Who We Are
Awana is a global, nonprofit ministry committed to the belief that the greatest impact for Christ starts with kids who know, love and serve Him. The transformative power of the Gospel is shared every week through Awana ministries that reach more than 9 million kids in 140 countries.
As a ministry that equips leaders to reach kids with the gospel and engage them in lifelong discipleship, we also consider how our workforce and employment culture impact the lives of our team members. While we all serve in vocational ministry, this need not take away from our lives as fire-carriers of the gospel in our own families, churches, and communities. To that end, our commitment as a ministry is to build a workforce that enables this — for team members to be wildly productive in their work, deeply fulfilled in their calling, and consistently encouraged to invest in their home, church, and community.
Outcomes-Focused Organization
First and foremost, we are an Outcomes-Focused Organization. We desire that our team members work diligently to consider the outcomes of their work and make that the first priority. Goals are outlined to strive after. Deadlines are set to be met. Completion of tasks is critical. As humble servant-leaders, we’ll ascribe to grace-based accountability on these outcomes because we care deeply about the ultimate outcome of our work — reaching kids with the gospel and engaging them in discipleship.
As humble servant-leaders, we’ll ascribe to grace-based accountability on these outcomes because we care deeply about the ultimate outcome of our work — reaching kids with the gospel and engaging them in discipleship.
Strategically Aligned and Attuned
Secondly, we are Strategically Aligned and Attuned. We are not a group of departments each doing their own thing…we are one ministry focused on our vision, mission, and strategic plan. Everyone is focused on the central work of the ministry…not only strategically aligned, but relationally attuned. We love Jesus and we love one another and work hard to build strong relationships that make our work more impactful.
We are not a group of departments each doing their own thing…we are one ministry focused on our vision, mission, strategic plan and central focus.
Employment and workplace culture
To that end, we seek to build an employment and workplace culture that support this outcomes focus through five characteristics:
- Intentional Connection — We desire that our employees connect regularly at intentional levels. This works its way through our teams by digital connection (email, chat, video) and ongoing personal connection (appropriate opportunities to work together and/or meet together in person).
- Dual Flexibility — We desire to remain flexible for the lives and needs of our employees. We believe that when we allow the ministry to “flex” to the needs of our team members (by virtue of schedule or primary work location), then our team members will equally “flex” to the needs of the ministry on the occasions when work necessitates.
- Remote First / Hybrid — We desire that our employees recognize we are a remote-first / hybrid work environment, allowing them to do the majority of their work from where it is they call “home”. We do have offices in both suburban Chicago and Nashville, designed for collaborative work and connection with colleagues. We do expect team members in those areas to plan to come into the office a day or two a week to form connection, while the majority of task-based efforts are designed to be remote-first and remote-friendly. To that end, we have two keys that make this hybrid environment work: 1) Be available (phone/email/chat). 2) Over-communicate (availability, location, etc.).
- Family Friendly — We desire that our employees recognize their first calling is to their immediate family. This does not mean that hard work isn’t possible or expected. Yet we never want families to suffer on behalf of the ministry. We expect employees to take vacation days and expect employees to “sign off” on nights and weekends.
- Community Engagement — We desire that our employees be deeply involved in their local churches and communities. We believe that by creating a work structure that lives out points 1-4 above, our team members will be able to have the schedule flexibility and availability to live the gospel through church and civic opportunities.
