Fred Pry, CEF® Vice President of Administration: ‘This Thanksgiving, teach kids not only to be thankful, but to be thankful to God’
For Immediate Release
November 24, 2025
ST. LOUIS — The Thanksgiving holiday has long symbolized gratitude and community. From its 17th-century origins as a shared feast between the Wampanoag people and the Pilgrims, to its formalization as a national observance by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863, the holiday inspires reflection and celebration to this day.
The benefits of gratitude extend beyond communal observance. Research suggests that appreciation reduces depression, relieves stress and lowers anxiety. Even the youngest among us benefit from gratitude, where giving thanks can provide a mood boost, increase social connection and improve sleep quality.
This holiday season, Child Evangelism Fellowship® (CEF®), a leader in youth outreach since 1937, is committed to cultivating a spirit of gratitude among young people everywhere.
According to Fred Pry, CEF Vice President of Administration, gratitude starts with appreciating the God who provides all good things.
“We want to encourage children to be grateful to God as the Creator and Sustainer of the universe,” observed Pry. “He created all that exists — humans, the air we breathe, the beauty of sunsets and mountains; God made it all. Cultivating a heart of thanksgiving and gratitude will grow a spirit of humility within kids.”
Parents play a key role in instilling gratitude in young people, so CEF is sharing three practical ways families can have fun while cultivating a spirit of thanksgiving. First: Do crafts together.
Pry said, “Kids love having the opportunity to get creative, and crafts are a great opportunity for parents to help reinforce spiritual truths about the creativity of God.”
Next, Pry suggests family games or puzzles.
“All children love team games, and this is especially useful to help keep a group of kids entertained while learning to appreciate one another and God at home or Sunday school during the Thanksgiving countdown.”
Finally, Pry encourages families to collectively pursue an attitude of gratitude.
“While it’s easy and often expected for kids to be thankful for stuff, we want them to go deeper,” shared Pry. “Instead of simply asking kids to name one or two things they’re grateful for, start by listing things within categories, then make the categories gradually more thoughtful. For instance, you could ask kids to name a person that they’re thankful for, then to name something about that person — like a character quality — that they’re thankful for and why. Other category ideas could be something that happened this year or the attributes of God.”
Pry added, “It’s important to take time with kids to make it especially meaningful and fun — maybe even start some new traditions. In the process, children will become even more grateful for their family.”
Ultimately, Pry said, “What we should teach kids to be most thankful for is God and the forgiveness He offers. For what greater gift is there than salvation in Christ? This Thanksgiving, teach kids not only to be thankful, but to be thankful to God.”
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.