Ridgewood Baptist Church

In 1951 our church felt the need for a girls' organization with Christian influence and guidance. This came about through the Jesse Nelson family who had moved to Joliet from Wheaton where their daughter, Muriel, had been in Pioneer Girls. So on May 4, 1951, the first meeting was held with Mrs. Jesse Nelson as guide and the following committeewomen; Mrs. Millard Rice, Mrs. William Ferrell and Mrs. Alfred Richards, chairman. Charter members of the colonist group were Mary Ann Steinquist, Muriel Nelson, Nancy Haney, Judith Kastman, Carol Korn and Kay Weiss. The objective of Pioneer Girls is to put Christ into every phase of a girl's life and prepare her for Christian leadership for tomorrow.

Those women who gave of their time and energy through the years for Pioneer Girls are far too numerous to mention, but the Lord used them, and as a result many girls accepted Christ as Savior. The group grew from the original colonists (included 7,8 & 9th grades) until it covered grade 2 through high school. We have record that in January 1962, Pioneer Girls was divided into three groups and totaled 86. Pioneer Girls continued until 1974 when it was decided that since we had an Awana Club for boys it would be good to have one for the girls.

We do not find a record of when it began, but we do know Ridgewood Baptist had a boy's work called Boys Brigade, (sponsored by the Men's Fellowship) which the record does tell us was discontinued in May 1960. Then on August 6, 1960, the first meeting of Junior Youth was held under the leadership of Chuck Ball, Jim Haywood, Bob Gould and Dave Reeves, Sr. using Awana material. The boys group became an official Awana Club in 1970 when it was chartered under the leadership of Dave Reeves, Sr.

"Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed" stands as the motto of the Awana Clubs. The clubs began at Ridgewood in 1978 and continue today, having had only two commanders during the entire time - Tom Scott and Lee Johnson. We are extremely grateful to these men for their faithfulness and experience with bringing the gospel to children.

Throughout the years, attendance has varied but the enthusiasm has not. Clubbers from kindergarten through 8th grade enjoy games, Bible teaching, and Scripture memory. Countless salvation decisions have been made over the past 25 years and hundreds of thousands of verses have been memorized. Many thanks are due for the faithful leaders and helpers who have been involved with our Awana clubs.