What would you teach young girls given the opportunity?
By imadriscoll
@imadriscoll (2228)
United States
January 4, 2007 12:02pm CST
Through a program called Awana I am given the opportunity to teach young girls, grades 3rd to 6th, for twenty minutes every Wednesday (every other month).
It is my responsibility to help build their character and to teach them Bible truths.
Whether or not you are a religious person, if given the opportunity, what would you teach these young girls?
6 responses
@cloudwatcher (6861)
• Australia
8 Jan 07
WOW! You are an Awana leader! What a privilege!
You don't need to worry about what you teach them, because it is all in the books. I presume you are working in The Ultimate Adventure T&T books. Just make sure you use all the material presented there. Do you have a Leader's Guide? It will give you extra helps.
Are you aware there is now an ADULT book which corresponds to the T&T Books? These books (The Bible Based Leader for Book One / The Bible Based Shepherd for Book Two) are wonderful for a husband and wife or for a family to use for family devotions. They parallel the clubber books but go into more study and application. They are a great help to any leader.
Keep up the good work. There is no better place to be!
@imadriscoll (2228)
• United States
9 Jan 07
My husband and I are both Awana leaders, and yes for the T&T clubs. But besides handbook time we also do a large group council time.
Our club starts with games, goes to worship and large group time and then breaks up by grades into handbook time.
During our council time is when we are able to share bible truths and the gospel.
I have heard of the adult books and I would love to get one! This is our first year of helping with Awana, as we have been focused on leading two high school youth groups (now we do both ... there is a huge difference between T&T aged clubbers and high schoolers!).
@cloudwatcher (6861)
• Australia
10 Jan 07
High schoolers are a different breed. I have worked with teens for years. I believe they are the most vulnerable people in society and the best to work with.
The adult books can be ordered personally on line. You don't need to go through the club to purchase them. Do you have 24/7 Trek and Journey for High School?
@imadriscoll (2228)
• United States
10 Jan 07
We have Awana on Wednesday nights for Cubbies (my oldest daughter is a Cubbie this year!) to Trek. We don't have an actual Journey group for a couple of reasons. First, we already had a high school youth group before our church started the Awana program. Next, our high schoolers are L.I.T.'s (Leaders In Training) for the other Awana groups. And lastly, the high schoolers go through the Journey books for their Sunday School class.
I love working with high schoolers and find them to not only be vulnerable, but also very teachable.
Four years ago when my husband and I started working with youth at this church we started a new program called S.W.A.T. (Sinners With A Testimony). To be a member of SWAT the youth have to pass requirements every 6-10 weeks. These include Scripture reading with notes, Scripture memory, Church and Sunday School attendance and Christian service. After passing the requirements the group learns different Bible study techniques while focusing on one book of the Bible. The goal is that by the end of the 6-10 week teaching period that the youth will learn a new technique (or practice a previously taught technique) for Bible study as well as have a better handle on a book. It's had a great response and we've had several students make commitments to be an active student of the Bible as well as to develop skills to be an active member in the local church. Thought that this might interest you!
@surgeprotector (144)
• United States
5 Jan 07
Bible truth is good. It should teach them many qualities and appreciation for things. 20 minutes isn't much, so I would prepare for little stories and make sure they understand at least one point out of that and do something with it the rest of the week/month.
@margieanneart (26423)
• United States
10 Jan 07
What an honor you have. I would teach them to love themselves and to always be honest and respectful and compassionate. Never to judge others, but to do the best that they can.
@medooley (1873)
• United States
5 Jan 07
I would teach these girls the same thing that I would teach boys of that age, self respect and self assurance. There is nothing that make me more frustrated than when I hear kids and adults for that matter say they can't do something before they even try it. And if you don't respect your self how can you expect others to respect you?
1 person likes this
@AngEngland (320)
• United States
11 Jan 07
I love AWANA!! I was involved from 2nd grade all the way through high school and earned my Citation. I'm so glad you are involved with this ministry!!
Last year I helped act as Commander and start the Awana program at the church we were attending. They've had over 100 students each night since the 2nd month of club. Hurray!
OK, now to your question. I remember when I was that age group our Director had us take an index card and write out two or three topics we would like to hear about. We could write down questions we wanted answered, people from the Bible we wanted to know more about - whatever. It was totally anonymous. She used those replies to get an idea of what WE wanted/needed to hear about to plan her council time sessions.
Blessings, Angela
@imadriscoll (2228)
• United States
11 Jan 07
That is an excellent suggestion! I think a lot of times the needs of the group are over looked by teachers that have their own agendas! I have committed to teaching on the book of Jonah for the month of January... the month of February is taught by a co-leader, but for the month of March this would be an excellent time to get in some of their ideas. It would also give me plenty of time to prepare lessons.
