Crossway is pleased to announce a new alliance with Awana that seeks to extend the reach of the gospel of Jesus Christ to young people throughout the world. Awana will begin to make its core Awana Clubs and Awana Youth Ministry curriculum available in the ESV (English Standard Version) Bible by the fall of 2013.
Awana President Jack Eggar says, “We are very excited about an alliance with Crossway. Our two ministries have a mutually strong history and passion to reach the world with the good news of Jesus Christ, while also equipping local churches. By making our curriculum available with the ESV Bible, we are committed to expanding our opportunities to serve and connect with churches across denominational lines.”
Awana is a not-for-profit ministry that helps churches and parents raise children and youth to know, love, and serve Christ. Each week, nearly two million kids take part in Awana worldwide. Because learning and understanding Scripture are key foundations to a young person’s Awana experience, the ESV Bible—with word-for-word accuracy and literary excellence—is an ideal resource for the Awana ministry.
Crossway is a not-for-profit Christian publishing ministry that seeks to reach both young and old, everywhere around the globe, with the gospel and the truth of God’s Word. “We believe our Awana alliance will help a whole new generation of young people learn and love the truth of God’s Word,” says Dr. Lane Dennis, Crossway president and Bible publisher. “As an essentially literal Bible translation, the ESV is ideally suited for Bible reading, teaching, and memorization, and it is the preferred translation for a growing number of pastors and churches.”
Released in 2001, the ESV Bible is now endorsed as a trusted Bible translation by pastors and leaders such as Francis Chan, Kevin DeYoung, and John Piper—and numerous others from more than two dozen denominations. Thus, as pastor Craig Jarvis at Medinah Baptist Church in Roselle, IL noted: “I love Awana and I love the ESV Bible. I have been preaching and teaching from the ESV Bible for almost a decade. I am excited now that our young people will now grow up learning and memorizing from the ESV—the same Bible translation that we use throughout the various ministries of the Church.”
Crossway President Lane Dennis with Awana President Jack Eggar