Conference yukon::christian_v7

  There is another club called AWANA which is used in the church that I attend.
  My kids love it.
  
  A
  Workman
  Approved
  Not
  Ashamed

  ???? I think

  I can get a name, address, whatever you'de like.

  Hank

    Close!
    
    Approved
    Workmen
    Are 
    Not 
    Ashamed
    
    8*)

    Note that the in AWANA charter you must declare that you are not part
    of the charismatic movement.  The only thing I have against AWANA.  It
    is an excellent program.
    
    I have been involved in Scouts, Royal Ambassadors, and AWANA's.
    
    What makes Awana more successful is the structure of the meeting and
    the number of leaders involved.
    
    We always had leader burnout with the other organizations, but the
    AWANA typically has different leaders for each activity.
    
    We have two leaders for each 6-8 children for handbook time, which
    lasts 35 minutes.  One leader helps the kids learn their verses while
    another listens to the kids say their verses ( a perfect job for the
    over 60 crowd)  Then we do Game time to run them down, different
    leaders do the game time.  This allows you to still schedule around
    choir practice, prayer meeting, handbell, and outreach. The final
    section is council time where the message is given to the entire group.
    
    The key seems to keep the leaders from burning out.  Some other things
    we have done is crafts during the handbook time.  We have made "stained
    glass windows out of plastic", Kaliedescopes, Kites (then had a kite
    flying contest after church Sunday).  It takes a large comittment from
    the church but the rewards are well worth it.
    
    The leaders also call the kids once a week and visit their parents once
    during the year or more.  Of the 200+ kids we have each week about 75
    are from our church, the rest are from unchurched families.  We have
    been fairly successful at getting some of the parents to visit, but not
    near as much as we hope.  We will be trying to figure out how to
    improve on this next year.
    
    Good Luck, and nothing is as rewarding as teaching the little ones
    about Christ's Love, especially knowing the homes many come from.
    
    Sparky

  Also there is/was the Boy's Brigade, did anyone mention that one,
  but Im not sure whether it still exists and I dont know if there
  is a girls version.

  Theme song : Bright and keen for Christ My Savior... 
  melody : (Hold the Fort, for I am  coming...)

  Hank

    Thanks for the replies.  I forgot about AWANA.  Does anyone have any
    idea how to start AWANA (or any other program), where to contact?
    
    Thanks.
    Dale

    Years ago on the East coast @ Grace Chapel in Lexington I was a kid in
    Christian Service Brigade, made up of younger guys Stockade, and older
    guys in Battalian.  After returning to the area years later I became
    one of the boys leaders and loved it.  There is a sister organization
    as well named Pioneer Girls.  Both are mature curricula(sp), sponsor
    inter church competion and sporting/camping, support summer camp
    programs etc.  The emphasis is clearly on christian men
    teaching/modeling for boys/young men.  The camping, tools, projects,
    crafts are a la Boy Scouts, with the addition of Bible lessons and 
    memorization at the forefront.  
    
    Now in my late thirties and on the West coast, our church (Calvary in
    Los Gatos, CA) does not have the Brigade program, but does offer AWANA.
    This is for 3 yr olds up thru ?6th grade - whereas Brigade went into
    high school.  I find AWANA for my 3 and 5 year olds to be an excellent
    focus on Bible teaching and memorizing.  There are crafts and games as
    well, but mainly the "badges" are for memory work, obedience to
    parents, and learning of Gods plan from both the old and new testament
    scriptures.
    
    Both programs emphasize singing and memorization at the early years
    where this can truly be retained for later use in spiritually alive lives 
    at the re-calling of His Holy Spirit.  I know from my own experience that 
    the "Word hidden in my heart..." is our greatest weapon against the evil
    one.  Remember that "thy Word is Truth", and the "Truth will set you
    free" from the insidious temptation and deception of our enemy.
    
    Rambling on a bit here...but I can't overemphasize the responsibility
    parents have to prepare their children for the spiritual battle which
    is the Christian life today.  And how receptive they are when young.  You 
    pour in the time, Word, and model His love, and your little "vessel" will 
    be on its way to "being fully equipped in His service".
    
    My vote depends on the demographics of the congregation.  Young kids,
    coed program, limited time on part of leaders outside of meeting - go
    AWANA.  These kids will likely go into other programs later.  
    
    Older kids who'll want to bring freinds for the fun/learning involved
    AND share the message of Jesus as modeled in "real life" camping and 
    projects - I'd go CSB.   
    
    Someone correct if I've short changed AWANA, but our program stops
    early age-wise.  In fact jr highers start working as leaders-helpers. 
    I guess the notion of the CSB program continuing into those adolescent
    years is significant to me, especially when freinds are from broken
    homes etc, and the leader adults can really be models for them.
    
    Greg
    

    If I remember correctly, some churches do have the AWANA program
    for Junior High and High School.  I think they are called
    Junior Varsity and Varsity.
    
    I have not been involved with the older aged kids so I don't know
    if they do the camping and other activities outside of AWANA night
    though.
    
    Hope this helps a little,
    Pam

    Well, last night at dinner we were talking about the Pioneer Club at my
    parent's church.  This is a combination of what used to be Boys'
    Brigade and Pioneer Girls.  It then came out that my mother was one of
    the ones (along with some other women in Detroit) who founded Pioneer
    Girls back in the early 1940s.
    
    Mark L.

Hi,

Royal Rangers and Missionettes (girls program) are Assembly of God ministries.
However, I believe both of these programs are portable, in that you don't have
to be an AG church utilize the curriculum.  They can be purchased from Gospel
Publishing House, Spingfield, Mo.


regards,

john