We are Sparks for Jesus, Sparks to light the world!

Today I am revisiting Thankful Thursdays. And today I am thankful for AWANA. I am not only thankful for the program itself, but also for the leaders and sweet babies involved each week.

My love affair with AWANA began when I was in high school and worked as an LIT (Leader in Training). I loved being a part of something that taught boys and girls the Scriptures, and I have long enjoyed working with the children themselves.

After high school I began my internship with Ms. Tracey Maggard who was the EMBC Children's Director at the time. I look back on this internship as one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I learned so much about ministry and loving on children in Jesus name. Ms. Tracey taught me what is is to love on the children that are oftentimes unlovable. The funny part is that once you begin loving on those unlovable children, they become the ones that are dearest to your heart.

I have found through participating in this program that I too have learned Scripture that I might not have otherwise discovered on my own. Each week, whether it be a tough one or a fun-filled one, teaches me something new. You would be amazed at the way these children view God and the world in general. I wish I could view things through that lense of amazement and acceptance like they do. I can act silly and not worry what they will think, because to them Mrs. Kimberly pretty cool (or so I'm told.) I love that about kids. They see miracles in the smallest of things, and they aren't afraid to ask questions about the things of God. All too often I feel like as adults we lose that. We lose the wonder and amazement in the things of God, and when we have a question we try to seek the answer on our own instead of asking those who may have more wisdom than we ourselves have. Last night Ella, one of my sweet Yellow team babies, told me she asked Jesus to come into her heart. Nothing thrills me more than to see one of our clubbers come to Jesus. God is so good!
Along with the kids I find myself encouraged by the leaders I work with. These ladies are all different ages and we are all at different stages and places in our lives, but we all work together to teach these children about the love of Jesus. We cut up and I think we all share a disdain for game time (Who knew such small children could produce such big noises?), but we also encourage each other. I see so much that I can improve on just by looking at the lives of the women I work with every Wednesday night. I see a patience in Amanda Jones that I have never seen in anyone else, I see organization and a gift for teaching in Amy Hallagin, I see a quiet spirit in Susan Scroggins, I see a godly wife in Sandy McLemore, and then there is Cheryl Carriker in whom the joy of Jesus is completely evident. Of course I also have my sweet friend Jenna wo continually encourages me, as I have expounded on in previous blogs.
It is these ladies and all the sweet children I work with each week that make me love the AWANA program. I may have hard weeks, and sometimes they definitely work my nerves, but I love AWANA and all the crazy things that come along with it.