HR1077LRB098 21141 MST 58999 r


  
1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
3Representatives wish to recognize Art Rorheim, co-founder of 
4AWANA Clubs International, on his commitment to his faith, his 
5family, his State, his country, and to churches across the 
6world; and
  
 
7    WHEREAS, Art Rorheim's wife and co-worker for the past 75 
8years, Winnie, is considered his
most important partner in the 
9ministry; marrying in 1939, they weathered some lean
times in 
10the early years; and
  
 
11    WHEREAS, In the 1930s,  Art Rorheim volunteered as a weekly 
12club leader at the North Side Gospel
Center under the direction 
13of Dr. Lance Latham, and later became the youth director; and
  
 
14    WHEREAS, Art Rorheim and Dr. Latham were pioneers in 
15creating the youth director post, prioritizing
ministry to 
16children and teens, and created a new midweek ministry called 
17AWANA (Approved
Workmen Are Not Ashamed); and
 
18    WHEREAS, AWANA blossomed, drawing over 500 children and 
19teens to the Gospel Center
each week; other churches learned 
20about its success and inquired about its availability; and
 
 
 
HR1077- 2 -LRB098 21141 MST 58999 r

1    WHEREAS, As the Executive Director of AWANA, Art Rorheim 
2expanded the
organization into a worldwide ministry, with over 
314,000 churches, orphanages, and
Christian schools operating 
4in over 100 countries, impacting over 700,000 young people in a

5given week; and
 
6    WHEREAS, In his mid-90s, Art Rorheim continues to welcome 
7opportunities to share his heart, wisdom,
and experiences with 
8a variety of audiences in various venues, speaking at AWANA 
9Ministry
Conferences, churches, on radio programs, and has been 
10interviewed by a wide range of print, online,
and radio media; 
11he still travels the world to speak at conferences and meet 
12with ministry leaders
and partners; and
  
 
13    WHEREAS, When Art Rorheim looks back at his years in AWANA, 
14he cannot imagine his phenomenal
journey without Winnie by his 
15side, recognizing that "The Lord brought us together for a 
16reason,
and I'm glad He did"; therefore, be it
  
 
  
17    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
18NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
19we recognize Art Rorheim, co-founder of AWANA Clubs 
20International, on his commitment to his faith, his family, his 
21State, his country, and to churches across the world and; and 
22be it further
  
 
 
 
HR1077- 3 -LRB098 21141 MST 58999 r

1    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
2presented to Art and Winnie Rorheim as an expression of our 
3esteem and respect.