AWANA CLUBS AT BIBLE BAPTIST CHURCH
WHEN: Wednesday evenings
TIME: 6:45 PM to 8:15 PM
WHO: All youth, ages 3 through 6th grade
WHERE: 205 E. Waterford Street, Wakarusa IN 46573
CUBBIES: Preschool (1 or 2 years before Kindergarten)
Must be 3 years old by August 1, 2025
SPARKS: Kindergarten through 2nd Grade
T & T: (Truth and Training) 3rd – 6th Grade Boys & Girls
3rd and 4th Grade – Discoverers
5th and 6th Grade – Challengers
Our club upholds and teaches the basic fundamental doctrines of the Bible. Our desire is that boys and girls come to know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord, and then learn to live their lives on the basis of God’s Word, the Bible.
AWANA is a Bible Verse memorization program designed to meet these desires. AWANA stands for “Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed.” This is taken from the Bible book of 2 Timothy, chapter 2, verse 15.
We want our clubbers, through Bible verse memorization, to understand their need for Jesus Christ as a personal Savior from the eternal penalty of sin. We also want them to be able to use the verses they learn to live a life pleasing to God and to be a testimony to others of who and what God is.
While the program itself is best run in a 2 hour segment, we try to accomplish its goals in 1½ hours. Club night is divided into 3 parts: Game Time, Handbook Time, and Council Time.
Game Time
During this time, fun and exciting games are played using the AWANA circle. Clubbers (and sometimes leaders too) get a lot of exercise during this time and have fun doing it. Good sportsmanship is also learned during this time.
Handbook Time
Clubbers first begin working through an entrance booklet to become an official member of their AWANA club. They then move on to the club handbook which consists of Bible verses and words to memorize, and other activities to complete.
During the handbook time, clubbers meet with a leader to go over the work he or she has done. They recite back to their leader the verses they have memorized. To properly pass a section in their handbook, they are only allowed two “helps”. Verses are to be recited back word perfect as shown in the handbook. Points are awarded each night for every section completed. Upon completion of various parts of the handbook, awards are given to wear on their uniform.
HOME STUDY IS A MUST IF A CLUBBER EXPECTS TO FINISH HIS OR HER HANDBOOK BY THE END OF THE CLUB YEAR. The average clubber will be adequately prepared for the weekly club meeting if he or she spends at least 10 minutes a day in their club handbook.
PARENTS: Help your child set aside those 10 minutes a day to study – and better yet, you spend those 10 minutes with them. You will be just as blessed and find yourself learning just as much as your child.
Council Time
The main feature of council time is a Bible story lesson or challenge. It can also include a time for singing, announcements, and recognition of clubbers for awards they earned that night.
AWANA will not meet the following weeks:
November 26 – Thanksgiving Break
December 24 – Christmas Break
December 31 – Christmas Break
April 8 – Spring Break
All clubbers should enter and exit through the canopy-covered east side main doors. When arriving, Sparks and AWANA clubbers are to report to the FLC (Family Life Center) to sign in. Cubbie parents should take their child directly to the Cubbie room.
Parents: Do NOT drop your clubber off prior to 6:30 PM since there is not always adult supervision for all clubs until after that time.
Prior to and after club time, there is to be no running in the FLC or in any other part of the church. Cubbies will not be dismissed from their room until their parent or an adult is there to pick them up. Sparks parents are to come to the FLC to pick up their child.
DRESS CODE: Clubbers who own uniforms are to wear them each club night. Uniforms are to be worn for check-in prior to start of club, and stay on the entire night. Uniforms are to be worn properly.
We ask that NO shorts of any kind are to be worn to club. It is recommended that girls wear slacks. Please, no T-shirts or clothes with pictures or writings that would be offensive to God. Clubbers are required to wear gym shoes during game time.
Cancellation of club due to weather will be determined by the pastoral staff and the AWANA ministry director. If club is to be cancelled, it will be posted on the church website (bbcwaky.com) or church Facebook by noon that day. You may contact the church by phone or your club director by phone or text. If club has not been cancelled, but you feel the roads are too unsafe for you, please stay home. Any clubber absence due to inclement weather will not count against any perfect attendance award.
In order to provide a quality program such as AWANA with trained, well equipped staff, proper facilities, and the necessary supplies and equipment, Bible Baptist Church spends over $4,000 a year towards AWANA. To help cover some of the costs, we have club dues. They are .50 cents a night. Pay a one-time price of $14.00 to cover the whole year for dues (32 club meetings). This is available through September. Any time after that date, you can pay for the rest of the year at the number of club meetings left times .50 cents. If a clubber forgets his or her dues, they should make it up the following week.
All awards given out for achievements are free. (There is a charge to replace lost or damaged awards, handbooks, etc.) There are also some items that we request that clubbers purchase on their own. Bible Baptist does not make any money off the sale of these items.
While club vests and uniforms are optional to be a part of an AWANA club, all clubbers are encouraged to purchase one when they pass their entrance test. These vests and uniforms are made of durable quality and will last a long time if taken care of.
CUBBIES & SPARKS ONLY: Used vests may be available at a reduced price. If interested, feel free to ask.
Weekly club dues – 50 cents or $14.00/year
Entrance Booklets – 1st one is free
Replacements are 25 cents
Cubbies
Handbook $12.00
Vest $14.00
Cubbie Book Bag $10.00
Sparks
Handbook $12.00
Vest $14.00
Extra Credit Book $14.00
Sparks Book Bag $10.00
Truth and Training
Handbook $12.00
Uniform Jersey $19.00
Sling Bag $18.00
As an incentive for clubbers to complete their handbook and come to club each night, special club paper money is given out each night as a reward for various achievements.
