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Mr. Awana
What does it take to start a ministry now thriving over six decades later and impacting over a million children and youth, 250,000 volunteers, and 300 field staff each week? Are there secrets to mission integrity and growth? Follow Art Rorheim from a young man serving as the Youth Director at North Side Gospel Center in Chicago to the leader of an international, multi-mission organization. Listen to his heartbeat and learn as he learned that the true leader of this organization is Christ. Mistakes? Yes. Challenges? Many. So what do you do when you don t know where to turn? writes Art. But step-by-prayerful step, programs and people developed making Awana one of the leaders in mission organizations. Now with 18,000 clubs in over 100 countries, Awana is identified in research as being a major influence in personal spiritual growth. Awana now encompasses these Awana Clubs 24/7 Ministries Awana International Awana Lifeline including Malachi Dads and Returning Hearts Celebration Meet the people who influenced Art. Visit the camps and campers. Hear from clubbers themselves. Travel to the countries where Art ventured. But most of all, learn from Art important lessons that can be applied to any mission group. Anyone who has attended Awana clubs will be inspired by the behind the scenes experiences. Christian schools and homeschools will want to add Mr. Awana, Art Rorheim as part of the literature course in biographies. Notable people who have endorsed this book Dr. Erwing Lutzer, Tony Evnas, Janet Parshall, Jack Eggar, Dr. Robert Lightner, and Dr. John Ankerberg.
280 pages, Paperback
First published October 21, 2010
10 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 8, 2011
When asked to do this review for Grace Acre Press, I jumped at the chance. Art Rorheim is not a household name, but many of the great saints of this world are not.
In Mr. AWANA: Sixty Years of Changing the World for Christ, I learned the heart of one man on a mission to reach children. These are the kinds of books I love to read.
Mr. AWANA tells the story of Art Rorheim’s life beginning the moment he received the call to establish an organization to reach children as Youth Director at North Side Gospel Center in Chicago all the way through to present day AWANA, an international, multi-mission organization.
Men with recognizable names, popular and charismatic men, could only hope to reach as many children as Art Rorheim.
AWANA - an acronym for A Workman And Not Ashamed pulled from instruction in II Timothy 2:15 …”Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
So passionate about this was Art Rorheim, so stirred to teach the children of the world, AWANA has now grown to impact over a million children in its sixty year history.
But, the history of AWANA is not without is challenges or sacrifices. The pages of this book are filled with as many miracles as they are factual information. To read of the incredible miracles, the blessings, the direction, the hope God placed in Art Rorheim and those working with him in the early days of AWANA is an encouragement to any believer.
Art Rorheim states that the main message of the book is ‘how God uses ordinary people‘ and provides these key reasons for the success of the AWANA program: 1) a clear presentation of the Gospel; 2) requirements of memorizing scripture (which benefits the worker and the child); 3) the training of godly leaders; and 4) club discipline.
A must for every Church library and a good choice as recommended reading for all those who volunteer their time to work in the AWANA program. I recommend it highly.
Disclaimer:
The review copy of this book provided by the publisher, Grace Acre Press, free of charge and donated to the Church library of Westwood Baptist Church.
In Mr. AWANA: Sixty Years of Changing the World for Christ, I learned the heart of one man on a mission to reach children. These are the kinds of books I love to read.
Mr. AWANA tells the story of Art Rorheim’s life beginning the moment he received the call to establish an organization to reach children as Youth Director at North Side Gospel Center in Chicago all the way through to present day AWANA, an international, multi-mission organization.
Men with recognizable names, popular and charismatic men, could only hope to reach as many children as Art Rorheim.
AWANA - an acronym for A Workman And Not Ashamed pulled from instruction in II Timothy 2:15 …”Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
So passionate about this was Art Rorheim, so stirred to teach the children of the world, AWANA has now grown to impact over a million children in its sixty year history.
But, the history of AWANA is not without is challenges or sacrifices. The pages of this book are filled with as many miracles as they are factual information. To read of the incredible miracles, the blessings, the direction, the hope God placed in Art Rorheim and those working with him in the early days of AWANA is an encouragement to any believer.
