AWANA Clubs

AWANA is an international, non-denominational, Bible-centered youth organization providing weekday clubs and programs for 2 year olds through 12th grade. The acronym AWANA comes from  “Approved Workman Are Not Ashamed”

                                                             — 2 Timothy 2:15—

The pledge to the AWANA flag describes the purpose of AWANA best. It says, “I pledge allegiance to the AWANA flag, which stands for the AWANA Clubs, whose goal is to reach boys and girls with the gospel of Christ, and train them to serve Him.” AWANA is an excellent tool to reach the nonbeliever with the gospel of Christ.  Parents who may be uncomfortable sending their children to church for biblical instruction are often willing to send them to AWANA. Children who accept Christ through AWANA are often instrumental in opening doors to reaching their family and friends.

Through Bible memorization and other Bible-based achievements, clubbers learn the Word of God, which helps develop their relationship with Jesus after they are saved. The example of godly leaders teaches clubbers how Christianity works on a practical level. Leader direction, coupled with AWANA materials, helps clubbers grow in Christ and develops their gifts for future service to the Lord.

 Clubs and Programs

AWANA has designed a variety of youth clubs and programs for reaching and training your people of all ages. They are described  below.

Puggles

 ~ Currently only open to Leaders children

Puggles mascot is a baby platypus. Puggles learn simple lessons through teaching cards, activities, music & more. Parents reinforce their lesson with take home cards.

Cubbies

Cubbies mascot is a cute character named Cubbie Bear. Cubbies wear a blue vest that displays awards Cubbies earn. Handbooks   provide a Bible memorization curriculum and stimulating activities specifically for pre-schoolers. Cubbies is a two year pre-school   program, and is designed for parental participation.

Sparks

Sparks is designed for kindergartners through second grade. Sparks wear a red vest with awards they earn. There are 3 Sparks handbooks. Skipper is for kindergartners, Hiker is for first-graders and Climber is for second-graders. Handbooks provide Bible memorization curriculum and other Bible-centered  activities.

 Truth & Training

T&T is for girls and boys in 3rd thru 6th grade. T&T Clubbers wear a green T-shirt uniform with awards earned, and complete 1 handbook per year.

 JV Trek

This is for seventh & eighth grade boys and girls. This club includes a shirt and these clubbers will complete 1 handbook and 1 elective Bible study per year.

 Journey 24/7

This is for ninth through twelfth grade boys and girls. This club     includes a shirt and these clubbers will complete 1 handbook and 1 elective Bible study per year.

 Leader Qualifications

Your role is to reach and train young people for Christ. Before taking on this awesome responsibility you must meet these qualifications. As you study this list, pray that the Holy Spirit will help you make any necessary changes to become an “approved workman”.

 To be an AWANA leader you must be...

Saved (Ephesians 2:8,9)—You must have accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior.

Consistent in your walk with the Lord (Ephesians 5:1,2

Colossians 1:10, 2;6)—Leaders must be honest, pure, clean of speech, modestly dressed, obedient to authority and respectful.

Burdened to reach boys, girls & their families for Christ (Matt.28:19.20)—This is what AWANA is all about.

Excited about children’s work (Matt. 19:14)—Be a child at heart. Have a youthful attitude. Regard your service as a personal ministry from the Lord.

Patient and Gentle, yet firm in your standards (2 Tim. 2:24)—Part of being a leader includes enforcing club rules. Your clubbers may test you. With patience and gentleness, encourage them to meet club      standards.

Sensitive to the needs of others (Phil. 2:4)—Each child in your care has special needs. Be sensitive to those needs and always offer a        listening ear when they want to talk.

Desire to improve yourself in your ministry —Challenge yourself to serve with excellence. Your Godly example, youthful attitude and      sensitive ear may be the keys to winning many clubbers to Christ.

 Leadership Structure

The Pastoral Staff at Christ the Rock is ultimately responsible for the entire AWANA program at our church. The day to day operations of our club have been delegated to our Club Commander, Doug Bear. He     reports to the Pastor and the Elder Board in overseeing our Club. The Club Directors report to the Commander and oversee their clubs and the leaders serving there. Our Puggles Director is Joanne Nye. Our Cubbies Director is Jim Champa. Our Sparks Director is Nancy Venard. Our T&T Boys Club Director is Mark Peterson. Our T&T Girls Club        Director is Darlene Stiffey. Our JV Trek  Directors are Tim & Amy  Farrell. Our Journey Directors are Don and Kim Rogers. Our Game   Directors are Jeff Nye & George Venard.

 Leaders report to their Club Directors overseeing clubbers assigned to their group. Leaders-in-Training (LITs) are teens who have been in AWANA and desire to serve. Their qualifications and responsibilities are the same as regular AWANA leaders.

 Each clubs Secretary reports to the Club Secretary, Liz Bear to order  supplies, and other organizational responsibilities. Lois Johnson is the Club Secretary Assistant. Each of the individual clubs have secretaries, they are Joanne Nye for Puggles, Lisa Echternach for Cubbies, Anne Wainwright for Sparks, Kim Nestorek & Tina Sherwood for the T&T Clubs, Kerrie Wickstrom for JV Trek, & Kim Rogers for Journey.

 Club Discipline

In AWANA, discipline is positive. Instead of emphasizing punishment for misbehavior, positive discipline encourages good behavior through rewards. Clubbers quickly learn that conforming to club  standards is in their best interest. The two methods of discipline in our AWANA Club are explained in the Parents & Clubbers Guide. Please review them and make yourself familiar with the procedures.

 The Club Schedule—–Game Time

Game Time is important because it provides a fun time for clubbers, develops good sportsmanship, and offers the benefits of exercise. It also helps expend some of that pent-up energy that the clubbers bring each week. Game Time usually lasts between 20 and 30 minutes. Clubbers are divided into four teams and play games centered around the AWANA game circle.

 During Game Time leaders have several responsibilities. Begin by organizing your team from tallest to shortest. This helps if the Game Director asks for the two tallest or the two shortest clubbers.

 Lead your clubbers in the games. This means you will need to       become familiar with the games. Whenever possible, we will give you information about next week’s games to help you prepare. You must choose the correct number of clubbers for each game. Keep track of clubber involvement. Make sure everyone gets a chance to play.

 Don’t argue with the Game Director. Demonstrate good sportsmanship by accepting the decision of the Game Director. Lead your team in cheering. Praise each clubber. Keep order on your team line, but have fun! Cultivate a good sense of humor, let your hair down, and enjoy participating with your clubbers. Clubbers have more fun when their leaders are also enjoying themselves.

The Club Schedule—–Handbook Time

Handbook Time is the club segment when leaders lead clubbers in their achievement of entrance booklets & handbooks. The informal setting of Handbook Time provides an opportunity to show Christ as their Savior and help them grow in His Word. Handbook Time    provides opportunities for leaders to build strong relationships with clubbers, and to serve as Godly role models. Leaders usually have a listener or helper with them on club night. Open in prayer within your handbook group. This sets a serious tone for your time together. It reminds clubbers that memorization of God’s Word is important. It provides an opportunity to teach  clubbers how to pray and it places clubbers needs before the Lord.

Help clubbers to understand and learn. To complete their handbooks, clubbers must pass sections. Unfortunately, clubbers are often tempted to rattle off verses without really understanding what they mean.

 Check the Bible reading section. Bible reading sections require  clubbers to read and answer questions. Carefully check clubbers  answers. They will help them to understand what they have read. It may require some reading of your own.

 The following rules apply during handbook time:

 1. Clubbers must pass an entire section during one “session”. A   session is an uninterrupted period in which a clubber does not refer to his or her handbook. In a section where clubbers must memorize several verses, they may not recite one verse, study awhile, and then recite other verses.

2. Clubbers must pass a section with no more than 2 helps or prompts. A help should equal no more than a few words. It must be said on a different night if more helps are needed. Those with     learning disabilities may be allowed more than two helps at the      discretion of the Club Director. Challenge aggressive learners to    recite material word-perfect.

 3. Clubbers must recite both references and verses.

 4. Clubbers must pass all sections in order. Clubbers may complete sections and activities simultaneously, but all the sections must be passed in order.

 After you have finished with each clubber record their progress on the achievement form. Leaders take the achievement form to their club secretary.

  If clubbers misbehave and do not respond to discipline ask your

Director for assistance. Most discipline problems during Handbook Time stem from lack of clubber preparation. Other problems arise when clubbers are ready to pass sections, but no Leader is available to listen to them. Let your Director know if you are having trouble getting to all of your clubbers.

 The final night for saying verses in all clubs is May 7th, there are

No exceptions. Help your clubbers stay on track to finish by this date.

