South Asia Update

Awana International Partnership
Five years ago there were less than 400 clubs/churches with with Awana children's ministry working in all of South Asia. Hebron members and Awana missionaries Steve and Debra Cohoon took their calling of reaching children for Christ to South Asia. Steve and I were traveling through Bangalore yesterday heading to appointments and there were kids everywhere you looked. Steve looking out the window said, "This is why I am here. You can't help but fall in love with these beautiful children. They need to learn about Jesus". Steve is the Director of South Asia were there are now 2,911 Awana Clubs and over 193,000 children that have already been reached in the past five years. But that is not even a drop in the bucket when you realize in the city of Bangalore itself has over 13 million citizens!

So what's been the difference? Leadership! "The new leader based strategy of ministry has allowed us to see God multiply the ministry in an area of the world that God is opening to the Gospel of Jesus Christ". There's right now 20 full time faith missionaries in South Asia (11 in India, 5 in Nepal, and 4 in Bangladesh). These missionaries are all from their perspective countries (not American missionaries) gathered in the city of Bangalore for three weeks of intensive leadership training.

Awana's vision is to keep multiplying leaders and clubs. "We plan to implement the Leadership Based Strategy in Sri Lanka (4 clubs have already started that have reached 270 children already) and Bhutan in 2010. We hope to see over 100 clubs/churches using Awana as an evangelistic tool in each of these countries by the end of the year".

You can make a difference on this side of the world by going with Hebron this summer to India and Nepal. Begin to pray today about what part you will play in reaching the children of South Asia for Christ.