November 12, 2008
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Awana???
What are your thoughts on Awana? Do you have children that have done Awana? What did you think? Tell me the positives and negatives. Thank you. (please recommend this post to your friends so that I can get a lot of people’s thoughts on this program)If you have no idea what Awana is here is what I have found so far on the web. (Many churches do it) It seems to be an expensive program with Parents needing to pay for workbooks, vests and things like that.
Awana is an acronym for Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed, from 2 Timothy 2:15. The organization supplies local churches with weekly clubs, programs and Bible training for students in preschool through high school.
Participants typically meet once a week throughout the school year. The focus of the curriculum is on the presentation of the gospel and Scripture memorization. Most programs include a group teaching time, individual one-on-one time with a leader to review the lessons learned that week, and a time for games.
For each child or teen the components of the program include:
1. a handbook that allows each child to learn at their own pace;
2. a uniform shirt or vest, and;
3. awards that are earned as the child or teen successfully completes the requirements of a section of the handbook, usually including Scripture memorization.Awana is a non-denominational program and licenses the curriculum to any church willing to pay for and use the Awana materials consistent with its principles
What are your thoughts on Awana?
Comments (20)
Both of my children attended Awana’s back in the 90′s and now my twin grandsons are attending and they are 5. I love it. They are taught to memorize the word of God! Blessings.
My daughter does Awana. It has been a great way for her to learn scripture and interact with kids her own age, since we are a homeschool family. The workbook and vests really aren’t expensive–in fact, I’m pretty sure that no one would be turned away if a family could not afford it. Awana also complements what she learns at our church. She essentially has 2 church families–Awana at Grandma’s church and our church which is a non-denominational Christian church. I would recommend it to anyone who wants their child to learn scripture and what that scripture means.
My problem with it stems from having lived most of my life in a very poor area. I’m talking we-shop-at-goodwill-with-gov’t-vouchers, if-foodstamps-won’t-buy-it-we-don’t-eat-it poor. And I saw a lot of really active, growing, sincere churches that didn’t have programs dependent on how much money could be thrown at them. I guess it isn’t too bad if the church can provide scholarship money for the kids that want to participate but can’t afford it, but I just have a general problem with anything a church does which seems to favor kids with money. Something about doing unto the least of our brothers…
@radicalramblings - That kinda tends to be my issue. Why can’t churches do this same type of thing with out the need for the fancy stuff that costs.
We wanted to be able to attend Wednesday night bible study for adults at church. Our church does Awana for the children. For the longest time I didn’t go to church on Wednesday nights because I couldn’t afford to pay for my 3 children to do Awana.
The pastor has now told us to come and the church will cover the cost of Awana for the children. I can’t help but think about all the other parents who can’t afford it too and just don’t come.
I would think that there would be a thing churches could come up with to do sheets with bible memory and fun stuff with out the cost that Awana brings.
We used to do memory verses and songs and games at church when I was a child with out all this cost.
@Kristenmomof3 - I don’t know that much about AWANA but it sounds like it is mostly memory verses. I agree, why the need for a fancy workbook and uniform? What happened to chalk boards, worksheets, and if you think the kids all need to look alike get t-shirts made or better yet let the kids decorate t-shirts they bring from home!
Hi, I am in the process of planning a ministry for children on a Wednesday night and I was wondering if you could share some idea’s of what a Christian family would want in a program. Also, what do you think would draw the children and make them hungry to learn more about our Lord?
Thanks…..
@radicalramblings - @Kristenmomof3 - I don’t know anything about AWANA, but I’m with both of you on this.
@splochie1 - I think learning the bible is a big thing. Also crafts and songs.
I don’t think it has to be flashing for Children to have fun.
Wow. I’ve got such a different opinion about this program, I guess maybe I should yank my kid right out of it because it’s “flashy” and costs money and only about memory verses. Don’t ask for an opinion unless you want it…it seems to me that you had already come to your conclusion and you want to let me know how wrong it it. It’s a shame, but I think you have a real problem with organized denominations.
The cost argument really cracks me up. How many people can’t afford Awana but have cable t.v. or satellite t.v. or video game systems for their kids? It’s just not worth the cost for some. It’s one more way for the church to make money, right?
@Punk_Rock_Mommy - This comment makes me laugh. You have taken my post all wrong
My children tonight are going to their second night of Awana.
I just want everyones opinion of it.
I have no problem with organized denominations. We attend a Calvary Chapel and are very happy with it.
As for cost….we don’t have video games for our children or satalite or anything like that. My grandparents who live downstairs do have cable that we are able to watch but we don’t have it.
There are many families that live on less then $20,000 a year and cost is a very important thing.
Also I don’t think churches are making money off it. It goes to pay for the supplies.
I love our church. Not sure why you think I have a problem with Churches. I just wanted peoples opinions of the program.
My two cents for AWANA is that it is an excellent, structured, creative program which aims at reaching kids for Christ and cultivating in them a love for the Word. Missions and evangelism are another key component in the program. So…it is more than just Scripture memory. AWANA focuses on living out and applying God’s Word.
I’m going to do my best to articulate my next opinion, but if you don’t know how AWANA is structured, it may come across confusing. Sorry! Anyway, the only thing I really don’t like is that new kids who join mid-way into their group have to start at the very beginning of their level, regardless of age or grade. For example, the Sparks group is dvided up by K, 1st and 2nd graders. If a 2nd grader, who has never been through AWANA joins a club, then that child has to start in a Kindergarten book even though most of his peers are in the 2nd grade book or finishing the 1st grade book. I realize that a foundation is laid at the K level, however each book has so much review of previous sections and I don’t think a new child would be missing that foundation if he or she skipped the K or 1st grade book. That’s just what I think though. I’m sure it is structured the way it is for a reason and I would not let that keep me from enrolling my 2nd grader.
