Calvary Logo 

 

               


HomeSalvationStaffAwanaSermonsChristian Life

Awana

(derived from the first letters of Approved workmen are not ashamed as taken from 2 Timothy 2:15)



Awana was founded as a youth program at the North Side Gospel Center in Chicago Illinois, by Pastor Lance Lathan and Art Rorheim. Their goal was to develop a program that would appeal to young people, reach them with a Christian message of salvation and grow them spiritually through biblical studies. 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


Curriculum

Awana 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:

  1. a handbook or manual that allows each child to learn at his or her own pace
  2. a uniform shirt or vest
  3. awards that are earned as the child or teen successfully completes the requirements of a section of the handbook.

History

Awana is a non-denomincational 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