Monday, January 20, 2014

A commander? "No, I'm the game director"


Joel and Virginia Cook live to serve. They served as youth group directors, Vacation Bible School volunteers, and Sunday school teachers. They've been Cubbie leaders, Truth and Training leaders, Trek leaders, Sparks directors, secretaries, game directors, and commanders. And since 2007, they've served as Northern California/Northern Nevada missionaries, visiting clubs and training leaders. Their family motto comes from Joshua 24:15, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

"Joel has such a servant's heart," Virginia said about what she admires most about her husband. "He's willing to drop everything, just wanting to help other people, to give his time."

But Joel admits he cannot do it alone and is thankful to have his wife by his side. "I love her organization of the details," he said. "We fill each other's gaps. Her weaknesses are my strengths and my weaknesses are her strengths."

Joel's Five Favorites

Awana Game: Shipwreck
Ice Cream: Rocky Road
Hobby: Golf
Movie: Lord of the Rings Trilogy
Verse: 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

Virginia's Five Favorites

Awana Game: Beanbag Bonanza
Ice Cream: Chocolate Mousse Royale from Baskin Robbins
Hobby: Crochet, knitting, reading
Author: God, Karen Kingsbury
Verse: Proverbs 3:5-6
Joel and Virginia have a strong history of working together in ministry. However, there was a time when ministry was never a consideration. In fact, neither trusted Christ until after they were married. "I always knew of God," Joel said. "Mom made sure I was on the bus to Sunday school every Sunday."

The couple met in high school in 1977. "She had just moved into Oroville, Calif.," Joel said. "I came to school after Easter break and she was there sitting with a mutual friend." Over the next two years, their relationship grew, and in 1979, they married.

In the same year, Joel began his 23-year career with the United States Air Force; a career that took them to 8 countries and 25 states. They finally heard God's call when Joel was stationed in San Antonio, Tex.

"We lived in a house with a fenced backyard," Joel said. "There was a gate in the fence. You rarely see a fence — let alone a gate — in a backyard when it's in military housing. Just 100 yards from that gate was the base chapel, and every Sunday at 8:30 a.m. the church bell rang. I often thought, 'turn that stupid bell off.' Looking back, I knew it was God calling me to church." So they went to the church on Christmas in 1984 and in January 1985 they trusted Christ as Savior.

Since then, the couple has pursued ministry everywhere they've been. Joel's favorite place to serve was in Incirlik, Turkey, where they were youth group directors. "That's where first century Christians were," he said. "We got to see Paul's house and the Seven Churches of Revelation. We studied the Seven Churches in class and then took a six-day tour of the very thing we studied!"

Their ministry with Awana began in 1993 in Clovis, N.M. when they were homeschooling their children Kristina and Matt. "We wanted something positive for the kid's social development," Joel said. He started as the game director, and she started as the Chums and Guards director for the third- through sixth-grade girls.

But God had planned for more than just teaching their kids; He had planned to teach Joel and Virginia as well. Two months later, their commander told Joel, "You need to be the commander."

"No, I'm the game director."

"You can do both!"

"Well, okay, I'll do both — if you'll be the executive secretary." He did both for two years before becoming solely the commander. But God wasn't done yet.

"Some random commander somehow managed to get my phone number and called to ask if I could help train his leaders," Joel said. "I told him, 'No, you need to call the missionary.' I even called our missionary for him. The missionary, who lived far away in Phoenix, told me, 'I can't do it. But you can.'"

"No, I can't. You're the missionary."

"Yes, you can. You've got the handbooks and the uniforms, just take them with you and show the people your passion."

Joel and Virginia trained three churches in New Mexico without the missionary before returning to Oroville in 2000. So when God called again, they were ready. "We already had our feet wet with being missionaries," Joel said. "Becoming a missionary was the next natural step."

Their work with children has produced many fond memories. Virginia absolutely loves watching the Awana clubbers grow, as well as the spiritual growth of her own family. "We're products of Awana," she said. "The growth and confidence I got working with our kids and how I grew in my own relationship with the Lord."

