Moving beyond the famous "Playground", Awana purposefully incorporates these engaging activities for children and youth. Sometimes these are very carefully organized competitions and events, other times it is a relaxing and fun time.

In both cases, participants experience the joy of getting involved, testing their limits, growing as a team, and encouraging others. For children, play is like work – it's how they learn, grow, interact, create, discover and more. The next time you're at club, take a step back and notice how having a playtime opens a child's mind, heart, and life to God, friends, and leaders.

Awana understands that a child needs a physically, emotionally and spiritually safe environment, especially in the context of a Christ-centered family. T-shirts and vests may help children feel included, but shared experiences, stories and memories are far more important to relational closeness. God's unconditional love can cross all kinds of barriers when children and youth feel welcomed, valued and accepted as they are. You can strengthen the sense of belonging within the club by trying to find obvious or less obvious ways to celebrate each child's uniqueness and still bring them together. 

Competitions often get a bad rap in the Christian community and sometimes Awana gets caught up in that misunderstanding. It is true that glorifying the winners and looking down on the losers is a bad thing. However, the New Testament never hesitates to liken discipleship to a running race (cf. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Hebrews 12:1-2, 2 Timothy 4:7). In a healthy Awana operation, the club is constantly divided into teams and encourages the creation of community and celebrates progress. It is a wonderful way to invite children and young people to encourage one another, not only in the skills you have in a game or in memorizing the Scripture, but also in a life of love and good works (cf Hebrews 10:24). Challenge the children in your ministry to continue to encourage one another every time they meet. 

Awana is intentionally designed to move children, youth (and even leaders) from salvation to spiritual maturity in Christ. It presents the Bible cover-to-cover, presents doctrinal foundations, highlights Bible characters who walked with God, emphasizes the importance of attending church and making disciples, and equips participants in spiritual practices such as scripture memorization and ministry so that they They will know, love and serve Jesus Christ for life. This Holy Spirit-led adventure is not instantaneous, nor is it meant to be walked alone. Don't make this mistake! Awana is more than a club, it is a community dedicated to children and adults who want to grow in their relationship with God and those around them, at a real pace and depth.

The Great Commission of the Lord Jesus in Matthew 28:18-20 is the essence of the Awana work - to make disciples who will make other disciples! Because of the worldwide mission, children who experience the Good News as part of a successful ministry will be ready to take this fight to the ends of the earth. If it's been a while since you reminded the children of Awana what it means to be a witness at home, at school, in the neighborhood among your neighbors and in the world, it's time to light that fire. Awana fulfills the Great Commission. 

Did you know there was an Awana Alumni Network? There are people all over the world who put their walk with the Christ who led them to faith as children to the Awana Club. They certainly look back and see a club—with good and bad sides—but it pales in comparison to a life of discipleship. You never know how God will use the children in your Awana club. No matter what the future holds, they will most likely remember Awana as more than just a kid's club – they will look back at the beginnings of the faith journey that showed them the target, once and for all, Jesus Christ.