Co-Founder of AWANA Clubs Dies at 99

STREAMWOOD, Ill.
   Arthur Reynold Rorheim, co-founder of Awana and one of the pioneers in children’s ministry, passed away on Friday, Jan. 5, 2018. He was 99.
   The Lord used Rorheim to develop and grow the children’s and youth ministry from a club at a church in Chicago to a global organization. Today, Awana has an outreach of more than 3.7 million children in more than 100 countries. 

   Rorheim, who served as executive director, president and president emeritus of Awana, still regularly visited Awana headquarters in his late 90s. “I’ve never found the word ‘retirement’ in the Bible,” he joked.

   “Art Rorheim was a man whose influence for the kingdom of God will have a lasting impact for generations to come,” said Valerie Bell, Awana CEO. “Throughout his life he tirelessly proclaimed the gospel and dedicated his life to equipping Christian leaders to share this message with millions of children and moms and dads all over the world. To that end he was relentlessly focused in serving his Savior all the days of his life. His heart and passion for Jesus inspired millions. Awana, and the entire Christian community, will dearly miss this extraordinary man.”

   Rorheim, who spent more than 70 years with Awana, was born May 7, 1918 to Norwegian immigrants who eventually settled in Chicago near the future site of the North Sid ...

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