Joel's favorite memory is more specific. "In New Mexico, we had this fifth-grade boy. He was new to the church. He also got picked on at school. As a result, he was quiet and kept to himself. One night at club, I asked for testimonies, and he raised his hand. When I called on him, he stood and said, 'I get picked on all the time and I cry. But today, when the same guys came, I was able to walk away. And as I was walking away, I was reciting the memory verse for today. It gave me strength to get through today.'"

The boy's testimony showed Joel the proof that God's word is living, active, and powerful. His story is one of many, and those many stories are a central reason why Joel and Virginia continue in ministry today.

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

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Three trees in your back pocket

It's the time of year when clubs celebrate with winter-themed games and Large Group lessons about Jesus's birth.

Unfortunately, it's also the time of year when people travel or leaders call in last minute because they or someone in their family are sick. And most likely, the one calling in sick is the one scheduled to teach the Large Group lesson tonight.

On club nights like those, I like having what I call a "back-pocket lesson" — a lesson that I know so thoroughly and needs so few props that I can teach it on the spot if needed. The following is one of my favorite Christmas-time back-pocket lessons: "The Legend of the Three Trees."

This folk tale tells the story of the dreams and aspirations of three trees and how, as they grow, God shows that His plans and His love for them go far beyond what they imagined.

I personally enjoy the storytelling approach, with few to no visual aids, engaging with the kids and having them help me by yelling "timber!" or asking them what they think will happen next. If you're comfortable telling stories from memory in front of children, you can find a simple version of the story here.

For those not as comfortable going from memory, the story also comes in picture book form and video form. You can store these in the kidmin closet or with other Awana stuff for short-notice access as well.

Do you have any back-pocket lessons? Feel free to share!

Enjoy, and have a Merry Christmas!

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

Friday, November 15, 2013

4 games to celebrate fall and Thanksgiving

Fall and Thanksgiving are great times to discuss how God provides for us, giving us things like food, clothing, and seasonal game equipment. You can use Indian corn or bread sticks for batons, pumpkins for color pins, gourds for beanbags, etc.*

If you're feeling even more festive or adventurous, here are four games for additional seasonal fun with God's bounty! All games can be played throughout the year with standard game equipment or other themed items.

*Phony food is recommended and can be found with other seasonal items at your local dollar store. If you opt for real food, be prepared for cleanup — Indian corn flings kernels, pumpkins show their squashyness, and bread may be mistaken for mashed potatoes.

Feast Relay

Materials Needed:
  • 1 flimsy paper plate per team
  • 1 apple per team
  • 1 bread stick (or ear of Indian corn) per team
  • 1 gourd per team
  • 1 small pumpkin per team
  • 5 players from each team
  • Game Circle or other relay area
Each player receives one food item. The starting players also receive the plates. At the whistle, the starting players balance their single food item on their plates while running one lap around the circle to the passing zone (the space between their colored diagonal and the colored diagonal immediately clockwise). Depending on the age group, players may or may not use their hands to help with balance. When the starting players enter their passing zone, they hand off their plate and food item to the second players. The second players balance both pieces of food on their plates for the second lap, then hand the plate and both food items to the third players, who balance all three food items on their plates. Play continues until the last players complete one lap with the plates and all the food. Once they cross their team's diagonal, they may drop everything and run in for the scoring pin or beanbag.

Variations:
  • Place obstacles in the way, such as hoops they must step in or chairs they must step over.
  • Use more food items.
  • Use smaller paper plates.

Pumpkin Toss

Materials Needed:
  • 1 small cornucopia per team
  • 1 small pumpkin per team
  • 2 players from each team
  • Game circle or other tossing zone
Starting players stand holding their cornucopias in their teams' small triangles in the center of the game circle. Second players stand with their pumpkins outside the white circle in their teams' zone. At the whistle, Second players try to toss their pumpkins into their teammates' cornucopia. Cornucopia holders may move their cornucopias to catch the pumpkins, but they may not leave their triangles. When they catch the pumpkins, they run down their teams' diagonal, around their pin, and in for the scoring pin or beanbag. They must be holding their cornucopias and pumpkins to score.

Variations:
  • Increase or decrease the tossing distance.
  • For younger players, have a tub or bucket in the middle to toss pumpkins into. First player to get his pumpkin into the bucket wins.

