Creating a Place for Kids to Belong
Today we have a guest blogger, Sarah Curtis. Sarah likes to say she was “born into Awana,” since her mom, an Awana secretary for 30 years, went into labor with her during club. She recognizes the privilege it was to grow up in Awana, as the verses she memorized as a Cubbie through Guards (the girls’ program that preceded today’s T&T) are the ones still in her heart. She and her husband, David, raise their three children (one Sparkie and two T&Ters) in San Antonio, Texas.
Awana leaders change lives! You can brighten children’s entire worldview by teaching them that God loves them and that their value comes from Him.
Sparks Leader Sarah Curtis knows that highly relational ministry helps children form strong identities that are shaped by God’s love and unshaken by the world. In this first part of a three-part blog series, she shares how you can help kids know that they belong in Awana!
Proud to Be a Sparky – Part 1, by Sarah Curtis
I’m a quilter. I’m a dog walker. I’m not much of a sports fan. These are some phrases I could use to identify myself. What are some phrases you would use to identify yourself?
Our kids come to club each week with thoughts about who they are—whether these are things they’ve been told about themselves by adults in their lives or things they think about themselves.
What are some ways your children might identify themselves? I’m a soccer player. I’m too noisy. I’m a ballet dancer. I’m shy. I’m really good at Minecraft. I’m not a good listener.
At Awana, we have a wonderful opportunity to help our kids form their identity in Christ.
• John 1:12 – I am a child of God
• 1 Peter 2:9 – I am chosen, holy, special, called out of darkness
• Ephesians 2:10 – I am God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works
• Philippians 3:20 – I am a citizen of heaven
• 2 Corinthians 5:17 – I am a new creation
When my mother-in-law was a young mom and new believer, she was being discipled by a wonderful older lady who said, “I just don’t understand young people these days. They don’t know who they are. I know who I am; I am Mary Louise, a child of the King.” For years after that my mother-in-law would teach her children to identify themselves this way when she asked them, “Who are you?” When my husband was 19 and floundering in college, she asked him that question. “Who are you?” He said, “I don’t know Mom. That’s what I’m trying to figure out.” She said, “No, David. Who are you?” He replied, “I’m David, a child of the King.”
We are all looking for a place to belong. A place where we feel comfortable. A place that we can be known. At Awana, we have a wonderful opportunity to help our kids form their identity in Christ. And part of the fun of that is helping them identify as Sparkies.
We want them “Proud to be an Awana Sparkie.” For so many of our kids, their parents are shuttling them around to soccer, dance, Taekwondo, and more. What makes Sparks different? What makes it not just another activity they are driven to each week? Awana is the extracurricular that will equip them with God’s Word for the rest of their lives.
A sense of belonging sets the stage for truly life-changing discipleship. Check out part 2 where Sarah shares three practical tips for fun, highly relational ministry.
