Awana Tennessee Network Podcast

In light of all the great work you do for the kids in your community, I wanted to offer you 2 special gifts.

This is a recording of a message Hunter Williams gave on 4/18/2021 at Wolf Creek Baptist Church in Spring City, TN. In this message, Hunter shares stories from scripture and his own life to show how one's perception of children determines how they are served in the church.

God calls us to serve all people... no matter their age, race, ability, or need. With this truth in mind, how do we serve those affected by special needs and disabilities? In this conversation with Lisa Mattheiss (executive director at LifeLine Inc.), we discuss the urgent call to serve those with disabilities as well as the myths and misconceptions that can hinder our ministries to them.

Has this year left you feeling down? Are you wondering how other churches and leaders are making it during this time? Do you need a dose of encouragement? In this powerful conversation with Aaron Arnold (Elementary Director at Grace Baptist Church in Chattanooga, TN), you’ll get to hear the incredible story of how Aaron and his church are serving kids in the midst of hardship, setbacks and destruction. His story shows the need for resilience in today’s church and the life-changing effects trusting God can have in the midst of misfortune.

Here at Awana, we talk a lot about discipleship. You may sense the urgent call to make disciples but aren't sure where to begin. In this conversation with Samuel Porcha' (director of the Child Discipleship Network), we discuss a framework for discipleship and the kingdom mindset needed to make disciples.

Do you feel like you are in a desert? Do you feel dry emotionally, mentally or spiritually? In this special episode, Hunter Williams shares a message on spiritual resiliency and what it takes to follow Christ no matter what.

The Great Commission given by Jesus in Matthew 28:19-20 calls believers to make disciples of all people. How can Awana help you reach and disciple every child in your community? In this conversation with Abel Lopez (Director of Awana US Latino), we discuss the growing need for latino ministry in our communities and the ways in which Awana US Latino is equipping local leaders and churches to fulfill the great commission. 

Do you serve in a small church or small Awana ministry? Do you face challenges or feel discouraged due to the size of your congregation or club? In this conversation with Bill Gunter (a.k.a Commander Bill), we discuss the big impact small churches can have in their communities and share practical tips for running Awana Clubs in a small church.

Do you have rowdy kids that act out in your ministry, or a child that misbehaves on a regular basis? Do you wonder why they act the way they do? In this conversation with Brian Bixel (Awana Missionary in NE Georgia), we discuss the reasons why kids might act out and how these reasons can inform the way we discipline them.

Youth ministry can be tough. Students come from broken families and diverse backgrounds. They live in a culture that is digitally saturated and ever-changing. How can we reach them? How do we effectively disciple them? In this online event, Hunter Williams (Awana missionary and former youth pastor) shares his experiences in youth ministry along with helpful research, resources and ideas to help you disciple students in this changing culture.

Do you find yourself getting burned out in ministry? Do you know others who seem overwhelmed, overworked and running on empty? In this conversation with Chris Mikesh (Awana Missionary in Maryland), we discuss why burnout is so prevalent in ministry and what can be done to prevent it.

Recruiting leaders is one thing, but retaining leaders is a completely different conversation. In this episode, Joel Easling (Awana Missionary to SW Washington) shares why leaders may leave your ministry and practical steps you can put into place to retain them and keep the vision alive.

The “Gospel Wheel” is an evangelistic tool Awana has used for years. In this episode, Cindy Vesperman (Awana Missionary in North-Central California) provides practical coaching on how to use this tool in a conversational manner.

For many, Awana brings up memories of colorful uniforms and fun awards. In this episode, Timothy Bennet (Awana Missionary to Southeast Georgia) shares creatives ideas for incentives and why they can be beneficial to your ministry.  

In the midst of a busy and ever-changing world, it can become more and more difficult to recruit leaders and have the people needed to run our children’s ministries well.

In our conversation with David Roach (Awana Missionary to Central North Carolina), we discuss effective ways to recruit volunteers and leaders for your ministry.

For many, Sparks (Awana’s ministry for K-2nd Grade) has been a self-paced curriculum where children could complete as many lessons, verses and sections as possible. While there are benefits to this approach, some have felt it leads new kids or slower-paced children toward discouragement and a feeling of inferiority.   

With the “Together We Move” approach, all children participating in Sparks work on the same lesson, the same verse and the same section. Jamie Root (Awana Missionary to Missouri) provides practical tips and benefits for this approach as well as the strong focus on discipleship it can bring to your ministry.   

Welcome to the Awana Tennessee Network Podcast! 

This podcast is hosted by Hunter Williams who serves as the Awana missionary for Central and Southeast, TN. 

You can connect with Hunter on his website and other social media platforms through the following link: