You’ve heard about the Awana Ministry Conference. Every fall your commander asks who’s going and hands around a clipboard or asks you to text the Awana secretary to put you on the to-go list.
You ignore his pleas. Every year.
You’ve never been to a conference of any kind except for that sales thing your boss sent you to back in 1998, the one across town in the dingy conference room of that hotel. You sat all day listening to some guy drone on about sales pitches for pliers and plumb bobs. You said that was the last conference you’d ever attend.
But this year … you decide to go to just ONE more!
(Not all conferences have the exact same schedule, workshops or lunch menus. You need to check with your local missionary for more details.)
Saturday morning is bright with that hazy sunlight that happens only in early fall. You meet the other leaders in the church parking lot, pack into the church van and head 54 miles north to the town where the conference is held.
One of the leaders has accessed the schedule online and is reading off workshops as your drive. The time goes fast and you arrive at the conference location where dozens of other leaders are getting out of cars and vans (and even a couple church buses) and heading inside the church. Some of the leaders are wearing their club shirts and others aren’t. In your Sparkie polo and jeans you fit right in.
You line up at the registration desk and get your packet for the day.
“Right this way to the coffee and doughnuts,” someone directs. He points to a room crowded with chattering, laughing leaders standing or sitting in small groups.
You tell your friends you’ll be there in a minute, but a sale table has caught your attention. You want to take a look. You’ve never seen some of these products before! They have Large Group lesson books for Sparks? They have CDs of Sparks music? The item you buy is Awana for Me, a guide to working with special needs children. You didn’t realize Awana had all these products and that’s exactly why you pick up a catalog to take home with you.
The sales lady says the products are also available on the web.
The opening general session astonishes you. You are surprised to see hundreds of Awana leaders. (Honestly? You thought the conference would be about 20 or 30 people. Total.) You had no idea so many other churches in your area had Awana and are even more surprised when you find out this is only one of 190 conferences being held around the country. A group of kids from a nearby church sing a couple fun songs and even better, the words and music are handed out to all the leaders in attendance, so you can take them back to your own church and teach them to your own clubbers. Then you see a video on the global ministry of Awana. You had no idea.
A pastor from an area church gives a short message encouraging leaders to focus on the gospel of Christ. He not only inspires and encourages, but also gives some practical ways to carry through on doing so.
Your first workshop is called something like “20 Games to Keep Your Sparkies Jumping” and is held in the gym. Soon you find yourself jumping around the circle with the other leaders as you laugh and learn together. This is NOT what you thought the day would be like. You find the games imaginative and creative and are glad the workshop leader gives you a detailed handout so you won’t forget what he’s said. (You were jumping around too much to write anything down.)
The next workshop you choose is more intense. A social worker (who is also an Awana leader) talks about helping children whose parents are going through a divorce. Her insight astounds you as she makes suggestions you’ve never thought of before. You can tell she has a passion for reaching children and their families.
Lunch time and after picking up your chicken sandwich, chips and apple, you and a friend sit at a table with some leaders from another church. You discover they also work in Sparks and during the 45-minute lunch time you share several ideas of what works in your club. You also exchange email addresses.
During the second general session, you listen to an Awana missionary from Africa give his testimony and tell about his ministry. You are amazed at his stories and look forward to telling your Sparkies about Awana on the other side of the world. They also have awards for churches who have 70% of their leaders in attendance and some other fun stuff like which leader has served the longest. The winner has been an Awana leader for 40 years! That’s longer than you’ve been alive!
As you head to your third workshop, you silently thank the Lord for the day. You have already learned so much.
This workshop is taught by an experienced leader and she lists ways to explain the gospel of Christ to children – whether to your own kids or the kids in your club. You especially like her segment on the resources Awana provides for sharing the gospel and again, you’re glad she’s providing a handout.
“Hey,” someone calls as you walk to the fourth workshop. “I know you.” You turn to see the nurse who took care of your mom when she was in the hospital last year. You had no clue she was an Awana leader! You stop to chat and you feel as if you’ve made a new friend.
You have a difficult time choosing your fourth workshop, but finally decide to go to the one on the new Trek curriculum. Two of your own kids are in Trek and you want to know what’s happening. You’re glad you did.
As you gather your conference packet, your handouts and everything else you’ve picked up during the day, you thank the Lord for the conference … and for giving you a fresh perspective as you prepare to begin another year of Sparks.
Right then you decide to attend again next year.
But you’re still determined to stay away from anything that has to do with pliers and plumb bobs.
