I cannot seem to say enough positive things about AWANA. I am constantly reminded of how awesome this program is. It is helping me achieve major goals for my children.
Initially, I looked at AWANA as a club, similar to scouts. The kids make crafts, sing songs, hear stories, eat snacks, and play games. It is a Bible club, so they memorize Bible verses to earn patches for their uniform. When Jersey #1 and Jersey #2 were in Cubbies, I thought of AWANA as a fun activity for preschoolers.
Then, I had an experience at Vacation Bible School that changed my viewpoint. There was a boy who stood up in front of his peers and recited the Bible verse for each day of the VBS week. I was impressed. I wanted my kids to develop the skills to be able to stand before an audience and recite scripture. I asked his Mom, "how did you do that?" I wanted what she had accomplished with her child.
Her answer was simple, "We are an AWANA family."
I immediately started taking a closer look at AWANA. As the kids get older, I meet more and more "AWANA families." They expect their children to fully participate in AWANA, to complete the scripture work for a book each year. When a child goes through the AWANA program, completing a book a year, from 3rd grade through high school, they earn a "Citation Award" which is in equivalence to the Boy Scout Eagle Award and the Girl Scout Gold Award. That is now a goal for our family as well.
When Jersey #1 was in kindergarten, it was an AWANA activity that paved the way for her to accept Jesus as her Savior. She was learning so much scripture, learning about missionaries, and learning about prayer. In the end, it was me who learned the most about how a child comes to make such an important decision.
I also appreciate how AWANA provides group structure and activities for our homeschooled children. They participate in a classroom, meet kids who are nice (and sometimes not-so-nice), and have to obey other adults. It is a controlled environment that lets me see how they relate with the world.
The scripture memory is amazing. The kids memorize a ton of Bible verses. The part that stuns me is how they then recognize those verses in songs on the radio, in Pastor's sermon, in lessons at home, and in their Sunday school lessons. They start to understand as each verse is brought up in different contexts in their lives. Hiding the Word of God in their hearts is what it is all about!
This week, I enjoyed another opportunity to realize how great AWANA is. Jersey #1 and I visited an enrichment/tutoring program for homeschoolers. The kids attend class 1 day a week, and learn independent study skills, note-taking skills, and paper-writing skills. They have discussions and learn to think about things on their own. Jersey #1 felt so comfortable with the group and the topic, that she joined in the discussion, much to my surprise. As the other children were reading a specific Bible verse from their own Bibles, Jersey #1 raised her hand to participate. When the (surprised) teacher called on her, Jersey #1 explained that she did not have her Bible with her, but she did know that scripture by heart. She quoted it from the King James Version, which is written in Old English. The teacher followed-up with a question about who the "thy" was speaking about. Jersey #1 accurately answered, "God."
I sat in the back of the room, with my jaw dropped open, wondering who was this child and how did she learn such skills? I would never have done such a thing as a child. I would have been too shy and too nervous in such a new situation. Why does Jersey #1 have the confidence to speak up like this?
AWANA.
I love AWANA.
Initially, I looked at AWANA as a club, similar to scouts. The kids make crafts, sing songs, hear stories, eat snacks, and play games. It is a Bible club, so they memorize Bible verses to earn patches for their uniform. When Jersey #1 and Jersey #2 were in Cubbies, I thought of AWANA as a fun activity for preschoolers.
Then, I had an experience at Vacation Bible School that changed my viewpoint. There was a boy who stood up in front of his peers and recited the Bible verse for each day of the VBS week. I was impressed. I wanted my kids to develop the skills to be able to stand before an audience and recite scripture. I asked his Mom, "how did you do that?" I wanted what she had accomplished with her child.
Her answer was simple, "We are an AWANA family."
I immediately started taking a closer look at AWANA. As the kids get older, I meet more and more "AWANA families." They expect their children to fully participate in AWANA, to complete the scripture work for a book each year. When a child goes through the AWANA program, completing a book a year, from 3rd grade through high school, they earn a "Citation Award" which is in equivalence to the Boy Scout Eagle Award and the Girl Scout Gold Award. That is now a goal for our family as well.
When Jersey #1 was in kindergarten, it was an AWANA activity that paved the way for her to accept Jesus as her Savior. She was learning so much scripture, learning about missionaries, and learning about prayer. In the end, it was me who learned the most about how a child comes to make such an important decision.
I also appreciate how AWANA provides group structure and activities for our homeschooled children. They participate in a classroom, meet kids who are nice (and sometimes not-so-nice), and have to obey other adults. It is a controlled environment that lets me see how they relate with the world.
The scripture memory is amazing. The kids memorize a ton of Bible verses. The part that stuns me is how they then recognize those verses in songs on the radio, in Pastor's sermon, in lessons at home, and in their Sunday school lessons. They start to understand as each verse is brought up in different contexts in their lives. Hiding the Word of God in their hearts is what it is all about!
This week, I enjoyed another opportunity to realize how great AWANA is. Jersey #1 and I visited an enrichment/tutoring program for homeschoolers. The kids attend class 1 day a week, and learn independent study skills, note-taking skills, and paper-writing skills. They have discussions and learn to think about things on their own. Jersey #1 felt so comfortable with the group and the topic, that she joined in the discussion, much to my surprise. As the other children were reading a specific Bible verse from their own Bibles, Jersey #1 raised her hand to participate. When the (surprised) teacher called on her, Jersey #1 explained that she did not have her Bible with her, but she did know that scripture by heart. She quoted it from the King James Version, which is written in Old English. The teacher followed-up with a question about who the "thy" was speaking about. Jersey #1 accurately answered, "God."
I sat in the back of the room, with my jaw dropped open, wondering who was this child and how did she learn such skills? I would never have done such a thing as a child. I would have been too shy and too nervous in such a new situation. Why does Jersey #1 have the confidence to speak up like this?
AWANA.
I love AWANA.
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