Court ruling could threaten GNC access to public schools....

Our office received a letter today from Child Evangelism Fellowship
president Reese Kauffman with some urgent news. On June 2. 2011 the 2nd U.S.
Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan, NY in a 2 -1 decision ruled that New
York City can ban churches from using public school facilities for Sunday
worship services and this does not violate free speech. Judge Pierre Leval
commented "At least one request(ed) to hold Jewish services (in a school
building used for Christian services on Sundays) was denied because the building
was unavailable on Saturdays. This contributes to a perception of public schools
as Christian churches, but not synagogues or mosques. ... When worship services
are performed in a place, the nature of the site changes. The place has, at
least for a time, become the church. In the end, we think the board could have
reasonably concluded that what the public would see, were the Board not to
exclude religious worship services, is public schools, which serve on Sundays as
state-sponsored Christian churches.” (Read more here).

Mr. Kauffman saw an article about this and immediately called Matt Staver,
of Liberty Council, and asked if this ruling could affect Good News Clubs.
Mr. Staver responded " YES, AND IT'S SERIOUS." In his letter, Mr.
Kauffman writes "Anyone who loves children needs to know about this threat... it
is all the more urgent to start as many Good News Clubs as possible." I've
mentioned last week that the Time is Now for reaching children. We need to go
while the Supreme Court is still on our side. This is U.S. Circuit Court of
Appeals ruling is proof that the time grows short for reaching children in the
public schools.

What would you say to this child?

One of the classes I taught this summer at Summer Missionary Training School was on counseling a child when he or she responds to an invitation to receive Christ. Most times this class is taught it covers a lot on what to do if a child says "I want to receive Christ" and a few minutes on what to do if a child says anything else. After seeing many people, regardless of age, struggle the first time they get in a counseling situation, decided to talk a new approach. I researched my files and developed a list of actual responses I've received to the question "What did you want to talk to me about?" I thought you might enjoy trying your hand at this exercise too. So, what would you say to this child?

Actual Responses from children

1. If I pray hard enough, can I do the signs of Moses?

2. My grandma died several years ago.

3. How do I get baptized?

4. My brother doesn’t believe Jesus is real ….But I believe Abraham Lincoln was real and I never seen him!

5. I want to know more about God.

6. How did God create the world?

7. How did Jesus know when He was to come back to life?

8. Is it true that everyone who says that they are saved is?

9. I’m having a problem with a friend at school.

10. I want to stay and talk with kids who come back. I want to tell them what it is like to live for the Lord

11. I have always seen people come back to talk to you about God, but I never have. Now I am here

12. How do I know what God wants me to do?

13. I want God in my life.

14. I know that just being good is not good enough to go to heaven.

15. On his second trip to counseling. “ I really want to become God’s child. I didn’t really mean it last time.”

16. If I already know the Bible, why do I have to read it

17. Why do some people worship on Saturday, the Sabbath, and Sunday, the Lord's Day?"

18. Why does God want me to be His child?

19. I am God’s child and I have cancer.

20. After a lesson on Elijah “Did King Ahab and Queen Jezebel ever pray to receive Christ as Savior?”

21. Two weeks ago when I was here, I became God's child and I want to get to know more about Him.

22. My mom taught me how to lie, cheat, and steal.

23. I have three Bibles at home. You have inspired me to read them.

24. it's easy to love those who are mean to you because "Jesus was nice to me when I was mean to Him"

25. I just love God and I have sinned a lot."

26. My 21 year old brother who smokes and sleeps on the basement floor. My father and brother are always yelling at each other.

27. Why did Jesus have to die on the cross to forgive sin? Why could he not just say, your sins are forgiven?"

28. Why did they have to use nails? Why couldn’t they just use duct tape?

29. Will God still love me even if I sin? I did ten bad things.

30. I think my house is haunted.

31. My stepdad’s short on money and we can’t pay the rent this month.

32. I hear a voice in my head telling me to not go to church.

33. I’ve never made a decision 2 believe in Jesus. I love Jesus and my friends make fun of me for it. I want to become God’s child so I can tell them too.

"I never knew learning about Jesus could be so much fun"

The phone rang at the 5-Day Club host's home. It was still several hours before Wednesday's 5-Day Club would begin. A mom of several of the children in the club called and told the host. "My kids just love 5-Day Club. They get up early in the morning asking if it is time yet to go to club. When they come home after each day, the kids are filled with excitement ready to tell me everything that happened. I never knew learning about Jesus could be so much fun!"


When the host told me this story, I was blown away. This story is proof positive that the more we get out there and share HIS story in a FUN way the more kids and their parents will see the true character and heart of Jesus and not some pre-conceived, negative idea about Him. Praise God!

"My son really said that!"

