Awana in the News Go to Awana in the News archive November 20, 2009 Sparky Shines His Light Q&A With Author Jack Eggar Sparky Shines His Light has arrived! This delightful read marks the storybook debut of Sparky the Firefly, the lovable You've written books for adults. What made you decide to write a children's book? Read the full interview about Sparky Shines His Light with Jack Eggar Moody Radio Spotlights Awana International's work in Kenya, Zambia An interview about Awana from Kenya aired live on the Nancy Turner World View Wednesday Moody radio program on November 18. (Listen to the archived broadcast by clicking here.) Moody Producer Jon Gauger described how Awana is making a difference in some of the most poverty-stricken areas of the world, such as the Kibera slum in Kenya. Joseph Mbange, Awana national director for Zambia, and Steve Modrzejewski, Awana International finance officer, accompanied Jon as he visited clubs in the region. Tom Chilton, Awana International director of training, provided background information from the Moody studio in Chicago. Larry Fowler, author of Raising a Modern-Day Joseph, was a featured guest on the Fresh Start show with Audrey Altman on South Florida Moody Radio. He discussed the growing trend of at least 50 percent of kids leaving the church after high school. This is in stark contrast to only 1.8 percent of long-term Awana participants abandoning the church as adults. The key is parental involvement in their children’s spiritual training. Due to his rock-solid faith and integrity in the face of temptation, Joseph from the book of Genesis is the role model that parents can follow when developing a plan. Larry’s book outlines the five characteristics Joseph possessed that parents can teach their kids. Linda Weddle, author of How to Raise a Modern-Day Joseph, also appeared on the Fresh Start show on November 4. The workshop “How to Raise a Modern Day Joseph – Five Master Life Threads” focuses on the five key life characteristics that Joseph of Genesis possessed to maintain a strong walk with God. Linda Massey Weddle, author of How to Raise a Modern Day Joseph, draws concepts from her book to give parents practical ways to develop these “life threads” in their children. The two-day Parenting Vision and Strategy Conference, held at Wheaton Bible Church in Wheaton, Illinois, features four parenting expert keynote speakers and 16 different workshops. Larry Fowler Discusses Raising Modern-Day Josephs on National FamilyLife Radio What are you doing to grow spiritually strong youth? That was the topic of the October 16 edition of the nationwide FamilyLife Today radio program. Larry Fowler spent the 30-minute show talking with hosts Dennis Rainey and Bob Lepine about instilling your children with biblical faith and character. Larry is Awana executive director of global training. He's also author of the books Raising a Modern-Day Joseph: A Timeless Strategy for Growing Great Kids and Rock-Solid Kids.
My Church & Awana Month: 30 Days of Celebrating Changed Lives™ My Church & Awana Month celebrates the impact of local-church Awana ministries in the U.S. on their: • Children and youth Churches interested in holding My Church & Awana Month may find more information and free downloadable resources by visiting the event landing page. (Sign in to the ART leadership portal for details and resources.) Media may contact Awana Media Relations Manager David Bunker at mediarelations@awana.org for interviews and more information. Join Awana at the Focus on Parenting Simulcast, the Parenting Event of the Year Awana and Focus on the Family are partnering to equip parents to spiritually lead their homes. Our Focus on Parenting™ Simulcast November 14 will bring parents a unique spiritual perspective you won’t find at any other event. Larry Fowler – author of Raising a Modern-Day Joseph – invites you to join him live via satellite at a host church near you. Larry will deliver a keynote address on the importance of having a spiritual target for your kids. Larry will be joined by other leading parenting experts who have a passion for seeing kids thrive. Through their insights, you will gain a biblical perspective on bringing up godly children as well as practical guidance. Visit the Focus on Parenting Web site to learn more about the simulcast. Returning Hearts Celebration is Bringing Hope to Kids of Inmate Dads at Angola Prison Once considered the most violent prison in the nation, the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola becomes a center of healing A total of 540 children and 440 inmate fathers raced across the prison grounds to embrace each other at the opening of the fifth annual Returning Hearts Celebration this past March. The nation’s largest gathering of children and their inmate fathers, Returning Hearts is a joint