AWANA stands for "Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed", and is derived from a letter by St. Paul in the New Testament, 2 Timothy 2:15: "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth."

My children participate in AWANA when they are with my wife's ex-husband; given his attendance at a church with a strong reputation for being unfriendly to queer folk (and his own directly expressed homophobia), it didn't seem unlikely that the youth group associated with that church would be problematic, so I wanted to find out more about it.

I searched far and wide through Google for a site offering an informed critique of AWANA, which describes itself as "a nondenominational ministry that assists churches in reaching children and teenagers with the gospel of Jesus Christ and training them to serve Him." Since I couldn't find one (not one single page critical of it, except from an even more fundamentalist Christian perspective than AWANA itself), I decided to create this page, as a resource for parents searching for information about AWANA - especially parents in a situation similar to mine, who share custody with another parent whose beliefs and values differ radically from their own (both my wife and I are out bisexual activists, so obviously having our children indoctrinated with homophobic fundamentalist Christian propaganda is less than pleasant).

AWANA is careful to present itself in a very neutral fashion, so even moderate Christian folk might not understand the full implications of having their children participate in AWANA - I hope a broad cross-section of people find this page useful. Email me at awana-feedback@thomasleavitt.org with your thoughts. Note: life is short, if you want to flame me for attacking AWANA, being bisexual, accuse me of being a Satanist, or anything else along those lines, don't expect a response. I've no interest in being "saved", either. I'm very happy being a Gnostic Christian, and attending Church at the Ecclesia Gnostica Mysteriorum and Ecclesia Gnostica (when I am in Los Angeles).

In their own words, their "goal is to reach boys and girls, and their families, with the gospel of Christ and train them to serve Him." It is also about converting their families and friends (if you are not a fundamentalist Christian, and your children have friends in AWANA, be aware that your kids are a target for conversion). AWANA wants your children, and you, to find God - their way (they don't give charters to churches that are supportive of ecumenical apostates like the National Conference of Churches (NCC)or World Council of Churches (WCC) - nor do they approve of "charismatic" churches, either - or Roman Catholic ones, for that matter... let alone "liberal" churches, like Unitarians or Quakers). Fortunately for me, it doesn't appear that the local fundamentalists have any interest in converting me or my wife - but it is clear that if you give them an inch, they'll take a yard.

Here's an item from the AWANA (www.awana.org) home page, as of May 1st, 2003 (it had been on there a while):

Family Matters on Salvation - When a child is the first person in his family to trust Christ as Savior, the remainder of the family will also come to faith 31 percent of the time, according to research in Promise Keepers At Work by Bob Horner, Ron Ralston and David Sunday for Focus on the Family. When a mother/woman is the first of her family to be saved, the rest of the family will follow 17 percent of the time. That statistic jumps to 93 percent when a man/father is the first person in the family to trust Christ.

Here's an item from the AWANA "Heart of Texas" web site (www.awanahot.org):

If YOU want to evangelize, challenge, and train children, teens, and their families according to God's design ­ while at the same time equipping individuals in your church for ministry and strengthening their faith ­ Awana wants to help. [...] Often, through reaching these boys and girls with the simple gospel message, entire families are reached for Christ.

Signal Magazine, published by AWANA, ran a whole series of articles on "Unsaved Parents" (this means you, if you're not "saved", and your kids are participating in AWANA):

Ripe for the pickin’ - The economy is on the upswing, but so is Americans’ interest in spirituality and fears about the country’s moral decline. AWANA leaders have a golden opportunity to lead unsaved parents to the truth they’re searching for - Jesus Christ.

Pointing Parents to the Savior - Just ask these moms and dads if AWANA leaders really can make a difference.

The way to most unsaved parents’ hearts is through their children.

Don’t hide - A tiny percentage of believers share their faith. Are you one of them?

We might be the only ones who ever take the time to explain the gospel to the moms and dads in our midst. Put yourself in their shoes. Are you ready?

As well, kids participating in AWANA's Truth & Training, the Awana program for 3rd through 6th graders, are expected to bring two friends to club (obviously, as a means of putting ministry into practice):

T&T “Bring a Friend” Options
Book One, Discovery 5:7, requires clubbers to bring two friends to club. However, we know that this is difficult for some. We don’t want to list options in the handbook, but we do want to give you, the leaders, options — for those kids who have sincerely tried but are not able to find friends who can come to club.

