Mr. Awana: Sixty-Plus Years of Changing the World for Christ

Art Rorheim. Larkspur, Colo.: Grace Acres Press, 2011. 266 pp. (Paperback).

At the age of 17, Art Rorheim was asked by his pastor to serve as leader for a children’s club sponsored by their church in Chicago. The two men worked together as the club grew and changed over the years, branching out to other churches around the world. As of 2010, more than 7,600 churches worldwide had active Awana ministries, reaching almost a half million children with its emphases on salvation and Scripture memorization. 

In this autobiography, co-founder Art Rorheim relates the story of Awana and other details of a life spent in children’s evangelism. The book is filled with stories and photographs from Rorheim’s life, broken down into easily readable short snapshots — which is a good thing because there is a lot of material in the book. It is not a book to be read in a single sitting, or probably even in a weekend. 

People involved in Awana will be interested in the book for its glimpses into the founding and development of the program. People unfamiliar with Awana will be inspired by a man who spent his life building a ministry that reaches so many children around the globe.