effort between the penitentiary and Awana. In addition to a fun-filled family day in a carnival-style atmosphere, Returning Hearts Celebration is a time when fathers who may not have seen their children for years can ask for forgiveness and begin reconciliation with their daughters and sons. This helps to break the cycle of crime in families. ‘I heard him call me Daddy’ “There are two sentences children need to hear from their fathers this day: ‘I’m sorry and I love you,’” said Lyndon Azcuna, director of Awana Lifeline, the prison ministry of Awana. “If we prevent one of them from following a pattern of crime, we prevent one less victim in the future.” The inmates and their children were not the only ones to benefit from Returning Hearts Celebration. An event of this magnitude could only be possible with the help of 565 volunteers. Many of them were repeating the experience the second, third or even fourth time. Most say they receive more than they give. “You have to come down and experience it for yourself,“ volunteer Elizabeth Marshall said. “This is really amazing, seeing all the dads with their kids, being a family just for a day.” Building a legacy of hope for prisoners and their kids Since it was implemented in 2003, Returning Hearts has expanded to seven other prisons. The next Returning Hearts at Louisiana State Penitentiary is scheduled for May 1, 2010. A Bright Spot in an Age of Flatlining Church Attendance The Southern Baptist Convention’s own research arm reports that SBC membership will fall nearly 50 percent The Southern Baptists are only a microcosm of the struggles of churches across America to attract visitors. In separate 2009 studies, the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life and Gallup discovered that even the current economic woes have not spurred increased weekly church attendance. One key to more effective evangelism is who churches target. Ministries and researchers agree that preschool to middle school is the most responsive age group to spiritual matters, particularly coming to church, trusting Christ for salvation and learning biblical truth. Helping churches reach non-churched children is the mission of The Great ShakeUP. This kid-to-kid evangelism initiative is an annual event of Awana. Kicking off its fifth year this fall, The Great ShakeUP has drawn tens of thousands of kids to churches’ Awana programs. In its 2005-06 debut alone, 19,000 first-time visitors attended ShakeUP events at 2,000 churches nationwide. The ShakeUP is particularly popular with grade-school children. In its first year, churches participating in the ShakeUP saw their Awana programs for kindergarten through sixth grade grow by 12.8 percent, or 18,675 new clubbers. In all, attendance for these clubs rose 3.3 percent from September to March as 4,823 visitors remained in Awana in the months following the ShakeUP. Using primarily free downloadable resources, the ShakeUP equips local-church Awana volunteers and parents to train children how to invite non-churched peers to their Awana club. The first two weeks of the ShakeUP teach kids how to invite friends, classmates and neighbors to Awana using the Pass the SALT evangelism method: Search (identify friends to invite who don't go to Awana or church), Ask (ask God for those friends to be able to come to Awana), Link (be a link for friends to know Jesus by inviting them to the ShakeUP) and Transport (offer to give friends a ride to the ShakeUP if possible). Week three is Parents’ Week. The church enlists Awana parents to support the ShakeUP by helping their children succeed in bringing friends to Awana and by assisting parents of new children in Awana after the ShakeUP. Week four is the ShakeUP event. This special night is when kids, volunteers and parents pull together to share God’s message of hope with visitors. The ShakeUP is an outgrowth of the chief focus of Awana on child and youth evangelism. Awana helps churches and parents in 100 countries raise children and youth to know, love and serve Christ. Modern-Day Joseph Author Discusses Benefits of Awana on FamilyLife Today Radio Show The August 21 edition of the nationwide FamilyLife Today radio program interviewed Larry Fowler about how Awana brings kids to faith in Christ and grows them spiritually through God's Word. Larry is author of Raising a Modern-Day Joseph and Rock-Solid Kids, Awana executive director of global training and a keynote speaker at the Focus on ParentingTM Simulcast Conference November 14. FamilyLife Today is hosted by FamilyLife Ministries President Dennis Rainey and Bob Lepine. Listen to the archived August 21 program or read a full transcript |
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and reconciliation for families one special Saturday each year.
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