“CEF is praying for the lives affected by the devastating Texas flood. We believe the ‘Do You Wonder Why?’ booklet will guide children through the grief that they are wrestling with,” says CEF Vice President of Administration Fred Pry
For Immediate Release
July 7, 2025
ST. LOUIS — Last Friday in Kerr County, Texas, a flash flood surged the Guadalupe River; the death toll has surpassed 100, including the 27 children and counselors at a girls’ summer camp, Camp Mystic, who lost their lives. This devastating tragedy has not only affected those across Texas, especially the girls at Camp Mystic who lost beloved friends and peers, but it has resonated nationwide as a painful and heartbreaking reminder of life’s fragility.
For young children, it can be difficult to understand the loss of a loved one, natural disasters, and the questions surrounding grief. To help bring the hope of the Gospel message to children in times of grief, Child Evangelism Fellowship® (CEF®) created the “Do You Wonder Why?” booklet.
“CEF is praying for the lives affected by the devastating Texas flood. We believe the ‘Do You Wonder Why?’ booklet will guide children through the grief that they are wrestling with,” says CEF Vice President of Administration Fred Pry.
CEF has impacted many children with this booklet, including those in countries around the world and in the U.S. in states like North Carolina, New York, Florida, and now Texas.. In response to recent events, CEF East Texas State Director Mimi Sellars delivered 5,000 “Do You Wonder Why?” booklets to a local church in Kerrville, Texas, to share with children and families seeking comfort, hope, and encouragement. CEF East Texas volunteers are safe and are now actively serving on the frontlines — helping children process the emotional impact of the flood’s aftermath.
“Do You Wonder Why?” has been translated into 19 different languages. This short booklet begins to answer questions that are on everyone’s minds: Why do so many bad things happen in the world? Why did God allow this to happen? How can I get through this terrible time?
CEF has distributed millions of copies of the booklet, which was created just after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, to respond to the grief that children were wrestling with. The booklet explains the role of sin, the fact that we can’t always know why bad things happen, our need for salvation and the good news that, no matter what, Jesus will never leave us when we accept Him as our Savior. In each booklet, which is also available in video form, in print and online in several languages at https://www.cefonline.com/why, the Gospel is clearly explained. In the booklet, children can write their names and the date on which they became “part of God’s family.”
Child Evangelism Fellowship® (CEF®), which was founded 88 years ago, has been establishing the Good News Club® in countries around the world for decades. Clubs are thriving worldwide, in countries including Australia, Cambodia, Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, New Zealand, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Uganda and many more.
In 2024, through the combined ministries of CEF, more than 31 million children worldwide were impacted for Christ. More than 533,000 teachers were trained around the world to reach children.
For more CEF news, see the ministry’s latest edition of the online magazine Impact.
CEF is an international, nonprofit, Christian ministry that has been dedicated to seeing every child reached with the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, discipled, and established in a local church since 1937. CEF is located in all 50 American states and in most countries around the world, with over 3,500 paid staff and tens of thousands of volunteers around the world.
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To interview a representative from Child Evangelism Fellowship, contact [email protected], Beth Bogucki, 610.584.1096, ext. 105, Dawn Foglein, ext. 100, or Daniel Moyer, ext. 104.