AWANA is fundamentalist - in a very specific way (as mentioned above - they have fairly strict limits on whether a church can register to host an AWANA youth group). One look at their What We Believe page provides evidence enough of that. I'll just quote the first, and the last entries...

THE BIBLE
We believe that the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, is supernaturally inspired, so that it is inerrant in the original manuscripts and preserved by God in its verbal and plenary inspiration, so that it is a divinely authoritative standard for every age and every life. (Matthew 5:18; 1 Corinthians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:21)

THE SECOND COMING
We believe in the personal, premillennial and imminent coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We believe in the bodily resurrection of the dead, of the believer to everlasting glory and the unbeliever to judgment and everlasting conscious punishment. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52; Titus 2:11-13; John 14:1-6; Matthew 25:46; Revelation 20:11-15; 2 Peter 3:10)

If you want details, there is a semi-official statement on the topic of what churches may host an AWANA youth group, and how AWANA deals with doctrinal differences, that an AWANA representative posted to one of their internal forums (read the whole thread for some context).

In March 2001, Awana reaffirmed its roots by readopting the original doctrinal statement. It was and is a strong positive declaration of what we believe. At the same time, recognizing the autonomy of the local church, we made a procedural change by switching from chartering to registering churches. The term “charter” had taken on the appearance that churches were joining something when in fact, they were merely agreeing to our doctrinal position and affirming they would teach our materials with out addition or omission.

The registration process does essentially the same thing. Note the following statement taken from the current registration form. “The Awana program and materials are available to all Bible believing churches, who in good faith understanding of our doctrinal basis will teach the doctrines of the program materials in their entirety. We allow the church to make an informed independent decision.”

At the same time, motivated by our desire to make a strong positive declaration of “who we are,” a couple of policy statements were dropped. These addressed issues we believe a para-church organization should leave to the local church. However, this in no way changed who we are.

Charismatic Churches

Did these changes automatically open the door of Awana to charismatic churches? No. Our doctrinal statement, as previously stated, is a strong positive declaration of who we are. Our clubber materials reflect and amplify that document. A true charismatic church will have a tough time agreeing to teach our positions on the baptism of the Spirit, security of the believer, inspiration of the scripture (complete and final authority) and current ministry of the Holy Spirit. Why would a genuine charismatic church sign an agreement that obligates them to teach something they do not believe?

What happens if the church violates the registration agreement? Nothing until the violation becomes known and documented. We have no desire to be policemen. We rely, and have always relied, upon the integrity of the local church, and that’s the way it should be. When individuals or churches voluntarily enter an agreement, it’s always their integrity that is at stake.

We believe that churches choose our materials because of our sound doctrine, biblical approach to the gospel, the quality of programs and materials and the opportunity afforded to “evangelize, challenge and train youth” of the local church and community. We exist to serve that type of church.

Should you have additional questions about these or other doctrinal issues, contact us at doctrine@awana.org and we will respond.

AWANA is not universally popular among conservative Christians - but, it is in looking at exactly who is criticizing AWANA, and how ultra-conservative these groups and individuals are, and what they are criticizing it about, that you really understand how conservative AWANA is itself. These folks aren't exactly hard to find, but they don't exactly dominate discourse about AWANA, either. One prime example is "Bible Discernment Ministries" (a ultra-fundamentalist newsletter... from my perspective, of course, ultra-ultra-ultra fundamentalist), which has an article "exposing" AWANA as an "ecumenical" organization that tolerates "apostate" churches such as the Southern Baptist Convention and American Baptist Convention who are objectionable for many reasons, not the least of which is that they actually occassionally work with the National Council of Churches. The author expands on the previous item in this article, which basically just cites a couple of more instances of "illegitimate" associations with "ecumenical" organizations (for example, attendance at the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) Convention).

The previous articles cite an ultra-conservative Christian newsletter entitled the "Calvary Contender", which has published several attacks on AWANA for its "increasing liberalism" over the years (primarily for permitting AWANA Clubs to be hosted by American Baptist Convention affiliated churches). Here's one report from that newsletter:

FBF RESOLUTION ON AWANA - The Fundamental Baptist Fellowship recognizes the valuable contribution made by AWANA Clubs International in the evangelization and discipleship of children and youth. It appreciates the benefits of Scripture memory in the many churches whose pastors are identified with the FBF. According to its own documents and published correspondence, the AWANA Charter, prior to 1995, was "not available to churches affiliated with denominations that (were) members of the National Council of Churches (USA only) and/or the World Council of Churches." By its own admission, NCC churches, such as those in the American Baptist Churches, USA, were chartered since 1963. When the American Council of Christian Churches pointed out this contradiction, AWANA changed its policy to state that "the AWANA Charter is not available to churches that are supportive of the National Council of Churches..." The FBF affirms its agreement with the ACCC in its concern over this significant weakening of the AWANA policy. Whereas AWANA should have enforced its original policy, it changed its policy to state more directly its own contradictory practice. The FBF calls on the AWANA Clubs International to correct this unscriptural compromise with the NCC and declares its conviction that there can be no NCC member that is not in "de facto" support of its unscriptural mission.

Here is another, more recent report:

AWANA IS CHANGING AGAIN—Awana recently sent a letter from its president to churches who currently use Awana. The biggest changes are in the doctrinal statement where it has reverted back to its weaker original statement and dropped the stronger recent one. It claims it is going back to its roots, but this is really a step toward further compromise. A Kansas pastor wrote the following, in a recent long discourse with an Awana official: “….I will not argue with you about Awana's glorious history and how God has used it….My problem is with the deceit of chartering American Baptist Churches [member of apostate NCC/WCC] despite the clear statements prohibiting it, and now the removing of key parts of the doctrinal statement that clearly speak against false doctrine and trends such as the charismatic movement, and the policy change. Its statement formerly said churches who used Awana were not to be 'affiliated with' the NCC/WCC at all. Then they weakened it to 'not be supportive of.'” Now this more recent change is to drop the policy on this completely, and opens the door for charismatic/Pentecostal and liberal churches. The Awana official, in an e-mail to the Kansas pastor, noted specifically that the Assemblies of God and all American Baptist Churches now would be free to use Awana. The Kansas pastor adds: “In this latest change, Awana has dropped its policy of selecting churches completely. All you have to do now is say you agree to teach the materials as they are given.” He said Awana's philosophy, and that of many other organizations and churches that formerly stood for the truth, is to downplay doctrine so that more people can be reached for the gospel. The Bible clearly condemns that philosophy [“end justifies the means”]. In recent years both the Fundamental Baptist Fellowship and the American Council of Christian Churches have had strong resolutions warning of Awana's compromise.

A search through Google will reveal numerous other items.

The following extract from the Faith Bible Church's Statement of Faith should help to understand the context of these protests, and to demonstrate the type of beliefs the typical church hosting an AWANA group (such as this one) professes:

SECTION 2. MOVEMENTS CONTRARY TO FAITH
A. ECUMENISM

Ecumenism is that movement which seeks the organizational unity of all Christianity and ultimately of all religions. Its principal advocates are the World Council of Churches and the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America.

B. ECUMENICAL EVANGELISM

Ecumenical Evangelism is that effort to promote the gospel by bringing fundamentalists into an unequal yoke with theological liberals and/ or Roman Catholics and other divergent groups.

C. NEO-ORTHODOXY

Neo-Orthodoxy is that theological movement which affirms: the transcendence of God, the finiteness and sinfulness of man, and the necessity of supernatural divine revelation of truth; but, while using evangelical terminology, seriously departs from orthodoxy; in accepting the views of destructive higher criticism, in denying the inerrancy of the Bible as historic revelation, in accepting religious experience as the criterion of truth, and in abandoning important fundamentals of the Christian faith.

D. NEW EVANGELICALISM

(Neo-Evangelicalism, New Conservatism) These terms refer to that movement within evangelicalism, characterized by a toleration of and a dialogue with theological liberalism. Its essence is seen in an emphasis upon the social application of the gospel and weak or unclear doctrines of: the inspiration of Scripture, Biblical creationism, eschatology, dispensationalism, and separation. It is further characterized by an attempt to accommodate Biblical Christianity and make it acceptable to the modern mind.

We believe that these movements are out of harmony with the Word of God and the official doctrine and position of IFCA International and are inimical to the work of God.

Disclaimer: Having never been to an AWANA event (a practice I intend to adhere to), I am forced to rely on what AWANA says, and what various third parties have said, about what occurs there, and how it works.

