The Gospel for the Next Generation
Around the world, Tent Mission ensures that children from a young age get to know Jesus. Through the study material Awana, the message of the Bible becomes accessible to children of all ages. In Ghana, a thousand children participate in our Bible classes every week. Join us there!
Every Wednesday, Awana lessons are held in the six schools run by our affiliate organization, Star of Hope, in rural Ghana. Isaac Lartey is responsible for the Awana work in the country. Every month, he visits all six schools where teaching takes place.
I assess the teachers’ efforts based on the children’s achievements, says Isaac. We aim to reach the children with the gospel during their formative years.
Each school has an Awana teacher in charge, and the teaching stands on two pillars. Bible studies in the classrooms are followed by educational games outdoors. When we visit Gomoa Dominase, today’s lesson is about Noah’s ark. Master Nelson has a projector to assist and begins with a song about how God gave Noah the task.
Hammer and saw! the children sing in chorus, matching movements to the refrain.
On printed A4 papers, they see what the Ark might have looked like and give examples of the animals that were allowed on board. Nelson leads the story into a conversation about the consequences of sin; a heavy topic that becomes understandable for the children in this context. The lesson concludes with the song “In My Father’s House.”
Further west, in Akobima, it’s teacher Louisa who is responsible for Awana. Here, the children participate with joy and enthusiasm in the games and team competitions that Louisa has prepared. All children wear differently colored team jerseys with the text “Awana clubs” to show which team they belong to for the day.
A few bean bags, relay batons, and markers on the lawn are all that’s needed to fill the next half-hour with play, fun, and laughter.
Louisa watches the children with a smile.
Love and teamwork, she says. That’s what we teach here.
There are over 80 local languages spoken in Ghana, and the language barrier complicates the teachers’ efforts to reach every child. Cooperative games contribute to forming a community that goes beyond words. As the children grow older, they are introduced to more complex concepts in Awana teaching. However, the core remains the same year after year.
The Bible teaches us to live a good life. These are values that we want to instill in our children, says Louisa.”