Thursday, November 15, 2018 at 6:00pm
Greenwood Presbyterian Church
The world has changed dramatically over the past years. Remember when church pews were filled with families learning and worshiping together? When respect, loyalty, honesty, commitment, and humility were celebrated and passed down through generations, modeled by parents, leaders, and teachers, and formed the core message in most music, books, and movies?
Most children today spend their time in front of screens where images bombard them with relentless messages of sensuality, violence, self-promotion, and situational values that change to fit individual desires. Sadly, some don’t need screens to teach these lessons. They awake every day to the reality that people are disposable and convictions are fluid. They learn early to pursue happiness at any cost and the result is tragic: lives spent chasing the wind and purpose that is squandered. Who will teach them about Jesus? Who will explain sin or their need for forgiveness?
We will! Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) partners with churches, schools, organizations, communities, and individuals to stand in the gap for these children. Through Good News Clubs, Summer Missions, Fairs, Festivals, and Volunteer Training, we make it possible for children to hear and respond to the Good News of Jesus Christ. In our own families, we’ve seen how having a personal relationship with Jesus and a foundation based on His absolute truth equips even very young children to rise above heartache, difficult circumstances, and a perverse culture. Every child should have this opportunity, but many are being turned away. That’s unacceptable.
While we are reaching thousands of children throughout the Lakelands with the transforming love of Jesus, we are also turning away many others that want to participate because we lack funding to support a club for them. Schools want to launch new clubs, but we can’t serve them. Existing clubs must exclude entire grades to keep the numbers manageable. Some clubs have dissolved completely despite children wanting a club. This year, one school stopped accepting more enrollment forms after 120 children signed up in the first two days.
In summary, our supply isn’t meeting their need. CEF was founded on the principle that we bring our needs to God and tell His people, so we’re praying and asking for your help. Our immediate needs include:
- Consistent funding to hire staff to match schools and churches, train volunteers, prepare resources, support coordinators, maintain consistency, and perform necessary administrative tasks.
- Funding for office space and operational expenses to cover utilities, supplies, and services.
- Churches and volunteers willing to invest in the lives of children by sharing Jesus with them.
- Leaders in the community willing to serve on the Local Committee.
Together, we are like the man Jesus described in Mark 4:26-29 who scatters seed on the ground. Although he doesn’t understand how, day after day, as he sleeps and rises, the earth produces and the seed sprouts and grows into a blade, an ear, and then finally grain that is ready to be harvested. We plant seeds of truth in these children while He works in their hearts in ways we don’t understand until they respond and spring forth into new life!
Families and children are under brutal attack from the enemy. We’re making a difference but we have an opportunity to do so much more and can’t bear to waste it. Will you join us in this battle for the minds and hearts of children?
We’re asking you to attend a banquet on Thursday, November 15, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. at Greenwood Presbyterian Church so we can introduce you more personally to the vital work we are doing for the Kingdom of God. You’ll hear from volunteers and children whose lives have been eternally changed because of their involvement with CEF. You’ll meet some of the spiritual warriors who are on the front lines fighting and winning against the enemy! If the Lord sparks a fire in your heart for this ministry as He has ours, you’ll also have a chance to become involved through your time, talents, or resources.
We’ve made it easy to respond. Simply click HERE and complete the signup form. We aren’t asking you to fill a table with family or friends but trusting God to draw those He calls to participate. Will you help us spread the word about our needs by sharing this invitation? If you tell other like-minded friends and they also share, we are confident God will abundantly supply everything needed to accomplish His work.
Trusting In His Promises,
Mary Beth Kelly Debbie Turner
CEF Lakelands, Local Ministry Director CEF Volunteer Area Coordinator
