First, I would like to introduce myself. My name is Shari Braddock. I have been a member of First Baptist Church of Gray Gables for 20 years. I have a daughter Kelli who is in 4th grade and a daughter Kara who is in 7th grade. I volunteer in the preschool department, help coordinate special outings for the children’s department, and help yearly with VBS at church. I also volunteer weekly at the Intermediate School as well as substitute teach there so I see alot of the children from Awanas at school too. I am one of the leaders for the Truth and Training Club. I have enjoyed getting to know the kids in Awanas the past few years.
After last night I feel like I need a T-shirt that reads “I Survived Crazy Hair Night!”. Wow! What a night! We had everything from colored hair to spiked hair. The kids were so excited and wound up, but they settled down nicely for the Bible Lesson. I hope they didn’t have a hard time taking me seriously with gold hair as I shared a lesson about how to get the courage to invite friends to Awanas and to tell friends about Jesus. I also had the opportunity to share the ABC’s of receiving salvation. I used it as an example of how to tell others about Jesus as well as to show them their need to trust Christ as their Savior. I shared the following verses James 2:10, Romans 6:23, and 2Corinthians 5:21 as well as a story with characters the kids could relate to.
Just a word for those of you that are considering volunteering for Awanas. I have had the opportunity to get to know the kids whose parents are members of our church as well as those who come on the buses. They have all been a blessing to me. They have such sweet, receiving hearts. Some of them never hear the gospel outside of this night. I am not saying that there are not going to be nights when they get a little rowdy but even when you think they are not paying attention they are learning from our words and our actions. God always blesses obedience!