It appears that the primary activity of AWANA is memorization of scripture, although quite a bit of fun and games happens along with that (see the schedule of theme nights provided by Faith Bible Church on their site for examples). "Young people hear a clear presentation of the gospel and memorize Scripture according to a systematic plan for learning key Bible doctrines." (awanahot.org) Children participating in AWANA are segregated by age and gender (similar to the way the Boy and Girl Scouts operate) and the organization focuses primarily on children in the K-6 age range (although they have "Varsity" programs for 7th and 8th graders, and high schoolers as well). Kids apparently have to pass an admission test to qualify to participate in AWANA and earn a uniform, and earn stripes for each set of verses memorized. Another major emphasis is encouraging kids to bring visitors to club (at least according to Awana Ideas, their magazine for leaders, see the March 2003 issue for a couple of examples of the incentives club leaders have put in place to encourage kids to bring visitors, the September 2002 issue leads off with a variety of ideas for attracting kids, then preaching to them).

Christian Parenting Today offers a daily schedule of Bible activities provided by AWANA - for parents sharing custody, this should give you an idea of what is being preached at your kid each week (although I admit to not knowing exactly how well these items track AWANA's official curricula).

Here's an article from the Amarillo Globe-Press about AWANA: Building on Scripture - Local Awana programs stress Bible - and fun

"It's like the Boy Scout or Girls Scout program with a kingdom of God kind of focus," Pinkston said. "But it has all of the components that have worked so well in the Boy Scout or Girl Scout program."

It is unclear what else happens - I suspect that local leaders have a fair amount of latitude as to what activities they present and put together; kids participate in a wide variety of activities (as the following item from the AWANA home page, as of May 1st, 2003, illustrates - as a vegetarian, the "beef" tie in struck me as suspect... are good christians necessarily meat eaters?), similar to the Boy Scouts.

Varsity USA is a ‘Grade A’ Event
Varsity USA Weekend was a huge success in Omaha, Nebraska, America’s beef capital, attracting 1,500 students from across the country to the April 3 to 5 event. Here is a list of winners from the Bible Quizzing, AwanaGames™ and Fine Arts competitions. Check out the winning entry from the VUSA national writing contest. Click here to find out where the 2004 event will be held.

Some AWANA chapters have brought Dr. Tom Hoyle to do a presentation on the BIBLE & SCIENCE (basically, preaching Creation Science and bashing evolution), judging from the testimonials.

Art Volz (AWANA Commander):
Thank you so much for your ministry to our AWANA group last week. I think everyone really enjoyed it.

AWANA tries, very hard, to present itself as a mainstream Christian youth group, but occasionally, their fundamentalist culture war underpinnings bubble up in a very obvious fashion... for example, see this article from the Winter 1999 issue of "Signal" (their youth newsletter): Countering Culture - Teaching kids biblical perspectives in a world where evil is considered normal.

Or this little gem, from Teaching Virtue (Winter, 1998) - Teaching right and wrong in a gray society

School gets as much of their attention in a week as you do in a year. There are many good schools and thousands of great teachers, but there are also many schools and many teachers who actively undermine what you teach, don’t believe in God, don’t believe in absolutes of right and wrong. In fact, many of our schools don’t believe in absolutes of any kind, even in basic subjects like spelling.

AWANA doesn't hold with Halloween. See the October 2001 issue of Awana Ideas (in PDF format), a newsletter published for AWANA leaders.

Halloween falls on a Wednesday this year, the night many churches hold club. We asked leaders what they did to attract kids without celebrating the holiday. Here are a few of the many great responses.

If you're uncomfortable with the idea of your children participating in AWANA, then there are plenty of alternatives which operate on very "traditional" value systems, without the attendant fundamentalist evangelical Christian baggage.

Some of the most worthwhile are operated by the various Masonic organizations: DeMolay (for boys), Jobs Daughters, and Rainbow Girls are all excellent programs which place a high premium on the value of family, participation in community life, and religious faith, without requiring adherence to a narrow set of religious values. They also provide excellent opportunities for building social, leadership and organizational management skills. I participated extensively in DeMolay as a young man, and my experience with it was very positive - I'd recommend it to anyone, and I intend to enroll my own daughters in Rainbow Girls once they reach the appropriate age (11).

Boy Scouts (despite their institutional issue with homosexuality) and Girl Scouts (who have no such issues, and are actually coed) are also worthy organizations, although with less of a "family values" focus, per se. For younger children, both the Cub Scouts and the Girl Scouts offer excellent opportunities; and don't forget Boys and Girls Clubs, either.

There is really not a lot to say. Hopefully, if you're truly concerned, this page has provided you with useful information that will help you understand and make an informed decision regarding your children's participation in AWANA (or yours). If you have any thoughts, feedback, have a personal story to tell, etc., then please feel free to write me at awana-feedback@thomasleavitt.org. I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,
Thomas Leavitt

Page last updated December 5th, 2003