Photo/ CHRISTINA BRONSVELD AWANA GROUP helpers gather for a 10th anniversary photo at Orangeville Christian School last Friday. The acronym "awana" is taken from Second Timothy 2:15, "approved workmen are not ashamed." Awana, a children and youth ministry, was founded in Chicago in 1950. The local group was formed by Theresa and Peter Duncan, along with a handful of others, began as part of a Caledon group 12 years ago but moved to the Dufferin school two years later. Orangeville Christian School last Friday celebrated its 10th anniversary of hosting a non-denominational Christian youth program known as Awana, an acronym taken from second Timothy 2:15: Approved Workmen are Not Ashamed.

The worldwide program was founded in 1950 at the North Side Gospel Center in Chicago, and at latest count has grown to sponsorship by something in the order of 20,000 churches.

The Orangeville group actually started in Caledon East 12 years ago when Theresa and Peter Duncan, along with a handful of others from the Orangeville area, joined in with an existing program there.

Theresa says it didn't take long for the combined group to outgrow its Caledon location, and within two years the new Orangeville program became established at OCS.

"At the start, we had about 20 helpers. We've had more than 100 over the past 10 years," she said in an interview.

The helpers work with children and youth, from the earliest grades to high school, in classes usually of about two hours in the program described as helping "parents worldwide to raise children and youth to know, love and serve Christ."

"The focus of the curriculum is on the presentation of the gospel and learning Scripture to build a biblical foundation for young people's faith. Most programs include a group teaching time, individual one-on-one time with a leader to review the lessons learned that week and a time for games," says the Awana.

Theresa said the OCS group has about 70 young persons aged 3 to 18 in its classes. They follow a curriculum in the classes but also have games and awards for such as reciting and other achievements.

In addition to the youth ministry and inter-group biblically based competitions, Awana internationally has missionaries, prison ministries, and other types of community activities.