The word Awana stands for Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed and comes from 2nd Timothy 2:15. "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." What Exactly is Awana? Awana is a nondenominational children’s and youth ministry committed to “reaching boys and girls with the gospel of Jesus Christ and training them to serve Him.” The mission of Awana is to assist local churches around the world in communicating to children the good news that Jesus Christ loves them and can save them from sin. Each week, more than one million boys and girls in more than 110 countries attend Awana clubs and youth programs where they play games, memorize Bible verses and learn Bible lessons. From preschool to high school, children and youth have fun while being taught the Word of God. The weekly Awana programs all function basically the same way. A 90-minute to two-hour session usually features three segments: Game Time, Handbook Time and Council Time. During Game Time, boys and girls play games around the unique Awana game circle. In Handbook Time, children work through age-appropriate handbooks memorizing Bible verses and doing activities ranging from patriotism to community service. They earn awards based on their work. The final segment, Council Time, consists of singing, puppets, Bible-centered lessons and a gospel presentation. Not only do Awana clubs meet weekly, other Awana activities occur throughout the year. Awana Games competitions bring area churches together for friendly competition. Bible Quizzing allows young people to compete in reciting memory verses and Bible facts. Each summer, over 8,000 young people attend 39 Awana Scholarship Camps across America and Canada. Second Baptist Church has an Awana Club that meets on Wednesday nights at 6:45pm 605 South 34th Street Mount Vernon, IL.