the summer."

Joel and Virginia Cook, along with the other northern
California, northern Nevada Awana missionaries,
help start new clubs during the summer.

Yet, he also pointed out that now as a missionary, "When the club year ends, planning for the next year begins." For the three Northern California, Northern Nevada Awana missionary couples, the summer is just as busy as the club year.

Missionary Mike Sexton agreed. "I always laugh when people say, 'Awana's closed down for the year, you must be on vacation.'"

Joel and Virginia Cook, Mike and Becky Sexton, and Jeff and Judy Gilpin have three focus areas during summer: New club development, event planning, and church care.

"Ministry never goes away," Sexton said, "there are always people to talk to, to encourage, and to challenge. We want to become a partner with the local church, encouraging the pastor and pastoral staff. Sometimes we're even called to help with personal issues."

The Sextons often help in the role of church care by making presentations, meeting commanders, and establishing between three and six substantial contacts with each of the churches.

"I also want to connect with commanders, kids who grew up in Awana and are now married, and long-time leaders who are no longer leaders" he said. "That's what it's all about, connecting with people. Summer's also a time when we, through various avenues, connect with our ministry team and ministry partners, like by attending West Coast Honor Camp for a day."

Along with communicating with churches, the families work together to plan the different events through the year, including coordinating the 11 team-building dinners and making the new commander packets.

Mike and Becky Sexton take the leading role in planning the next calendar of events. They have to talk with the facility heads, check facility calendars, get contracts for the gyms, and recruit workshop teachers for the three conferences.

Sexton also maintains the special role of planning and coordinating the Commander Colleges for the southwest ministry teams, which includes California, Nevada, and Hawaii. This means he also has to coordinate with the missionaries for those areas and work with their schedules. In the last five years, there have been about three Commander College 101s and one Commander College 201.

"I'm the main point person for all of those missionaries," he said.

And yet, even with all of these areas of summer ministry, there is one other area that takes an extreme amount of focus. New club development peaks during the summer months, as the missionaries use this time to canvas areas and make communication with new churches, get the word out about Awana, and start training new leaders.

Jeff and Judy Gilpin brainstorm procedures to make the
limited summer time more efficient for the missionaries.

"The summer months allow us to take club visits off the agenda so we can focus on helping clubs start," Cook said. "Summers are when churches learn about Awana and contact us about Awana, because they want to start their new club at the beginning of the new year." This summer, from May until the beginning of July, he made two church presentations and spoke at three churches for Awana. At the time of this interview, he was preparing for a training one week away.

Unfortunately, reaching out during the summer takes its toll. Even though summer is the peak of new club development, only about one or two churches can start at a time. Therefore, this summer Jeff Gilpin is brainstorming procedures for exponentially increasing the number of new clubs. "Currently, if we have a church that wants to start the program, we hold a training on one Saturday for that church," he said. "As a missionary, when you have to train a church, it takes away time from talking to a new pastor."

Gilpin's vision is to teach the members of the Northern California, Northern Nevada Ministry Team how to train a church, and then hold three regional trainings three times a year.

"This way, when new leaders come on, we can send them to the trainings so they mix with established leaders and ministry team members."

Gilpin also has a vision for training the Ministry Team to help with the church care. "We want to give away more and more ministry, because then overall ministry in northern California and northern Nevada can be bigger," he said.

With the amount of things to do and the challenges to face, sometimes the missionaries feel overwhelmed. Gilpin sometimes finds himself second guessing his presentations, thinking "If I would have..."

"At those times, I try to relax and have faith, remembering that I'm planting the seeds and need to let God do the work."

Mike Sexton faces the challenge of balancing ministry
with home repairs and family.

For Sexton, his biggest challenge comes in trying to balance the ministry with family time and home repair time. "I could work all of the time and still not be done," he said. "I'm still leaning when to wait." He also continues because of 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, "For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again."

And for Cook, one of his biggest challenges is making the connections during the summer. "I find it rather difficult to make contact during the summer with commanders, since they are on break," he said. When things get difficult for him, he turns to his "Rainy-Day Binder" — a collection of all the letters he's received from kids. "I respond to each letter within 24 hours of receiving it," he said. "I also keep the originals in this binder. When I'm feeling down, I read the binder to remind me why I continue in the program."

