An update on Jayme

Last week, Jayme received Christ as Savior at Good News Club!!! Sometimes, when a child receives Christ, you never can tell if it was sincere or not. Yesterday proved Jayme did receive Christ as Savior. Early on in the Good News Club, Jayme said that she could never remember any of the verses that we taught in GNC. All that changed yesterday. When we asked the kids who could say the memory verse, Hebrews 13:5, Jayme stood up and said the verse perfectly. What is the difference? The Holy Spirit living in her life! Praise God!

A glimpse into reality

Part of CEF's mission statement is to establish children in a local church. In the past, we as a chapter have not done so well in this area. So, I endeavored this year to change this. I developed a flyer for use in the Good News Clubs to help make this connection, once the GNC is over. After River View Elementary GNC ended last week, our office contacted the parents of the clubbers thanking them for allowing their children to attend and to see if there is any interest in their children attending a local church on a regular basis. One parent gladly received the information, others were left messages. But one GNC boy's father said he didn't need any flyer. This single father is opening up his 10 year old son up to all religions. He told us he believes in God and that we need to learn to communicate with Him. But, this parent feels the need to expose his sonl, a GNC clubber, to all religions. He expressed that he plans on taking his son to catholic mass, buddist temples, muslim mosques, Jewish temples, etc. Once the boy is older, it is his parent's wish to then let him decide what religion he wants to follow.

This conversion was a wake up call to me. I realized this belief is prevalent in society today, but not so close to home. This makes me even more inspired to reach the kids for Christ. Kids are searching for answers and they are getting them in all the wrong places. So, yes even GNC kids are prone to this. Pray with me for this father and his GNC son.

Ariana: GNC Clubber and new missionary

Before Good News Club came to her school, Ariana knew nothing about God. When the opportunity to join GNC came to Lynn Thigpen Elementary School, Ariana signed up. At GNC, she began to learn about God and what He has done for her. Ariana prayed to receive Jesus as her Savior. GNC is now done for now at Lynn Thigpen. On the last day, Ariana wrote a note to her teachers "Thank you for teaching me about God. I never knew Him before but now I do. And now I want to tell others about Jesus." Ariana has already witnessed to her parents, who are unsaved, and plans to tell more. When I spoke to the GNC teacher today she said "This is why we do what we do!" Yes, I concurr this is the reason we go and teach GNCs in the public schools.

"Why does God want me to be His child?"

That is the question that Jayme asked me yesterday at Rockdale Good News Club. All through out this club there were interruptions in the hallway adjacent to our meeting room. Despite the interruptions and distractions, we continued on. Throughout the club, we talked about being a child of God and how much God wants you to be His child. Plus our memory verse was Hebrews 13:5.

As the Bible teacher gave the invitation to receive Christ in her soft spoken voice, the blower/vent system kicked on and was competing to be heard. At that moment, I knew the Holy Spirit was up to something. Jayme came back for counseling and asked "Why does God want me to be His child?" After several weeks of God working on her heart, Jayme was finally ready to receive Christ. Jayme know understands that she is God's child. Her thank you prayer to God was so precious. IF you ask her, Jayme will tell you that Jesus will never leave her now that she is God's child! Praise God for this precious new little sister in Christ.

Good News Club impacts Nathan and Joe in powerful ways

In Good News Clubs you know God is working and moving in the lives of the kids, but sometimes we just don't know how. It is a different story in the Peotone Elementary GNC. I just got a phone call from the lead teacher here. Get ready for a moving story.

Joe. When GNC first started, Joe was the last child enrolled. Prior to GNC, Joe never wanted to do any after school activities. Joe's parents insisted that Joe attend because "Peotone needs to know there are Christians here in this community." Joe came home after the first club and loved it. Joe has not missed one meetings since. Today in GNC, Joe shared his testimony how he received Christ. Now in GNC, Joe is growing in his faith.

Nathan. Towards the beginning of GNC, Nathan told us that his father passed away. At the time, we assumed this had happened a long time ago. We learned today that in October 2008 Nathan's dad passed away in a helicopter accident. This was the medical helicopter that was all over the news in October that crashed outside of Aurora. Since attending GNC, Nathan comes home with a smile on his face after each club. His mom says that she has not seen Nathan so happy and smiling since her husband passed away. Nathan knows that his dad is in heaven and that knows he will see his father again one day.

GNC is ending for the year next week. So far, four parents have approached us asking if it is possible for us to come again this school year!!! We are so excited to have such a great response and for God to give us a look into what He is doing in the lives of these precious kids at Peotone Elementary. Plans are in progress to come back in the Spring for another GNC term.

God is truly at work! Praise HIM for what he is doing in the lives of Nathan, Joe, and the many other kids attending GNCs accross the Will County Chapter.

Christian: the boy who loves lizards and God too!

Yesterday, I visited River View Elementary Good News Club. What a great club! The location of the GNC is not ideal, in fact it is the hallway next to the gym and the bathrooms. Despite this location issues, the kids come faithfully each week. There was one boy that I met yesterday that just touched my heart. Christian was the first child that walked over. As he interacted with the GNC teachers, I noticed their was a sparkle in Christian's eyes: it was the excitment of learning more about God. During the memory verse, the was one thing that peaked his interest and brought excitment. No not the review game, the verse itself. HE really loved learning the verse so much that the game was not important. During the Bible lesson, Christian was listening intently to what God was saying in His Word. This was Christian's last day in GNC, because he will be out of town for the last week of GNC. He hugged his GNC teacher and left from home. After the kids were gone, the GNC teacher told me that young Christian had testified that he was already God's child and that he has cancer. This young boy who is dealing with so much, puts God first and loves Him. This young believer was forever impacted in his Christian walk because of GNC.

Waiting for God's timing

I just got off the phone with Mary, one of my committee members. She now works at the Morning Star Mission here in Joliet. It is her desire and of the mission, to have a Good News Club at the new Women and Families Center on Tuesday nights. Mary is so excited and eager to see a GNC at the mission, as am I. In the past, we have had monthly outreaches, but never a weekly outreach. The potential to reach many kids is here, since there is a high turnover rate at the mission. Mary is all set and ready to teach the Elijah series. But, (you knew that was coming) there is no one at the moment to go with Mary and teach this club. I have done all I can do at present to find someone. I have prayed and now am waiting on God's timing. Please pray with me that God would raise up somone so this club can begin and the kids and be reached for Christ.

Awesome Happenings at Peotone Elementary GNC

Boy, what a club we had yesterday at Peotone Elementary. To start with, Dad and I almost never made it. Bad traffic and snowy country roads made it very hard to get to club. When we finally arrived at the GNC, 25 minutes late, our other GNC teacher had started club and done alot of the club already. As I walked in, the room was filled with 11 kids, a first to have that many at one time. As I listened to the lesson, I saw the kids really interested and engaged in the lesson on Naboth's vineyard. I haven't seen a group of kids so engaged and interested in a Bible lesson in a while. In fact at the end of the lesson, one child asked if Ahab and Jezebel ever received Jesus as Savior! This group of kids is really starting to understand! The kids are already asked if the GNC was going to come back after Christmas! Words cannot express what a change and a joy this GNC is! To God be the Glory!

Jesreal: the 10 year old has learned what it means to trust in God

I first met Jesreal three years ago at Central Elementary Good News Club. That first day of GNC, Jesreal prayed to become God's child. For the rest of that year, Jesreal was at every GNC. He loved bringing friends, completing his Wonder devotional book, and everything. Last year at GNC, Jesreal stopped coming. When I called his mother to find out about him, I learned that Jesrael had a very serious medical condition that has the potential to be life-threating. This condition is a genetic disease that can cause blod clots. Jesreal underwent several surgeries and months of special care.

Now this year in GNC, Jesreal has returned to GNC. He tells us that he had to learn to trust God in this situation. Jesreal gives all the credit for his recovery to God! What a testimony. His faith in God continues to grow. Jesreal continues to undergo tests every six months, because this medical issue will never completely go away. Jesreal knows his God and has learned to trust HIm. In fact Jesreal has told me two things 1) he wants his kids to go to a GNC when he has a family, and 2) He wants to be a GNC teacher when he grows up!

Update on Austin

Last week, I told you all about Austin from Troy Craughwell GNC. Austin said the most encouraging thing yesterday in our GNC. We asked the class how someone can get to heaven. Some answers were 'when you have gray hair' etc. Austin raised his hand and said "by believing on Jesus!" This was his own answer, no one told him what to say. AMEN!

