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. 

My week 12/6/2020-12/18/2020

1300 Miles

3 Different Hotel Rooms

2 Big Bags of Sunflower Seeds

Lot's of desert out the window

Numerous beautiful sunsets

I started the week spending my birthday with Judy, Jack, Ryan and Maggie at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno. We had a great time bowling, swimming at the outdoor pool, working our way through the escape room and spending time together over meals...a great reminder of what is important. 

I had the opportunity to drive out and visit churches and pastors in Utah and Northeast Nevada. Sunsets in the desert are beautiful. 

Tuesday, I visited the club at Midvalley Bible Church in Bluffdale, UT. Midvalley has had an Awana Ministry for 53 years! What a legacy, as many generations of families have come to know Jesus through the ministry of Awana at Midvalley...Praise God!

I met with pastor Andrew Peterson at Kaysville Bible Church in Kaysville, UT. Pastor Andrew is the youth pastor at KBC and he shared with me how God is working here in spite of Covid. Praise Him!

Wednesday, I visited Grace Community Bible Church in Sandy, UT. Grace has two groups of kids attending. One group comes live and wearing masks, the other group stays home and watches club through Zoom. As a way to mitigate Covid-19, rather than sitting in rows, the Grace congregation sits together at tables. It has been so much fun to see the creativity of churches as they continue to evangelize and disciple the children and families in their communities. 

Thursday I was blessed to have lunch with Jim and Pauline Thacher. Jim and Pauline have served as Awana Ministry Directors at Midvalley Bible for 52 years. So much fun to spend the afternoon hearing the stories of how God has worked at Midvalley over the years. This is a photo with Jim and Pauline and Awana Missionary Joel Culberson at the 50 year celebration of the Thacher's ministry.  Joel was a clubber as a boy at Midvalley and years later, now serves as Awana Missionary in Kansas and Missouri. 

I stopped by Wells Baptist Church in Wells, NV on my way west. After a great start last year, due to Covid, Wells Baptist has had to put Awana on hold. Please be in prayer for all of these "hold" clubs that they will find a way to reach kids with the love of Jesus. 

There was quite a bit of excitement Friday night at the club at Ruby Mountain Bible Church in Spring Creek Nevada. Awana Ministry Directors Tim and Seri Orr have built a great team of student and adult leaders who disciple the kids at RMBC. 

I left Elko a day early to avoid the snowy roads coming home, but couldn't escape the snow in Truckee.

Awana Christmas party on Zoom. I think I've heard "We've never done it that way before" so many times in 2020, with the employee Christmas party being no different.

I spent the rest of the week working with my missionary team preparing our January online training event. There are many churches who may either launch their club mid year or just need a little encouragement as this has been a very difficult year of ministry. You can register at events.awana.org Look for "Equipped to Run the Race". 

We'll spend the rest of 2020 celebrating the birth of our Savior with family and friends. 

Thank you again for all you do to reach kids with the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. For your prayers, your passion for kids, your financial support, your faithfulness in this season and most of all for your friendship. TOGETHER, we are working to give children the greatest gift they will ever receive. 

"For unto us a child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." 

Isaiah 9:6

Merry Christmas!

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!!