7 Comments

  1. I totally agree with you here Bill. It does need to be an action task. We wanted it to tie directly in with the purpose behind that section so we have kids “invite friends” by sending postcards. We buy the AWANA postcards (come to Awana, Sparks, etc) and we provide the postage if necessary. They have the option to pass them out by hand or fill them out and bring them back and we mail them. We typed up a letter of explanation to the parent and we send it home with the postcards. K5-1st have to do 3 postcards, 2nd-3rd have to do 5 postcards, and 5th-6th have to do 7 postcards. This seems to really help the kids that are shy and it also helps kids that homeschool and don’t see kids every day of the week.

  2. Terrie

    I also struggle with the bring a friend to club section. I believe the reason why so many parents are reluctant to relinquish their children over to attend an Awana club is due to unfamiliarity. How many of us would allow our children to attend an event or a club we are clueless about? If I didn’t know the parents or those who are running the club, there is no way I would allow my children to get involved. We live in a different time than when the section was originally implemented.

    After reading the forums and Commander Bill’s article, I think I will allow my Sparks to do three random acts of kindness for people they don’t know with the help of their parents. I am not quite sure what it will look like in the end, but Commander Bill is correct when saying we need to teach the Sparks that they need to show action of God’s love to all people, not just the people we know or like. I will be talking with parents one to one on this. The parents will have the option of what they would like their child to do.

  3. Elliot R.

    Hey Commander Bill. Thanks for the many resources and discussion topics you bring up. I have found many of them helpful. As far as the current topic ‘Bring a Friend’ I can tell you that I have struggled with this a few years back. When I took over as being the T&T director for our club I was having difficulty with the way the previous directors had handled these sections. Many of the clubbers would choose the ‘Say more Verses’ option rather than bring a friend. My struggle was with what I believe the section was to accomplish. We are to be witnesses of the Lord Jesus and that the best way (Biblical way) id to tell our friends about Jesus. Needless to say, I did meet some resistance with both clubbers and parents when I informed everyone that in order to complete that section was to actually invite, and bring, 2 friends (Sparkies are to bring only one if I remember correctly). Something wonderful started happening. The clubbers were actually bringing friends! When clubbers would personally ask me if there were other options I would ask them if they prayed about it? In almost every circumstance they said that they hadn’t. My response to that is that I believe that Jesus has a few friends that He wants them to bring to club and to hear the good news of God’s love, forgiveness, mercy, and free gift of salvation (in kid lingo, that is). I would ask them to pray with me and we would pray together right then. I would also pray for those kids each week. In almost every situation the kids brought two, or more, friends! This provides an excellent opportunity to follow up with the clubber about how God is faithful and that we should be going to Him with all of our cares…even inviting friends to AWANA! Now, I realize that this doesn’t happen for everyone. In fact I wait until about 4 week left in the club and I offer another option. That option is to go door-to-door with me and some other leaders to hand out flyers about our church and about our AWANA club. I usually plan the activity a week or two before one of our favorite large group missionary come to share with us and promote His ministry. Before we go out I have a little ‘training’ session about safety, rules of conduct, and explain the reason for the activity. Though we have not had any visitors from that activity (to the best of my knowledge) is serves as a valuable lesson about sharing with other people (the clubbers actually do the talking by reading through a script with leaders standing with them). For the last two weeks I offer a final solution where the parent(s) of the clubber submit a letter that their clubber has asked more than two friends to come but the friends were unable to come.

    • Hi Elliot,

      That’s a great idea! It seems that we forget about praying for God to help us. Glad to see you’re teaching the children to learn that God answers prayers and that we need to tell others about Him.

      Thanks for sharing!

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