SPARKS FLIGHT 3:16

There has been a question about exactly how to work a Sparky through the new Flight 3:16 entance booklet since sections are not numbered.  First of all, we do plan on numbering the sections, though I do not have a timeframe for when that will happen.  Secondly, thanks to Linda Weddle at Awana HQ, here is the breakdown of how Flight 3:16 should be accomplished:

1. For God so loved the world

2.         "          "       "        That He gave His only begotten Son

3.         "          "        "                "         "              "           That whosoever believeth in Him

4. Say the entire verse

5. Answer the questions

6. Come to Sparks twice

(the sign-off on the back is to say they've completed the entire booklet)

WHAT CAN THE MISSIONARY DO FOR US?

We can.....

• visit the church service and give a ministry update.  This can be tailored to your needs from 7 minutes to the entire service
• visit the church and give an overall view to everyone of what Awana is all about, even beyond the weekly meetings
  
• visit your clubs and be a guest speaker for your Large Group Time lessons as well as helping some of the clubbers complete missions sections
• visit your clubs and do an evaluation, if desired.  We never critique anything unless asked to do so.  In other club visits, we are there for fun and fellowship
• attend a Leader's Meeting to answer any questions leaders might have and/or give them a message of encouragement and motivation
• meet one-on-one with the Commander to answer any questions or work through challenges
• do refresher Basic Training or target a specific area of additional training
• hear from you about any other ideas that you might have where we can help

T&T TRADING CARDS

Have you seen these trading cards yet?  Check them out in the printed or online catalog.  They've been a BIG hit in clubs all over the country as a motivational tool to doing work in the handbooks.  They can be used in whatever way you want.  Some clubs give out one pack for every Discovery/Challenge that is completed.  Others give out individual cards at random for every section that is done.  Still others sell them in the Awana Store.  And watch for the special Streamwood Gold Cards.  These are different from the Streamwood series of cards.  If a clubber gets a Streamwood Gold Card and completes their book within the club year (or the equivalent work in two books), they can receive a special Prize Package from Awana!


24/7 MINISTRIES

Awana does not stop at 5th or 6th grade.  We also have curriculums and tools for Teen Ministries.  They can be used exclusively for Awana for your teens or they can very easily be integrated into what you are already doing  with your Youth Group.  And there are currently 41 colleges that offer scholarships for teens that have completed numbers of books.  These scholarships range from $500 to $12,000 and there are even a handful right here in the Mid-Atlantic states.  Check out our Teen Ministries at http://www.24-7ministries.net

BOOK COMPLETION TROPHIES

Excellence Award - any 2 books from 3rd-12th grade

Timothy Award - any 4 books from 3rd-12th grade

Meritorious Award - any 6 books from 3rd-12th grade

Citation Award - all 10 books from 3rd-12th grade.  This achievement also earns you your name on a gold plate that is placed on a wall at Awana headquarters in Streamwood, IL.

Kids and teens should always be working in the books that are appropriate for their age group, but they can always work backward to get everything completed.  Also, anyone who is beyond high school can do the books and earn the awards (are you hearing this leaders??!!??).  We even have a special series of books just for adults called the Bible-BASED series.  You can find them in the catalog.  Same verses that the kids learn but with life applications for adults.

SPEAKING OF DOING BOOKS....

We often encourage leaders to motivate the kids to work in their handbooks by leading by example.  In other words, do Scripture memory yourself, especially in the handbooks, and let the kids sign YOU off!  Did you know that Awana employees are expected to participate in a Scripture memory program every year?  All 250+ headquarters employees as well as the 90+ missionaries??  This year we are working on Romans 8:28-39, the books of the Bible, Phillipians 2:1-11 and Psalm 23.  We are not asking you to do anything we are not doing.  Why not try something yourselves, be it a handbook or a chapter from the Bible?  But remember, if you have the kids pass you off, the same rules apply.  You get two helps per section.  Don't let the kids tell you that you don't get helps because you're an adult, but at the same time, you don't get any more than they do either.  Have fun!

WRITING THE NAME "AWANA"

Most everyone knows that Awana's name comes from 2 Tim. 2:15 and from the phrase "approved workmen are not ashamed".  However, when you use the name in any printed form, it should be with only the first "A" capitalized, e.g. "Come to Awana this week!"  The only exception to this would be what you see right here, where I have the entire headline in capital letters, including Awana.  This may also be the case when placing laminated letters on a bulletin board since they nearly always are also all capital letters, but otherwise, the rest of the name should be in lower case.  Also, no one has "Awanas" in their church.  You have Awana Clubs.  There is no plural of Awana.  Please help us keep the name and appearance of Awana consistent nationwide.  Thanks!