The missionaries ask that we continue praying during the summer, because "Awana never stops."

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

The Ministry-Days of Summer

Many churches hold a Vacation Bible School during the summer.
Photo provided by Good Shepherd Wesleyan Church

Ah, summer. The time when Awana leaders and other church members become hyper busy with ministry (sometimes) above and beyond Awana. It's the season for church camps, like West Coast Honor Camp. It's the season for picnics (My home church's annual church picnic is in just a couple weeks). And it's the season for Vacation Bible School.

This week is Good Shepherd Wesleyan's VBS, and we spent all last week planning and preparing to welcome the kids to "Adventures on Promise Island." This year, I'm serving as the games director and as Hunter, Madie's geeky and annoying sister, in the nightly skit. Each night, Madie and Hunter are taught by island native Kamalie about God's promises: "I am with you," "I care about you," "I give you what you need," "I will save you," and "I will answer you."

Check back next Monday to find out how our Awana missionaries minister during the summer! What about you? How are you ministering to people this summer?

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

A personal reflection: West Coast Honor Camp

This past week at West Coast Honor Camp, I've been discussing what Pastor Shawn was teaching and what the students were learning, as well as some of the other activities at Camp. Today, I'd like to take the opportunity to share the things God taught me and the ways He's challenged me personally.

God challenged campers and staff alike at Camp. 

This week, God reminded me that when we tell Him we're willing to do something, He'll hold us to it. Through a variety of circumstances, I got my counselor/staff application in late, and so I honestly didn't know what spaces were left to fill. As such, I stated I would do whatever it was God wanted me to do. However, in my head, I was looking forward to serving as a junior high counselor for my second year.

Camp training came, at which point I learned my application had been missed by accident, so I had not yet been assigned a position. However, I heard that they were doubling counselors in each cabin, and my mother was informed that they hoped to have her serve as staff this year. Once again, I claimed my willingness to serve wherever, though my desire to serve as a counselor grew stronger.

Sometimes what we want is not what we need, nor is it what God has in mind — and at all times, when we make a promise before God, He challenges us to keep it. Two days before camp, the volunteer list came out: my mom was a counselor, I was staff.

The challenge of doing what I told God I was willing do came at least twofold this past week. For those of you how haven't read my bio, I am studying at the University of Nevada, Reno to become a journalist and writer. When people ask what I want to do once I graduate, I tell them I want to use my writing in ministry, possibly at a Christian publication, helping people and sharing the good things God is doing in people's lives. This desire to apply what I'm learning was also the inspiration in starting Twofifteen Bits. And this desire is the reason there were a few posts here and there prior to this past week

As staff at this year's camp (which I did enjoy, and from which I learned a lot), I had more spare time than I would have had as a counselor. I also had access to a computer and to internet. And I had access to the junior high and high school campers, as well as other staff members. Combine these together, and I had a God-given opportunity in the field to use my education in the way I said I would. Using termonology from Pastor Shawn, I was given a "giant job in the middle of a tiny task."

This week, God reminded me that He has plans for me and showed me reasons for why He does things the way he does. He also helped me remember and understand that when we're willing to follow through with promises and serve where He wants us instead of where we want Him to want us, he will bless us in ways beyond our imagination. That's how I was challenged and what I learned this year at Camp.

Though West Coast Honor Camp is over for the year, I encourage you all to continue checking back to Twofifteen Bits, either subscribing here or liking it on Facebook. Lord willing, I will try to post every 2-3 weeks about what's going on in Awana and what God is teaching me through it.

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

Dark Caves and Dusty Feet: West Coast Honor Camp Friday through Saturday

This past week at West Coast Honor Camp, Pastor Shawn Thornton taught on "Think Right, Do Right, Feel Right," using examples from the Old and New Testaments. On Tuesday, we looked at Elijah and "Three Things About Standing Out." On Wednesday, we looked at David and Goliath and "Taking a Running Stand for the Living God."

