‘CEF never stopped sharing the Gospel with children despite the challenges of the pandemic,’ said CEF Acting Vice President Fred Pry. ‘We just had to pivot to more creative methods to reach children’
For Immediate Release
April 22, 2024
ST. LOUIS — Despite the many challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ways in which the United States rebounded, Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) did not let that stop them from sharing the Gospel. CEF’s bold initiatives to share the Gospel through unique ways allowed the ministry to bounce back from the pandemic and return to its strong pre-pandemic ministry impact in 2023.
In total in 2023, CEF clubs and other live activities in the United States reached 567,934 children. In addition, CEF’s multimedia and literature distribution reached a total of 828,795 children.
“CEF never stopped sharing the Gospel with children despite the challenges of the pandemic,” said CEF Acting Vice President Fred Pry. “We just had to pivot to more creative methods to reach children, including online Good News Clubs® and U-Nite.”
One of the most effective tools CEF used during the pandemic is their U-Nite ministry. In a time when everything has a subscription, CEF is proud to offer its U-Nite ministry platforms for free on a platform that is safe for kids.
On U-Nite TV, God’s Word is shared in a fun, engaging way to help children understand and apply biblical truths to their lives. The streaming platform features 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 unites kids with the Gospel through adventures and foundational, biblical truths. The short episodes of Good News Heroes and Good News Devos teach children through engaging stories. These podcasts designed for kids can be downloaded so children can listen in the car, at the breakfast table, or while they play in their room.
On U-Nite Kids, God’s Word is shared in a fun, engaging way to help children grow in their understanding of biblical truths and how to apply them in their lives. They 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.
CEF also continued on with their Good News Clubs® and held them virtually so that children could still come together and hear God’s word in a time of isolation and separation. Good News Clubs® meet kids right where they are and deliver timeless truths of the Bible in exciting, engaging ways. Children learn the Gospel, and many come to know Jesus as their Savior. Since the COVID restrictions have been lifted, CEF has been resuming their Good News Clubs® in person.
Through CEF’s dedication to sharing the Gospel, they were able to rebound through the pandemic challenges, and the ministry’s growth in 2023 is a reflection of that.
In 2023, CEF in the United States:
–Held 3,310 Good News Clubs® in schools, homes, and preschools, and reached 119,110 children.
–Held 3,422 5-Day Clubs and reached over 78,000 children.
–Reached over 130,000 children through Christmas Party Clubs.
–Reached almost 100,000 children through fairs, festivals, expos, and carnivals.
“We see no reason to slow down, and every reason to expand our outreach. Souls are being won all over the country,” said Pry “Millions of people in the United States have yet to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ. Evangelizing children often leads to entire families and communities becoming believers.”
Child Evangelism Fellowship, which was founded 87 years ago, has been establishing Good News Clubs® 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, and Uganda.
In 2022, through CEF’s combined ministries, more than 19.5 million children worldwide heard the Good News. More than 439,000 teachers were trained around the world.
For more CEF news, see the ministry’s latest edition of the online magazine Impact.
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 Bogucki, 610.584.1096, ext. 105, or Daniel Moyer, ext. 104.