This GNC that Austin attends has its share of challenges, but Austin and his changed life makes this club so worth it. Austin is just one of many kids that we can be thankful for this Thanksgiving.

Have a happy Thanksgiving.

The Joy of Duplication

I just got a call from a very excited lead teacher of the Peotone GNC. She and I have been working together at this school and have seen some great things happen. Today, I attended an IL state staff meeting in Peoria and was unable to attend the GNC. She and one of her daughters carried on the GNC. The teachers report record attendance 13 kids! In counseling 4 kids responded. When asked if they knew if they were a child of God, Maila and Alice said yes they knew they were God's child. (Note: Regular readers of my blog will remember that Malia received Christ as Savior the first week of club and has come back the last two weeks to learn more about God.) Malia's sister Maya and Arianna said they were not God's child and received Christ!!! (This never gets old for me! It is a miracle every time)

This phone call was so encouraging for many reasons! One is that the joy of duplication. With so many schools and so few staff, we cannot do reach every school on our own. To get a report of a new lead teacher doing so well with a new assistant teacher is awesome. It is great to know that God is reproducing Steve Fox, children's worker, many times over. The more people that can be mentored, trained, and "duplicated" in passion for the work, means that more kids can be reached. So, yes the joy of duplication is very real and rewarding for me and for you as well. Your support of me enables me to work with GNC personnel new and seasoned to reproduce my self in others. Take this joy of duplication to heart, just as much as I am.

Daijah: The girl who cannot get enough of the Bible

Daijah has been coming faithfully to Good News Club at Jonas Salk. She is a fun loving child, full of energy. In the middle of our club season, Daijah became God's child!!!! Each week since, she has come back for counseling because she wants to know all she can about God and the Bible. We had given her a Wonder Devotional Book, but when she gave it to me to look at it was not worked in and the pages were filled with " I don't know" At the time I thought she was just being silly. Now that GNC has ended for the holidays, I know why--she doesn't have a Bible of her own. In fact at the end of GNC, Daijah was reading one of the GNC teacher's Bibles while putting on her coat. Wow!
I was listening to WMBI this morning and they were talking about Christians around the world that do not have a Bible and how they long to have one. It may be hard for some to imagine that there would be Christians in our country who don't have a Bible that would long for one. Not me. After seeing Daijah yesterday, I know its true. We are working to get her a Bible. Daijah truly is the girl who cannot get enough of the Bible. And she is not the only one.

Kent learns that prayer is important

Kent is a 4 years old that attend our MOPS Good News Clubs. For the last several meetings, we have been teaching the importance of prayer using CEF's Preschoolers can Know God through prayer. Kent is an active four year old that is just beginning to learn who God is. Today in GNC, Kent demonstrated that prayer is important. This week he had surgery on his left hand and told us all about it. After telling us about the surgery, Kent asked if we could pray for his hand. Later on in the hour Kent spoke up and asked if we could stop and pray for his hand to heal well. Kent has a lot to discover yet about God. However, at age 4 Kent has learned that prayer is important. What a firm foundation Kent has. Pray with me that God would do a work in Kent's life and the he would walk with God.

Austin: Profile of a changed life

Austin attends Troy Craughwell Good News Club. The first time Austin came to GNC he was very reserved and distant. Three weeks ago, Austin came back for counseling and made a decision to receive Christ as Savior. At the time, I was unsure if Austin had truly become God's child. A few weeks went by and Austin was still a bit shy. Yesterday, GNC resumed after a week off. Austin walked into to GNC with confidence and a new attitude. When asked what is something that you love, Austin replied "Homework." During the lesson on Naboth's Vineyard, Austin said that he had learned some of this at his AWANA program he is now attending. I had never seen Austin so engaged before in GNC. Austin is not the same boy as he was when he first entered GNC. He is a changed person. Clearly, Austin really did receive Jesus as Savior!!! What a difference the Holy Spirit makes when you receive Jesus as Savior. I praise God for showing me this change in Austin's life. Truly, God is the change agent in the lives of children, and adults too. It is an honor to be used of God in this way. Praise God with me for Austin.

God's timing is perfect!