Pastor Shawn taught "Stand Up When Feeling Down" Thursday.
Photo provided by Laura Carpenter

On Thursday, we learned how to "Stand Up When Feeling Down," once again looking at David. This time, we looked at 1 Samuel 21-22:2. David was on the run, as Saul had become jealous and wanted to kill him. Initially, he fled to Gath, but because he killed Goliath, his life was in danger there as well. So, David found himself in a deep, dark cave — a fugitive in the very country he was annointed to rule after Saul.

It was during this time alone in a cave that he wrote many of the Psalms and provided a blueprint for how to "Stand Up When Feeling Down."

1) Tell God How You Feel. This was what David did in the first Psalm he wrote in the cave, Psalm 142.

2) Praise God for Who He Is. In Psalm 57, David praised God intentionally, in spite of his "deep-dark-cave experience."

3) Serve God by Helping Others. In, 1 Samuel 22:1-2, we're told about how word spread of David's predicament and how those even worse off than David came into the cave to dwell with him, making him their leader. Suddenly, David had others to care for and teach about God, which we see in Psalm 34.

Service remained the focal point of the closing message of the week as well: "Stand Up by Stooping Down." For this message on Friday, Pastor Shawn looked at the Last Supper in John 13:1-17, 34 when Jesus washed the disciple's feet. In this passage, Jesus set the example of how to "think right, do right, feel right," teaching the disciples three requirements for "Standing Up by Stooping Down."

1) Stooping down requires personal humility, even when no one else expects it. The disciples expected the lowest of them, or even the lowest servant of the house where they ate, to wash their feet, as was the custom. Nobody expected Jesus to don the apron and use the bowl.

2) Stooping down requires practical action, even when no one else seeks it. Simon peter never saught to have Jesus wash his feet, but it was a task that needed done.

3) Stooping down requires Christ-like love. In verses 14-15, Jesus tells his disciples, "If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you." The command continues in verse 34: "a new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another."

As the children return to their homes, their trials, and their burdens, this is our prayer for them: we pray that they seek to think right, do right and feel right, and are able to stand up for their faith and love and serve as Christ loves and serves them. We pray that the junior high campers can put on the Armor of God that they studied this week, and that the high school campers can apply the lessons they learned in ministry.

Watch tomorrow for one more post to conclude the series on West Coast Honor Camp 2012, and please continue to watch for other youth and Awana-related posts in the following weeks.

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

5 Ways to Spend Free Time: West Coast Honor Camp Thursday through Friday

West Coast Honor Camp offers a variety of activities for the three hours campers have after Cabin Rest. There's stuff for the beach-goers, the swimmers, the wildlife hunters, the speedsters, the crafters, and even the wanderers and sleepers. Here are a few old-time favorites and at least one brand new to this 2012 camp year.

Campers race around the Lassen Pines Speedway at Free Time
Photo provided by Laura Carpenter

Lassen Pines Speedway

At the Lassen Pines Speedway, you can race against four other campers or staff members in one of the all-new go karts (much faster than the old ones). Steer your way around the winding track, dodge the side barriers, squeal tires on curves, and collide with the other races other as you battle for first. Tickets can be purchased at the Snack Shack on the beach.

Gutterball

Opposite the speedway, on the other side of camp, is the most popular hangout during the Free Time hours — the beach. Here, you'll find campers spending their entire Free Time competing at one of the four Gutterball tables. The tables are long, narrow alleys with a "gutter," or deep square pocket, at each end. In front of each pocket are seven circular indents, arranged in a 2-3-2 pattern. Seven pool balls are placed in these indents, resulting in 14 balls on the table. You bowl a 15th ball down the length of the table in an attempt to knock your opponent's balls into the gutter. Then they bowl down the table to hit yours. The winner is the first to clear all seven of his opponent's balls. This game has multiple optional special rules, which are determined each game by the table's current champion.

Fishing

Maybe you like water, but not the noise, crowds, or flying sand associated with the beach. Then you may be interested in checking out a fishing pole, bucket, and bait from Philip Bairrington  at the Nature Center. You can choose from a wide selection of bait, including salmon eggs, Power Bait, and plastic eggs in a variety of colors — all at no cost to the you. Once equipped, you could catch bluegill, green sunfish, golden shiner, mosquito fish, or trout (planted right before camp from Darrah Springs Hatchery). If you have a successful day, then perhaps you can enter into one of Bairrington's contests — daily contests for the number of fish caught or the size of the fish (longest or shortest).

