Fast Facts about Awana at Faith Bible Church
In alphabetical order!
Awana
Derived from the first letters of Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed, as taken from 2 Timothy 2:15. Awana is an international evangelical nonprofit organization founded in 1950 and headquartered in Streamwood, Illinois. www.awana.org
Awana Missionary
Brenda Cole is the Awana missionary for Iowa and Minnesota. After working and leading in several areas of her local Awana club, Brenda answered the call to be an Awana Missionary in 2015. As the Iowa Awana missionary, Brenda (with the help of a large volunteer team called the Ministry Team) works alongside over 200 churches in Iowa that are registered to use the Awana ministry. Our Awana club helps to support the Iowa missionary each year with a Coin Drive in the spring. For three weeks, our clubbers are encouraged to bring in spare change while participating in a friendly competition between boys and girls to see which group can raise more money. We celebrate the next week (when the final amount raised is announced) with ice cream for everyone.
Awana Store
Sparkies and T & T clubbers work hard to earn points that earn them shares (see Shares). Each clubber has the opportunity to spend their shares on items at the Awana store a few times throughout the Awana year.
Awards Night
The 4th Wednesday in April is Awards Night. Family members are invited to join all the clubbers in the sanctuary for the evening to present the end of the year awards to the clubbers and to celebrate their accomplishments in learning God’s word. This evening typically ends by 8 PM.
Bible Quiz
“Bible quizzing tests students’ knowledge of material in handbooks and provides individual recognition and awards. Most importantly, it helps build a biblically based worldview in students and trains them in apologetics, godly wisdom and personal Bible study.” (from awana.org) Bible quiz is for 3rd – 6th graders and is held at a church in our region sometime in the late winter. More information is available to T & T clubbers in December.
Coin Drive
See Awana Missionary.
Council Time
Council time for 3rd – 6th graders includes music, announcements, and a meaningful Bible message geared to the children’s level.
Dismissal
- Cubbies – Pick up Cubbies from Room 108 by 8:15 PM.
- Sparks – Pick up kindergartners and 1st graders from Room 111 and 2nd graders from Room 109 by 8:15 PM.
- T & T’s – 3rd – 6th graders are dismissed from the sanctuary at 8:15 PM. Make arrangements with your clubber for where to meet.
- Awana children (Preschool through 6th grade) should be picked up at 8:15 pm. If parents are waiting for Student Ministries to end or are helping with Student Ministries, children may wait in Room 110 until Student Ministries dismisses at 8:30 pm. Any children who wait in Room 110, will need to be picked up in person by a parent or approved person for pickup. For the safety of everyone, Awana children may not wait in the hallways.
Drive in Movie / Pajama night
Each year in October is Drive-In Movie Night for the Sparks, and the T & T’s are invited to watch the movie too. Sparks are welcome, with their parents, to make and decorate a “car” out of a cardboard box and bring it to the gym to watch a movie and eat a snack in their pajamas. Sparks who don’t make a car and the T & T clubbers may bring a blanket to sit on. This evening begins in the sanctuary as usual, and there is handbook time in the classrooms before going to the gym for the movie and provided snack.
Dues
Clubbers are encouraged to bring a quarter each week to help defray the cost of awards and prizes.
Earning a shirt and book
A clubber new to any level of Awana must first complete the introductory pamphlet. After that, the child is eligible for a book and uniform (shirt or vest). The clubbers grade level leader will order the uniform and book. Payment arrangements for the earned items can be made with your child’s leader or go to https://www.faithb.org/ministries/children/awana/ and click on Awana Payment form.
Grand Prix
Awana Grand Prix is a Pinewood Derby-style racing event for T & T Clubbers (3rd – 6th grade). The “car” that clubbers may purchase is a block of wood and a set of wheels and axles that with the help of parents or other family members can be shaped and painted however the clubber would like. Cars must be made from the official Awana Grand Prix kits which are available for purchase at Awana meetings beginning in December for either cash or shares. (Cars cannot be used from previous years.) Families are welcomed and encouraged to come and watch the big race on Grand Prix night. The cars race on a wooden track, and awards are given for both design and speed.
Green Meadow Time
Sparks gather together in the sanctuary each Awana night for singing and an age-appropriate Bible lesson time.
Groups
- Cubbies – These are clubbers who are 4 years old (by September 1) through 5 years old. Alternative kindergarten students are included in Cubbies. Cubbies do not participate in Awana Store, Grand Prix, or Drive-in Movie Night.
- Sparks – Clubbers who are in kindergarten through 2nd grade.
- T & T – This stands for Truth & Training and includes clubbers in 3rd grade through 6th grade.
- Trek – Trek is a self-study program for 7th & 8th grade students. Students meet with a leader on Wednesday evenings from 6:30-6:45 PM to say verses and discuss passages in the book.
- Journey – Journey is a self-study program for 9th – 12th grade students. Students meet with a leader on Wednesday evenings from 6:30-6:45 PM to say verses and discuss passages in the book.
Inclement Weather Policy
In case of bad weather, a decision to cancel Awana is made as an early in the day as possible. Check the Faith Bible website (www.faithb.org) or local news stations for cancellations.
Share Night or Share Table
See Awana store
Shares
Each week the clubbers have the opportunity to earn Awana shares which they can “spend” in the Awana store (see Awana store). Awana shares are earned by such things as wearing their uniform, bringing a Bible, bringing their handbook, bringing dues (see dues), bringing a friend, and completing a section(s) in their handbooks. Shares are also earned when clubbers participate in special events like Stuffed Animal Night, Sports Team Night, etc. Cubbies do not participate in earning shares or going to the Awana store. Sparks’ (K- 2nd grade) shares are kept for them and handed out on Awana store nights.
Special Events
If your child participates in the Special Events listed on the FBC Awana calendar (like Stuffed Animal Night, Hawaiian Night, etc.) they will earn extra points that week. Plus, it’s just a lot of fun.
