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Awana (Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed, also incorrectly pronounced plural as "Awanas") is an international, Bible-centered youth ministry providing local churches with weekly clubs, programs and training for students in preschool through high school. Its goal is to enable churches to reach out to children and teenagers in their communities, and their families, with the gospel of Jesus. The acronym "Awana" comes from the first letters of Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed as taken from 2 Timothy 2:15.

Awana began in 1950 as a youth program at the North Side Gospel Center in Chicago, Illinois. Lance Latham, the church pastor, worked with Art Rorheim to develop a program that would appeal to young people, reach them with the gospel and train them in the Lord’s work. 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 11,000 U.S. churches have Awana programs and can be found in all 50 states. Outside the United States, Awana can also be found in over 3,800 churches in 108 countries and six continents. Jack Eggar is its current President and CEO.

Awana updates its curriculum and materials accordingly. In the mid 1990's, their programs were revamped and reworked to better fit with changes in culture. In the U.S. and Canada, Awana is split into five age groups: Cubbies, Sparks, Truth & Training (T&T), Trek, and Journey. Prior to the curriculum changes, the clubs were: Cubbies, Sparks, Pal/Pioneers (for boys), Chums/Guards (for girls), Jr. Varsity (JV), and Varsity. Internationally, the age groups offered in each country vary.

For each child or teen the components of the program include: 1) a handbook that allows each child to learn at their own pace, 2) a uniform shirt, vest or sash and 3) awards are earned as the child or teen successfully completes the requirements of a section of the handbook, usually including scripture memorization. Kids meet once a week throughout the school year and each time they come together the kids participate in unique games, a group teaching time and individual one-on-one time with a leader to review the lessons they learned that week.

Awana is a non-denominational program; any church willing to use the Awana materials as published are able to use the program and are encouraged to contact Awana about beginning the program. However, the church cannot be affiliated with either the National Council of Churches or the World Council of Churches.

Youth leaders or pastors also have the option of using only the program portions that interest them (For example, using the 'Journey' level material for teen's in-depth study sessions).

Some Awana programs distribute currency called Awana Bucks that is used by some churches and given to children for successfully moving up in the Awana ranks and for memorizing verses. They can be used to buy certain things at Store Days on certain Awana nights; although this varies from church to church it usually involves plastic trinkets and inexpensive toys for small amounts, Bibles for slightly more, and gift certificates from local shops (such as ice cream shops and small theme parks) for more courageous spenders.

As an organization, Awana has begun to move beyond just offering training and materials for churches to run bible-based kids clubs. They have begun a leader and parent development ministry called the "Rorheim Institute". The purpose of the ministry is to help adults (and other ministry leaders) evangelize and disciple children and youth. The training helps raise up the importance of children's ministry and give parents and leaders the confidence to shepherd children into forming a true biblical worldview and living it out.