Campers create duct tape flowers. There are also patterns for
wallets, handbags,and notebook covers.
Photo provided by Laura Carpenter

Duct Tape

But maybe you're the more artistic type. In which case, you may make your Free Time home at the Rec. Hall among others working on crafts. This year, you could try a new craft was added to the repertoire: duct tape art. You have the option to craft flowers, notebook covers, handbags and wallets from a rainbow of colored and patterned duct tape.

Blob

The floating red-and-blue striped pillow only made a guest appearance this year, but this camp classic expected to return to West Coast Honor Camp 2013. Just off the beach, you slowly climb the ladder to the top platform as your neon orange life jacket brushes against the wood. When you reach the edge of the platform, you look down at the floating pillow that appears to be nearly two stories below. You brace yourself by placing your hands on the side rails, and then you silently count to three before thrusting yourself forward into the air. In seconds, you feel the pillow give way under you. When the bouncing stops, you crawl your way to the other end, then sit with your knees bent and arms braced at your side. Your heart and mind race as you wait for the next person to jump. In moments, as the person behind you makes contact with the pillow, you find yourself several feet in the air, hands and legs flailing as you plunge into the water.

These are just a small selection of the Free Time options at Camp. There is something for everyone, whatever your interests are.

Thursday Night's Chapel Lesson: Standing Up When You Feel Down
WCHC 2012 Final Verse Card Count: 174
Junior High Armor: Sword of the Spirit
Special night of reflection tonight, then preparing for home. Prayers for safe travels.

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

Living the Lessons: West Coast Honor Camp Wednesday through Thursday

At West Coast Honor Camp, Pastor Shawn's theme of "Think Right, Do Right, Feel Right" continued last night with "Taking a Running Stand for the Living God" using David as an example.

The story, taken from 1 Samuel 17:8-54, shows three key points of how David took a running stand against Goliath:

The high school campers shared the Gospel Glove at
Grace Baptist Church, Enterprise Park, and
Sierra Oaks Living Care Center.

1) God gives GIANT JOBS in the middle of tiny tasks. David was not a warrior, he was just a cheese delivery boy. But when he saw the problem, he seized it.

2) God gives an ENORMOUS EDUCATION in the middle of everyday life. David had killed a lion and a bear in order to protect the sheep in his charge. Because of fulfilling the jobs of his daily life, he was prepared to face Goliath.

3) You need TREMENDOUS TRUST in spite of the overwhelming odds. David approached Goliath with nothing but a stick, some rope and a few pebbles, but had the faith to tell Goliath "This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel" (1 Sam. 17:46).

Earlier yesterday, the high school experienced the points first hand, serving in the five different ministries and facing challenges in Redding, Calif. The challenges began when one of the buses broke down. For Johnathan Inscho, the camp worship leader, the necessity of a working bus making two trips became a blessing, providing a "big job in a tiny task".

"The bus driver was asking questions down and back," he said. "I asked Mr. Trautwein for a Bible so I could write down verses for him to read. If the first bus hadn't broken down, I wouldn't have had that witnessing opportunity."

When the campers and staff returned, many had stories on ways they helped others, ways they made others smile, and ways that God challenged them. Below are a few of those stories. Enjoy.

Several of the high school campers did maintenance at
Mountain Meadows Bible Camp.

Mountain Meadows Bible Camp

The high school campers worked at this Bible camp to clean brush, haul and strip logs, and complete other maintenance. According to the Mountain Meadows staff, "It would have taken six weeks to do what you have done."

Emily, Junior
"I was carrying a huge log by myself with no one around. On the end of the log were spikes, and I didn't have my gloves on. I tried lifting it on my shoulder, but it was very painful. So I knelt and prayed, 'God give me strength to do what needs done.' I put my gloves back on and got a bruised shoulder, but I got it done...It was really inspiring that we could all come together as the body of Christ, as a team to accomplish what we needed to do — move brush, etc."

Ellen, Senior
"God showed me how easy it is to clean my room compared to cleaning His forest."

Grace Baptist Church

Here, the campers canvased the area for children to attend a brief Awana-style program. The high school kids ran water games, sang songs, presented a Bible lesson, performed either puppets or a skit, and broke into small groups to present the Gospel Glove to the children.