Art Rorheim states that the main message of the book is ‘how God uses ordinary people‘ and provides these key reasons for the success of the AWANA program: 1) a clear presentation of the Gospel; 2) requirements of memorizing scripture (which benefits the worker and the child); 3) the training of godly leaders; and 4) club discipline.
A must for every Church library and a good choice as recommended reading for all those who volunteer their time to work in the AWANA program. I recommend it highly.
Disclaimer:
The review copy of this book provided by the publisher, Grace Acre Press, free of charge and donated to the Church library of Westwood Baptist Church.
September 5, 2011
As a leader in the AWANA program and a high school participant, I was so excited to have the opportunity to learn more about my favorite children's program. And let me tell you that this book did not disappoint. The font was easy to read, and the overall design of the book was attractive. I realize that this is a niche book, so it may not appeal to everyone, and is aimed more at the AWANA crowd. But definitely not limited to those involved in AWANA.
Mr. Rorheim tells the story of how AWANA started out, and of all the little miracles that made club possible. How many different countries got involved and how the money was raised for the AWANA headquarter buildings. It was obvious that while it may not have been visible at the time, God was certainly at work in the hearts of so many people. It touched so many peoples lives in so many countries.
As a leader at one of the thousands of clubs, I know firsthand how much of an impact AWANA has on families, and so I was able to relate to things in this book that I might not have been enthusiastic about if I were not so involved. The stories were inspirational and uplifting, making me even more excited to start the AWANA season. There was so much in the history that I did not know! For instance that the SPARKS branch in which I volunteer was not part of the original AWANA groups. I also found the index of the countries which had AWANA clubs very fascinating and helpful.
The one thing that I found that was a bit confusing, was that sometimes a story was told twice, almost word for word. By my count that only happened twice. But I didn't mind too much. Otherwise, I found the book to be filled with humor and encouragement. A must-read for every AWANA leader.
It most certainly made me rethink my dedication to AWANA and made me strive to do even more. I think that this book could be a blessing to many others like me, so I highly recommend it. Thanks so much!
ISBN: 978-1-60265-027-5
Buy it HERE
Disclosure of Material: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookCrash.com book review program, which requires an honest, though not necessarily positive, review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR Title 16, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Thanks so much to Bookcrash Publicity for letting me be a part of their review program and for providing the review copy of this book free of charge.
Mr. Rorheim tells the story of how AWANA started out, and of all the little miracles that made club possible. How many different countries got involved and how the money was raised for the AWANA headquarter buildings. It was obvious that while it may not have been visible at the time, God was certainly at work in the hearts of so many people. It touched so many peoples lives in so many countries.
As a leader at one of the thousands of clubs, I know firsthand how much of an impact AWANA has on families, and so I was able to relate to things in this book that I might not have been enthusiastic about if I were not so involved. The stories were inspirational and uplifting, making me even more excited to start the AWANA season. There was so much in the history that I did not know! For instance that the SPARKS branch in which I volunteer was not part of the original AWANA groups. I also found the index of the countries which had AWANA clubs very fascinating and helpful.
The one thing that I found that was a bit confusing, was that sometimes a story was told twice, almost word for word. By my count that only happened twice. But I didn't mind too much. Otherwise, I found the book to be filled with humor and encouragement. A must-read for every AWANA leader.
It most certainly made me rethink my dedication to AWANA and made me strive to do even more. I think that this book could be a blessing to many others like me, so I highly recommend it. Thanks so much!
ISBN: 978-1-60265-027-5
Buy it HERE
Disclosure of Material: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookCrash.com book review program, which requires an honest, though not necessarily positive, review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR Title 16, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Thanks so much to Bookcrash Publicity for letting me be a part of their review program and for providing the review copy of this book free of charge.
October 22, 2011
Borrowed this book, gave it back before finishing, now have it back but it had been so long I started over. I'm enjoying learning and in some cases relearning how Awana came to be. No points for literary merit, but a fascinating life.
March 24, 2011
Great man. Great book.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews