‘It is NOT a time to panic; rather, it is a time to pray for peace and to seize the opportunity to reach people around the globe with the Gospel,’ says CEF Vice President of Administration, Fred Pry
For Immediate Release
March 11, 2026
ST. LOUIS —Tension in the Middle East continues to escalate as countries across the region sustain damage from missiles and drone strikes while the conflict with Iran enters its second week. Foreign governments have urged their citizens to evacuate the area, and uncertainty remains about how long the fighting may continue. Amid this turmoil, children across the region are facing an especially frightening reality, as some have lost their homes, stability and loved ones to the violence.
For nearly a century, Child Evangelism Fellowship® (CEF®) has worked to evangelize boys and girls around the world with the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, disciple them in the Word of God, and establish them in a Bible-believing church. Through ministry outreaches such as the Good News Club® and the 5-Day Club®, CEF staff are equipped with Christ-centered, kid-focused resources. These efforts help reach children facing what may be the most devastating circumstances of their lives.
“CEF is deeply saddened by the current events happening in the Middle East and the effect on children,” said CEF Vice President of Administration Fred Pry. “CEF is a worldwide ministry and is serving this region of the world in an ever-expanding way, including areas affected by this conflict. The news of events in Iran and Israel certainly reminds us of Jesus’ words: ‘And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet’ (Matthew 24:6). None of us knows the day or time of Christ’s return, but we do know it is closer now than ever before. It is NOT a time to panic; rather, it is a time to pray for peace and to seize the opportunity to reach people around the globe with the Gospel. Only Jesus can bring lasting peace through His saving grace. We promise to remain on mission even during this difficult time — reaching the next generation until Jesus comes!”
CEF uses several ministry approaches to reach these children with the Good News. For children experiencing severe trauma, CEF offers a powerful booklet, “Do You Wonder Why?” This is a booklet that can help children make sense of national crises, natural disasters and personal problems by answering 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? For parents looking to comfort their children after calamity, this biblical resource is an invaluable tool.
Nearly half of the record 12.5 million children reached worldwide through the Christmas Party Club® reside in the Middle East, where sharing the Gospel is often the most difficult.
“These children are facing horrors we cannot fathom, but there is hope found in Jesus Christ,” said Pry. “We have answered the call to carry the Gospel into these difficult regions and share Christ’s love with His children who need Him the most.”
Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF), founded in 1937, has been establishing the Good News Club® in countries around the world for decades.
In 2024, more than 31 million children worldwide heard or read the Good News through CEF ministries.
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.
###
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.