Bundle-Up Relay

Materials Needed:
  • One oversized sweatshirt per team
  • One oversized pair of sweatpants per team
  • One pair of giant gloves per team
  • One winter hat per team
  • 3 players from each team.
  • 1 leader per team to help players
  • Game Circle or other relay area
Put each team's winter wear at the color diagonals. The first players start at their color lines. At the whistle, Players put on all the clothing (leaders, teammates may need to help) then run one lap around the circle. When they reach their teams' zones, they remove the clothing and give it to the second players. The second players put it all on and run one lap. Play continues until the last players run one lap, cross their color diagonals and go in for the scoring pin or beanbag.

Variations:
  • Only use sweatshirts
  • May choose different clothing items. 
  • Team sizes may vary

On the Farm

Materials Needed:
  • 1 blindfold per team
  • 1 player from each team
  • Game Square or other square area
Each team is assigned a farm animal. Players are blindfolded, spun around, and placed somewhere in the square away from their teams. At the whistle, teams make the sounds of their farm animals. Players must listen for their teams' farm animal sounds and try to return to their team lines. First team to guide their teammate back across their color line wins. Teams must remain behind their lines when making animal sounds.

What are some of the seasonal games you do with your clubbers? Share in the comments!

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

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Sparks say the silliest things!

We've all heard our Sparks say some pretty silly things, from the ever popular "only forgotten Son" and "only boughten Son" to things so silly it takes all our self control to regain our composure. And they mean every word in all sincerity. I spoke with a few Sparks leaders and former Sparks leaders about some of their favorite Sparkisms. Here they are! Enjoy, and feel free to leave your own in the comments!
~
Photo provided by Sierra Bible Church
While waiting her turn during Handbook Time, Ali opened her Bible and placed it on her head like a tent. Her leader asked, "Why do you have a Bible on your head?"
"I'm hiding God's Word in my head!"

Kindergartener Samantha had some difficulty reciting 1 Corinthians 15:3-4: "According to the Scrispers."

One leader shared about another kindergartener trying to say 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. "For the funniest reason, she didn't want to or like saying 'in accordance with the scriptures," from the ESV. So when saying the verse, she'd say, 'Christ died for our sins... you know!' And she'd hold both hands out for me to finish for her! It took all night to get her to finish the verse by herself."

Commanders Dan and Karla used to print pictures on their leaders' nametags. Karla's picture was from her wedding six years prior. This left kindergartener Gracie quite confused.
"Who's that?"
"That's me."
"No, it's not!"
"Yes it is. That's from when I got married."
"Oh, ok. Wow, you're really old now!"

Nikki just entered third grade, but still had some Spark charm. When her leader taught a lesson about how God loves everyone, even bullies and jerks, she asked, "Even Obama?"

During prayer time, Hank, in first grade, was terribly upset. Apparently, his gerbil got sucked into a vacuum cleaner and all his tail hair came off. So Hank prayed, "God, please help my gerbil with his lost tail hair."

Second-grader Rory couldn't quite say "Song of Solomon." Instead, she was content with "Song of Salmon."

Nicholas, in second grade, couldn't figure out who was who while reciting Joshua 24:24.
"And the people said to Moses..."
"Nick, what book are we in?"
"Joshua."
"Who's the book about?"
"Joshua."
"Then why do you keep saying Moses?"
"I don't know."
"Let's try again."
"And the people said to Moses..."

Awana Missionary Joel Cook was visiting a club and handing out prayer cards: cards with his family's names and picture. In the picture, he had glasses and a goatee. At the club, he did not. He handed one of the kindergarteners a card. Caleb looked at the card, looked at Mr. Cook, looked at the card, then back at Mr. Cook:
"Who are you?"
Mr. Cook borrowed some glasses and made a fake goatee.
"Oh! There you are!"

And my personal favorite:
I was teaching my handbook group about why we memorize scripture. One of my second-graders asked about the armor of God, so we discussed the Sword of the Spirit. As the discussion ended, our Sparks director came in. I turned to another of my second-graders and asked, "Grayden, why don't you tell Mr. James about why we study scripture?"
"So we can stab Satan with a Sword!"

