It is a fellowship of Christians dedicated to the task of winning boys and girls to Christ. It is an international, Bible-centered, faith ministry. The Home Office is located in Warrenton, Missouri.
Bible classes for children were started by J. Irvin Overholtzer in 1923. He desired to give boys and girls the opportunity to be set free from the guilt of their sin. CEF grew out of Mr. O responding to God's burden for the children. It was incorporated as an organization in Chicago, Illinois in 1937 and has grown into a worldwide ministry.
It now has ministries to boys and girls in every state in the United States, every province in Canada and over 150 countries around the world. There are over 1400 nationals and more than 190 expatriates serving with CEF.
CEF is incorporated at the national and state levels to provide leadership, training and materials. Each state and province has local chapters where most of the work of evangelizing children and training of volunteers is done. The local chapters work with and through the local churches in their area to accomplish this task.
The purpose of CEF is to evangelize boys and girls with the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and establish (disciple) them in the Word of God and in a local church for Christian living.
A Good News Club is a neighborhood, Bible-centered club for children ages 5 through 12. It is one of the principal means that CEF employs to reach unchurched boys and girls for Christ.
GNCs are usually held throughout the school year for one hour each week. They can meet any day or place that children can be gathered together.
Homes or community centers often provide contact with children who do not attend Sunday school and church. They provide a setting which is close to where the child lives and their parents seem more willing to allow them to attend.
Visualized Gospel choruses and hymns are sung. Memory games are played to make learning a Bible verse fun. A missionary time helps children to see God at work today. Exciting Bible lessons stress salvation by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. An opportunity for children to trust Christ as their personal Savior is given. All of these activities aid the Christian child in his growth in Christ.
The local chapters of CEF hold training classes at convenient locations to aid the volunteer teacher. These classes are taught by CEF trained instructors. They share proven methods that make each part of a children's class meaningful and interesting to the child.
The teacher must be born again and show a commitment to the evangelization of boys and girls. They must be willing to spend the necessary time in preparing lessons including attending the training classes. They must show their agreement with the CEF Statement of Faith by signing it each year and abide by the policies of the organization including the charismatic policy (CEF is non-charismatic).
CEF Press provides at a nominal cost visualized materials for these children's classes. The Bible lessons are set up in a five-year cycle and are reusable. Missionary stories and visualized songs are also available along with other child-related helps.
Boys and girls are gathered together on lawns, vacant lots, parks, street corners, etc., for usually one hour each day for five days. The same methods used in the Good News Club are used in the 5-Day Club.
Young adults from colleges and high schools are recruited to learn firsthand that God desires to work through them to evangelize boys and girls. They receive intensive training to prepare them for this ministry. The training is usually 10 to 14 days in length. Younger teens are recruited and trained as assistants for the clubs. Good News Club teachers and other Christians also teach these summer clubs.
Released-time classes, held in connection with the public schools, provide an excellent opportunity for taking the Gospel to boys and girls. Special party clubs attract children and provide great opportunities to share God's promises with them. The fair ministry and the open-air ministry meets children right where they are with the opportunity to trust Christ as their Savior. Day and overnight camps provide extended contact and greatly encourage a child's growth in Christ.
The children like to be part of a project that helps other children around the world. The offerings are a voluntary involvement in the lives of those they are learning about during the missionary emphasis time. It also provides a way to experience what Scripture means when it says it is "more blessed to give."
CEF offers training for the local church that provides outreach opportunities for the local church. Trained staff provides special training to enhance the skills of children's workers in Sunday school, children's church or club programs. CEF provides special programs for the local church and challenges congregations with the biblical mandate to evangelize boys and girls.
CEF is a faith ministry, dependent on God to supply needs through churches and individuals. CEF policy is: "Ask God and tell His people."
Yes. A tax-deductible receipt is issued promptly to each donor. CEF is a charter member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability.
The best way to find the answer to this question is to contact the Dallas office at (214) 343-3399 or by email at: office@cefdallas.com. CEF is always in need of volunteers and full-time staff. We are looking for coordinators for several ministry areas, so if you believe that God is calling you to full or part-time missionary service to children, please contact us.