How to use the 10 standards in your church
Clubs exhibit this standard by ensuring that:
| Standard #1 | We reach boys and girls with the gospel of Christ and train them to serve Him. |
| All leaders are ready to presend the gospel and know the steps to lead a child to Christ | |
| Parents | Pray for your child's Awana leader. |
| Pastors | Provide evangelism materials and tools through your church library or
book store. Conduct evangelism training, and require all leaders to attend. Included evangelism training in the church brudget. |
| Commanders & Directors | Include evangelism in your annual basic training. Provide evangelism materials to your leaders. Give each leader a copy of the "God's Only Way to Heaven" tract. Emphasize evangelism at prayer and planning meetings. |
| Leaders | Attend evangelism training. Carry gospel tracts with you during Awana. In the Leaders Guidebook, sections on Salvation are marked with the salvation icon. Take advantage of these times to share the gospel with the child. |
| In weekly Counsil Time, there is clear, age-appropriate teaching on the plan of salvation and an opportunity to trust Christ as Savior. | |
| Parents | After Awana, discuss with your children what the Council Time lesson was
about. If you have the gift of teaching, offer to present the message during council time. |
| Pastors | Offer to speak to your clubbers during council time. |
| Commanders & Directors | Provice guidelines for counscil time speakers. Have resources on-hand for speakers to use when developing children's messages. |
| Leaders | Pray for your clubbers. Talk about the council time lesson during handbook time, and make sure your clubbers understand the salvation message. |
| Immediate follow-up takes place with clubbers who make decisions for Chirst, reaching out to families when appropriate. | |
| Parents | Talk with your child's Awana leader about the spiritual progress of your
young person. Offer to visit non-churched families whose children make decisions for Christ. |
| Pastors | Have the commander report decisions to the church office, then follow-up with a letter, phone call and visit to the family. |
| Commanders & Directors | Report all decisions for Christ to the paster and church office. Have copies of the "What's Next?" booklet available for your leaders to give to clubbers. Schedule a regular night for leaders to visit clubbers. |
| Leaders | When a clubber trusts Chirst, talk with the parent who picks them up from
Awana. Give the clubber a copy of the "What's Next?" booklet. Keep clubber contact information current (address, phone number). |
| Directors organize special promotional efforts to bring unsaved children into club. | |
| Parents | Encourage to bring their friends to Awana; offer to transport them. Volunteer to provide food or other needed supplies for special events (talk to the commander and ask what is needed). |
| Pastors | Announce outreach activities in the bulletin and from the pulpit. Pray for outreach efforts with the entire church. |
| Commanders & Directors | Schedule at least one "Bring a Visitor" night each club year. Conduct a yearly contest to bring visitors. Review the Awana forums on the website for activity ideas. |
| Leaders | Volunteer to assist with planning and organizing special activities. |
| Clubbers and their parents hear a clear presentation of the gospel at special activities. | |
| Parents | Pray for each Awana activity; for the speaker, and for unchurched family
memembers to attend. If you have the gift of teaching, offer to present the message at special activities. |
| Pastors | Offer to attend and present the gospel at Awana activities. |
| Comanders & Directors | Schedule at least one "Parents Night" during each club year. Conduct other special activities, such as Grand Prix racing, to attract clubbers and their parents. Participate in Awana Games and Bible Quizzing. Provide guidelines to you speakers at special activiites. |
| Leaders | Pray for each Awana activity; for the speakers, and for unchurched family member to attend. |
| Leaders strive to reflect Chirst-like character in their lives | |
| Parents | Pray for your child's Awana leaders |
| Pastors | Include your Awana workers in the prayers of the church. Teach you Awana workers how to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit. Meet with your Awana workers of rencouragement and edification. Help them understnad the importance of their ministry. |
| Commanders & Directs | Pray for your Awana leaders. Provide job descriptions for all workers, including requirements to exhibit desired character (church attendance, service, etc.). Work through the Rorheim Institute handbooks for adults. Plan service opportunities outside of club for your leaders. |