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

Monday, September 30, 2013

3 pieces of non-Awana game equipment every game box should have

Ping Pong Balls

Found at: Wal-Mart, most sporting goods stores, ~$0.50 each, starting in packs of 6
Blow them, bat them, balance them, toss them in buckets, or some combination thereof. These come in many colors and can be used for many games.

Pearl Dive can use ping pong balls or golf balls.
Leaders can play, too!
Game 1: Pearl Dive
Materials Needed:
  • An odd number of ping pong balls
  • 1 blindfold per team
  • 1 bucket or bag per team
  • 1 player per team
  • Game Square or other square or rectangle playing area
Players are blindfolded, spun around, and placed by Game Director somewhere in the Game Square. Then ping pong balls are spread around on the ground inside the Game Square. At the whistle, blindfolded players drop to hands and knees and search for the ping pong balls. Teams can help by giving players directions to the balls. However, teammates must remain behind their team line. Once all the ping pong balls are picked up, player with the most wins. Because the ping pong balls are so light, players may bump into them and not feel them. For easier game play, use golf balls (easier to feel).

Game 2: Air Golf
Materials Needed:
  • 1 ping pong ball per team
  • 1 box for the center of the circle (note, if running on alleys, have 1 box per team)
  • 1 player per team
  • Game Square or other flat playing area
To prep, cut a 1 ½in. -2 in. square out of each side of the box—big enough for a ping pong ball to roll through. Place the box in the center of the Game Square with each hole straddling a colored diagonal. Give the players from each team a ping pong ball. Have them start on hands and knees at the corner where their team’s colored line and colored diagonal intersect. At the whistle, players must blow their ping pong ball up their diagonal and into the box. The first person to blow their ping pong ball into the hole on her color diagonal and have it stay in the box wins. Players may not use their hands. For a more difficult race, have players blow ¼ the way around the circle to the next colored diagonal. For variety, players may use a straw or balloon to blow the ping pong ball instead.

Car Sponges

Car sponges are great for any age. Even Cubbies enjoy
squishing them onto leaders or each other.
Found at: Most auto stores ~$1-3 each
There are sponges, and then there are sponges! These 9in.x5in.x3in. sponges absorb tons of water and are great for the hot outdoor game nights. Kids love sloshing them against their leaders and peers. Towels and changes of clothes are recommended for club nights when these are involved.

Game 1: Over-Under
Materials Needed:
  • Car Sponges
  • 1 five-gallon bucket of water (half full) for each team
  • Whole teams
  • Outdoor alleyway or relay area.
To prep, place at least one car sponge in each team’s bucket. Squish all the air out and soak up as much water as possible. Leave the full sponge in the water. Starting players stand facing the bucket and teammates line up behind. At the whistle, the starting players grab the full sponge and pass it over their heads to the second players. The second players pass the sponges under their legs to the third players. Third players pass the sponge over their heads to the fourth players. The pattern continues until the last players have the sponge. They race to the bucket, fill their sponges, and take player 1’s spot, pushing everyone back one space. The first team whose starting player returns to the start wins. For more wetness or faster gameplay, teams may have more than one sponge going at a time.

Game 2: Dodge Sponge
Materials Needed:
  • Minimum 4 car sponges
  • 1 five-gallon bucket of water (half full, may need refilled periodically) for each team
  • 2 teams (if you normally have 3 or 4 teams, you may need to split or combine)
  • Square or rectangle outdoor field or lot divided down the middle with cones, rope, or visual landmarks
To prep, evenly divide sponges into buckets. Squeeze air out and fill with water. Leave the filled sponges in the water. At the whistle, players grab the sponges from their team buckets and throw them across the divide at their opponents. Sponges must be refilled before they are thrown again. If a thrower hits an opponent, the hit player is out. If the opponent catches the sponge before it hits the ground, the thrower is out. Throws will not count if thrower steps into opponent’s zone. Play continues until all members of a team are out. For longer game play, if a player catches a sponge before it hits the ground, one team member may reenter the match.

Combats

Found at: usgames.com $129.99/pair
These foam-filled, nylon-covered cylinders stand about four feet tall and have two handles on one side. They can be used as pins on Big Night, pillows for sleepovers, pillars for dodging on an obstacle course, or golf clubs for batting footballs, just to name a few.

