They Found Community in Christ

Tanzania

Walk into any given middle school or high school during a passing period, and what will you see? Maybe a few clumps of kids will be gathered to squeeze in a 30-second chat before they’re tardy to the next class. But really look and you’ll see kids walking alone, eyes forward, exuding the unspoken message, “I’m alone by choice, don’t try to talk to me.” It’s so easy for kids to fly under the radar that way, to be alone and never find a place to belong.

For Benjamin, a 7th grade student in Tanzania, that narrative is being rewritten, thanks to a thriving Awana Bible club in his school. In fact, if all 900 kids in the school’s club experience Awana the same way Benjamin does, that narrative is being rewritten in a very big way.

The Awana club, with its reputation for enlightening conversations and lessons, but also a lot of fun, has become a weekly destination for kids of all ages, boys and girls alike. They get opportunities to ask questions and dig into what the Bible actually means for their lives. They get to serve and feel ownership of the group. And they’re really connecting with each other.

Benjamin says, “We’re not only gaining valuable knowledge about Jesus Christ, but we’re building lasting relationships and a sense of purpose.” Through these weekly meetups, students are experiencing a sense of unity and the whole school atmosphere feels more inclusive and positive. And behind each story of a school changed by the Gospel there are hundreds of individual stories of change. Boys and girls are growing in faith and learning to follow God’s ways.

Your generosity is making school a safe, healthy place for kids like Benjamin and is raising a generation of believers who understand and share their faith. It’s change from the inside out, and it’s happening all over Africa. Thank you.