Awana President/CEO Jack D. Eggar

Whether serving as a pastor, overseas missionary or Bible college president, Jack Eggar has always been motivated to see lives changed for eternity through the power of the gospel and the truth of God’s Word. Jack’s passion for evangelism and discipleship through the local church, and his vision for international ministry, have been an ideal fit for Awana since his appointment as President/CEO in 1999.

Under Jack’s direction, Awana has significantly expanded its impact worldwide. After partnering with approximately 9,000 churches in 1999, today Awana helps more than 17,000 churches and millions of parents raise children and youth to know, love and serve Christ. Awana works with over 12,000 churches from 100 Christian denominations in the U.S. plus more than 5,000 churches in 109 other countries.

Jack’s first priority for Awana is to constantly seek fresh opportunities to help churches win children, youth and families to Christ. Jack’s leadership has taken Awana to new horizons. He is passionate about parents working alongside the church to raise kids to know, love and serve Christ. Jack’s desire for children, teens and parents to become devoted Christ followers has also driven partnerships with other ministries, establishment of a summer soccer outreach program, launch of a family ministry program called HomeBase and new strategies that accelerate the spread of Awana globally through churches and even orphanages, schools and other Christian institutions.

Jack’s commitment to influence churches and families for the cause of Christ has also led him to branch out into new avenues. He has authored three books: Shaping Your Family’s Faith (2007), a modern-day parable for strengthening marriages, families and parents’ spiritual training skills; The Return of a Mighty Church (2005), offering biblical principles for church leadership and growth; and Great and Mighty Things (2004), which explains the Awana vision for equipping churches to reach and develop kids and teens spiritually. He has conducted a wide variety of interviews on TV, radio and with newspapers, magazines and online media, including such media outlets as Focus on the Family, Family Net, Moody and UNI News. Jack also frequently speaks at conferences, events and seminars around the world and travels to dozens of countries each year to collaborate with and encourage Awana missionaries, staff and volunteers.

Jack gained a wealth of ministry experience overseas and in the U.S. prior to arriving at Awana. Jack and his wife, Dona, began full-time ministry in 1974 as church youth directors in California. Jack built and taught a new youth ministry major at a Christian college before he and Dona settled in South Korea as church-planting missionaries who later organized a Bible college. In 1980, they moved to Fiji to establish a Christian leadership college for the South Pacific.

Jack was introduced to Awana when he returned to the States in 1987 to pastor a church in California. Jack and Dona used Awana as a tool for community outreach, bringing hundreds of kids and families to Christ and sparking unprecedented growth for the church. Their involvement in Awana deepened when they joined the effort to launch the Awana ministry in the former Soviet Union in 1991. Even after his return to Fiji in 1992, Jack continued assisting Awana with overseas expansion projects until his hiring as Awana international missions director in 1997. Jack became Awana President/CEO two years later.

For nearly 60 years, Awana has been a leader in children’s ministry. Based in the Chicago area, Awana is the only organization with fully integrated evangelism and discipleship programs for ages 2 to 18 that actively involve parents, church leaders and mentors. Each week, nearly 1.5 million children and youth, 250,000 volunteers and 300-plus field staff take part in Awana in the U.S. and internationally, and millions of adults are alumni.

Outside of Awana, the Eggars have four grown children (Joshua, Justin, Jessica and Bekah), all of whom participated in Awana, along with four grandchildren (Daniel, Emma, Erin and Eric). They reside in suburban Chicago. Dona is co-commander of their church’s Awana program, and Jack volunteers as a T&T leader.

To schedule an interview with Jack, contact Awana Media Relations at (630) 213-2000 or PR@awana.org.

Biographical Timeline