Game 1: Combats
Materials needed:
  • Combats
  • 1 Player from each team
  • Inner Game Square or other small playing area
The players each receive a combat and stand in the small square. At the whistle, players try to push their opponents outside the small square. A player is out if both feet leave the area—players are allowed to have one foot out as long as the other is in. Players may only push with the Combats: no headshots, stomach shots, foot shots, or smacking of any sort.

*Players with glasses should give their glasses to their leader during their turn.

Three Sparks ride their horse together
Might be able to fit four!
Game 2: Horse
Materials Needed:
  • Combats
  • Scoring Pin and Beanbag 
  • 3 players from each team
  • Game circle or relay area
The starting players from each team begin at their team’s colored diagonal. They must straddle the combat and hold one of the handles, like riding a stick horse. At the whistle, the players “ride” their “horses” around the circle to the passing zone (the space between their colored diagonal and the colored diagonal immediately clockwise). When they enter the passing zone, player 2 also gets on the horse and grabs the second strap. Both Players 1 and 2 go around the circle again to their passing zone. Then Player 3 gets on the horse, holding the second strap. Player 2 is now in the middle with no strap. All three players go around the circle and cross their colored diagonal. Once all three are across, Player three drops the strap and runs in for the scoring pin or beanbag. If riders fall off their horses, their team must stop and wait until all riders are back on.

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

Monday, September 2, 2013

Short Notice

My favorite time for God to tell me about His plans for me is well in advance of when they will happen, like when I attended Summit in April of 2009. Six months prior, the leaders for our regional team showed a Summit promotional video at West Coast Honor Camp. I’ll never forget how clear God’s voice was, telling me that 2009 was my year to go. Summit 2009 was where I met my husband for the first time.

I knew six months before Summit that I was supposed to go.
That's where I met my husband.
But from my experience, it seems that God’s favorite time to show us His plans is after they’re already in motion. Two years after my call to Summit, I attended the same camp for my first time as a counselor (apparently God likes talking to me in the pines surrounded by teenagers). I was paired with another first-time counselor, and we were going to lead a full cabin of 10 junior high girls.

My family went up a day early to help with setup. When we got there, the camp director told me that my co-counselor couldn’t make it because of health issues. God, now you want me to lead these 10 junior high girls by myself? You want me to review their daily lessons, chase them down to do their daily verses, make sure they get to the right activity at the right time, and lead them in nightly devotionals? By myself? You realize this is my first time leading teenagers, right? And You do know I forgot my counselor handbook at home, right?

As the campers arrived the next day, the director came by and said, “You have an empty bunk. Here’s another junior high camper.”

Most incredible Camp week ever. And that week was when God called me to teach junior high as a regular ministry.

God called Peter to be a disciple in a similar way. Peter and the other fisherman had been fishing all night and caught nothing. They had just docked the boats and were washing their nets when Jesus told Peter to go out and try one more time (Luke 5:1-11). You want me to do what? But, Lord, You realize we’ve been out all night and didn’t catch a thing, right?

They never caught more fish in their life than that last trip into the lake. We’re told they needed to call the other fishermen to help bring the nets, which were breaking, back into the boat, which started sinking. That was the day Jesus called Peter to be a fisher of men.

Some of the hardest times to receive God’s notice are when it comes after you already started working toward a long-term vision. Especially when it’s a call to give up that vision for an unknown future.

About 13 years ago, my parents bought some property in Spring Creek, Nev., just down from our church of 6 years. On that property, they built their dream home — the home they planned to retire in. Mom and Dad created the blueprint from scratch, figuring out the details for a long-term residency. The house was one story so they could, in their eventual old age, not have to deal with stairs. The house also had extra-wide doorframes and hallways to fit wheelchairs for anyone who became wheelchair-bound by age or other reasons.

There was even a panoramic window in the front room and a sliding door at the back, each with a clear view of the surrounding mountains and our future landscaping. We took great care in planning the landscape; even I helped. Then we borrowed a trench-digger to dig the trenches to lay the irrigation for sod. Mom spent countless hours on hands and knees using a hard plastic cup to remove the remaining loose dirt from the trenches to make them deep enough.