In 2007, I attempted to re-establish the Good News Club ministry in the Manhattan school district. I had to teachers lined up to teach Rita and Rita Ann and a school district that finally granted approval for the club after weeks of discussion. That first day, no kids came because the flyers were not allowed to be distributed to students. After three weeks with no kids enrolled and all our creative efforts failed to get the news about about GNC, we canceled the club. I prayed wondering why the door to this school district was closed. It seemed as if everything was a go. But God closed the door and I accepted this and trusted Him.

Well, now I know why God closed the door in Manhattan. God had a different place in mind for Rita, our lead teacher: Peotone Elementary School. Yesterday I as watched Rita teach and interact with the kids I realized it. To further prove this point, Malia came back yesterday to GNC. She came the first week to club and we were not sure if she truly prayed to receive Christ. When she came back for counseling, Malia knew she was God's child. Malia said "Two weeks ago when I was here, I became God's child and I want to get to know more about Him." The GNC at Peotone Elementary continues to grow each week, school personnel are welcoming, and the kids enrolled are really excited to learn more of God.

God's timintg is perfect. When God closed the door on Manhattan, He already had Peotone Elementary in mind.

The old line from Sound of Music really is true. "When God closes a door somewhere He opens a window."

Kids Worshiping God

What a joy it is to see kids worshiping God. This week during song time at my home church the children's song leader was singing "Oh How He loves you and me." After the kids got familiar with it, the kids sang the verse over again. But this time, the children were encouraged to close their eyes and think about what Jesus did on the cross for us while we sang the song. I stood and watched as each child in my class, bowed their heads and worshiped God. What a sight. I stood in awe of God. Be there any doubt that kids can be saved and worship God? I think not. AMEN!

BJ: The boy who was determined to come to Jesus

Yesterday at Jonas Salk GNC was one of those days where the kids were acting up. For most of the club time, kids were getting up and moving around for no reason, despite our telling them to be seated. However, during the Bible lesson there was a 'holy hush' over the group. After the invitation was given, several kids went back for counseling, but not BJ. BJ sat for awhile in the clas then sponateously got up. Thinking he was just being antsy I told him to sit down. He quitely stood by the door where the counseling was taking place. Not moving, I approached BJ and he asked if he could go over to the couseling area. So, he went. BJ went on to receive Jesus as Savior!! While waiting for his ride to pick him up, I asked BJ want happened and he said the asked Jesus to forgive his sins and that he was God's child and his mom's. WOW! And to think, I almost told BJ to return to the group rather than go to couseling. BJ taught me a lesson: not to let distractions and distruptions from letting a child go back for counseling. BJ was the boy who was determined to come to Jesus!

Teaching Good News Club in the Consession Stand

Yesterday, we had a Good News Club at Rockdale Elementary School. A great group of kids gathered in the school cafeteria for GNC. Several of these kids have returned from last year, and boy can you see a difference in them. Ramona*(name changed) is clearly a different person since last year when she received Jesus as Savior! Praise God for this evidence of true life change. Joey* also came last year but it wasn't until last week that he received Christ.

As we were half way through the club, a group of cafeteria workers came into the kitchen which is adjacent to the cafeteria. They were beginning to work to prepare to open the kitchen for a concession stand for the basketball game that night. All this was happening just as the Bible lesson began. Pat, the Bible teacher, had a difficult time keeping the attention of the group during the club. As the Bible lesson progressed, more people came in and made more noise. However, God is good and two kids came back for counseling. While they were not ready to receive Jesus as Savior, it is clear that God is preparing their hearts to come to Him.

So even with the enemy trying to stop us sharing God's Word, God was victorious and acheived His goals. This challenging club excits me all the more because if the enemy went to so much trouble to stop us, then God must have some exciting things in store.

Good News Clubs move East: Peotone

Hello and welcome to my blog. Here you will find the absolute latest on what is happening with my ministry with Child Evangelism Fellowship. Check back here often because I will be posting weekdays what is happening.

This week was our second week of GNC at Peotone Elementary School. It is so amazing to be able to write that sentence, since when I first applied it seemed as if the GNC would not be possible. Never underestimate God! We have eleven kids enrolled. This week eight kids attened. Several of them are already believers and boy do they love coming to GNC and learning more about God. You can literally see their eagerness and excitment on their faces as we teach. This week one girl , Elaine*( name has been changed) recieved Christ as her Savior. Wow. Praise the Lord! This never gets old for me.

Praise the Lord for this outreach to Eastern Will County.