Fun and games in AWANA program

Twenty-eight students, aged kindergarten through sixth grade, caught a special bus last Thursday after school let out. Rather than heading home after school let out, the kids were bussed over to the Superior Community Church for the weekly AWANA program.

After grabbing a healthy snack and breaking into four teams, the kids headed outside to play some super fun games.

Joe Schwartzman is the commander of the AWANA program and said that the number of kids they have had this year has just been phenomenal. Last year, the program had close to 19 on one night, otherwise it held steady around ten. The success is also great because a few years ago when the program slipped to under 10 kids, it ended up disappearing for a few years.

“Superior had an AWANA program a few years ago and it died off, it just kind of went away,” Schwartzman said. “Last year, our pastor Gray Repke approached me and asked me if I’d like to be commander and start another program.”

At the time, Schwartzman didn’t know a thing about AWANA, but curious, he attended a few classes and a seminar in Missoula.

“And I decided it was something I would like to try,” Schwartzman said.

Last year, the weekly program was held on Sunday night. The kids weren’t showing up and Schwartzman figured that perhaps Sunday nights were a burden on parents.

“I think it was a real burden on parents with homework and this and that…getting ready for Monday morning,” he said. “So this year, we decided to do it on a Thursday afternoon and use our church bus to pick kids up from school and make sure that kids have a ride home, providing that if necessary. We want to make it as simple for parents as we possibly can.”

AWANA stands for approved workman are not ashamed and is a nationwide organization that was started back in the 30s. AWANA was founded as a youth program at the North Side Gospel Center in Chicago, Illinois, by Pastor Lance Latham and Art Rorheim. Their goal was to develop a program that would appeal to young people, reach them with a Christian message of salvation and grow them spiritually through biblical studies.

Soon, other churches heard about the success of the AWANA program and asked if they could use it. By 1960, AWANA had grown to 900 churches. Today, more than 12,000 U.S. churches have AWANA programs and can be found in all 50 states. Outside the United States, AWANA can also be found in more than 6,000 churches in 109 countries and six continents. The name comes from the book of II Timothy in the bible.

“It’s strictly for kids aged kindergarten through sixth grade to sit down and learn scripture,” Schwartzman said. “Hopefully, this is something they can use later in life. There have been quite a few kids that were in the AWANA program that have found a true calling with Christ and ended up as missionaries going to other countries and everything else.”

But it’s not just about learning scripture though that is at the core. On Thursday, game leader Diane Gaston had her hands full as she stood in the center of circle drawn in the grass, the kids standing on the outside edge.

“Line up tallest to shortest,” she called out. In the first game, the kids had to run a lap and then come into the middle and try to be the first to grab the bowling pin. Teams cheered for each other and laughter filled the air. Gaston said that she uses a book to help her come up with ideas.

“I try to get games that will be harder for the older kids and also I have to have games that are easier for the younger kids,” she said. “It’s always lots of fun.”

Gaston said that the games teach kids to listen to the team leaders and pay attention. They also get the kids active, which in turn burns built up energy from sitting in school all day.

Schwartzman said they are also learning teamwork and how to work together, a skill that is necessary to succeed in many of the games. He said that awards are also given out through the program for advancement in the books they use and to game winners. He said that they try to give awards to everyone as well as something special to those who do win at the games. When it comes time to memorize scripture, Schwartzman said they try to have an adult for each child so it’s one-on-one.

“We try to have enough help to work one-on-one,” he said. “There are times when the older kids work together and they can help each other.”

Schwartzman said that not only has he been blown away by the amount of kids, but by the adults that have been coming in to help and sit with a child to help him or her learn scripture. Helping out for Schwartzman is about giving something back.

“I love watching kids laugh,” he said. “I want to give something back. I want to give something back to these kids. When you see one child get it, they get a scripture memorized and they understand what it means, you just see their face light up. It just means the world to me.”

Schwartzman said that the program is very nondenominational though it is held at the Superior Community Church. He stressed that the program is a safe place for parents to leave their children.

“I’m very stringent on security and I’m very particular about who comes and helps,” Schwartzman said. “Your kids are safe with us. And if a parent wants a couple hours on Thursday, there is worse things a child could be doing.”

Schwartzman said that the program is important and is a program for everyone and anyone who wants to learn about Christ. He also said that they’d be happy to have more kids come out. AWANA meets every Thursday, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. A bus will pick the child up at the school to bring them over and if a parent can’t pick up a child, Schwartzman said they can arrange to help out in that area. If anyone would like more information on the program, they should call Schwartzman at 406-370-8093 or Pastor Repke at 822-4690.