| Leaders | Be faithful in attending church and Bible studies. Work through the Rorheim Institute handbooks for adults. |
| Standard #2 | We recruite, train and motivate leaders to serve the local church |
| Parents | Consider your spiritual influence on your childrena nd consider serving
in the Awana club. Meet your child's leader and inform them of your child's learning styles or special needs. |
| Pastors | Help (guide) the commander to deveilop a good strategy for your Awana
club. |
| Commanders | Develop a strategy, vision and goals, & a calendar for your club with
your key leadership. Develop a workers handbook with policies, & guidelines. Help leaders understand their calling to serve in Awana. Provide job descriptions for workers in your club. Pray that God will direct the right people to the Awana ministry in your church. Provied needed training opportunities for you leadership (Basic Training, Leadership conference, OTS meetings). Plan an adequate budget for your club so needed materials will be available to your staff. Stay informed and in contact with your Awana missionary and/or ministry team. Keep needed prayer needs before the church. |
| Directors | Provide job descriptions and recruit needed leaders for your club. Meet regularly with leaders to pray and plan for your club. Encourage leaders to complete basic training and attend leadership conferences. Encourage leaders to be faithful and supportive of the church ministry. |
| Leaders | Pray for your clubbers and their families. Set the needed example for clubbers. Help parents understand how they can help their child succeed in the Awana ministry, and also in the Christian life. |
| Standard #3 | We use positive discipline throughout the entire club meeting. |
| Parents | Be consistent with discipline at home. Meet wiht your child's leader before and during the club year to review progress and behavior. Pray for your child and the Awana workers |
| Pastor | Review the standards of conduct for Awana with your commander. Send a letter to parents, explaining your discipline system and the 3-count. |
| Commanders | Have expections (rules) or conduct standards in written form (on a poster
or in a booklet). Start the opening ceremony on time, which is orderly and disciplined. Use the 3-count and the 5-count consistently. Establish a system of positive points or Awana shares to reinforce desired behavior. Wear your uniform and require all leaders to wear theirs. Communicate the schedule for your club to all leaders. Conduct a commander/director meeting during the summer to plan the club year. |
| Directors | Encourage all leaders to be in uniform. Wear your uniform Provide incentives (points or shares) for clubbers in uniform. Create a positive atmostphere with your attitude, positive points, & special awards. Create a poster with your club discipline standards, and hang it where it can be seen by everyone. Create a poster with your point system outlined, and hang it where everyone can see it. Schedule pre-club activities which are supervised by adults. Conduct a leaders meeting during the summer to plan the club year. |
| Leaders | Help with pre-club activities. Interact with your clubbers before the opening ceremony. Arrive at club before any clubbers do. Wear your uniform. Use the 5-count thoughout the club night to control group attention. Award sportsmanship points during game time. |
| Standard #4 | We attract children with games and activities. |
| Parents | Volunteer to help with outings and other activities. |
| Pastor | Attend the Awana Games or a game time in club. Let the clubbers see you having fun. Include Awana activites in church bulletins and newsletters. |
| Commanders | Plan and publish the calendar by the start of club. Include theme nights in the club calendar. Include fun activities outside of the regular club night in your calendar. Announce themes and activites in the weeks ahead of time. Post your calendar on a bulletin board. Publish a newsletter for your Awana workers, with your calendar. Train all leaders to participate in game time. |
| Directors | Review Awana references or other sources for ideas of fun activites. Send home flyers with your clubbers announcing activities. Establish a point system to reinforce desired behavior. Maintain consistent teams as long as possible. Create posters with team member's names listed. |
| Leaders | Encourage every clubber to participate. Encourage the clubbers who have a hard time losing. Award points to clubbers for achievement and behavior. If you are the game leader, inventory your equipment and maintain a full set. If you are the game leader, strive for variety and fun during game time. |
