Awana
Our church is starting a children’s ministry called AWANA on tonight. I believe this ministry is going to help change the lives of children and parents (including me and my children) in the community where we attend church.
When I first felt that I was going to help with this ministry these are the thoughts I had:
· I’m naturally a youth pastor, not a children’s worker.
· I’m not good with kids.
· I don’t know where to start.
· I don’t know how to talk to kids and teach them the Bible.
I am now excited about helping with AWANA! Here is why:
· My own children will benefit from it.
· Martha Marie and I will work together with the 3rd-6th graders.
· I am going to be challenged by being a good example to the children and by memorizing the scriptures they are required to memorize.
· I will have the opportunity to lead other children and their parents to Jesus.
· I feel that I’ll be a better AWANA leader than the experience I have had as a youth pastor. The structure and support is amazing!
· It is the best current strategy to reach people in the community of our church.
More reasons from their web site:
The study found that those who consistently participated in Awana for six or more years are today:
· More committed to the literal truth of Scripture and more firmly grounded in the fundamental doctrines of their faith
· More motivated to learn about their faith, grow spiritually and serve others
· Far more likely to act on their religious beliefs, including participating in civic/community volunteerism
· Still attending church about weekly or more frequently (92.7 percent) compared to less than half of all Americans.
· Still of the belief that Jesus is the Son of God (nearly 99 percent) compared with 71 percent of Americans and 85 percent of Protestants
· Still participating in a Bible study or Sunday school (86 percent) as opposed to 30 percent of all Americans.
· Much more likely to volunteer in their churches and share their faith than the national and Protestant samples from the Baylor study.
If something else were a better strategy to reach our church community for Jesus, I would be more excited about that. For now, God has given us great plans to move forward for His Kingdom.