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+'''Awana''' ('''A'''pproved '''W'''orkmen '''A'''re '''N'''ot '''A'''shamed, also incorrectly pronounced plural as "Awanas") is an international, [[Bible]]-centered youth ministry providing local [[churches]] with weekly clubs, programs and training for students in preschool through high school. Its goal is to enable churches to reach out to children and teenagers in their communities, and their families, with the [[gospel]] of [[Jesus]]. The acronym "Awana" comes from the first letters of ''A''pproved ''W''orkmen ''A''re ''N''ot ''A''shamed as taken from 2 [[Timothy]] 2:15.
-{{sources}}
+Awana began in [[1950]] as a youth program at the North Side Gospel Center in [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]]. [[Lance Latham]], the church pastor, worked with Art Rorheim to develop a program that would appeal to young people, reach them with the gospel and train them in the Lord’s work. 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 11,000 [[U.S.]] churches have Awana programs and can be found in all 50 states. Outside the United States, Awana can also be found in over 3,800 churches in 108 countries and six continents. [[Jack Eggar]] is its current President and CEO.
-'''Awana''' ('''A'''pproved '''W'''orkmen '''A'''re '''N'''ot '''A'''shamed) is an international, [[Bible]]-centered youth ministry providing local [[churches]] with weekly clubs, programs and training for students in preschool through high school. Its goal is to enable churches to reach out to children and teenagers in their communities, and their families, with the [[gospel]] of [[Jesus]]. The acronym "Awana" comes from the first letters of ''A''pproved ''W''orkmen ''A''re ''N''ot ''A''shamed as taken from 2 [[Timothy]] 2:15.
+Awana updates its curriculum and materials accordingly.  In the mid 1990's, their programs were revamped and reworked to better fit with changes in culture. In the U.S. and Canada, Awana is split into five age groups: Cubbies, Sparks, Truth & Training (T&T), Trek, and Journey. Prior to the curriculum changes, the clubs were: Cubbies, Sparks, Pal/Pioneers (for boys), Chums/Guards (for girls), Jr. Varsity (JV), and Varsity. Internationally, the age groups offered in each country vary.
-Awana began in [[1950]] as a youth program at the North Side Gospel Center in [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]]. [[Lance Latham]], the church pastor, worked with Art Rorheim to develop a program that would appeal to young people, reach them with the gospel and train them in the Lord’s work. 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.
+For each child or teen the components of the program include: 1) a handbook that allows each child to learn at their own pace, 2) a uniform shirt, vest or sash and 3) awards are earned as the child or teen successfully completes the requirements of a section of the handbook, usually including scripture memorization. Kids meet once a week throughout the school year and each time they come together the kids participate in unique games, a group teaching time and individual one-on-one time with a leader to review the lessons they learned that week.
-Today, more than 11,000 [[U.S.]] churches have Awana programs and can be found in all 50 states. Outside the United States, Awana can also be found in over 3,800 churches in 108 countries and six continents. [[Jack Eggar]] is its current President and CEO.
-In the U.S. and Canada, Awana is split into five age groups: Cubbies, Sparks, Truth & Training (T&T), Trek, and Journey. Internationally, the age groups offered in each country vary.
-For each child or teen the components of the program include: 1) a handbook that allows each child to learn at their own pace, 2) a uniform shirt, vest or sash and 3) awards are earned as the child or teen successfully completes the requirements of a section of the handbook, usually including scripture memorization.
-Kids meet once a week throughout the school year and each time they come together the kids participate in unique games, a group teaching time and individual one-on-one time with a leader to review the lessons they learned that week.
 Awana is a non-denominational program; any church willing to use the Awana materials as published are able to use the program and are encouraged to contact Awana about beginning the program.  However, the church cannot be affiliated with either the [[National Council of Churches]] or the [[World Council of Churches]].
-Youth pastors have the option of using only the program portions that interest them (For example, using the 'Journey' level material for teen's in-depth study sessions).
+Youth leaders or pastors also have the option of using only the program portions that interest them (For example, using the 'Journey' level material for teen's in-depth study sessions).
-There is also money called ''Awana Bucks'' that is used by some churches and given to children for successfully moving up in the Awana ranks and memorizing verses. They can be used to buy certain things at Store Days on certain Awana Nights- although this varies from church to church, it usually involves plastic trinkets and cheap toys for a low prices, Bibles for medium prices, and gift certificates from local shops (such as ice cream shops and small theme parks) for high prices.
+Some Awana programs distribute [[currency]] called ''Awana Bucks'' that is used by some churches and given to children for successfully moving up in the Awana ranks and for memorizing verses. They can be used to buy certain things at Store Days on certain Awana nights; although this varies from church to church it usually involves plastic trinkets and inexpensive toys for small amounts, Bibles for slightly more, and gift certificates from local shops (such as ice cream shops and small theme parks) for more courageous spenders.
-As an organization, Awana has begun to move beyond just offering training and materials for churches to run bible-based kids clubs.  They have begun a leader and parent development ministry called the "Rorheim Institute".  The purpose of the ministry is to help adults (parents and children's ministry leaders)evangelize and disciple children and youth.  The training helps raise up the importance of children's ministry and give parents and leaders the confidence to shepherd children into forming a true biblical worldview and living it out.
+As an organization, Awana has begun to move beyond just offering training and materials for churches to run bible-based kids clubs. They have begun a leader and parent development ministry called the "Rorheim Institute". The purpose of the ministry is to help adults (and other ministry leaders) evangelize and disciple children and youth.  The training helps raise up the importance of children's ministry and give parents and leaders the confidence to shepherd children into forming a true biblical worldview and living it out.
 == See also ==