Mike & Kris Reed
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Our Mission
The vision and driving passion of Awana are that all children and youth will come to know, love and serve the Lord Jesus Christ. Awana missionaries carry out this vision through relationships with local churches. They assist local church leaders to develop and lead ministries related to children and youth in a way that works in their particular setting. |
Our Story
In May of this year, we celebrated 32 years of marriage. Both of us were born in Ohio and
lived there until God called us to serve as Awana missionaries. We have four children: Ben
(29), Emily (28), Megan (25) and Katie (21). Ben is married to Lisa, and they have given us
four wonderful grandsons. Emily is married to Andy, and they have our fifth grandson,
Hudson. Megan and her husband, Josh, were married last July and live in Columbus. Katie
lives and works in Kansas.
Before Awana, Mike worked at Nationwide Insurance for 23 years. Kris had been a stay-athome mom and worked as a part-time attorney up until the time we joined Awana. Kris has
served in local Awana clubs for 28 years as either a Sparks leader, a Sparks director or a
club secretary. Currently, Kris is a Cubbies leader at our church. Mike has served in local
Awana clubs for 15 years as either a commander or a T&T director.
Neither of us grew up going to Awana and did not even hear the name “Awana” until after we were married.
In early 2002, I (Mike) began to sense that God was calling me to do something more for
Him. During that time, there had been a re-organization at Nationwide that resulted in the
elimination of my mid-level management position. Fortunately, God provided another job
that allowed me to continue employment at the same salary, but I knew that there was
something else God wanted me to do. However, being in full-time ministry was not one of
them! During this time, He began to lay some things on my heart about how I had spent the
first 40 years of my life on this earth and how was I going to spend the remaining time I had
for His service. All that we could do was pray for direction from God.
Around this same time, we were asked by Steve and Pam Schenk, our Awana missionaries
in southern Ohio, if we would be willing to help out with training during the 2002 Fall
Training Conference in Columbus. We agreed, and we had the opportunity to share our
knowledge about Awana and to train others to be used effectively by God in their Awana
ministries. Soon after, the Schenks invited us to join their ministry team to help them serve
the churches in southern Ohio.
In early 2003, we brought a group of our clubbers to participate in a Bible Quiz event in
Columbus. While there, we heard about the need for another Awana missionary couple to
join Steve and Pam to serve churches in southern Ohio. Upon hearing these words, God
stirred in both of us His calling to serve as missionaries with Awana. The stirring in both of
us was an excellent confirmation that this was something God was calling us to do since it
was the first time we had ever discussed being full-time missionaries with Awana (or any
organization for that matter).
We began serving as Awana missionaries in August 2004. We served in Kansas for 7 ½
years before moving to western Kentucky in December 2011. In October 2016, we
relocated back to central Ohio. Mike also is a Sr. Field Director for the US Ministries. We are
humbled by how God is working through us to equip and encourage churches in their
mission to reach and disciple children and youth through the Awana ministry.
Territory Overview
Territory Geography: Kentucky and Central/Southern Ohio/Southwest Pennsylvania
Number of Active Clubs: 394 (representing approximately 20,000 kids)
In May of this year, we celebrated 32 years of marriage. Both of us were born in Ohio and
lived there until God called us to serve as Awana missionaries. We have four children: Ben
(29), Emily (28), Megan (25) and Katie (21). Ben is married to Lisa, and they have given us
four wonderful grandsons. Emily is married to Andy, and they have our fifth grandson,
Hudson. Megan and her husband, Josh, were married last July and live in Columbus. Katie
lives and works in Kansas.
Before Awana, Mike worked at Nationwide Insurance for 23 years. Kris had been a stay-athome mom and worked as a part-time attorney up until the time we joined Awana. Kris has
served in local Awana clubs for 28 years as either a Sparks leader, a Sparks director or a
club secretary. Currently, Kris is a Cubbies leader at our church. Mike has served in local
Awana clubs for 15 years as either a commander or a T&T director.
Neither of us grew up going to Awana and did not even hear the name “Awana” until after we were married.
In early 2002, I (Mike) began to sense that God was calling me to do something more for
Him. During that time, there had been a re-organization at Nationwide that resulted in the
elimination of my mid-level management position. Fortunately, God provided another job
that allowed me to continue employment at the same salary, but I knew that there was
something else God wanted me to do. However, being in full-time ministry was not one of
them! During this time, He began to lay some things on my heart about how I had spent the
first 40 years of my life on this earth and how was I going to spend the remaining time I had
for His service. All that we could do was pray for direction from God.
Around this same time, we were asked by Steve and Pam Schenk, our Awana missionaries
in southern Ohio, if we would be willing to help out with training during the 2002 Fall
Training Conference in Columbus. We agreed, and we had the opportunity to share our
knowledge about Awana and to train others to be used effectively by God in their Awana
ministries. Soon after, the Schenks invited us to join their ministry team to help them serve
the churches in southern Ohio.
In early 2003, we brought a group of our clubbers to participate in a Bible Quiz event in
Columbus. While there, we heard about the need for another Awana missionary couple to
join Steve and Pam to serve churches in southern Ohio. Upon hearing these words, God
stirred in both of us His calling to serve as missionaries with Awana. The stirring in both of
us was an excellent confirmation that this was something God was calling us to do since it
was the first time we had ever discussed being full-time missionaries with Awana (or any
organization for that matter).
We began serving as Awana missionaries in August 2004. We served in Kansas for 7 ½
years before moving to western Kentucky in December 2011. In October 2016, we
relocated back to central Ohio. Mike also is a Sr. Field Director for the US Ministries. We are
humbled by how God is working through us to equip and encourage churches in their
mission to reach and disciple children and youth through the Awana ministry.
Territory Overview
Territory Geography: Kentucky and Central/Southern Ohio/Southwest Pennsylvania
Number of Active Clubs: 394 (representing approximately 20,000 kids)