Awana is a non-denominational, Bible-based organization focused on providing Bible-based evangelism and discipleship solutions for ages 2 through 18. The name Awana is derived from the first letters of “Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed” from 2 Timothy 2:15 (ESV): “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.”
Awana clubs and programs offer a bible memorization program to help children, youth and teens learn and recite bible verses. The goal is to help young people develop a lifelong faith in Christ and knowledge of the Bible. Awana programs are used in churches of many denominations worldwide. Over 12,000 churches worldwide use Awana.
History of Awana
Awana was founded in 1950 by Lance Latham and Art Rorheim in Chicago, Illinois. Lance Latham was serving as the Director of Youth for North Side Gospel Center. He started the Awana program in response to the limited quantity and quality of youth ministry materials available at the time.
The first Awana club had 17 boys from the ages of 11 to 15. It focused on Scripture memorization, developing Christian leaders, and evangelism. The club was structured with handbooks, uniforms and awards. This club format allowed church leaders to maintain continuity between weeks and years. Based on the early success of this format, Awana began to grow and expand.
In 1951, the first Awana handbook, called Guards, was printed. In the early 1960s, the Awana ministry expanded outside of Chicago. By 1970, 1,000 churches were using Awana. In 1976, Awana Clubs International was formed as a nonprofit ministry. This allowed Awana to begin serving churches worldwide.
Awana Programs
Awana offers programs for ages 2 through 18. Club programs are divided by age group. The curriculum increases in difficulty across the age groups. Programs require committed adult leaders and volunteers from the host church. Parents are also encouraged to be involved.
The main Awana programs are:
– Puggles – Ages 2-3
– Cubbies – Ages 3-4
– Sparks – Kindergarten-2nd grades
– Truth & Training (T&T) – 3rd-6th grades
– Trek – 7th-8th grades
– Journey – 9th-12th grades
In all programs, children progress through handbooks that include Bible verse memorization with an emphasis on understanding basic Bible truths. Club meetings include opening and closing ceremonies, small and large group activities, Bible teaching and council/award time.
Puggles
The Puggles program is for 2 and 3 year olds together with a parent or caregiver. Puggles introduces preschoolers to biblical principles in an age-appropriate way through lessons, crafts, music and games.
Cubbies
Cubbies is for preschool children ages 3-4 years old. Cubbies helps preschoolers memorize foundational Bible verses through fun activities, crafts, music and games. Cubbies learn about God’s love and develop respect for the Bible.
Sparks
The Sparks program is for early elementary aged children, kindergarten to 2nd grade. Sparks clubs teach kids about salvation and dig deeper into Scripture memorization. Each week, kids recite assigned verses and sections. Sparks uses colorful handbooks, and fun activities to engage early elementary aged kids.
Truth & Training (T&T)
The Truth & Training program is for elementary grades 3rd through 6th. It offers children the opportunity to memorize large portions of Scripture including Bible chapters. T&T awards kids for sections completed. The handbook and lessons focus on biblical theology, world missions and life application.
Trek
Trek is for middle school students in 7th and 8th grades. Trek helps students during their transition years to hide God’s word in their hearts through Scripture memorization. Trek handbooks cover topics like apologetics and relationships. The goal is to deepen students understanding of foundational Christian doctrine.
Journey
Journey is for high school students in 9th through 12th grades. Through Scripture memorization and bible lessons, Journey aims to launch teens into adulthood as committed disciples of Christ. Handbooks cover books of the Bible, biblical theology, apologetics and contemporary cultural issues. Awards mark students’ completion of handbook sections.
Awana Awards and Recognition
Awana uses awards, recognition, uniforms and other elements of friendly competition to motivate children of all ages to participate and progress through the programs. Awards are tied to Scripture memory work and handbook completion for each age group.
Some common Awana awards include:
– Bear Hug Certificate – Early achievement award for Cubbies
– Sparky Award – Kindergartners who complete Entrance Booklet sections
– Discovery Award – 2nd Graders who complete Entrance Booklet sections
– Timothy Award – 4th-6th graders who complete book sections
– Citation Award – 7th-8th graders who finish 1 Timothy and 2 Timothy sections
– Excellence Award – High schoolers who complete Journey handbooks
– Meritorious Award – High schoolers who complete Journey X handbook
– Awana Lifeline – For all kids who memorize 500 verses total
In the Sparks and T&T programs, clubs may also award jewels for completion of memory work sections. These stick-on jewels can be added to a trophies. This provides ongoing motivation and visible recognition of progress.
Uniforms also allow kids to showcase their achievements. As kids finish handbook sections, they receive patches and apparel like vests, sashes or shirts. These uniforms allow church and family members to identify and celebrate children’s milestones.
