1 Million More: Historic Growth for Awana in 2023
In a world filled with challenges and uncertainties, it’s essential to find moments of joy and celebration. Today, we want to share one such moment with you: the historic growth of Awana in 2023. While the numbers are impressive, this achievement is more than just statistics; it’s a testament to the incredible work of God and the dedication of our global team, volunteers, donors and communities worldwide.
This past year, Awana reached a record-breaking 1,060,681 additional children weekly, marking a significant milestone in our mission of child discipleship. To put it into perspective, this time last year, we celebrated reaching 5 million children a week. The growth to 6,432,950 children is only a testament to the work of God.
Awana Ministry Philosophy
At Awana, our approach to child discipleship is centered around the “3 B’s”: Belong, Believe and Become. This philosophy creates a deeply relational environment where children feel a sense of belonging, ground their faith in the truths of God’s Word and the Gospel, and put their beliefs into real-world action.This enhances the probability of lasting faith, even amidst challenging circumstances.
This significant growth in 2023 was driven by an increased demand for Awana programming in schools, particularly through partnerships with the Africa Child & School Initiative™. From July 2022 to December 2023, ACSI experienced a remarkable 37% growth in the number of kids reached through this initiative. Additionally, 45,490 leaders and teachers in Africa were equipped to share the Gospel with students.
2023 Ministry Activity
The efforts of Awana in 2023 extended to Ukraine, where we have reached and discipled 2,600 more children since the invasion. In a war-torn country where children are facing unimaginable hardships, Awana provides vital biblical discipleship and humanitarian aid to those affected by the ongoing conflict.
But our mission doesn’t stop with Africa or Ukraine. In the borderlands between the United States and Mexico, Awana is translating all of its curricula into Spanish, facilitating training events for church network leaders and creating resources to support partner organizations. Our goal is to expand child-discipleship ministry to an additional 127,000 children in 2,545 Latino churches, doubling the number of strategic partners trained and coached.
We’ve also embarked on an inspiring mission in the Philippines, where we partner with the Center for Community Transformation to equip thousands of community centers across the country. This initiative will reach children, including 250,000 who are homeless, with the transformative power of the Gospel and impact up to 5,000 communities over the next five years.
As we celebrate these remarkable milestones, we remain committed in our mission to equip leaders to reach kids with the Gospel and engage them in lifelong discipleship. The impact of Awana extends beyond numbers — transforming lives and creating a lasting faith for future generations.
Partner With Us
We invite you to join us in this mission of global child discipleship. Together, we can continue to make a difference in the lives of millions of children worldwide. Please explore our 2023 Impact Report to learn more about this incredible journey, historic growth and how you can be part of this life-changing work.
The Awana Editorial team is a group of people passionate about child discipleship and the equipping of leaders for the advancement of the kingdom. We have a breadth of experience in children’s ministry, and our heart beats with the stories of what God is doing around the world. We have an affinity for salty snacks and the occasional sweet treat, and we believe that everything is better with a good cup of coffee!
