Art Rorheim, Co-Founder of Awana, to Celebrate 90th Birthday May 7

Contact: Jill Fisher, Awana, 630-540-4561, 847-533-7464 cell, JillF@Awana.org

STREAMWOOD, Ill., May 5 /Christian Newswire/ -- Awana will honor Art Rorheim, co-founder of Awana, with a 90th-birthday celebration May 7 at the ministry's suburban Chicago headquarters in Streamwood. Under Art’s leading, a ministry at a small Chicago church has grown to impact the life of millions of children and youth worldwide.

The tribute will begin at 9 a.m. with a retrospective on Rorheim's life and legacy at Awana. Following the event, Awana will host a luncheon for Rorheim with dignitaries and some of his closest ministry associates. Rorheim's wife, Winnie, will join him for the festivities. The couple will commemorate their 69th wedding anniversary later this year.

In 1935, 17-year-old Art Rorheim agreed to direct a weekly program for third- and fourth-grade boys that would meet in the basement of his home church in Chicago. More than 73 years later, Rorheim is still going strong long after leaving a worldwide imprint on children's and youth ministry.

Rorheim's work with Awana began in 1941. After his stint as a volunteer club director at the North Side Gospel Center, Rorheim was chosen as the church’s youth director. That year, he and Senior Pastor Lance "Doc" Latham began developing a mid-week children's program at the church that they named Awana. Rorheim developed the weekly Awana clubs to appeal to churched and non-churched kids, lead them into a personal relationship with Christ and grow them in enduring faith and service to God.

Other churches learned about the success of the program and inquired about its availability. In 1950, Latham and Rorheim founded Awana as a parachurch organization, with Rorheim as executive director.

The ministry quickly flourished. By 1960, 900 churches had started Awana programs, and by 1972 the first international club was formed. Today, Awana is a leader in children's ministry by helping children and youth know, love and serve Christ. Each week more than a million children and youth and 250,000 volunteers participate in Awana programs in more than 17,000 churches in the U.S. and 100 other countries. Awana serves churches from 100 different Christian denominations, and millions of adults are alumni.

"I know that I would never be where I am today, if it hadn't been for [Art] challenging me so many years ago." says Bill Hybels, Senior Pastor of Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, IL who grew up in the Awana program.

Erwin Lutzer, Sr. Pastor of Moody Church in Chicago admires Art Rorheim for his "consistency of character and focus" Lutzer adds, "not only does [Art] walk with God, but he is intent on helping others to do so as well."

Rorheim stepped down as executive director in 1992. He then served as Awana president until 1999 when Jack Eggar was appointed president/CEO. For the last nine years, Rorheim has continued to report to Awana headquarters in the role of co-founder.

"I've never been able to find the word 'retirement' in the Bible," he often jokes.

Dr. Tony Evans, Sr. Pastor of Oak Cliffs Bible Fellowship, says, "The kingdom of God has been blessed…for [Art's] commitment to Christ and to children."

Rorheim typically works in the office two days a week, contributing ideas and speaking to outside groups visiting Awana. He also travels across the U.S. to speak at conferences, meet with ministry leaders and partners and represent Awana at various engagements. His heart remains firmly focused on using God's Word to impact others around the world. Most recently he crafted a Bible memory program for inmates as part of the Awana Lifeline prison ministry.