Dear Awana Commander,

We are so excited to be hosting a Commander College 101 again in Colorado this year. Commanders that attended last year walked away equipped, energized, and excited about all they learned, and how to better impact their clubs and communities.

Commander College is all about you. More than anyone, commanders hold the key to a successful Awana ministry. You want your program to reach and disciple kids and their families for Christ in your church and your community.

We encourage you to take advantage of the training opportunities while it is in our own backyard. Join us on Oct. 16 & 17, 2009 at Trinity Church in Wheatridge, CO. This years cost is $235 per person. Registration deadline is Sept. 25th. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us. We look forward to seeing you there. Click here for more information.

Awana at Home	Ministry Support As you know, we are faith supported. We trust to God for the provision of our financial other needs. Prayer is the most important way you can support the Awana ministry here in Eastern Colorado. Please make the Awana ministry, Chad & Karen Smith, the Awana churches, and all the Awana leaders a priority on your prayer list. Currently the ministry in Eastern Colorado is not receiving enough monthly support to cover it's expenses. The ministry needs approximately $1200 more a month. If your church has not yet added the Eastern Colorado Awana Ministry to their mission budget, would you please ask them to consider the ministry's needs? In addition, would you or leaders from your church help us with this need? T&T Changes Has your church's Awana ministry struggled to reach out to 5th and 6th graders, or having trouble challenging and teaching the clubbers you already have? "Tweens" are quickly becoming a new sub-culture in America--they aren't teenagers yet, but many 11 and 12 year-olds have moved beyond typical children's programs. Awana has taken a look at the material for your "tweens" and has come up with several options for your church to use. If you are keeping your 5th & 6th graders in your club, don't do anything. However, take a realistic look and ensure that you are effectively ministering to this group. If your church has the Trek ministry, consider adding your 6th graders to the Trek club. Have a seperate 5th and 6th grade program. Here you would give your tweens more responsibility and more privileges. The other item that Awana is now suggesting this year, (next year will actually transition to this) is to automatically start any 5th or 6th grader into Book 3, regardless if they have finished Books 1 or 2. This will motivate these tweens and allow them to see that they are different than the younger T&T. Next club year, Awana will have new uniforms, new awards, and a new name for this group. They will still be T&T, but will have a seperate identity than the 3rd & 4th graders. Please stay tuned for more information as we get it. We are including a T&T FAQ and Start Zone helps that you might find interesting. A.R.T. & RIU's Register Now for Awana Resources and Tools (A.R.T) and manage your Awana profile and church information, track training, and access resources. Exclusively available to registered members, Awana Resources and Tools provides you with materials, ideas, instructions and inspiration you need to serve in Awana - and help kids come to know, love and serve Christ. Do you remember the days of the grey uniform, the bars full of pins, and the proud leaders who displayed their every Awana achievement? The Awana Leader Award system is coming back! Awana leaders can now earn RIU's (Rorheim Institute Units) and work their way up the Awana Acheivement scale. Leaders can track their RIU's online through the A.R.T website, and proudly display their awards once again. If you have any problems with the site, please contact Customer Service.

Awana has developed a new program that each church can begin using this year. Awana at Home is designed to emphasize and maximize parental involvement in your Awana club. This new program will show you how to help partner with parents to make a lasting effect on their children as the church and parent work together to disciple the child. The goal of Awana at Home is to help parents conduct a once a week family devotional experience based on the three aspects of Awana Clubs (Game Time, Handbook Time, Bible Time). Check out the new Ministry Guide for the new directors kit.
Upcoming Dates
Commander College 101 Oct. 16-17 Trinity Church Wheatridge, CO

Eastern Colorado Awana News
Ministry Support, T&T Changes, ART & RIU's	September 21, 2009