Two years ago, my daughter earned the Awana Citation Award. This year my son earned it!
In each of the years of hard work from grade 3 to grade 12 he:
- completed a Bible study book (a total of 10)
- memorized over 800 verses
- performed service projects (mainly as a Leader in Training, helping the younger kids in the club)
- attended Christian seminars
- And then in his highschool year he read through the entire Bible and summarized each of the books upon completion to the leader (1/4 in each of his 4 years of high school)
(Did I forget anything?)
My son will have a scholarship at the college he will attend in the fall, because of the Citation Award.
Also, he was hired for a job at Chick-fil-A today and was given a pay raise (on top of minimum wage) for the Citation Award (and for being homeschooled)!
MCCLEAN BIBLE CHURCH MANASSAS
My son is the first to have received this award in our church, McClean Bible Church Manassas, which started using the Awana program two years ago.
My son was excited about transferring his Awana work to McClean a few years ago to help them get established.
The leadership was so excited about his having the first Citation Award, that there were two presentations.
The first was Friday night during the Awana Awards night, when his director presented the award.
The second was at our church service, because our campus pastor also wanted to present the award at both services!
Initially the director told my son to have a story ready, which the pastor heard, who had my son tell the story during each of the church services.
MY SON’S FUNNY STORY TESTIMONY
W-a-y back in the beginning, when my son first started Awanas in the Sparky club as a kindergartener, he brought home his first handbook to memorize.
Even though I was helping him with the memory work, my son was exceedingly discouraged so when my back was turned he started scheming how he could put an end to this trauma.
He ripped up his handbook and threw it in the garbage…where I found it, taped it back together and told him he *would* do this and I *would* help him.
I told him I understood he wasn’t thankful for it today, but someday he would earn the Citation Award because I was going to make sure he worked hard and stayed on track each year.
I don’t think he believed me or cared at the time, but now he laughs about it and thanks me! Lol
Someone at church who heard this story couldn’t believe he ever had a meltdown.
My son has learned quite a bit about character since then, and is now Mr. Calm, Cool, and Collected. 😉
NOT ABOUT THE AWARDS
I also told my kids over the years that Awana is not about the awards but about hiding God’s Word in their heart, so they have strength to draw on when they need it.
Also, Awanas has been a *Trek, and a *Journey, as they learn to study God’s Word, memorize God’s Word, and draw strength from God.
I tell them each year when they graduate that these Awana years were merely stepping stones as they enter the real world, where they will need God’s Word more than ever.
Also because of the Word they have stored in their hearts, they can draw on it when asked about their faith.
Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. -I Peter 3:15
Many thanks to Wayside Chapel in San Antonio where we began our Awana journey, and taught us how to be a Berean, which resulted in a great club experience!
And many thanks to McClean who opened the Awana club to highschoolers, also with the Berean concept.
*Trek and Journey are levels from Awana which I borrowed for the word picture.
