Have you seen the name AWANA and wondered what it was all about? he AWANA name is derived from the first letters of Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed as taken from 2 Timothy 2:15 of the Bible. AWANA is a non-denominational, Bible-based Christian program for children.

For nearly 60 years, AWANA has been a leader in children’s ministry, helping churches and parents worldwide raise children and youth to know, love and serve Christ. Each week, more than one million children and youths, 250,000 volunteers and 300-plus field staff take part in AWANA in over 18,000 churches in the U.S. and internationally. Here in Albert Lea, the ministry has been established at Calvary Baptist for over 30 years.

The AWANA program is divided into five major groups. There are Cubbies, Sparks, T & T, Trek and 24/7 Journey. Children enter the AWANA program in their grade-related group and learn through age- appropriate curriculum. Each weekly meeting exposes children to the Gospel message, Scripture memory, Bible study, awards, team-oriented games, activities and lots of fun. Caring and committed volunteer leaders from Calvary Baptist Church nurture your children spiritually as Christian role models and teachers.

Vicki Williams, AWANA commander, stressed the importance of the children and the program at Calvary Baptist, “Because they matter to God they matter to us.”

Preschool children are in Cubbies. This group is built on two premises: Young children can and should receive spiritual training and the home is the primary place for that training.

This preschool program meets needs through the children having fun with games, puppets, crafts, awards and other activities which transform this program into a lively weekly experience where fun and learning go hand in hand. Friendly characters, like Cubbie the Bear, Luv E. Lamb, Ern E. Elephant, Zip E. Zebra and Gigi Giraffe, take preschoolers along on a journey through God’s Word.

The Sparks group includes kindergarten through second-grade children. It builds on the materials taught in the preschool section. The aim of the curriculum is to take youngsters a step deeper into God’s word. Along the way, Sparky, the friendly firefly, encourages boys and girls to learn verses and complete assignments throughout the three handbooks.

Truth & Training (T & T) reflects the passion of AWANA to teach third-through sixth-grade boys and girls the truth of God’s word and to train them to follow Christ in their daily lives. Four handbooks of increasing difficulty teach children that life’s ultimate adventure is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Boys and girls learn from a cast of fun characters and follow them on interesting journeys in the handbooks.

Students in grades seven and eight make up the Trek group. There is a wide range of spiritual, emotional, social and physical needs that are addressed. Needs of teenagers are met at three different levels: “Come and See” presents the Gospel; “Come Follow” helps young or nominal believers grow in their faith; and “Come Serve” trains committed teenagers for leadership, ministry service and a deeper walk with God. Young people are given opportunities to put their faith in action by getting involved in service projects and serving their church.

The high schoolers learn godly knowledge through the Journey 24/7 program. Their material features an energetic look, enhanced content, life application and an emphasis on Scripture memory.

Students of the AWANA program win awards for completion within their groups. At the close of the year they are recognized at the AWANA awards banquet with their achievement award. An ultimate achievement in the AWANA program is acquisition of the Citation Award. This award is given only to high-school seniors who have completed a minimum of 10 years worth of hard work and service. The citation is the AWANA students’ reward for having spent countless hours attending group meetings, working with children, getting involved in their communities, completing 10 years of biblically grounded curriculum and learning more than 700 Bible verses.

Calvary Baptist Church, 2016 Bridge Ave. in Albert Lea, provides AWANA Club International for children age 4 through 12th grade. The program coincides with the public school schedule. To start the year, there will be a barbecue registration kickoff on Wednesday, Sept. 9, beginning at 6 p.m. Along with the opportunity for parents to register their children in the program, families can enjoy a meal while getting acquainted with each other and leaders. Thereafter, the AWANA program will be held each Wednesday evening from 6:30 to 8 p.m. The first club night is Sept. 16.

Contact the church at 373-4306 if you have questions.