Rory, in his Chapel testimony
"We weren't just reaching the kids and the parents, but we also reached those whose apartments were knocked on who didn't have any kids."

Colin, Junior
"We went out to canvas, but didn't find any kids, so we weren't sure how many would actually show up. When we finished canvasing and returned, there were 30 kids waiting for us. One child came to Christ, which was cool because we weren't sure we were getting through."

Laura, Junior
"One of the families there whose door we went to came to our presentation. They had five kids, and the parents stayed, listening more than the kids were. Apparently, they used to attend Sunday School, and were considering attending again. It's really cool that we brought the parents back."

Campers served food and took time to listen to the stories of
the homeless at the Gospel Rescue Mission.

Gospel Rescue Mission

 Here the high schoolers filled and carried food trays to homeless people at tables. The campers also did general cleaning, such as washing cars and mattresses, and sorting clothes.

Bill Harben, Staff
"The high school kids sat down with the homeless and did some talking, but they mostly listened as the homeless shared trials, hardships, and persecutions. I overheard one man as he thanked a high school camper for listening. It had been two years since someone sat down and listened to him."

Cooper, Junior
"I talked to a couple of older guys who were having a hard time. One of the gentlemen got excited about kids serving. He was encouraged about people out ministering at such a young age.

Enterprise Park

Here the campers ran programs just like at Grace Baptist Church. They ran through the program twice, and about 13 children trusted Christ as Savior.

Jim Schleusner, Graduate
"The greatest challenge we faced was we came expecting a hose, and there wasn't one, so we had to use the sinks in the bathroom. However, the volcano wasn't working, so the kids weren't distracted."

Chloe, Senior
"There was a traveling preacher at the park, and he prayed for us. We always pray for our ministries, but to have someone from outside pray was encouraging."

At the Sierra Oaks Living Care Center, the high school
campers and the senior citizens sing hymns together.

Sierra Oaks Living Care Center

The high school campers sang hymns, gave a Bible lesson, performed a puppet show, met with the seniors and shared the Gospel Gloves. They presented the program twice in two different areas. Two 100-year-old ladies trusted Christ.

Maggie, Sophomore
"My most memorable moment was one old lady with a batman shirt and dog. She put makeup on just for us, and she enjoyed the songs."

Silas, Junior
"I was talking with a lady there, and she asked if I enlisted in World War II to fight. She also thought I was married and had kids. But even though she had off moments, she was already a Christian, and she challenged me to be a better brother to my siblings. I was able to learn from her rather than... her learn from me.

Tana Richards, Staff
"Many of our kids were nervous, not sure what to do. Some were bold and went up and talked to the residents. It was neat to see them step outside their comfort zones, and the residents loved it. You could see their faces light up."

Wednesday Night's Chapel Message: Taking a Running Stand for the Living God
Total Verse Card Count: 120
Junior High Armor: Helmet of Salvation
All photos were provided by the high school ministry groups. As for us, one more full day left! Prayers we finish strong!

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

TDF Right: West Coast Honor Camp Tuesday through Wednesday

The West Coast Honor Camp's speaker for this year is Pastor Shawn Thornton. Pastor Shawn, as he is affectionately known, has a 20-year history as a pastor, and he, his wife of 21 years and his three children currently hail from Westlake Village, Calif, where he serves as the Senior Pastor at Calvary Community Church. His history with Awana Clubs International spans even longer, as he started with the program before the creation of Sparks or Cubbies, and he currently serves on the Awana Clubs International board of directors and the Awana International board.

Pastor Shawn waits to teach "The
Three Things about Standing Out."
Photo provided by Laura Carpenter.

On Monday, Pastor Shawn began his theme for the week,"Think Right, Do Right, Feel Right," began with  Philippians 4:8-9 and a life-experience-turned-allegory story of a cat, a dog, and Gary the Goldfish. Every day, the cat and dog would chase each other around the house at breakneck speeds, frequently passing by Gary's bowl. Only at night did the chasing stop, because the pair was confined to the bedroom. But one day, Pastor Shawn came out after a night's rest to discover that even though the cat and dog were away from the fish bowl, Gary was on the floor, dead.

