Ridgewood Baptist Church

Awana Clubs

• 
  What is Awana, and when do we meet?
• How do I become involved with Awana at Ridgewood Baptist Church?
• The History of Pioneer Girls, Boys Brigade, and Awana at Ridgewood Baptist Church

What is Awana, and When Do We Meet?

Our Awana clubs meet every Wednesday throughout the school year, from 6:45 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. From Cubbies for 4- and 5-year-olds through JV for junior high, all ages in between have an absolute blast with weekly Bible verse memorization, Bible stories, special speakers, and GAME TIME! It will only take one visit for you to know that your children LOVE Awana!

From the Awana website: "Awana is an international, Bible-centered children's and youth ministry providing local churches with weekly clubs and programs for preschool through high school. Our goal is to equip churches to reach children and teenagers, and their families, with the gospel of Christ and train them to serve Him. (Click here to learn about the hope, vision, mission and values of Awana.) The acronym Awana comes from the first letters of Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed, taken from 2 Timothy 2:15."

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How Do I Become Involved with Awana at Ridgewood Baptist Church?

If you're a parent, simply bring your children this Wednesday! Arrive before 6:45 p.m., and accompany your children to the gym at Ridgewood Baptist Church. We'll match you up with the leaders for each age group, and you can watch our opening ceremony before you head off for the Wednesday Prayer Meeting in the sanctuary. The gym opens at 6:30 p.m.

If you wish to become involved helping with the ministry itself, see Lee Johnson, our Awana Commander.

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The History of Pioneer Girls, Boys Brigade, and Awana at Ridgewood Baptist Church

Pioneer Girls

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.

Boys Brigade

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.

Awana

"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.