My week 1/24/2021-1/30/2021

1466 Miles

4 Different beds

4 States

1 Rental Car

2 Big bags of sunflower seeds

1 Audio Book and several podcasts

My week got started here at Amargosa Christian Fellowship as I did an Awana Basic Training. Pastor James Attebury and his team at ACF will be starting Awana this winter. They will be reaching out to the school children as the school is directly next to this church. ACF will be hosting Awana right after school, and inviting these children to hear about Jesus. I am really looking forward to seeing how God will use this club to reach the children of Amargosa Valley with the love of Jesus. 

Sunday night I had the opportunity to visit Awana at Oasis Baptist Church in Henderson. Awana Ministry Directors Jack and Chanel Walsh have done a great job of maintaining a high level of discipleship in spite of Covid, by partnering with parents and asking them to help their children work in their books and then asking club leaders to record Bible lessons and post them on the club Facebook group during Covid spikes when the club could not meet in person. I was very encouraged. 

Wednesday, I traveled to Lake Havasu City and visited Havasu Alliance Church. HAC has hosted an Awana club for 30 years...what a great legacy. Speaking with Pastor Jon Maki, we agreed on the importance of children's ministry related to the long term health of the church. HAC invites children from many of the churches in Lake Havasu City as well as unchurched children. In years past, HAC has used various methods of advertising to attract kids including a Fun Fair, a parade float on "London Bridge Days"and others. However, this year Pastor Jon told me "the kids just showed up"...Praise God!! So thankful for the ministry at Havasu Alliance Church. 

Thursday, I drove to Washington, UT near St. George and was blessed to visit Southland Bible Church. Southland Bible Church started Awana this year and it was so exciting to see God working. Awana Ministry Director Daryl and Bethanie Thompson shared with me they have been averaging 75-90 children per week. It was so much fun to see children running, laughing, learning God's word and hearing about Jesus. Daryl and Bethanie shared with me how Awana has invigorated the church and caused the congregation to look up and out into the community. Praising God for all He is doing at Southland. 

Long Drive home on Friday. I spent the night Thursday in Mesquite, NV, but there are no shortcuts to get home. While I was gone, Truckee had quite the snowstorm...thank you Judy, Ryan and Jack for clearing the driveway. It was nice to get home and not have to run the snowblower. 

My week 1/3/21-1/17/21

We started the new year by providing 4 online equipping events entitled "Run the Race". We collaborated with 10 other missionaries and provided Awana training to churches from Alaska to Georgia, Arizona to New York. The emphasis of this training was to encourage and equip churches that may be struggling and need new ideas as well as churches that may want to make a mid year start due to the influence of Covid 19. 

I then had the opportunity to get back out on the road and visit some of the clubs across our ministry area. My first stop was at Winnemucca Christian Fellowship. 

My next stop was at Spring Valley Baptist Church in Las Vegas for "White Night". White Night is one of 5 theme nights Spring Valley uses to highlight the 5 colors of the Gospel Wordless Book. It was so encouraging to see kids having fun, hearing about Jesus and memorizing God's word. 

One of the responsibilities of my role as missionary is to present Awana to churches that do not yet have Awana. So this past week, I dropped off information packets to 14 churches that do not have Awana. I hope to follow up with these churches and begin to develop relationships with these pastors and churches.