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Awana (derived from the first letters of Approved workmen are not ashamed as taken from 2 Timothy 2:15) is an international evangelical nonprofit organization founded in 1950, headquartered in Streamwood, Illinois. The mission of Awana is to help "churches and parents worldwide raise children and youth to know, love and serve Christ."[1]
[edit] HistoryAwana was founded as a youth program at the North Side Gospel Center in Chicago, Illinois, by Pastor Lance Latham and Art Rorheim. Their goal was to develop a program that would appeal to young people, reach them with God's salvation message and grow them spiritually through biblical truth. Other churches heard about the success of the Awana program and asked if they could use it. By 1960, Awana had grown to 900 churches. Today, more than 12,000 U.S. churches have Awana programs and can be found in all 50 states. Outside the United States, Awana can also be found in more than 6,000 churches in 109 countries and six continents. [edit] LeadershipArt Rorheim, Co-Founder/President Emeritus Dr. Jack Eggar (Louisiana Baptist University; M.A. 1979, Ph.D. 2006) is the current President/CEO. Other ACI officers include:
[edit] CurriculumAwana regularly updates its curriculum and materials. The newest group, Puggles (for 2- and 3-year-old children), became available in 2007. In the mid to late 1990s and early 2000s, their programs were revamped and reworked to better fit with changes in culture. In the U.S. and Canada, Awana is split into six age groups: Puggles, Cubbies, Sparks, Truth & Training (T&T), Trek and Journey. Internationally, the age groups offered vary in each country. Participants typically meet once a week throughout the school year. The focus of the curriculum is on the presentation of the gospel and learning Scripture to build a biblical foundation for young people's faith. 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:
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. Churches from 100 different Christian denominations use Awana. Youth leaders and pastors also have the option of using only the program portions that interest them—for example, using the high-school curriculum electives for teens' in-depth study sessions. [edit] Modern-Day JosephAwana has launched a national campaign to help parents and churches work together to grow spiritually strong kids for life. The Modern-Day Joseph campaign is modeled after Joseph of the Old Testament, who maintained his faith in God and character in spite of challenging circumstances. It features insights for growing kids spiritually, plotting out critical milestones from the toddler years through adolescence to raising a modern-day Joseph while allowing for the uniqueness of each child. Studies show at least one in two teens will abandon the church after high school. Too many 21st-century youth are looking more like another young man who left home – the prodigal son – than Joseph as they enter adulthood. Awana believes the culture of our churches and homes must change to reflect God’s mandate that parents are first responsible for the spiritual training of children. The Joseph biography recorded in Genesis provides a model for parents and children and youth workers alike. [edit] Awana eventsAwana missionaries and volunteers run local, state and regional competitions between churches' Awana programs. These involve Bible Quizzing, AwanaGames, Awana Grand Prix and Sparks-a-Rama. High-school age Awana students can also participate in an annual national event called Summit. Awana missionaries help churches start the Awana ministry, train church leaders how to introduce kids and youth into the Awana program and instruct church leaders at Awana Ministry Conferences on how to better utilize the Awana ministry. Awana missionaries are completely "faith supported" by donations from churches and individuals, thereby acquiring all of the funds necessary to keep each of their ministries funded in addition to receiving all funds needed for their personal housing and income needs. [edit] Awana Lifeline prison ministryAwana Lifeline began in 2003. Warden Burl Cain of Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola, the largest maximum-security prison in the U.S., invited Awana Co-Founder/President Emeritus Art Rorheim and President/CEO Jack Eggar to speak to the prison’s fellowship of Christian men. What Art and Jack found was inspiring. The inmates wanted to see an evangelism and discipleship program established for their children. The Awana Lifeline program was born. Now, new hope is growing. Over 1,300 inmates are Christians. Cain believes that an emphasis on faith in Christ is what has helped turn Angola around. Wardens from across the South come to him for advice on how to change patterns of inmate violence and apathy. More prisons are joining Awana Lifeline. With God’s guidance, this is just the beginning. Lifeline also features Returning Hearts Celebration. This uplifting annual, carnival-style day-long event unites children with their inmate fathers to begin the long road of breaking the cycle of crime through a legacy of hope in Christ. Returning Hearts events are held at several prisons around the U.S. The Malachi Dads program offers spiritual, parental, vocational and educational training to inmate fathers. The goal is to develop these men into dads who are passionate about breaking the cycle of crime in their families. [edit] Non-profit statusAwana broadly encompasses the following tax-exempt entities:
According to the 2006 Form 990 filed with the IRS by Awana Clubs International, ACI reported gross revenues of $45,595,800 --- significantly higher than the amounts reported for both 2004 ($41,464,006) and 2005 ($41,513,499) within the Awana "2004–2005 Financial Highlights" report[2], but this gross revenue variation may be due to a timing difference with the actual start and end date of the ACI tax year or a transfer of funds between the various Awana EOs.[3] At the close of 2007, Awana was named one of 30 "Shining Light Ministries" by MinistryWatch.com, a financial watchdog group. The award is based on passing a number of stringent financial accounting and reporting standards.[4] Awana is also a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA). [edit] See also[edit] References
[edit] External links
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