My Week 11/8/2020-11/15/2020

1451 Miles Driven

Slept in 3 Different Beds

3 States

3 Clubs Visited

Shared Awana at a New Church

Plenty O' Starbucks

2 Big Bags of Sunflower Seeds for the Road

I had the opportunity to visit the club at First Baptist Battle Mountain. Awana Ministry Director Darlinda Sorenson shared with me that they've had many new children coming to club this year, many of these children are unchurched. Very exciting to see God working in Battle Mountain.

Wednesday I drove 523 miles to visit First Southern Baptist Church in Kingman, AZ. God is certainly working in Kingman as AMD Kim Felton reports of new kids and new leaders. Games can be played anywhere and the T&T Bible Lesson was wonderful. Praise God!

The road from Battle Mountain to Kingman is long and lonely, yet beautiful as God's creation is evident. The 523 miles gave me the chance to "read" a complete audio book.

One of my responsibilities is to look for new places to have Awana. On my way from Kingman to Boulder City, I stopped at several churches to see if I could make contact with anyone. This church in AZ used to have Awana, however, they had to drop several years ago as the church burned down. As you can see, the Awana game circle is still there. Our prayer is that this and other churches will rekindle their passion to reach kids with the love of Jesus. 

I was blessed to share with the congregation here, at Amargosa Christian Fellowship about how they can use Awana to reach the children and families in Amargosa Valley with the love of Jesus. Praise God, they've asked me to schedule a training for them to start club in January. 

Sunday, I got to visit the club at Highland Hills Baptist in Henderson. It has been so exciting to see the creativity from our clubs in how they can still reach kids with the love of Jesus in spite of Covid. Highland Hills has done a variety of different things this year to make coming to club as safe as possible.

My Week 11/1/2020-11/7/2020 "We were created to be together"

 

It was so wonderful to drive out to Fallon, NV and see old friends there. The thing I've missed the most about the pandemic is seeing my friends. Although being a missionary is "my job", it is more importantly "my life". I often tell people that I'm never working, but I'm never not working. The relationships I have with the pastors, leaders and clubbers in our area are REAL relationships...it has been so hard not being with those people who I have a shared calling, passion and love for. 

Sparky Letters- The Sparks Club in Fallon wrote letters to me and gave them to me while I was there. What an encouragement!! 

My Week 10/25/2020-10/31/2020

It was SO much fun to get out and start seeing the clubs in our area again this week. I often tell people that in my role as Awana Missionary, "I'm never working, but I'm never not working". The relationships I have with our churches, pastors and leaders are real. Video chat is a good temporary substitute, but I have missed seeing everyone in person. 

On Monday, I was invited to be with the Trek and Journey group from Sierra Bible Church Truckee as they prepared "Homeless Care Packs" for the homeless in Truckee. What a great way to teach these students that God loves all and that the local church needs to reach out to their community. 

Social Distancing

Summit Christian Church in Sparks, NV started this year right on time. It was very encouraging to hear from Awana Ministry Directors Dan and Karla Harker how over the summer they gathered their club directors together to assess and plan how they will do club this year in spite of Covid-19. Karla reported that without exception, the directors said that the mission of reaching kids at Summit MUST go on and "we will find a way". 

Summit Sparkies have two ways to do club; live-traditional and a Zoom option available for kids who are still not ready to attend club in person. The Sparks Director sends out a Bible Lesson online, and then a "Zoom Leader" listens to children recite their verses over the Marco Polo App. The night I visited, there was an "online store". Clubbers received a video of what was available in the store and they phoned in what they'd like to purchase from the store. 

At game time, the Game Director has developed unique games that do not require kids touching game equipment.

The Summit Trek and Journey club have developed a way for some teenagers to participate in club via Zoom video chat. 

Wednesday I spent the night at Sierra Bible Church- Reno. Sierra Bible Church is the oldest club in Nevada. What a legacy! Awana Ministry Director Christy Cronk has set up an "Old School Awana" display to reflect the long term ministry impact that SBC has had in reaching child in Reno with the love of Jesus. Thanks Christy!!