"I want to really become God's child!"

Rey has come with his brother Richard to Good News Club at Troy Crossroads since we started this month. His first week, Rey went back with one of my teaching partners for counseling. Rey said that he wanted to be God's child. So, he prayed to receive Jesus. When my partner presented Rey to me after this, Rey wouldn't tell me what he had just prayed. At the time I just assumed he was just shy.

Then this week, Rey came back for counseling after I gave the lesson. When asked why he came back, Rey said that he wanted to become God's child. I asked him about his last time with my teaching partner. Rey said that he really didn't mean it when he prayed. He went on to say that he had been behaving bad lately. Rey then said, "I want to really become God's child!" So, he prayed to recieve Christ, only this time he meant it. After his prayer, I went over assurance with Rey and he was bursting with excitment because he knew that he was now God's child. When Rey prayed a thank you prayer to God for making him God's child, Rey prayed "God thank you that you are God. Please help me to be good. Thank you for forgiving me and making me your child. You are my God. I pray that all the people of the world would come to know you as Savior!"

This truly was a moment for me to step back and watch God work! Praise God for Rey's decision.

Local Churches adopt Public Elementary Schools

In the last decade or so, CEF has had a program called Adopt-a-School, where local churches commit to adopting a local school and making it their mission field. The primary focus of this program is to have an afterschool Good News Club funded, supported, and staffed by the adopting church. In our chapter, we have had three churches come on and adopt a school for a Good News Club: Second Baptist Church of Joliet, Alpha Missionary Baptist Church of Bolingbrook, and First Baptist Church of Morris. For years, these three churches have faithfully run GNC in their adopted schools through CEF.

This year one new church has joined the ranks: Church of the Good Shepard Evangelical Covenant of Joliet. They will be adopting Crystal Lawns Elementary School. We are really excited to see this church join us to reach the kids of Crystal Lawns.

Just yesterday, we met with a local church in New Lenox. They are considering officially adopting a school in New Lenox. The pastor has expressed interest and will present the opportunity to his congregation and church leadership. Pray with me that this local church will adopt this school in New Lenox so we can share God's Word with the children of our chapter.

GNC student comes with some great questions

When Good News Club at Troy Crossroads met this week, it was so great to see more kids attending the club. After the previous week of one student it was a joy to see four more kids join. One of these kids is Richard. When Richard first came in he was a little reserved. He was not sure what was going on. After realizing that GNC was a club about God, Richard got into the club. You could tell he was listening because he was asking some deep questions. As I was talking about the Wonder Devotional Book and the importance of reading the Bible daily, Richard asked "If I already know the Bible, why do I have to read it?" Then, later on when talking about why God allows bad things to happen, Richard said "God allows bad things to happen because He has a purpose."
Then out of the clear blue sky, Richard asked "Why do some people worship on Saturday, the Sabbath, and Sunday, the Lord's Day?" I really enjoyed being able to answer these questions. Clearly, Richard knows alot about God and I believe is a believer. What an awesome privilege it is to have such a great opportunity to help young Richard to grow in his Christian life. Pray with me as we continue this GNC that Richard would get excited and desire to get to know God personally.

Mom attends Good News Club too!

Yes that's right GNC is for parents too! When I visited Saratoga GNC recently, I noticed that in the middle of the club, a mom came in and sat with her sons during the Bible lesson. After the club was over, she said "I love sending my kids to Good News Club every Thursday. It is like an additional Bible lesson for them before Sunday. In fact I love coming too to hear the Bible lessons myself!"

This mom comes each week at about the same time each week. In fact, she is even telling her friends about GNC and how much she loves sending her kids each week! How awesome to see a parent this interested and excited about her children's spiritual life.

Sparkie knows what lying is. Just ask!

At SPARKS last night at my home church, we talked about lying and the importance of starting off the new year by honoring God by telling the truth. One of my SPARKS leaders asked what does lying do? Desarae responed: "Lying breaks God's heart!" Earlier this year, Desarae received Jesus as her Savior. And what a difference we have seen in her. Her reply to what is sin is proof that Desarae understands who and what God is.

Junior TCE 1 "student" receives Christ as Savior

We first met Tajmarra when her mom signed up to take Teaching Children Effectively Level 1 this past fall. There was no one able to babysit for Tajmarra so, her mom brought her to TCE 1. During the demonstrations in TCE 1 Tajmarra always would join in to hear what was being taught. During breaks, Dad and I had a chance to interact with her. During the course of the class, I discover that Tajmarra is attending Grand Prairie Elementary. So, this week I called her home and invited her to come to GNC after school. Yesterday was the first day of GNC at her school. Tajmarra came. Now for the first time, she was the one who we were teaching to. After the Wordless Book was given Tajmarra responded to the invitation to receive Christ as Savior! Who knows, maybe when Tajmarra grows up may take TCE 1 for real.