We spent three years in the house, tailoring it to fit our vision of the future. But through it all, God warned us of change, though we didn’t see it or understand it. Twice Mom spent a day or two digging out the trenches in the front yard, only to have high winds—unusual for Spring Creek — fill them back up. When we finally went to get the sod, the transporting truck broke down. 

We later dug trenches in the backyard, and they filled with torrential rain — also unusual for Spring Creek.

The trees didn’t fare much better. We planted one tree in the front yard our first year there. It remained healthy for two years before dying without explanation. In the back yard, another tree, also planted our first year there, remained healthy for two years before dying without explanation. When we replaced it, the replacement grew for a couple weeks before snapping off at the base during another wind storm.

Soon after the tree snapped, God called us to Carson City, Nev.

Now we better understand how Abraham must have felt when God called him. “Go forth from your country, and from your relatives, and from your father’s house, to the land which I will show you” (Gen. 12:1, NASB). Abraham was told to leave his home and family, and he wasn’t even given a destination — just “the land which I will show you.”

Rebekah was much the same way. In Genesis 24:15-61, we find she was called to go and marry a man she had never met and knew little about.

From 2 new counselors and 10 campers to
1 new counselor and 11 campers over night.
God gives us a promise in Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity, to give you a future and a hope” (NASB). It’s frustrating when God doesn’t consult us before pushing us. But He knows what He’s doing. In each situation, something better came from going than from staying. Because Rebekah listened, she became a founder of Israel. Because Abraham listened, he became the father of Israel. Because Peter listened, he became one of the twelve. Because my family listened, I learned about and began attending West Coast Honor Camp.

I wonder what plans He’ll show me next in the trees surrounded by teenagers this year.

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

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Around the Game.... Oval?

The regulation Game Square is about 37-40 feet across, with a 30-foot circle. But as most of you may already know, the norm doesn't always work. Awana clubs come in all shapes and sizes, and so do their game areas.

Several clubs, such as the ones at Summit Christian Church, New Life Christian Center, High Sierra Fellowship, Sierra Bible Church, and Good Shepherd Wesleyan Church can set up a permanent game area in a church room. But while they have a space for a game area, many don't have space for regulation size. Of the four listed, only Summit Christian can fit such a square.

Some churches can't fit a game square. So they do something
different for their game area.

So, what do you do if you can't fit a normal game area? Well, one of the sayings I've heard ad nauseam about Awana leaders is "be like Jell-O and mold." If you can't fit a normal game square, then you fit an abnormal one.

For some clubs, molding means keeping the game square's proportions, but at a smaller size. This is what the commanders did at Good Shepherd Wesleyan, as their game area is inside a long and narrow rectangular room. The square and circle are about one-fourth the size of regulation. Two sides of the square have just enough room for the clubbers to stand between the color line and the wall. The other two sides have room for the game equipment to be out of the way and for visiting parents or other spectators to watch from chairs at a (mostly) safe distance.

Sierra Bible Church Awana shares its Sparks game room with the King's Academy — a private elementary school. As a school, the walls are lined with chairs, mobile white boards, storage cubes for the students to use, and other school supplies. Commanders John and Penii Jo Trautwein put in a smaller square so the clubbers could safely navigate the circle without running into storage cabinets mounted on the walls.

Some clubs can't fit a game square at all. They may have a much longer rectangular game area, or they may have other obstacles that make a square a hazard. For whatever reason, these clubs simply cannot use a game square unless the weather's warm or they can visit a different club for a couple sessions. But they still have a space for the clubbers to run and have fun.

Consider the club at New Life Christian Center. Instead of a circle, the commander chose to put in a game oval. "New Life Christian Center uses an oval because the building is long and narrow," said Awana Missionary Jeff Gilpin, who recently helped start the club. "A circle would fit, but only a small circle. The oval would be bigger."

High Sierra Awana Club faces a different problem: Pillars in the runway. "We'd considered using a small game circle, but in order to avoid big wooden posts that go to the ceiling, it would have been really tiny," High Sierra Commander Jennifer Van Beuge said. "We were afraid kids would run into each other or into the posts." So to keep things as fun and safe as possible, they run most games down the length of the foyer, with a chalked circle outside during the occasional light and warm evening.

Do you have any other ideas for a non-regulation square game time? Share them here!

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