The new Discovery of Grace book is being shipped and arriving on doorsteps all across North America. In the new book are two things that I want to make you aware of…. first is an error, and second, a minor optional revision to each section.
First the error
If you looked closely at the handbook, then you may have noticed in the area where a leader signs off a section that there is an icon missing.
On the left of picture of the book, you will see the familiar review icon; however, that icon does not appear on the lower right side indicating the portions required to complete the section. That was an error and the review icon should be shown there as well. Chris Marchand, Awana VP of Partner Solutions, has been noted as saying “that a box for the review icon was not checked and therefore the icon did not get placed into the final proof of Discovery of Grace. No program or structure changes have been made to the format for T&T. It still is Start Here, Explore, Memorize, and Review.”
This is typical throughout the book, has been noted and should be corrected in future printings of the handbook.
Second – The Minor Revision
The AwanaGo portion has undergone a minor revision this year. It is still an optional portion of the section, but now there is a place for the leader to sign.
On page 7 of the Discovery of Grace handbook, it lists (10) things that you can do to earn an AwanaGo patch. Some churches already award this patch if clubbers if the fill the Missions Project Coin Tube, and they can continue to do so.
To help explain the AwanaGO sections with the place for a leader signature, we reached out to Chris Dunrud, Awana Club Relations & Missions Specialist. Here is her response, “The Mission: Pray & GO pages follow each section and a unit builds on a story of a child. Completing all the Mission: Pray & GO pages is one of the activity choices on page 6 & 7. Completing two or more of the activities qualifies a child for the GO emblem. The emblems are intended for one per year and you can choose what color you will use each year. You can choose to add additional rewards if they complete more than two GO activities. That is up to you.”
I cannot specifically state the reasoning behind the addition of the signature box, but my presumption is that it is an attempt to get more people focused on international missions.
Now is the time to be creative to encourage missions!
The Bring a Friend Section
People wondered if the bring a friend section would be part of the handbook. While it is not a required part, it has been included as an option on the Awana Go Activity ideas page. All part of fulfilling the great commission by going and making disciples.
Now that you know these things about Discovery of Grace, let’s get this year off to a great start!
Notes about the NEW Discovery of Grace – Awana Virginia
[…] We encourage you to read “Things to Know About the New Discovery of Grace“. […]
I have a few questions about the new T&T handbook:
1. The “go reach kids/Pray & Go” section is NOT part of the silver section, right?
2. Where are these supposed to be recorded? Do we keep track of it separately (not on the record sheet)?
Thank you!
1. Correct. The AwanaGo portion is separate all to itself and not part of the Silver section.
2. Awana added the signature for the AwanaGo section but did not update the record keeping sheet to record the sections. You can track it on a separate sheet, or record it under the Gold section on the current sheet.