These paper monies are called “shares.” With these “shares,” clubbers can buy various items in our AWANA Share Store. This incentive is only used in our Sparks and AWANA clubs. Some of the things clubbers can do to earn a “share”:
Bring a visitor
Complete sections in their handbook
Be clubber of the month
Be on the winning team at the end of club night
There are special nights during the year where clubbers might be asked to come dressed a certain way, or bring something with them. Sometimes, as a special award, a “share” is given.
Besides using the share money to buy things out of the AWANA Share Store, clubbers who are planning to attend our summer church camp can turn them in and have part of their camp fee paid for by the church (up to $25.00).
Our annual FREE Church Skating Party is also for clubbers and their entire family. We have reserved the Hansen Skating Center in Elkhart where we provide our own music. It is always fun, so mark your calendar: Thursday, October 16, 2025 from 6:30 – 8:30 PM.
In 1998, Bible Baptist church AWANA clubs, through the AWANA Ministries, adopted AWANA clubs in Lima, Peru, South America, to help finance an international club that otherwise could not exist or afford the same kind of benefits and fun we enjoy. The program was called Adopt-A-Club.
In order to better finance AWANA’s outreach world-wide, AWANA changed how we can now give towards reaching children throughout the world. The program is now called AWANA GO (Global Outreach). Our giving towards AWANA GO for our club still goes towards AWANA clubs in the country of Peru, South America. And for every $10 we give towards AWANA GO will help reach one child for Christ through the AWANA ministries in Peru.
Last year, we supported 87 children who got to enjoy all the same kind of fun and learning about God that we got to enjoy in our own club. Let’s see if we can reach even more this club year!
Clubbers are expected to show respect and follow instructions of all club leaders. AWANA has a “Five Count” of which a leader, when addressing a group of clubbers, will start counting to five out loud to get everyone’s attention. All clubbers are to be quiet and paying attention by the time the leader gets to five.
For individual clubbers who are being disruptive and not following instructions, AWANA has a “Three Count”. If necessary, after an out loud third count, a clubber has not improved his disposition, he will be taken out of club time and either taken to a parent or sent home.
It is also a possibility that clubbers who do not listen or follow instructions could be required to sit out of game time.
For the safety of our clubbers and proper use of our church facilities, it is necessary that during game time clubbers wear tennis shoes. Therefore, we encourage that all clubbers wear tennis shoes on club night.
PARENTS: Please make sure your clubber understands these rules and encourage them each week to come to club to be a model AWANA clubber.
Dear Parents:
We at Bible Baptist Church endeavor to create an atmosphere of growth and learning for your child as we strive to be careful with their safety and well-being. In order to achieve these goals, certain policies have been implemented. You will find these policies on the following tabs.
Also, in order for your child to participate in our AWANA program, you need to complete an Activity Registration Form.
This form should be completed online or turned in to our church office no later than Wednesday, September 17th.
Thank you for allowing us to minister to your child in AWANA. Please feel free to come and visit any one of our church services or club activities. Let us know if you have any questions.
In an effort to provide guidelines for parents/guardians, teachers, and church staff, the following guidelines have been adapted from the American Academy of Pediatrics. As a general rule, children should be symptom free, including fever (without medication) for 24 hours before returning to church/AWANA.
Children will NOT be allowed in or to stay in their class if they have any of the following symptoms/illnesses:
Rapid change in behavior (this could include lethargy/lack of responsiveness, irritability, persistent crying, difficult breathing)
Fever (temperature above 100.4 degrees)
Diarrhea (defined by watery stools)
Vomiting
Mouth sores with drooling and/or drainage
Rash with fever or behavioral changes
Measles, rubella, chickenpox, shingles, scabies, or impetigo
Head lice (until after the first treatment)
Earache, headache, sore throat, strep throat
Conjunctivitis/Pink eye
Flu, influenza, or like illness
Severe cough
COVID-19 symptoms
“When in doubt, keep your child out.”
Your cooperation is greatly appreciated!
Please help us by making your child aware of the following directives during church activities and while in church-owned vehicles. If your child disregards these directives, the privilege of attending church activities/AWANA may be suspended until such time as there is a display of willingness to comply.
EVERY CHILD MUST:
Quickly follow the verbal directives of the leaders. Remain seated (faced toward the front of the vehicle) while the vehicle is in motion and use seat belts (vans only)
EVERY CHILD MUST REFRAIN FROM:
Excessive noise and throwing things
Touching other children or other children’s possessions
Destroying or defacing church property
Being rude, discourteous, using sexually explicit language or acting out sexually explicit behavior
Being openly defiant and disrespecting the leaders
Bringing laser pointers, tobacco, matches, etc.
Bringing weapons or drugs (If a child violates this rule, the leadership of Bible Baptist Church will immediately notify civil authorities and inform the parent/guardian)
Endangering the safety and well-being of other children or leaders
Club Ministry Director: Steve Stump
Club Directors:
Cubbies: Christine Edwards
Sparks: Alysha Yerger
T & T Girls: Kayla Curtis
T & T Boys: Dan Gay
Our Church:
Bible Baptist Church
P.O. Box 365 (205 E. Waterford Street)
Wakarusa, IN 46573
Phone: 862-2214
E-mail: secretary@bbcwaky.com
Website: www.bbcwaky.com
Shawn Hatcher: Pastor
Jeremy Chesley: Visitation/Outreach
Sunday:
Sunday School – 9:00 AM (all ages)
Morning Service – 10:00 AM
Evening Service – 6:30 PM
Wednesday:
Nursery up through age 2
AWANA (Ages 3 through 6th grade)
FOCUS Youth Ministry (Teens)
Adults (Prayer Meeting/Bible Study)