| Standard #5 | We encourage memorization, understanding and application of Scripture. |
| Parents | Help your children prepare for club. Send your children to club with their handbook and Bible. Talk to your children about what they are learning in Awana |
| Pastor | Provide assistance in the area of application of verses. Help your leadership understand that understanding and application are more important than mere rote memory. Make Bible available for all clubbers. Award Bibles to those who earn them through consistent attendance. |
| Commanders | Encourage leaders to be involved in a memory program. Make sure your leadership has needed resources. Encourage council time speakers to use their Bibles for the message. Recruit leaders through personal contact and prayer. Conduct a year-end awards ceremony to recognize those who complete books. Give special recognition to adults who complete handbooks. |
| Directors | Make sure clubbers are recognized for their achievements in a timely fashion.. Assign clubbers to the same leader each week to help build relationships. Schedule service activities for clubbers to implement what is being learned. Schedule outreach activities for clubbers to demonstrate witnessing skills. Have "Take It To Heart" and other extra-credit challenges available for your achievers. |
| Leaders | Do the Rorheim Institute handbook for leaders and learn shepherding skills. Pass on tips to parents to help their clubber in preparation for club. Post charts with goals for your clubbers to work though their handbooks. Ask questions and discuss the verses being memorized by your clubbers. |
| Standard #6 | We use the elemnts of Counsil Time effectively. |
| Parents | If presenting the message is your gift offer to speak at club this year. |
| Pastor | Arrange to speak in club on occasion. Provide resources to help speakers develop messages for your clubbers; books, videos, posters, etc. |
| Commanders | Make sure needed materials are on hand for leaders to teach council time. There are counsil time books that go along with the T&T book 1 & 2. Outline a teaching plan for the year, presenting Bible truths that meet the needs of your clubbers. Give each guest speaker a copy of your council time guidelines. Encourage leaders to attend council time sessions at Leadership Training Conferences. Recruit a song leader, and provide appropriate music resources (CDs, sheet muwsic, etc.). Invite your Awana missionary as a guest speaker. Invite other missionaries as guest speakers. |
| Directors | Line up a person to do music. Line up speakers of rhte year. Include professionals, allow church member to share their career. Don't forget to schedule the Pastor on occasion. Make sure the gospel is presented regularly and clearly. Have a plan for each coucil time listing the 7 elements and assigning responsibility for each element to a leader. |
| Leaders | Volunteer to speak one or two times in club. Stay with your clubbers during council time, and help with discipline. Offer to give your testimony or lead in prayer during counsil time. |
| Standard #7 | We motivate children through incentives. |
| Parents | |
| Pastor | Encourage incentives like $ for summer church camp or Awana scholarship
camp. Schedule the year-end Awana awards ceremony during a regular church service. |
| Commanders | Coordinate your incentive program throughout your club. Establish club goals for attendance, section completion, visitors, special offerings, and other objectives. Communitcate your progress toward goals with posters or charts. Conduct a closing ceremony for your club where awards are presented. Conduct a year-end awards ceremony and recognize achievements of your clubbers and leaders. |
| Directors | Have someone oversee your Awana Store or Awana Fun Fair. Post a chart in your club using stickers to show the progress of clubbers and leaders through the handbooks. Have individual and team awards available and recognize achievement promptly. Work closely with your secretary to ensure timely presentation of awards. |
| Leaders | Praise each clubber every week for attendance and behavior. Establish goals for individual clubbers, with appropriate recognition. |
| Standard #8 | We manage God's resources with faithfulness and integrity. |
| Parents | Review the Awana job descriptions and determine if you could serve in
Awana. Make special gifts to Awana of money or materials. |
| Pastor | Work with commander on a budget that is adequate for ministry. Make provisions for Awana mail sent to the church to be distributed to the commander. Publicize Awana activities in the church newsletter and bulletin. Establish guidelines for recruiting, qualifying and training all childrens' workers. |
