Gerald and Susan Vanderford Awana Missionaries to North Central Tennessee

Gerald and Susan Vanderford and family. Our eight children: Nathan (6/13/1983), Sarah (Sadie) (11/1/1984), Elizabeth (5/11/1986), Benjamin (1/8/1989), Andrew (4/14/1992), Rebekah (4/9/1993), Ruth (12/29/1994), and Caleb (11/24/1997). (full sized photo)

Our Ministry:

As a matter of introduction, we have been active in the Awana ministry for ten years including having served on the North Central California Ministry Team for eight years. We are often humbled as we see God work in His timing as we share the Awana Ministry with churches in the northern halves of Middle and East Tennessee. We look forward to what God has in store for us this next year as we continue to work with the churches in our area.

Our Ministry Verse

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength." Isaiah 26:3-4

Our Mission

To introduce the ministry of Awana to local churches, equipping them to impact their community and the world with the gospel of grace. Helping our churches to..."Reach boys and girls with the gospel of Christ and train them to serve Him."
We have over 150 churches in the north central Tennessee area. This area has averaged nearly 20 new ministries each year for the last several years. More Awana churches means reaching more children and families with the gospel, and training more people to serve.

Our Goals

To assist our current Awana churches by:
• Providing training to their Awana leaders
• Giving practical assistance to motivate their leaders and clubbers
• Providing information on the opportunities for Teen Ministries
• Speaking for church services or at Awana Club meetings
• Presenting and promoting Adopt-a-Club and foreign outreach ministry opportunities
• To see a steady increase of churches using Awana in the north central Tennessee area by:
• Introducing the ministry of Awana to local churches
• Making presentations to interested pastors
• Attending mission conferences and other events to promote Awana

Our Support Needs:

Awana Missionaries are Faith Support Missionaries. They are completely dependent upon the gifts of God's people to meet their living and working expenses. Each month their financial needs are met only as churches and individuals share in their ministry.
We sincerely appreciate and thank God for each and every church, family, and individual who help to meet our support needs. We count it a great privilege to be your Awana Missionaries. If your church is supporting us, we thank you for deeming us a worthy ministry to invest in.
If your church has not yet added us to their missions' budget, would you please ask them to consider our needs? We hope that one day all of our Awana churches will realize the importance and benefits of helping their Awana Missionary stay on the job. If you would like to partner with us, please complete the "Declaration of Intent to Support" form. May God richly bless you and your ministry for your faithfulness.
Awana Clubs International now offers several methods to give to the Awana Missionaries, including credit card donations via an online account, Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) directly from your checking account for regular giving, and workplace-based giving (including matching donation programs and the Combined Federal Campaign). Check out more at the Donate web site.
Webmaster note: Thanks to the help of God's people the Vanderfords are up to 72% of their monthly support.