'Ultimate Guide to Child Evangelism Fellowship CEF: Impacting Children for Christ'

Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF)

Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) is an international, non-profit evangelistic organization that was founded in 1937 by Jesse Irvin Overholtzer. CEF's main focus is on meeting the spiritual needs of children and leading them to faith in Jesus Christ. The organization is made up of born-again believers who are dedicated to evangelizing boys and girls with the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and to disciple them in the Word of God and in the local church for Christian living.

The Purpose of Child Evangelism Fellowship

The purpose of Child Evangelism Fellowship is to evangelize children with the Gospel and establish them in the Word of God and in the local church. CEF aims to reach children with the message of salvation and help them grow in their faith. They believe that children have the capacity to understand and believe in Jesus Christ at a young age.

The Programs of Child Evangelism Fellowship

CEF has several programs aimed at reaching children with the Gospel message. Their flagship program is the after-school Good News Club, which meets in public schools, community centers, parks, and homes. These clubs meet weekly during the school year and provide a safe environment for children to learn about Jesus and grow in their faith.

CEF also trains teenagers through the Christian Youth In Action program, equipping them to evangelize children during the summer through 5-Day Clubs. These clubs meet in homes and parks and aim to bring the message of salvation to children during their summer break.

Child Evangelism Fellowship encourages churches to partner with them in their programs, as this can help generate interest among children and their parents to attend church regularly.

The Founding of Child Evangelism Fellowship

Jesse Irvin Overholtzer, the founder of Child Evangelism Fellowship, came to faith in Jesus Christ later in life. He was initially told by his mother that he was too young to understand religion, but it wasn't until he attended college that he embraced Christianity. As a pastor, Overholtzer read a sermon by Charles Haddon Spurgeon that emphasized a child's capacity to comprehend the gospel. This inspired Overholtzer to think about how he could preach the good news to children and provide them with a foundation for discipleship in a local church.

In 1916, Overholtzer led a child to Christ for the first time. Over the next decade and a half, he ministered to children through the Christian Training Association in California, which offered adult leadership training and Bible classes for children. Eventually, Overholtzer moved to Chicago to develop and oversee a Christian training school. It was during this time that he felt called by God to start an evangelistic ministry specifically for children.

In 1937, at the age of 60, Overholtzer organized a national committee, and Child Evangelism Fellowship was officially launched on May 20th of that year. As Overholtzer traveled on a bus tour to key cities in the United States and Canada, committees were formed, directors were appointed, and training schools were inaugurated. Initially, CEF focused on offering Bible classes for children, which later became known as Good News Clubs.

Growth and Expansion of Child Evangelism Fellowship

In 1945, the International Child Evangelism Fellowship Institute was established in Dallas, Texas. Since then, CEF has added many programs to its ministry efforts. These include the Radio Kids Bible Club, Evangelizing Today’s Child magazine, summer programs, overseas missions programs for college students, radio training programs for adults, a children's television program, an internet ministry for children, a summer camping program, a military children’s ministry, and a three-month training program called Children’s Ministries Institute for those who feel called to minister to children.

Today, Child Evangelism Fellowship is the world’s largest evangelism ministry to children, reaching over 25 million children in person with the gospel message each year. CEF is active in every state in the United States and most countries around the world. They have approximately 3,500 missionaries overseas, 1,030 full-time employees in the United States and Canada, and around 400,000 volunteers worldwide. CEF's home offices are located in Warrenton, Missouri, USA.

Why This Matters

Child Evangelism Fellowship plays a crucial role in reaching children with the message of salvation and helping them grow in their faith. By focusing on the spiritual needs of children and providing age-appropriate programs and materials, CEF creates opportunities for young hearts to embrace Jesus Christ as their Savior. The organization's commitment to training volunteers and workers ensures that there is a dedicated force equipped to reach children with the Gospel.

Think About It

Child Evangelism Fellowship's emphasis on evangelizing children highlights the importance of starting one's faith journey at a young age. It reminds us that children have a capacity to understand and believe in Jesus Christ, and that nurturing their faith from an early age can have a lasting impact. Additionally, CEF's partnership with churches serves as a reminder of the significance of community and support in a child's spiritual growth.