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It feels like summer is just getting underway and it is!  Camp Wakonda is still in full session, the 4th of July is barely upon us and sweet corn season hasn’t hit its peak yet.  There is still plenty of summer left!

But the work of planning for the fall is underway. We have been praying for the 2022-23 Awana year since April, asking God to provide the leaders we will need to run this ministry effectively.  Now is the time to begin seeking where, how, who God will faithfully provide for these needs as we seek to join him in the work he is doing here.

Our Awana ministry has been blessed with a strong core of dedicated leaders who have literally been doing this for YEARS!  They are all HEROES leading kids to the SUPERHERO – JESUS!  We have a very veteran staff who lead our children each week, but in the past couple of years, it’s been a “skeleton crew”.

These faithful men and women show up each week; some taking on more than one role to make sure everything is covered.  The reality is, to be as effective as we can and meet the needs of the children who walk through our doors, WE NEED MORE HELP on Wednesday nights.

WE NEED MORE HELP

I thought it might be best for you to hear from those in the trenches, meeting kids and loving them toward a relationship with Jesus each week.  They can tell you why they are here, what makes them keep coming, and why they feel qualified to do this work much better than I can.

I recently posed some questions to our veteran Awana leaders. Here are some of their brutally honest answers.

Why are you an Awana Leader?

“I am called to serve because I know we have a window of opportunity to share Jesus with children. It is fleeting, but we have the opportunity to plant seeds on Wednesday nights.” – Michelle Crandall

“The need is great – laborers are few. Kids are growing up in a culture that is not only hostile to Jesus and His truths, but just plain hard. All sorts of pressures! They need Him!  Jesus is our superhero.” –Deirdre Camenga

“The Great Commission is to go forth and spread the word.  This is what we are asked to do. Being leaders also helps us grow in the Lord.  Very often the focused scripture is a lesson we have studied before but we continue to have “aha” moments when we study it again and gain a whole new understanding.” – Kathy Crandall

 Why are you qualified to be a leader?

“I am available.” – Deirdre Camenga

“We (Brandon and Kathy) probably aren’t any more qualified than the average person to teach the kids.  You don’t have to be a professional. I, personally, feel I have a LONG way to go.  I am an infant myself and appreciate the parents and other leaders allowing me to grow in my faith and understanding along with the kids.  I am not afraid to ask Pastor Liz or Pastor Nate “What on earth are they talking about?  I don’t get it!” 

I think this is how all teachers feel.  We are never experts.  Often I tell the kids as much and say I will check into it and we can talk about it next week.  I think it makes it easier on the kids when they know their leaders don’t have all the answers and we all continue to grow and learn.” – Kathy Crandall

Our Awana Leader Job Description states “A leader needs to be qualified in the following ways: have trusted Jesus Christ as his/her personal Savior, be growing in relationship with Christ, be walking with the Lord, be in compliance with the requirements of Safety in Ministry policies in our church and other requirements of church leadership, demonstrate an attitude that is attractive to kids.”

Training is provided and as Kathy states, “We find our fellow leaders provide a network of support, nobody has the entire responsibility of kids from 6:30-8:00.  We are definitely a team that works together.”

Ok, let’s get real here now…

Do you ever wish you could just stay home on Awana nights?

This isn’t the most positive question to ask when you are trying to recruit people to come join you, but I was pretty confident that I knew what the answers would be. I know even I find myself wishing every now and then that I could just stay home on a Wednesday night.  Here’s what our veterans said.  

“YES! I come anyway because the reasons why I want to stay home are pathetic. Once I overcome the inertia and get to club, the other staff and kids are energizing.” -Deirdre Camenga

“Sometimes I want to stay home because I’m tired or have had a long day. But I know the purpose for my going is too important.” -Michelle Crandall

“Brandon and I often wish we were staying home on Wednesday evenings.  It seems the worst weather of the week appears on Wed. night, whether it is rain in the spring and fall or snow, bitter wind in the winter.  Every single time we show up, spend time with the kids, and look at each other and comment in the car on the way home that we are glad we did it. (I must confess, however, that often 8:30 on Wednesday evening is our favorite hour of the week!) The kids’ enthusiasm and knowing we are God’s servants make all the difference.”  -Kathy Crandall

What’s the best thing you’ve heard a kid say at Awana (serious or humorous)?

Two leaders shared the conversation that was overheard between 2 first graders as they were waiting for club to start.  The young boy said to the others, “Do you know why there’s a funny smell in the church?  It’s because they keep the dead bodies down the hall.”

No worries, both children were assured there are no dead bodies here, but it sure gave us all a good laugh that night!

Two other funny moments from Kathy:  “When asked what the bible was talking about when it mentioned God’s love for us until the ends of the earth meant and the reply was “The ends of the earth is when the zombies come and invade the world”.  (The child was dead serious!) Then, the big question “How do you get to heaven? Do you ride in a jet?”

“One Sparkie recently turned around during large group time and said to me, “I was just talking to Jesus and I told him “I love you”! A few years ago we were getting ready to leave when our passenger told us she had to do something first before we could leave and she ran into the classroom and wrote in giant letters on the white board “I LOVE JESUS”.  I wonder if these comments would have been expressed if these kiddos didn’t come to Awana on Wednesday evenings?  (Listening to Hayden Rotzoll at the Koinonia concert recently definitely drove home the difference that Awana has made in her life!)”  – Kathy Crandall

Why would anyone want to be an Awana leader?  

“Not only do we reap the blessings of knowing we are a part of  what God is doing in these young hearts and minds, but we each are challenged in our own faith and walk with Jesus by what we see and hear at club each week.  “… Mike Hoffman’s messages are amazing. He almost always incorporates something in his (Large Group) message that I need to hear on any given Awana night.”  – Deirdre

Michelle sums is up best, “Kids are genuine and honest. Their hugs and smiles light up a room. The best reason to be a part of Awana is the possibility of changing one child’s life for eternity.”

We need more adults to experience the abundance of blessings you receive back when you are willing to show up on Wednesday nights and show the kids who Jesus is.  Jesus is our Superhero, but kids need adult heroes to lead them to Him.

Will you join our team of heroes?

Ask God if He has a role for you this fall in our Awana club.  If you feel Him nudging your heart just a little, talk to Angie Mullen or another Awana leader veteran about how you might become a part of our team of heroes!