@LoveItWhenItRains - Awana is set up that way for the later Awards. A Clubber has to finish a certain number of books to earn the Timothy & Meritorious Awards. As for starting in the first book, when an older child starts in the first book, & finishes it before the end of the year, he may jump right into the next book, whereas the child that is doing the book for his level has to do review if he finishes before the end of the year.
Dee
@radicalramblings -Awana offers a program for low-income areas. I don’t know what the qualifications are for a church to get into that, however. Awana is an expensive program to run, especially for a small church. It is organized similarly to Scouting, so it comes with the same sort of costs. Curriculum, awards, all of that sort of stuff. I do think that there should be a scholarship program for kids that can’t afford it, or the church needs to be willing to absorb some cost. I have 5 Cubbies (preschoolers) in my club this year, & only 2 of them have paid for their books & dues! We’re not gonna kick ‘em out, just because they haven’t paid.
@Kristenmomof3 - The structure of Awana is geared toward achievement over the course of childhood, just like Scouting. With the structure of Awana, a child can move from one Awana club to another anywhere in the country, & not lose any of his achievement, & can dive right into a club where he already has experience, & an identity he shares with the other kids. Many families choose Awana Clubs over Scouting, because there is a Biblical emphasis, but a Scout-like structure.
I’m not sure that always justifies the cost~ I had 4 kids in Awana at one time a couple of years ago!
Dee
@Kristenmomof3 - I know our church doesn’t make any money! We usually end up in the red where Awana is concerned. We have several families that can’t pay for uniforms, books or dues. We have a sponsorship program set up, where church members who aren’t involved with Awana can sponsor a clubber. I do know this… the families that do pay have kids that achieve more than the ones on the free ride!
Dee
Hmm… you may have the idea by now that I LOVE AWANA! It has it’s faults (I know from the inside out, as an Awana worker in our church), but any program does. All but one of my kids has attended Awana for at least a little time (Son#2 only had one year, since our church doesn’t offer the high school program.) I was an Awana director for three years way back in the mid 80′s, & have been one at our church for 5 years, now. I work in the Cubbies Club (preschoolers) & it’s a kick & a half!
From the big picture, Awana is intended to be a program kids attend from toddlerhood (they just introduced a toddler program last year) through high school, so each year builds on the previous one. It is also international, similar to Scouting, as I’ve already mentioned, with area events, national events & mission trips. Kids receive achievement awards for completing book sections, books, & even certain numbers of books over the years. The emphasis is on Scripture memory, beginning with salvation Scriptures in each book, then working up into Scriptures & activities about God, His character, & Christian living.
The only real negatives I see are the cost, & for some, the need for parental involvement in the early years, until a child learns to read. However, most parents are willing to afford the costs of Scouting, yet they complain at having to pay for a program that have eternal value!
Dee
In the end, I believe it’s well worth the cost, especially if you keep it going over the years.
@Mumx6 - Thanks! Your info helps to make sense of the structure.
@LoveItWhenItRains - You’re welcome! It can be confusing, unless you can step back & see the program as a whole! I’m still a little confused on the older clubs, but I live in Cubbie’s world & I’m happy there!
Dee
@splochie1 - Just saw your question and I had to chime in. Hope you don’t mind…
I know that we think because they are kids we need to do things to keep them interested, but I want you to consider something… if God’s word is powerful enough to save, isn’t it powerful enough to engage? Paul Washer, a preacher who is truly after God’s heart says of churches whose focus is more on entertaining or making the gospel appealing…
“It’s just a bunch of little boys, trying to play men of God because they don’t have scripture. “
Scripture is enough. To play games as a way to memorize scripture is fine, but just make sure that the point and the focus is on the word, not the game itself. We are underestimating our children by thinking that they can’t learn because they are too young or that they can’t become interested in learning the bible without games being involved.
I love that you are working with the youth, truly they are where the need is today. I hope this message is taken as an encouragement, because that was the intent. Don’t be afraid to focus on the word. It’s the power of God unto salvation!
My wife and I, and our eight children, all participated in AWANA. We started when our oldest was in second grade and we continued until our youngest was in second grade. In that time, my wife worked for 13 years as a volunteer, and I worked for twelve years. My last four years, I was a game director for Sparks. My wife worked as a director for Sparks for three or four years. Both of us worked with Sparkies (K-2nd) the entire course of our time at AWANA.
Our church was, until this year, always a mobile one. If we wanted something more for our kids, in a church setting, we only really had a few choices: AWANA or Royal Rangers at a nearby AOG Church.
Our children did memorize many verses. Our oldest daughter memorized some 700 verses of Scripture. Others memorized many though not so many.
But the program is not just about verse memorization, although that is important. The three books of the Sparkies program, lay out a central theme of Man’s Need and God’s Plan, and Salvation through Jesus Christ. In addition, it was in AWANAs that my children first learned of the likes of Adoniram Judson, David Brainerd, Gladys Aylward and other missionaries and modern heroes of the Christian faith. And, of course, there was the fun and fellowship generally and in our game times.
I can’t speak for other church programs, but the AWANA program in which we participated did scholarship costs for kids whose families couldn’t afford vests, books, etc. Almost impossible to have a program so focused in the scripture and its teaching and then to ignore the command to care for the poor.