AWANA

I went to Sunday school.

I went to Awana's, VBS, and I just felt like that was a very normal life.

And when I would meet people that did not do that, I immediately associated that with like, "Oh, well, that's because they're going to hell." Like, "I feel so sorry for you.

You're spending eternity burning." And I'm five.

I mean, Jay did play university football.

And, and, and Awana-

And-

And Awana was, was, was n- not ...

Tell us about all the things that you're doing and tell us about you.

Okay, well, I work for the ministry of Awana, and I've been involved in Awana clubs for about 45 years, starting in a local church, but have been with Awana on staff as a child discipleship missionary for 31 years.

And we serve in Northern California, Southern Oregon, plus the UK and Ireland.

Okay.

That's amazing.

That's amazing.

And not, not to, not to date the fact that you've been doing this for 31 years, but you were doing it when I was a kid in Awana.

So I just want to point that out.

It was the motif, as Tim would say, right? Like the divine counsel and Elohim versus Yahweh and multiple gods, this whole thing.

And I'm like, wait, I grew up in the church, a devoted Christian who read the Bible and read the books and did Awana.

I did it all.

How have I never been introduced to this notion that in the Bible that is like blowing my mind, like my mind is blown, right? So I have found that as well as like, I have fallen in an odd way, more in love with the Bible than I was as a fundamentalist, but it's also a much more complicated relationship I have now with the Bible than just, I read the verses, I apply it to my life, I move on, right? That doesn't work anymore because that's just not what the Bible, I think, is claiming to be.

Our churches tell us stories, and Christianity is a story that has traveled across thousands of years, languages and cultures, denominations and translations, and so the words carrying that story matter.

I grew up immersed in Bible, okay? In Southern California mega church culture, Awana, VBS, Sunday school, youth group, Bible studies midweek, apologetics classes, defense of the faith.

Look that up, everyone.

That's lovely.

I was in Bible quizzing and memorized all the verses.

I went to Awana and memorized all the verses.

So I...

I got a lot of scripture as a child just because I was involved in programs where we were encouraged very often to read scripture.

We also have opportunities for our students to gather.

Youth group for grades six through 12 meets at 6:00 PM on Sundays, and our Awana program for sixth grade and under meets at 6:15 PM on Wednesdays.

Again, we thank you for joining us today, and we hope to see you soon.

But until next time, stay faithful

Yeah.

Awana.

Awana.

Yeah, yeah.

I

Before you got to that point, I know that in your submission you had mentioned that he had conned you and that you had gone to the church for help.

So can you tell me a little bit about what he was actually like in this relationship and how the church didn't help the situation? Yeah.

So my kids were in Awana.