What a Milestone!!!

There is an Awana Missionary who just added their 1,000 Awana club yesterday!!!! Gajendra Tamang, National Director of Awana in Nepal now has 1,000 Awana clubs reaching over 23,000 children with the Gospel!!! PRAISE GOD for the faithfulness of Gajendra and his wife, sharing the Gospel through Awana in Nepal.

One of the things that I want to do is to highlight those serving Awana Internationally as well as in the United States. Many children and families are being reached across the world by those sharing the Gospel using Awana and while these individuals may not want the attention I am giving them, they are rejoicing in what God is doing through them and as part of the Body of Christ, we should rejoice with them. By shining the spotlight on them, I am hoping that we can rejoice with them and be a part of their ministry via prayer, financial support and any other way God leads.

I sent Gajendra some interview questions to help us get to know him and his ministry, below are his answers:

How long have you been an Awana Missionary?

My wife Manju and I have been serving for last 11 years

What area do you serve?

We serve in Nepal.

# of churches under your care: 1,000 Churches

Fun Facts: Favorite food, favorite sport, something interesting people don’t know about you, etc…(whatever info you want to share):

I like all kind of sports. I play cricket, volley ball, and badminton. I don’t have problem eating any kind food. God has given me good health and I can work hard and eat every kind of food even the American food. I love to drive motorbike and Jeep. I would love to be around small children. I really like their innocence. I like to watch comedy show. I need to sleep at least 9 to 10 hours everyday. Proverbs, Romans, and book of Ephesians are my favorite books in the Bible. Romans 1:16 is my favorite verse in the Bible.

Why are you an Awana Missionary?

I personally believed that God has called my wife and I to share the gospel to children in Nepal. My vision is to see trained young people who are ready to serve Lord and strong churches formed.

Share something God is doing in your ministry:

In 1999 God called my wife Manju and I to become Awana missionaries. Realizing the urgency of the time we live in, my wife and I have been leading the effort to extend Awana ministry into the country’s 75 districts. Currently, 1,000 clubs in 45 districts are reaching around 23000 children and youth. Awana has been a great blessing to the Churches in Nepal. God is preparing the hearts of the next generation to serve Him.

Tell us something about the materials used and how Awana is designed for your country:

We have been using traditional Awana program (Sparks, Flames and Torch) until 2008. We have launched leader Based strategy in 2008. We use Truth Seeker hand books for our clubbers. It is a chronological study of the Bible (Creation to Christ). The Leader-Based Strategy is a new high-impact method of working internationally to maximize the outreach to children and youth for the Kingdom.

Unlike the current international Awana model which historically has been product based and limited by available resources, the Leader-Based Strategy builds on committed Christian leaders in each country. We train and equip these individuals to become commanders who can start Awana clubs which will be totally self-sustaining after the first year.

The Leader-Based Strategy is built on four key training steps spread across a 12 to 16 month window, and is attended by Church leaders selected to be commanders.

Step 1: 4-14 Forum.
The first training session introduces pastors and other key Church leaders to the Biblical perspective of God’s passion for children and the importance of doing ministry for children. The 4-14 Window is a demographic mission concept which is used to identify the world’s largest, most reachable, and most spiritually open people group- the children of the world between the ages of 4 to 14.

Step 2: Seed Planters Training.
For a full five day’s two representatives from each church who are hand-selected and appointed by their pastor to become club commanders, receive biblical and practical training in children’s ministry. The training includes the importance of children’s ministry, how to present the gospel to children and youth, and how to organize and run an Awana Club.

These newly trained leaders will return to their home Churches to become co-commanders and start their own Awana clubs. They receive the Leader-Based kit which provides all the materials needed for starting and running a club. This includes leading game time, Council Time and Team Time; and planning and recruiting Awana leaders and volunteers. These international materials provided by Awana are designed to maximize the out reach of each club.

Step 3: Follow-up Training.
After three to six months of working within their local churches and starting and running their own local Awana Clubs, co-commanders return for a one-day session for check up, response to specific needs.

Step 4: One Year Celebration and Certification.
After one year, graduates of Seed Planters Training return for further follow-up. The time is designed specifically to celebrate the accomplishments of the last year. They celebrate the accomplishments of the last year. The celebration concludes with a program where graduates are acknowledged, honored, and certified as Awana commanders.

What would you say to a local Awana Commander or Leader in the U.S.?

Please pray for Awana ministry in Nepal. Please pray for more souls to be saved in the days to come. Right now, sitting at your home, you can be involved in our ministry to share the gospel with the children and youth in Nepal. Please pray about how you can partner with Awana Nepal to reach children and youth for Jesus in Nepal.

How can we specifically pray for you over the next month?

1. Please pray for upcoming Events:

• 4/14 Pastors’ conference – Narayanghat (Central Nepal) March 3, 2011.
• Gajendra Tamang will be traveling to various states in the USA for training, meeting and donor visit starting from February 15 to March 16
• 3-month follow-up training– Bhuji (Central Nepal) March 7, 2011.
• 1 year celebration– Itahari (Central Nepal) 16-18 March, 2011.
• Seed Planters Training– Narayanghat (Central Nepal) March 20-25, 2011.

2. Please continue to pray for Awana Nepal Training Centre. We need an additional $290,000 to pay for training centre buidling project.

Ministry website: www.awananepal.org

If you would like to support Gajendra Tamang and the Awana ministry in Nepal, you can make a donation by clicking here and selecting Nepal in the drop down list.

 

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