| Commanders | Meet with your directors before the club year and determine an Awana budget. Publish an Awana calendar every year, with special events and activities listed. Be sure you have the resources for every activitiy. Investigate record-keeping software for your club. Have an Awana bulletin board to publicize activities and successes.(KEEP IT CURRENT!!!) Pray about identifying and training a person to be the next commander. Conduct regular prayer and planning meetings with all workers. |
| Directors | Store your supplies in one location, and appoint a person to track your
inventory. Establish a system for clubbers to check-in each night. Use the Awana job descriptions to help recruit leaders. Pray about identifying and training a person to be the next director. Inspect your rooms and remove all unsafe items. |
| Leaders | Communicate the handbook progress of your clubbers with the secretary. Pray about how God might lead you to an expanded ministry in Awana. |
| Standard #9 | We minister to parents and family members. |
| Parents | Communicate with the pastor, commander, and Awana leaders at the church
where your child attends Awana. Attend Awana activites with your child. |
| Pastor | Offer to speak at family activities. Send personal letters to the families of your clubbers. Produce a tract or information folder for visitors. Produce a tract or information forld for new Christians. Thank parents who have been involved in Awana in your bulletin or newsletter. |
| Commanders | Plan at least one activity to reach families. Invite parents to attend Awana and observe your club. Provide supplies for leaders to contact clubbers and families; postcards, stamps, flyers, envelopes, etc. Schedule a special Awana visitation night for all workers to visit the homes of their clubbers. Schedule an Awana open house for parents at the beginning of the club year. Celebrate Christmas with the familiesof your clubbers by hosting a special Awana night. Schedule an Awana fun fair in the spring with families invited. Recruit greeters to meet with parents when they drop-off or pick-up their kids. Include all adults who have helped in any way in your awards ceremony. |
| Directors | Contact all visitors within the next week after the visit. Contact all new Christians within the next week. Provide contact information (phone numbers, email, adresses) for clubbers to their leaders. Give extra recognition (points, shares, etc.) to clubbers whose parents initial their sections indication they have helped during the week. |
| Leaders | When a clubber comes to Chirst, find the person who brought him or her
to Awana and have the clubber testify as to the decision made. Visit the parents of your clubbers and explain what is being taught in Awana. |
| Standard #10 | We magnify the impact of our church's ministry through involvement with our Awana Missionary and International Ministry of Awana. |
| Parents | Adopt a club overseas with your family. Attend Awana games and Bible quizzing with your church. |
| Pastor | Pray for your Awana Missionary. Consider the Awana Missionary's support. Lind up an anbassador or representative to work with your Awana Missionary. Schedule the Awana State Director or Awana Missionary in your church/Missions conference and be update on their ministry. Inform key people in your church about the Vision Teams that go out and help clubs around the world. Budget funds to help your Awana leaders attend training conferences. Promote regional activities through annuncements, bulletins, and newsletters. Allow your Awana missionary to present his ministry to the church. Help the Awana missionary to make contacts iwth your denominational leadership. Add the missionary to your church mailing list for newsletters or bulletins. Include Awana and its leadership in your church prayer lists. |
| Commanders | Send missionary news of praiss and prayer concerns in your club. Schedule your Directors to go to a Discover Awana or a work time up at Head Quarters. Consider helping (shepherding) a sister club in town that may be having difficulty or may need encouraagement. Obtain a copy of the regional activity schedule from your missionary, including training, conferences, and events. Recruit a games coach and a quizzing coach to organize each event for your church. Invite the local Awana missionary to visit your club. Keep the missionary informed about current contact information for your church and the commander. |
| Directors | Welcome adults from other churchs considering Awana to visit your club
and observe. Adopt a club overseas with your group. |
| Leaders | Attend regional training activities. Attend Awana games and Bible quizzing; help coach. |