Growing up, my church never attended camp. I didn’t fully grasp its importance or impact until I began serving in full-time ministry fifteen years ago. I have now seen firsthand how camp can serve as a spiritual milestone in the lives of young people, influencing not just one week of their summer, but the other 51 weeks of the year — and even their eternity if they accept Christ as their Savior and Lord.

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I have been privileged to experience Awana from many different angles: first as a clubber, then as a group leader, and finally as a club director. I have seen firsthand the way this program supports kids as they learn about God’s Word, study it, memorize it, and apply it. We have seen many children move through the program, from the 2-year-old class, affectionately called Puggles, to the upper elementary class called Truth & Training. But why is a program like this so important?

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Why have "class" for preschoolers during Sunday School and worship hours, especially for two- and three-year-olds?  Aren't they "just toddlers"?  While many may ask this question, the fact is that the brain develops by age five into 90% of the size it will be in an adult!  If the brain is developing that quickly during the infant and preschool years, it is important to teach those little ones the Bible during that time!

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