"I got to thinking," said Pastor Shawn, "that maybe, possibly, what could of potentially happened, was this..."

Gary saw what fun the cat and dog were having, chasing each other around the house day after day, and he decided he really wanted to join in. So, he started practicing every day, swimming as fast as he could around the bowl, trying a few jumps, getting better and faster, preparing to run with the cat and dog. Finally, one night, Gary was ready. He leaped out of the bowl and hit the floor — where he was found that tragic morning.

"God did not design Gary to run with the cat and dog," Pastor Shawn said. "Unfortunately, the sad truth is many people think like Gary. So this week, we're looking at living the way God designed you to live."

Gary's tragedy began when he started thinking about things outside of God's design. He wanted to be something other than what God had planned — he thought wrong. Those thoughts lead him to practice for the role God did not design him to fill — he did wrong. Ultimately, his wrong actions lead him from the safety and joy found in the place God designed him for, and it didn't feel too good.

In Philippians 4:8, God provides us with the blueprint for thinking right:

"Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy — meditate on these things" (NKJV).

The first half of verse 9 shows how to do right, and the second half explains how they feel right:

"The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you." More rewards for thinking and doing right can be found in Romans 5:1

The theme of "Think Right, Do Right, Feel Right" continued into Tuesday with three things about standing out — because when you think, do and feel right, you will feel like you're not part of a group. We considered Elijah and the sacrifice on Mount Carmel, as written in 1 Kings 18:18-39.

1) It's not how many you follow, but it''s WHO you follow that matters. Nearly 450 prophets followed Baal, yet only Elijah, as far as he knew, followed the LORD.

2) It's not how much you trust, but WHO you trust that matters. The prophets of Baal screamed, hollered, sacrificed a bull and cut themselves to show their devotion, Elijah only prayed a single statement.

3) It's not what you have to offer, but TO WHOM you offer it that matters. The prophets of Baal sacrificed the better bull on the solidly established alter. Elijah build an alter of wood and some rocks and water, upon which he sacrificed the poorer offering.

Baal remained silent. God consumed the wood, the rock, the water, and the sand in fire, leaving nothing but a cater of scorched earth.

Today, the 114 high school campers put the process of "Think, Do, Feel Right" into action as they served the Redding, Calif. area in five different ministries. Stay tuned tomorrow for some of their stories.

Tuesday's Chapel Lesson: Three Things about Standing Out
Tonight's Verse Card Count: TBA
Junior High Armor: Shield of Faith
Halfway mark! Please keep praying as we continue to "train them to serve Him."

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

Confessions of a Cabin Inspector: West Coast Honor Camp Monday through Tuesday

Each year of West Coast Honor Camp, I'm faced with a variety of new experiences. This year, for example, I am learning the duties of general staff: specifically, I'm learning the role of a cabin inspector. I am inspecting the rawhides (where the junior high girls sleep) while they are away at their Bible lessons. I have only been inspecting for two days with my partner, Liz Benesch, but I have already made some observations based on what I've heard from other inspectors and what I've seen myself.

Inspections are much harder than one would think. We're given a sheet with eight categories — grounds, floors, beds, clothes, shoes, suitcases, bathrooms, and bonus — and each category has a potential of five points. The inspection process itself begins at the communal bathrooms. We have to check both sets of shower stalls for any sand or mud or hair around the drains, any curtains pulled to different sides, any undumped trashcans and any unlabeled left-behind bottles or towels or clothes.

Then it's on to the two sets of toilet stalls. As with the showers, we look for lost items, curtain conformity, clean floors and empty cans. But then we have to check for any unflushed bowls — and sometimes, we find them. (Yuck!)

After grading the bathrooms, the real challenge begins: we have to walk through eight rawhides and one tent, judging each of the criterion — all in less than an hour (hardly enough time).

We start outside with the grounds: Is there trash around the rawhide? Are the porches swept? Any wayward shoes or clothes below the clothesline? Is the clothesline labeled?

Once we grant points for the outside, we slowly open the door to the sleeping area, never knowing what to expect. Today we were showered with patriotic confetti; greeted by a giant teddy bear holding a fish, a bouquet and a bunch of taffy for us; directed along a trail of sparkling stars and shoes to a trophy; given a story about a picnic in celebration of soldiers and pie accompanied by the picnic scene (the people and animals celebrating, but no pie); and provided with a poem about a bunk that collapsed yesterday. Others left us necklaces, notes and various candies. Such creativity, along with the use of patriotic decorations and sticks and rocks and pine cones all go into the bonus category, often making or breaking a winning score.

From there, we begin down the list. Floors: Did they sweep? Is there any clothing under the bunks?

Beds: Are sleeping bags zipped? If not, is there a note explaining a broken zipper? Are there any lumps?

Clothes: Any to be seen? On the line outside, are they neat? Undergarments should never be found, ever!

Shoes: Do they make a distinguishable pattern? Are they uniform in presentation?

Suitcases: Are they zipped closed or is there an explanation for why they're not? Any Bibles or lesson books to be seen (They should be with the kids at the lesson, NOT in the rawhide)?

More often than not, rawhides, along with the tepees (junior high boys) and cabins (high school), do well with some scores and not with others. Unfortunately, this can lead to problems. Camilla Taetzsch, one of the cabin inspectors, explains. "How do you choose between a cabin that's hyper clean but has no decorations and a cabin that's moderately clean but has lots of decorations?"

Other times, the ultra-clean cabins give the inspectors grief. "What I hate most is when everything is fine except for one thing," Taetzsch said. "Like when the grounds are perfect except for one pair of shoes, or all beds are perfect except for one person's. I think 'What happened?' and feel bad for not being able to give a perfect score."

The best parts of inspections are leaving the kids candy and watching how the rawhides improve throughout the week, and like all the other staff, we inspectors hope and pray the children are improving and growing as well.

Monday's Evening Lesson: Think Right, Do Right, Feel Right: Introduction (more information to come)
Tonight's Verse Card Count: At least 85.
Junior High Armor: Shoes of Peace and Breastplate of Righteousness
High School head to their ministries tomorrow. Please keep them in your prayers.

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

Guns and Gloves: West Coast Honor Camp Sunday to Monday

Hey all, this week I'm writing to you from West Coast Honor Camp -- the camp for all clubbers in the region sixth grade and up who earned their Excellence award and completed this year's requirements.

Throughout the week, I'll *attempt* to provide updates and insights on what the kids are learning. This year's theme is Patriotic, and Eddie Hester, regional ministry director for Central and Western Europe at Awana International, kicked off the week appropriately last night with a definition of a patriot: someone who loves, supports and protects their country and its interests with devotion." He then embodied the definition with a war story from his time in Vietnam — one mission with two miracles: two deadly bullets that didn't kill.

Hester served in the armed forces as pilot. Part of his responsibility included flying a helicopter into enemy fire to rescue his fellow soldiers. On this particular mission, one bullet hit his "chicken vest" (had it hit his copilot in the same spot, his copilot would have died). Another bullet hit his copilot in a new ballistic helmet (had it hit Hester in the same spot, he would have died). Both bullets hit the right places on the right people -- to Hester, the two saved lives are both signs of God's love for His people.

The story also serves as an allegory for the Greatest Patriot: Jesus Christ. Christ loves, supports and protects the citizens of Heaven, even to the point of entering into enemy fire and dying to rescue those He loves.

The high school campers practice the Gospel Glove
to present to kids on Wednesday's ministry trips.

This morning, other patriots of Heaven began training for missions. On Wednesday, groups of high school campers will depart in various directions — some will work sorting stuff at a mission or cleaning and performing maintenance around other campgrounds. Other groups will go to different locations to host a one-day Awana. These kids will lead water games and songs, perform a puppet show or skit, present a lesson and a testimony, and, most importantly, share the Gospel with the attending children and parents.

Each year, the high-schoolers are taught a new Gospel tool, which they present to children on the Wednesday of the WCHC week. Today, they received this year's tool: the Gospel Glove. One side presents the Gospel message with verses, images and symbolic colors; the other presents a message about obedience and growth for those already saved.

Between now and the trip, the high school campers are encouraged to practice by presenting to their fellow junior-high campers.

In the meantime, the junior high will be completing training of their own: training on how to use the Armor of God. Today's piece: the Belt of Truth.

