Tanglewood Baptist Church in Greenville was the first South Carolina Baptist Convention church to start an Awana Club 26 years ago. Today there are more than 350 Awana clubs in churches across the state, with 307 of them located in SCBC churches.
Awana is an acronym for “Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed” and is derived from 2 Timothy 2:15. It is an evangelistic and discipleship ministry that emphasizes Scripture memorization.
Mike Hawkins
Mike Hawkins of Anderson became the first South Carolina Awana missionary in 1982, when 12 churches had Awana programs. After 31 years, he and his wife Kay are expanding their Awana ministry into Mexico, where he plans to spend one week each month helping to launch new Awana clubs.
“Our goal is to help pastors across Mexico get kids on their radar,” Hawkins said. “I hope we can get churches to see children as people. Jesus said he has to be about his Father’s business, and his business is very strong toward children. I have a goal to start one Awana club a month in Mexico and to help strengthen and grow the ministry in that country.”
Hawkins said he has always had a love for Mexico. “After I had served as an Awana missionary for one year, I was asked if we could start a club in Mexico,” he said. “We went to Brownsville, Texas, and met a Mexican pastor who began the first Awana club in Mexico. When we started that first club, a little boy was holding the Awana flag for us. That young man became my son-in-law 12 years later.”
Each year, 2 million kids ages 2-18 participate in Awana. Of that number, 1.08 million are in 103 other countries. In the 307 SCBC churches that have Awana clubs, almost 3,000 professions of faith in Christ are recorded each year. “Our mission is to help churches and parents worldwide raise children and youth to know, love and serve Christ,” Hawkins said. “Awana partners well with any organization that wants to reach people with the gospel.” Hawkins said there are more than 5,000 Southern Baptist churches using Awana today.
Some Southern Baptists have expressed concern that Awana weakens missions education and that it competes with RA and GA programs in churches. “We are not in competition with RAs or GAs,” Hawkins said, “because they are missions organizations.” He pointed out that while each Awana book requires students to write to missionaries, Awana is not a missions education ministry but a discipleship ministry.
The Awana strategy for ministering to children revolves around three major components. “During game time, they use up a lot of energy,” Hawkins noted. “After game time is Bible memorization. They learn many verses that will enable them to back up doctrine. The last part is the message, which usually emphasizes the gospel with an emphasis on clarity.”
Hawkins spoke at Puebla Seminary in Puebla, Mexico, in August. The dean of the seminary was saved through an Awana club and told Hawkins, “I understand the evangelistic and discipleship thrust of Awana. I want you to speak to as many people as possible.”
Awana commissioned a survey by an independent group that focused on alumni ages 19-36. The results showed that 92.7 percent of Awana alumni who had spent at least six years in the program were still active in church, attending services weekly. Also, 93.7 percent wholeheartedly believe in God; 98.6 percent believe Jesus is God’s son; 94 percent believe the Bible is God’s Word; 74 percent were likely to serve their church 11 hours or more each month; and 70 percent said they share their faith with friends at least once a month.
There are college scholarship programs available for Awana participants. Participating colleges in South Carolina are North Greenville University, Charleston Southern University and Columbia International University.
Awana clubs are in some of South Carolina’s larger churches, including First Baptist of Columbia, First Baptist of Spartanburg, First North Spartanburg, Millbrook Baptist, as well as Brushy Creek Baptist, where convention president Ralph Carter is pastor, and Riverland Hills Baptist, where SCBC executive director-treasurer Jim Austin is a member.
Hawkins turns 64 in September and has no plans to retire. One of his heroes of the faith is George Muller, who, he points out, “accomplished great things for the kingdom of God after he was 70.” Today another missionary couple is also working with Awana in South Carolina, Bill and Denise Fugel of Fountain Inn.
After 31 years in this ministry to children and youth, Hawkins is determined to keep serving Christ. “One of the most gratifying things for us is just knowing we are helping a lot of people,” he said. “The most satisfying thing for me and my wife is to know we had a small part in people coming to know Christ.”