 The Club Schedule—–Council Time

Council Time is the club segment that features announcements,   singing and a Bible message. Council Time is important because it focuses on the Bible message. The Bible message encourages unsaved clubbers to accept Christ as Savior, and saved clubbers and leaders to grow in their relationship with Christ. Council Time also unifies your club, providing excellent opportunities for promotion of clubs events, public presentation of awards, singing and testimonies.

Council Time is run by the Club Directors. Leaders with musical     blessing help lead songs. We always encourage and welcome guest speakers for Council Time. If you know of someone who would be a good speaker and can relate how Christ lives in their life, please let Commander Bear know.

 Uniforms and Awards

Clubbers and Leaders wear AWANA uniforms to each club meeting. The goal of our AWANA Club is to have 100 percent of our clubbers, and leaders, in uniform. There is a direct relationship between the use of the uniform and achievement in AWANA. Clubs with a high percentage of handbook finishers and major award recipients usually have a high percentage of clubbers in uniform. Uniforms develop a sense of order and unity that draws clubbers and leaders together. Some people think uniforms are old-fashioned or meaningless in a society in which         discipline, structure, and authority are not popular values. But consider this illustration from the airlines. Imagine you boarded an airplane and saw the captain in blue jeans and sneakers, with his shirt unbuttoned,  revealing a dirty tee-shirt.  Even if the captain handed you a stack of documents verifying his qualifications, you would still be uneasy.

 The lesson for club ministry is this: A properly worn uniform helps AWANA clubbers and leaders earn respect and credibility. Only the clubbers wearing uniforms the entire night will be given their awards.  The uniform provides a place for clubbers to display their awards and motivates them for future achievement.

 Home Visits

A home visit is one of the most effective home contact methods. This

is an excellent way to meet parents and give them a chance to ask

questions they may have about AWANA. Often on club nights we all are busy with assigned tasks. Some parents may feel that we are too  busy to answer their questions and might leave them unasked. A home visit    allows a casual conversation and helps the parent to understand their

role in helping their child in club. Club Directors will be working with Leaders to develop our home visit program.

Leader Role Book

Leader Role book trains leaders to succeed in their role. This role book covers features of AWANA in each specific club, plus how the leaders perform their role in each segment of club. As part of Basic Training, this book clearly explains necessary ministry skills, such as preparation, shepherding & communication.   Leaders will also get great tips from experienced leaders, a    glossary of terms & frequently asked questions. The cost for this is $7.00.

Leadership Conference

One of the best places to get good training for AWANA leaders is the annual Leadership Conference in the Fall. This is a full day of exciting fellowship and countless learning opportunities. There are over 100 workshops available that cover the wide variety of subjects that interest leaders.  Please plan to attend this            conference each year. Ask any leader who has attended and they will assure you it is well worth the time.

Pre-Session and Post-Session

Pre-session is the time before club actually starts. It can be a time of order rather than a time of chaos. It can be a time to chat with clubbers and share in other activities.

 To maintain an effective pre-session time. Leaders must be there. We know that this will not be possible at all times, but if you can, try to make it to club at least 30 minutes before club starts. If you can, please join us for leader’s prayer at 6:00 PM.

When club is over we ask all clubbers to remain in their homerooms until a parent comes and picks them up. It is very   important that leaders stay too. Again, there will be times when that is not possible, but please try to remain until all the clubbers in your group are gone. Under NO circumstances do we allow    clubbers to go outside of the building to wait for their ride. In the event that a parent has not come to pick up their child by 8:45, contact the Club Commander.

 AWANA is a Ministry!

Some people have a job in the church. Others get involved in   ministry. What’s the difference? If you’re doing it because no one else will, it’s a job. If you’re doing it because someone else said it needs to be done, it’s a job. If you do it because you are convinced it needs to be done, it’s a ministry. If your concern is success, it’s a job. If your concern is faithfulness, it’s a ministry. It’s hard to be excited about a job. It’s almost impossible not to be excited about a  ministry. If God calls you to a ministry, don’t treat it like a job. God doesn’t want us feeling stuck with a job, but excited and faithful to Him in a ministry.

 AWANA is a ministry. Our purpose is to teach children the gospel of Christ, and train them to serve Him. There will no doubt be challenges during the club year. Schedules will be juggled,      frustration will creep in, and there will be times that you might wonder if it is really worth it. We are the clay, He is the potter. He has equipped us for this ministry. Remember Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”

 Finally, I would ask you to keep our Club and Clubbers in prayer. Pray for lives to be changed, both for the children and the leaders. Pray that each night will be safe and free from injuries. And pray that the will of God will be worked through this ministry. I thank God for your willingness to serve in our AWANA Club.