AWANA

My kids participate in an AWANA Club: Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed. The name is taken from the Bible verse 2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. AWANA is very similar to scouts, in that the kids wear a vest/uniform, and earn patches and pins for various accomplishments. During club night, there is also a game time and a snack time. The primary goal of AWANA is to teach children about Jesus, so that they will come to know & accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior.....and then learn to serve Him.

I am so impressed with the AWANA program. My children have learned an incredible number of Bible verses. They've learned how to look verses up in the Bible. They've learned about missionaries. They've learned to pray. They are encouraged to invite their friends to check out the club. This was one reason we purchased a 12-passenger van. Some of their friends enjoyed AWANA so much that they wanted to join the club. I want to encourage this evangelism in my children, so I offer to chauffer everyone to club and home again.

My children began AWANA in the Cubbies program, which is for preschoolers. Cubbies runs for 2 years total, one year as a 3-year old and one year as a 4-year old. They wear a blue vest and earn patches while leanrning 1 new Bible verse per week, until they have filled the A and the C on their vest (one letter per year). The A stands for "All have sinned" (a shortened version of Romans 3:23: For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.) The C stands for "Christ died for us" (a shortened version of Romans 5:8 But God commended his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.) As the children progress through the AWANA program, they learn the full versions of the verses. Each club year builds upon the previous lessons.

Here is a picture of Jersey #3 in his Cubbies vest. This was taken on Awards night, this past week. He was running back to our table, after receiving his awards for completing the year. He completed his first Cubbies book, earning all of the patches to fill the A on his vest. He will return to Cubbies in the Fall for his second year, and work on patches for the C.