Fred Pry, CEF® Vice President of Administration: ‘Rather than just being on defense against bullies and knowing how to report and stop them, let’s call our students to respond biblically’
For Immediate Release
October 6, 2025
ST. LOUIS — October is National Bullying Prevention Month, a season that draws attention to the problem of bullying among students in the United States.
The topic remains a top concern for parents, educators and students. Approximately 35% of U.S. parents with children under 18 report being very concerned about the possibility of their child being bullied, while another 39% say they are somewhat concerned. A national survey found that bullying occurs at least once a week in 28% of middle schools and 15% of high schools. And while the home was once a respite from this behavior, 26.5% of American teenagers report being the victims of cyberbullying, an increase from 23.2% in 2021.
Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) is calling on Christian students to not only know how to stand up to bullies, but to defuse the practice altogether.
“Students may know about bullying, how to stop it and how to get help, but we want to call Christian young people to an even higher level of commitment,” says Fred Pry, CEF Vice President of Administration. “Rather than just being on the defense against bullies and knowing how to report and stop them, let’s call our students to respond biblically.”
Pry shares two key motivators for students to push back against the culture of bullying.
“Jesus loves us no matter what. We enjoy that acceptance and want others, including bullies, to experience it as well.
“Second, our students need camaraderie. We can encourage Christian students to work together and make a commitment to love others and be a collective, Godly influence. If your student can find two other believers who will commit to supporting each other no matter what, they will be greatly encouraged. They can also invite others into their new friend group who are finding it hard to fit in.”
Pry says this invitation can even extend to the bullies themselves.
Good News Club® offers an opportunity for students with bullying tendencies to experience the unconditional love that comes from Christ. The goal is for students to receive salvation, build a relationship with God and others and then grow in the characteristics Jesus displays, like kindness, love and peace.
“A person who intimidates others often has some deep-seated fears that motivate them to protect themselves with offensive behavior,” explains Pry. “But if they feel unconditional acceptance, it will lessen their need to strive aggressively for a secure position. So, here’s a radical challenge: Reach out to bullies too!”
Pry summarizes, “Bullies use intimidation and power for their own advantage. God is the one with ultimate power and kids can depend on Him for help and strength to do what’s good for others, including bullies.”
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 heard or read the Good News. 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.