Dear Awana Family,
After four years of serving on the Awana Board of Directors my life took a pivot when, in March of 2016, I became a part of the Awana family at headquarters. Since then I have been on the receiving end of so much grace and love from all of you. I will always think of these years as one of my greatest life blessings.
But I must come to you today with an urgent ask like none I have never requested from you before.
As you know the RESILIENT messaging is receiving a resonant reception from other ministries. We have been invited to speak, write columns for and speak on podcasts about RESILIENT on other platforms.
This is an awesome blessing, but unfortunately, it will not last. Other media outlets will soon move on to the next “new’ thing. That’s why, in order to penetrate the church with this crucial message we must become our own marketing engine. We need to “own” RESILIENT.
The urgency of my ask is due to a strong sense that God prepared the RESILIENT message for this season of COVID-19. I sense that God is with us. But COVID-19 made our plans for a year of city meetings as our primary marketing approach impossible. That’s not happening. RESILIENT messaging will fade and die if we don’t pivot to plan B.
Under these unusual circumstances we must become the sole marketers and conveyors of this strategic message.
Here, then are my two urgent asks:
One Awana. One Voice. For this time. And for 2050.
Here’s the link to register: https://www.awana.org/leadershipdevelopment/events/make-resilient-disciples-online-experience/
After you register then please do one more thing: Post to your social media at least twice between now and May 12. Invite your friends. When you’re talking to churches, KidMin leaders and partners, encourage them to register. Feel free to use some of the graphics found here: https://awana.widencollective.com/portals/kc3nzr6o/MakeResilientDisciplesOnlineEventPromotionalGraphics
By the way, you won’t be able to beat the value of joining this event: it’s free!
I want to leave you with the verses Ginger, the Christian bank CEO, gave to us this week.
It is RESILIENT messaging and we can “own” it.
Isaiah 60:1-3
Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.
See, darkness covers the earth
and thick darkness is over the peoples.
But the Lord rises upon you
and his glory appears over you.
Nations will come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your dawn
Let’s do this and let’s do this together!
Valerie
After four years of serving on the Awana Board of Directors my life took a pivot when, in March of 2016, I became a part of the Awana family at headquarters. Since then I have been on the receiving end of so much grace and love from all of you. I will always think of these years as one of my greatest life blessings.
But I must come to you today with an urgent ask like none I have never requested from you before.
As you know the RESILIENT messaging is receiving a resonant reception from other ministries. We have been invited to speak, write columns for and speak on podcasts about RESILIENT on other platforms.
This is an awesome blessing, but unfortunately, it will not last. Other media outlets will soon move on to the next “new’ thing. That’s why, in order to penetrate the church with this crucial message we must become our own marketing engine. We need to “own” RESILIENT.
The urgency of my ask is due to a strong sense that God prepared the RESILIENT message for this season of COVID-19. I sense that God is with us. But COVID-19 made our plans for a year of city meetings as our primary marketing approach impossible. That’s not happening. RESILIENT messaging will fade and die if we don’t pivot to plan B.
Under these unusual circumstances we must become the sole marketers and conveyors of this strategic message.
Here, then are my two urgent asks:
- Will you please immerse yourselves in RESILIENT? You must read RESILIENT. Become fluent. Memorize it . . .okay that’s a little over the top. But this isn’t: in order to penetrate the church with this messaging each of us needs to own forwarding it within our own circles of networks and friendships. Every public-facing written piece…prayer letters, donor letters, social media involving Awana needs to be in the RESILIENT voice. Our talks with pastors and church leaders need to be about the 2050 church being prepared today. This is the most crucial conversation of the church today. It’s more important than politics, or economies, or health issues. That means we pivot away from some messaging that lacks the RESILIENT distinctives and belonged to another era. We need to envision the church to the calling of raising up a generation of the greatest disciples to lead the church and engage and influence the culture of 2050. Each of us needs to carry the fire of that message. Without this conversation, the 2050 church is likely to be marginalized and silenced. That’s how important this conversation is.
One Awana. One Voice. For this time. And for 2050.
- Then my second ask. Will you please register for the Make Resilient Disciples Online Experience May 12th? Awana needs to fill up the virtual seats to help launch this conversation.
Here’s the link to register: https://www.awana.org/leadershipdevelopment/events/make-resilient-disciples-online-experience/
After you register then please do one more thing: Post to your social media at least twice between now and May 12. Invite your friends. When you’re talking to churches, KidMin leaders and partners, encourage them to register. Feel free to use some of the graphics found here: https://awana.widencollective.com/portals/kc3nzr6o/MakeResilientDisciplesOnlineEventPromotionalGraphics
By the way, you won’t be able to beat the value of joining this event: it’s free!
I want to leave you with the verses Ginger, the Christian bank CEO, gave to us this week.
It is RESILIENT messaging and we can “own” it.
Isaiah 60:1-3
Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.
See, darkness covers the earth
and thick darkness is over the peoples.
But the Lord rises upon you
and his glory appears over you.
Nations will come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your dawn
Let’s do this and let’s do this together!
Valerie