Category: Summit 2020

The Summit team understands the disappointment of having to cancel Summit 2020. It is our goal to minimize the impact as much as we can as we honor the work the participants have put into preparing for Summit this year. Here is what is planned to still take place for Summit 2020:

FINE ARTS will continue.

All of the Fine Arts categories will be judged, and scholarships will be awarded. Most of the fine arts categories have been submitted and judged already. There are two categories that take place at Summit, Visual Arts and Creative writing. These will also be accommodated.

Visual Art submissions that would have been brought to Summit will need be submitted electronically by either a digital photograph(s) or video (1-minute maximum/no narration) and sent to finearts@summit-journey.org. We will allow videos for those who may have a sculpture or other piece where a photograph does not present the piece well. Submissions will need to be made no later than Thursday, April 2^nd @ 3:00 pm CDT. All documentation must be provided just as it would be required if you carried the piece to Summit – please be sure to include those cover sheets.

Creative writing will be held similar to how it would have been performed at Summit. Those who registered for creative writing will meet via a Zoom conference call where they will be given the prompt to begin their writing. They will be writing on a computer with a proctor (yes, you need to find a proctor) in the room and then submit their writing via e-mail within the allotted time frame to the Fine Arts venue leader. This will take place at the same time it would have taken place at Summit, Thursday, April 2^nd @ 3pm CDT. A link for the Zoom meeting will be sent to all who have submitted their first portion of the writing competition.

More info to be relayed to those participating in these areas of Fine Arts soon.

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Refunds will begin being sent via a check from West Coast Honor Camp this week and the plan is to have all in the mail within two weeks. Those that signed up for Fine Arts will have that portion subtracted and the balance will be sent to you via the US Postal Service.

Summit T-Shirts

We do plan to print Summit 2020 T-shirts and make that an optional item (prices w/ shipping coming soon) that we could deduct from your already paid fees. An email will be sent out with information to the registered team contact person. We would prefer to ship them in bulk to one person – details to follow in direct email message.

Here is some exciting news…

We are working to have the Summit 2020 Awards Online!

On Saturday, April 4^th at 7pm CDT, we are working on having a live program online where we will announce the Fine Arts winners, the T-Shirt Design Contest winner, as well as the dates and location for Summit 2021 (and maybe a few surprises).

Other aspects of Summit 2020 that we have addressed.

We will be promoting and taking an offering for Summit. Even though Summit had to be cancelled, people still need to know about Jesus. We will be sharing about the offering and how you can give on the Summit Blog once details are worked out.

Citation Award earners that were looking forward to receiving their Citation award at Summit 2020 will be allowed to participate by walking and receiving their Citation award at Summit 2021. We know that you have worked hard to achieve this goal and we want to honor you in this way.

As for the other aspects of Summit, we are unable to accommodate them this year, and we are unable to allow 2020 graduates to return and compete on the Journey high school teams in 2021. The Summit team is looking at establishing an Alumni circle during AwanaGames and Volleyball (with enough signing up) which would allow those who would have competed this year to compete next year with other Awana Alumni. Details are being worked out for this alumni competition and will be conveyed via the Summit website and blog as they are finalized in the Fall.

While we are saddened by the cancellation of Summit 2020, our prayer is that this helps ease the disappointment. We hope you will join us on April 4^th for the closing program and to find out where and when Summit 2021 will be held.

Thank you,

Summit Team

It is with deep sadness that we must cancel this year’s Summit event in Dallas. The Summit team has been working hard to get things in order to make this year a memorable event, but recent events warrant the cancellation of Summit.

We understand there may be disappointment with this announcement. Out of an abundance of caution and safety for our students, we are relying on credible authorities for guidance on decisions and practices. We have been monitoring local news in the Dallas area as well as in various areas of the country. The Frisco area where the event is being held has, at this time, three confirmed cases of COVID-19. Area schools in the Dallas area are closing and other major events have been cancelled. It seems to be a matter of time before the local government prohibits events of 250 or more people in the area, which would include Summit.

We are making this decision now to give you ample time to cancel any reservations and plans you have made for the trip.

We are looking at accommodating the Fine Arts since many have already been submitted and judged. The local churches who have registered will be contacted regarding how some categories of Fine Arts might be able to be accommodated.

The Summit team will be meeting early next week to finalize various details. We will be announcing the dates and location of Summit 2021 on or before April 4, 2020 to help you begin to plan for next year.

Refunds will be coming soon – once the decision regarding Fine Arts is made. We will convey the plan next week after our meeting.

Citation Plaques are being held by Awana and they request that you send an email to citations@awana.org with your UPDATED SHIPPING ADDRESS for your club or home depending on how your award will be presented to you.

Again, it is with deep regret that we cancel Summit, but we want to commission and encourage you with the words of Paul from Romans 10:14-15a,

How, then, can they call on him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about him? And how can they hear without a preacher? And how can they preach unless they are sent?…

Go out and be messengers of God to the world. Now more than ever the world needs to know about God. The world needs our prayers. You are well prepared to go and share God’s love with them. We send you out to share God’s love and look forward to your good report when we are able to meet again.

Thank you for understanding, and we hope to see you in 2021.

Your Summit 2020 Team

As we write this update, the words of Paul in Romans 1:8-12 come to mind,

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you because the news of your faith is being reported in all the world. God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in telling the good news about his Son—that I constantly mention you, always asking in my prayers that if it is somehow in God’s will, I may now at last succeed in coming to you. For I want very much to see you, so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you, that is, to be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.

We share often with others the dedication that you have to the Lord and we long to be with you to encourage one another in the faith.

Updates to the Summit Website

• The schedule for Saturday has been updated to reflect the proper times. All times are local to Dallas, TX (CDT)
• The location of the games has been added with directions

Will the Coronavirus impact Summit?

We are aware of the “elephant in the room”, the question that everyone is asking. Will the Coronavirus impact Summit? That is not a question that we can answer with certainty at this time since much of the decision is out of our control. For those who have to make the call whether to hold Awana based on the forecast of inclement weather, you understand the prayer and information gathering that goes into such decisions.

This week in the Dallas area, the Assemblies of God are holding their annual AG Kidmin Conference with people attending from all over the country. Events are still taking place in the Dallas area, regional Journey events are taking place across the country and it is our plan to hold Summit as scheduled. The only impact will be if federal, state, or local governments put restrictions in place that prohibit the event, or if the local venue hosts make decisions that would impact the event.

As is always recommended during flu season, and throughout the year, we will be emphasizing that people wash their hands on a regular basis. There have been many videos produced over the years , many by hospitals, to help remind people to wash their hands properly. Here are a few of them to help remind you to wash your hands…

… and now it is your turn. We want to encourage you to make a video about washing hands properly for 20 seconds or longer as recommended by health professionals. Be creative, sing a song that lasts 20 seconds or more as you properly wash your hands, be creative and make it fun; then post it in the Summit-Journey Facebook group, or post it on YouTube and send the link – or send the file itself – to socialmedia@summit-journey.org. We will select one video which will win a $20 gift certificate to the Summit Store. Deadline for submissions is Friday, March 20th.

Summit Social Media SUV

The Summit Social Media SUV is getting the oil changed and a safety check as it prepares for the road trip to Summit. The route is being planned with stops and trivia along the way. Do you have any suggestions for places where the Summit Social Media SUV might make a stop as they travel through Tennessee on I40, then down I30 into Texas?

We are looking forward to seeing everyone in Dallas in a few short weeks!