An Internship Like None Other

Two years ago, Awana began a ministry outreach with Native American churches located on reservations. During the past two years, this ministry has grown and we are now offering an exciting internship program in partnership with our subsidiary, YMI.

Two years ago, we began a ministry outreach with Native American churches located on reservations. With the start of the Leader Based™ Strategy in the US, which is now known as TruthSeekers™, we now have an Awana ministry committed to the Gospel, high in scripture ministry, fun and exciting and is economically feasible for smaller churches.

Native American children have great needs. Families are often broken and there are tremendous issues with drugs, alcohol, and abuse. The suicide rate among Native youth is far above the national average, often approaching 8-10% depending upon the reservation. These children need the hope that knowing Jesus can bring.

Awana has begun ministries with various tribes in the states of Arizona, New Mexico, South and North Dakota, Oklahoma, Washington, Mississippi and Alaska. We have also developed relationships with several other ministries that are working with Native Americans among them the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma, Chief Inc., Mending Wings, Indian Bible College and SEND North.

In September we formed the Awana/Native American Council. This group of Native Christian Leaders met at Awana HQ and agreed to guide us in this outreach ministry to native peoples.

One large issue among Native peoples is the lack of Christian leaders in the church. It was recommended that Awana begin a Native American Internship Program to help develop leaders.

In conjunction with our subsidiary ministry, YMI, we have developed this internship for the summer of 2015. Our prayer is to have 3 Native American interns who will serve alongside our Awana missionaries and learn the ministry of Awana. The greatest result is that in time God would raise up indigenous missionaries to help Awana reach native peoples.

With 569 Tribes in the US, and many more in Canada, we are just trusting the Lord to guide us, empower us, resource us and bless us with seeing many hundreds of native children finding hope through knowing, and loving, and serving Jesus.

To find out more about this exciting intern opportunity go to the webpage found here. Or if you have questions, email me, Brad Iverson.