Awana Meetings and Structure
Local Awana clubs usually meet weekly during the school year. Meetings last 60-90 minutes. Clubs may meet in the evening, afternoon or on weekends depending on schedules.
A typical Awana club meeting includes:
– Opening ceremony – Prayer, announcements, visiting missionaries/guests
– Handbook time – Small group time for lesson, verse practice
– Council time – Students recite work individually
– Large group activity – Game, songs, story
– Awards/Recognition
– Closing ceremony – Announcements, prayer
Awana also provides special events throughout the year. Many clubs host Awana Sunday once a year. This allows kids to help lead and participate in the main worship service. Clubs may also hold Awana games nights, Grand Prix car races or Awana Olympics. These events aim to create excitement and involve parents and families.
Awana Leadership
Awana clubs rely on adult leaders and volunteers. Adults serve as directors, commanders, secretaries, game directors, listeners and guides. Student leaders in high school and college may also assist in roles like small group leaders. Extensive training curriculums and materials are provided to equip volunteers. Ongoing mentorship and coaching ensure consistency across churches.
Awana Meetings Structure
During Handbook time, children meet in small groups with trained leaders. Leaders guide children through assigned handbook sections. Kids recite and review verses until they have mastered the material. Then they are tested and awarded credit during Council Time.
Council Time allows individual children to recite verses and sections for directors and listeners. When completed successfully, they receive stickers, jewels or stamps for progress through their handbook. This structure provides accountability, motivation and recognition before peers.
Game time gives a fun break for physical activity. Large group games encourage teamwork, following directions and sportsmanship. Awana Games provide fun that appeals across ages and skills-levels. Songs and missionary visits provide additional diversity in the overall meeting structure.
Awana Curriculum
Awana programs use handbooks, workbooks and leader guides as the core curriculum. These materials are produced and sold through Awana. Over 300 handbooks and resources have been produced across all the different clubs and programs. About 12-15 new titles are released annually.
Handbooks contain scheduled Scripture memory work, Bible lessons, definitions of biblical terms and concepts, word studies, character studies of people in the Bible, information on biblical places and lands, and life application truths. Completing sections earns awards and points so kids can track their progress.
Leader guides provide outlines for each meeting with detailed lesson plans including recitation tips, discussion questions, and activity ideas. Special events, missions moments, counsel times and more are scripted out lesson-by-lesson to provide consistency and ease of planning for volunteer leaders.
The Awana ministry continually revises and improves materials based on field feedback. Updated editions of handbooks are printed regularly incorporating new Bible versions, updated stories and culturally relevant illustrations. Digital formats of materials have also been created in recent years for ease of access and portability.
Doctrinal Perspectives
The Awana curriculum aims to remain interdenominational in its doctrine and teachings. Awana states that their curriculum helps young people develop lifelong faith in Christ and reliance on the Bible. It supports the mission of evangelism leaving specific doctrines to the local churches.
Awana outlines its basic Biblical tenets as believing in:
– Inspiration of Scripture – The Bible is the inspired and authoritative Word of God. (2 Tim. 3:15–17)
– Trinity – The one true God exists eternally in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Deut. 6:4; Matt. 3:16–17)
– Jesus – Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man. He died as a substitionary atonement for sin (1 Cor. 15:3)
– Salvation by Grace – Salvation is a gift of God’s grace received by faith in Jesus Christ alone. (Eph. 2:8–9)
Within this basic evangelical scope, Awana aims to remain flexible around secondary doctrines that may vary across denominations of participating churches. Local churches using Awana maintain authority to adapt and expand on lessons as fits their doctrinal beliefs.
Awana Outreach
In addition to materials for local churches, Awana facilitates missionary work and service initiatives. Awana GO Teams mobilize student volunteers for short term mission projects domestically and abroad. These trips allow students to practice servant leadership.
The Awana Lifeline ministry provides Awana materials to churches serving impoverished communities or prison populations. Lifeline works through a network of missionaries, prisons and community centers dedicated to sharing the gospel in difficult places.
Awana also works to mobilize prayer through the Great Awakening prayer initiative. This fosters a global prayer team to intercede for spiritual awakening. Through these outreach ministries, Awana aims to further their goals of evangelism, discipleship and biblical literacy around the world.
Conclusion
For over 70 years, Awana has worked to equip churches worldwide with child evangelism and discipleship tools. Their bible-based approach aims to ground children and youth in God’s word through verse memorization, biblical lessons and prayer. From its origins in Chicago, Awana now serves 60+ denominations in over 100 countries. More than 2 million children participate in Awana each year through the commitment of over 750,000 volunteers. Moving forward, Awana continues innovating both digitally and globally while remaining rooted in Scripture.