What is Awana?

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.

Awana began in 1950 as a youth program at the North Side Gospel Center in Chicago, Illinois. Lance Latham, the church pastor, worked with Art Rorheim to develop a program that would appeal to young people, reach them with the gospel and train them in the Lord’s work. Other churches heard about the success of the Awana program and asked if they could use it. By 1960, Awana had registered 900 clubs.

Today, more than 10,400 churches in the United States run Awana. There are clubs in all 50 states. Awana can also be found in 3,200 churches in 109 other countries and six continents. Jack Eggar is our President/CEO. Art Rorheim serves as our Co-founder/President Emeritus.

Regional missionaries and ministry teams will assist you in establishing Awana as a vital part of your local church.