One final key trait of WCHC is the completion of verse cards: a card split into six days, each day having one or two verses. To complete a card, a camper has to recite all six days' worth in a single sitting with only two helps. As of this evening, the verse card count stands at at least 50.

So here we stand, one day completed, and one more opportunity to teach children to know, love and serve the Lord.

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

New Missionary Brings New Dynamic to Northern California, Northern Nevada Missionary Team

“One of the first things I like to do when I visit a club is to get a group photo of the kids and the leaders.” Jeff Gilpin pulls out his smartphone as the leaders direct the kindergarten - sixth graders into a photo-fitting group. “I’ll keep their picture on my phone, to remind me of the people, of the kids.”

Awana Missionary Jeff Gilpin gets the children at
Good Shepherd Wesleyan Church Awana to
wave their hands in the air.

He takes the two default photos — one serious and one goofy. But then he requests one more, evoking ripples of laughter: “I want a photo I can share with other people, but I’m not allowed to show faces for child safety reasons. So, I want everyone to turn around and wave their hands in the air!”

The photo appears within hours on Facebook, immediately receiving three likes.

Even with the Awana Clubs International mark of silliness, Gilpin sees children’s ministry as paramount: In April, he and his wife, Judy, became the newest Awana Missionary couple on the Northern California, Northern Nevada Team, joining the Sextons and Cooks. “Children’s ministry is important because children are at the prime age to receive the gospel. I read in ‘Transforming Children into Spiritual Champions’ that children need to be reached at a younger age, because statistics show that if students are not reached by the age of fourteen, they may never receive it.”

Gilpin became involved in Awana in 2003 when he followed his 3-year-old son Ryan into Cubbies at Sierra Bible Church in Truckee, Calif.

The new missionary never sought involvement. His mind changed when he discovered helping was more practical than dropping Ryan off, driving twenty minutes back to the house, waiting thirty minutes, and driving twenty minutes back to pick Ryan up. “Next thing you know, I’m walking out with a Cubbie leader role book and DVD, and that was that.”

Today, Gilpin takes another photo to remind him of these children at another Awana club in the region he serves. He tells the kids that they can face him again, and as they turn, he pulls out a small, white and orange paperback with thin black and white letters across the cover: “My Prayer Accountability Book.” “I also like to write the names of the churches I visit into my prayer book,” he tells the kids. “There are little boxes for checkmarks next to each name, and every time I pray for the club here, I will put a check next to the name.”

Gilpin received the book from Awana’s co-founder Art Rorheim, 94, at missionary candidate school. Preprinted inside are names of the members of the Awana board of directors, the Awana missionaries in the United States, the international Awana missionaries and several blank lines with boxes for personal entries. “After Art gave me the book, he showed me his and asked, ‘If a year from now you show this to somebody you had ministry with, would you be proud of it?’ I don’t want to be the person that says ‘I’ll pray for you’ then forget about it. Now I can tell them, ‘I put you down in my prayer book, now I’m going to pray for you.” — a promise he keeps every day after his devotion.

He writes “Good Shepherd Wesleyan” on one of the lines, then sets the book and pen aside while picking up a stack of missionary photos. “Can anyone tell me what a missionary does?”

Gilpin’s role as a missionary includes visiting clubs and providing training and motivation for effectiveness and efficiency. He also helps with planning, coordinating and running regional events including Bible quizzing and games competitions. “One of my favorite things to do in Awana is to help the T&Ters study for Bible quizzing. It’s wonderful watching kids put the scripture deep into their brain and their hearts.”

Gilpin, as he continues to raise support toward full-time status, will attend missionary graduate school in October.

“The whole reason for support raising is for you to have greater faith in the Lord, because you need to rely on God for your finances. It’s more of a faith-growing exercise than a money-raising exercise. Missionary graduate school will teach us how to do the job, how to work with the missionary team, how to lay a game circle, that kind of stuff.”

But more than anything, Gilpin is establishing relationships with the churches he will be serving in Northern California and Northern Nevada. “I’m very much of a people person, and I’m a church-care missionary, so I want to be involved in the lives of the people, not just in a surfacy [sic] way, but in a deeper way. I want to be involved with the people I serve, it’s important for me to connect with them.”

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