A bold and exciting goal: Child Evangelism Fellowship aims to reach 100 million children with the Gospel
‘What may seem impossible to man is attainable with God, for Whom nothing is impossible,’ says Moises Esteves, CEF executive vice president
For Immediate Release
June 12, 2023
ST. LOUIS — Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF), one of the world’s leading child evangelism organizations, is reemphasizing its commitment to the Great Commission with a new slate of ambitious goals. CEF has been called by God to make it their highest priority to present the Gospel so children may be saved and discipled in God’s Word. Their commitment is to:
- Reach approximately 26.5 million children in 2023.
- Minister to 100 million children each year globally with the Gospel in the near future.
- Increase the number of Good News Clubs®, which already serve children in about 3,500 American public schools.
- Train hundreds of thousands of adults worldwide to reach more children for Christ.
“These goals might seem bold or improbable. But we are already sharing Christ with nearly 20 million children every year,” says Moises Esteves, executive vice president of Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEFonline.com). “What may seem impossible to man is attainable with God, for Whom nothing is impossible.”
Child Evangelism Fellowship, which was founded in 1937, had been rapidly establishing Good News Clubs® in countries around the world for decades. Clubs are thriving in Belize, Ukraine, Ghana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Australia and many other nations.
Last year, through CEF’s combined ministries, more than 19.5 million children worldwide heard the Good News. In 2022, more than 439,000 teachers were trained around the world.
“Training Christians to effectively minister to children has been the core of our ministry since it was founded in 1937,” Esteves says. “Training is offered throughout the USA and around the world through seminars, conferences and formal courses.”
CEF’s powerful in-person ministries include:
- Good News Club® — In schools, community centers, churches, and neighborhood homes, teachers who are screened and equipped lead action-packed Good News Clubs every week, delivering timeless truths of the Bible in exciting, engaging ways.
- 5-Day Club — An exciting, fun-filled, one-and-a-half-hour session held each day for five consecutive days. It includes dynamic Bible lessons, creative learning activities, inspiring missionary stories, songs and life-changing Scripture memorization.
- Military Children’s Ministry — Good News Clubs held in military neighborhoods serving military families all over the United States.
- Christmas Party Club — Churched and unchurched children get to hear the Gospel. These one-time events are taught by Good News Club® leaders, Sunday school teachers, children’s ministry workers, and other believers who love children.
- Camp Good News — Using CEF-owned or rented facilities, trained staff maintain an exciting program focused on evangelism and discipleship.
- SPAN — CEF’s Sponsor-a-National program provides assistance to missionaries on a monthly basis.
- Christian Youth in Action — This program teaches high school and college students how to minister to children and teach clubs for a few weeks during the summer.
U-Nite TV streams animated adventures that teach truths from the Bible, music videos to learn and memorize God’s Word, and stories that clearly teach the Gospel.
U-Nite Radio offers a new episode every week, alternating between Good News Devos and Good News Heroes. Good News Devos gives biblical foundations such as Who God is, the basics to understanding the Bible, and the 10 Commandments. The series can be accessed at U-Nite Radio or through Apple, Google, Amazon or Spotify apps.
On U-Nite Kids, children play out adventures that teach truths from the Bible, complete daily devotions, earn achievements, memorize God’s Word and get answers to common biblical questions. This app is available now on Google Play, Amazon and iOS (Apple).
CEF shows teachers how to make the club exciting and informative so that children will want to keep coming. Teachers are asked to sign the CEF Statement of Faith and abide by the organization’s policies. All adults are screened according to CEF’s child protection policy.
Children attend Good News Club® and other CEF programs only with their parents’ permission. In addition to school settings, Good News Clubs® identify a home in the neighborhood that is safe for a child to go to in times of trouble. The clubs bring the teaching of biblical morality to a neighborhood, connect the child and his or her family to others where they live, and help develop community spirit.
Each club includes a clear presentation of the Gospel and an opportunity for children to trust Jesus as their Savior. All the clubs have strong discipleship training to build moral character and strengthen spiritual growth. Each week, an exciting Bible lesson is presented using colorful materials from CEF. This action-packed time also includes songs, Scripture memory, a missions story and games or other activities focused on the lesson’s theme. All children are encouraged to attend a local church.
There is ample evidence that CEF’s efforts are paying off — last year, more than 6 million children reached by CEF made professions of faith.
“I don’t know about you, but nothing excites me more than to see children’s eyes light up and their faces fill with joy when they hear the good news about Jesus,” Esteves says.
Child Evangelism Fellowship (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 Harrison, 610.584.1096, ext. 105, or Deborah Hamilton, ext. 102.