Every year in June, I find myself in the bittersweet season of AWANA. It’s such a relief to be able to relax after club is over for the year, but at the same time I miss it. There’s no better way to spend a Wednesday night than watching some amazing volunteers work with the great kids that come week after week.
As you learn at every AWANA training, AWANA is built on three things. First and foremost is the Gospel, followed by Scripture memorization and fun! This year it has been amazing to see these 3 elements play out in our own club.
The Gospel: There was the Sparky (K-2nd grades) who, despite not attending a church, has come for almost two years and recently accepted Jesus as his Savior! There was the T&T (3rd-5th grades) clubber, who was invited by a school friend, and believed in Jesus after attending for just two weeks! These are just two stories. Throughout this year, we have seen child after child believe that Christ died for their sins.
Scripture Memorization: I thought about adding up the number of verses learned this past year and quickly realized the number is far too large to calculate. Let’s just say it is in the thousands. Each week parents, volunteers and kids work together to instill God’s Word into the hearts of every clubber. Through AWANA, kids are being discipled and their minds are being transformed by God’s Word instead of being conformed to this world.
Fun: This is what brings many of the kids (and volunteers) back each week. Walking through the various clubs and watching the kids enjoy the night is such a blessing to me personally. Seeing the Cubbies (3 and 4 year olds) faces light up when Cubbie Bear pops up from behind the screen during puppet time is priceless. It’s great getting to watch the Sparks in the Reward Room making crafts or playing with Legos after finishing their sections. Seeing the sweat dripping off the foreheads of T&Ters (and often their leaders) as they walk out of the Gym after game time is awesome.
We are blessed at Salem First Baptist to have great people working in AWANA and every year and I love getting to serve with them. AWANA could not happen every week without these fantastic volunteers who are committed to coming to club every week to serve. I know that it is not always easy and that they go home tired each week, but their commitment to the kids and to serving where God has called them brings them back each week. I know that they are making an impact that will last far beyond this year of club and that there are many, many faces that we will see in Heaven because of their ministry in AWANA.
--Jamie Brulotte, AWANA Commander
First
Baptist website: www.fbcsalem.org
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