This One Thing Will Make Next Club Year Easier

On my last day of high school forever kids slammed their locker doors for the last time, threw their folders and papers up in the air and ran out of the building, leaving behind any thoughts of what the past year, let alone the past three years, entailed. There was freedom! I imagine for leaders, the end of Awana Clubs could feel similar. So before they or you pack the handbooks and leader guides away and leave the past year behind, do the one thing that will make your next ministry year easier:

Evaluate!

Now that one word is pretty loaded — and perhaps no surprise to you – because there are a lot of things to evaluate. But even though ministry evaluation is important, not everyone takes the time to schedule a meeting with all their volunteer leaders to figure out what has worked and what hasn’t. And not everyone knows what to evaluate.

To help you think through your evaluation, I’ve compiled the following list, with help from several of you in the Awana Ministry Directors Facebook group and several more Awana field staff.  Are there any items on it you need to include in a year-end leader meeting before everyone’s thoughts turn to summer vacation and freedom?

23 Things To Evaluate Before Wrapping Up Your Year* **

1. What do you think was the most successful thing we did this year?

2. What should we never do again?

3. What do you wish we would do that we haven’t tried yet?

4. Based on book finishers and kids’ ages, what handbooks need to be ordered for fall?

5. How many leaders will I need in each club?

6. On a scale of 1-10, how would you describe the spiritual growth of the kids in your club? What can we do together to raise that to a higher number?

7. What would make next year the “best”? (Start planning for those goals.)

8. Are there any policies and procedures we need to update or improve upon?

9. Does our Large Group Time and Small Group Time align with our church’s goals?

10. Do we need to update any of our forms? What should those changes be?

11. How engaged was everyone in Activity Time this year? Should we come up with new games and things to do?

12. What theme nights should we schedule/retire?

13. How did you feel about the communication between the AMD and yourself? Was it adequate? What would you like to see more of?

14. Did you feel connected and a part of the Awana Clubs ministry team? If so, what made you feel that way? If not, what would help you feel you belong?

15. What success stories would you like to share?

16. Do you feel you grew spiritually this year as a leader in Awana Clubs? Explain. What would help you improve in this area?

17. Do you feel you grew as a child disciplemaker in Awana Clubs this year? Explain. What steps can we take together to help you grow in this area?

18. How well are we serving all our kids? Are there any we can serve better? How?

19. What do you think we can do to involve parents more in their child’s discipleship/club events/etc.?

20. How much do you feel appreciated for what you contribute to club each week?

21. What can we do to help kids memorize Scripture/finish their handbooks/grow in Christlikeness?

22. What can we do to get more kids to attend club next year?

23. On a scale of 1-10 how prepared are our kids to share their faith? What can we do to move that up a notch?

*Ask your parents some of these same questions
** Meet with leaders individually if they have sensitive information to share in confidence.

Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds. Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:23, 17)

Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed. (Proverbs 15:22)

Without solid information, you can’t ensure you’re doing all you can to effectively serve God and others. So now that you have your list, schedule that evaluation meeting with all your volunteer leaders (if you haven’t already)! Explain to them why this meeting is important, pray and ask God to join you, and make the time together one of connection and fun. Evaluating now before everyone runs for the freedom of summer will make next year so much easier – and perhaps your best year yet!

Related Content:

3 Tips for Evaluating Your Club and Discipleship in Your Ministry
7 Ways to Measure Success in Your Awana Club
Finishing Well Checklist
Ministry Year Planning Guide (See pages 4-6.)

Special thanks to the following contributors: Bob Bennett, Sharon Carter, Marti Chance, Janet Harkness, Sharon Kiessel, Lori-Anne Stark McDonell, Mindy Miller Lively, Heidi Maxted, Carrie Simonds, Lucy Swdorske, Katie Taylor, Jennifer Van Vleck, DeAnn Ross Williams, Josh Winstead.