How are you planning for the 2020-21 Awana year?
The routines that we have established for years were disrupted quickly in the spring of 2020 with the COVID-19 pandemic. Many are seeking to get “back to normal” and you should be planning for the late summer launch of the new Awana year. The situation that we face as we plan for the upcoming year is the unknown. It is like starting a race going into a fog, not knowing what you may encounter as the race begins.
As you make preparations for the new year, are you making contingency plans if COVID-19 spikes as fall approaches? Please do not read into this as promoting fear, this is to have you think and plan.
You may be waiting to see how schools re-start, you may be evaluating how your church responds as you begin to meet again on Sunday morning, but whatever metrics you will use to help evaluate your upcoming Awana year, now is the time to be planning and preparing.
Here are some questions to ask as you plan for the 2020-21 Awana year (in no specific order):
- Have I made myself familiar with the CDC guidelines for churches and childcare?
- Have I made myself familiar with state and local guidelines?
- Will we follow the school’s lead if they delay, or modify, their schedules?
- What will we do if COVID-19 re-emerges and we suspend activities for the safety of our members?
- What will we do if someone involved in our Awana club tests positive for COVID-19?
- Will we have more stringent guidelines for people participating in Awana (i.e. masks, health guidelines, etc)?
- Will we need to modify theme nights, game time, etc to help prevent the spread of disease?
- What did we do this spring, when we suspended activities, that we should continue in the fall?
There are many things to consider and it should not be done in a vacuum. You need to discuss this with your church leadership and enter the year with a unified voice, understanding the many aspects and views of those attending.
How you begin the “race” (the 2020-21 Awana year) will be key.
- Will you begin with a plan?
- Will you wait until you reach the first turn and face an obstacle to react?
- Will you “follow someone else (whoever may be leading and setting the pace)?
I encourage you spend much time in prayer and in discussion with your church leadership as you plan for the 2020-21 Awana year.