Isaiah. I first met him three years ago at a 5-Day Club a local Christian Day Care Center in our chapter area. Isaiah is one of those kids you just never forget. That first year he came, he was so interested in everything we were sharing about the Bible. Isaiah never missed a meeting those first few years. He was always the first one to say good bye after each meeting. As enthusiastic as Isaiah was, he never made a decision to receive Christ as Savior. Isaiah came to come the following year and still nothing regarding a decision to follow Christ.

This summer, when we arrived at the day care center, I instantly remembered Isaiah. He was listening carefully as I shared the story of Zaacheaus with the class. At the end of my Bible lesson, I gave the invitation to receive Christ. As I walked to the back of the room and waited for any children to come back to talk with me. I was thrilled when I saw Isaiah walk back to talk with me. I asked him why he came back to talk with me. He replied " I want to become God's child!" I was overjoyed as I reviewed the Gospel with Isaiah and as he prayed to receive Christ as Savior.

The next day at 5-Day Club the owner of the day care center introduced me to Isaiah's mom. I was pleased to meet her. I explained to her what happened with Isaiah the previous day. The mom looked at me with tears in her eyes and said "My son really said he wanted to receive Christ?" As I watched this mother, I was so pleased to see a parent understand how important and special this decision to receive Christ really is. After a while, the mom left the day care center with a smile and look of pure happiness on her face. Praise God!

CYIA--Day 4

The 10 are really applying themselves today. They are beginning to realize just how many Bible Lesson practicums they have to do. So when given the opportunity to study, they jump at the chance.

Besides shepherding the 10, I had two classes today: one on teaching music and one on counseling. Both classes went very well. After the music class, I had the 10 practice what they learned by introducing and leading song in front of all the Summer Missionary Training School before we all went to lunch. I was so proud of them.

Then after lunch, I had the daunting task of teaching then 10 plus all of camp how to counsel children for salvation. Of all the classes taught at CYIA, this is the one that is most important. I've been planning for this class for months. My goal in this class was to do something that has not been done before-- prepare the missionaries to be ready for any reason that the child response to the invitation. In the past, the lesson plan calls for teaching how to counsel if a child says " I want to be God's child." Of course I covered this important topic. However, we also talked about how to respond the rest of the time. This students seemed to do very well.

I am sitting in class now, watching them practice their first Bible lessons out loud. It is a joy to see them finally teaching and loving every minute of it.

All of the 5-Day Club track leaders met together today to plan out the teams for next week's 5-Day Clubs. So we are progressing well. Thanks for praying for us. More tomorrow.

CYIA--Day 3

The "10" are doing well today. Yolanda joined us a day late and has much to get caught up on. She is still learning the Wordless Book in the midst of memory verse and Bible lesson preparation classes. The rest of the "10" are really starting to open up. The each have unique and fun personalities. One of the aspects about this group I appreciate that they all understand why they are here at CYIA and are sure of what God is calling them to do.

Today we started classes on Bible lesson preparation and presentation. It was so awesome to watch them as they were learning. The look on their faces when the finally understood the concept of linking was priceless. (FYI: a link is a short transitional phrase from one concept to another).

The 10 are working on their first Bible lesson: Zaacheaus. For many of them, this is the first time they will be in a primary teaching role. On top of all this, then 1o learned how to teach a memory verse. I had them take turns practicing teaching the memory verse to each other and they did pretty well for the first time through.

I am very pleased with this group and I cannot wait to see what God is going to do through them this summer.

CYIA-- Day 2

Today was our first full day at CYIA. One of the major tasks on our plate today was the Wordless Book Practicums. The 9 first year CYIA students plus the 24 camp staff had the job of sharing the Wordless Book after learning it in just 24 hours. That is no easy task, but they rose to the occasion. We divided the students up into six groups. We had a few students who struggled the first time sharing the Wordless Book. Most of them had time to find success in this presentation.

I want to share with you the names of the 10 first year students: Josh, Tamarah, Holly, Vidi, Haleigh, Gloria, Caroline, Allison, Grace, and Yolanda. Tomorrow they begin learning how to take the truth's of the Wordless Book and inter-great them into Bible Lessons.

Our days are long -- starting at 6:15am and end at 10:00pm. But they are so worth it. The students here are so eager to learn and follow God's direction and path for their lives. Our chapel speaker this year is my good friend Bill Allison. God is using Bill to impact all of us and challenge us in God's Word.

So, we are doing well here today. Pray for the 10 first year students ( I'll call them the 1o from now on.)

I have three classes to teach tomorrow. Thanks for praying and readying . More tomorrow.

CYIA Day 1

My dad and I arrived safely yesterday here at Camp Good News for Summer Missionary Training School. We spent much of yesterday afternoon getting set up for the students' arrival. There are many details to attend to before they students arrive. We are expecting 45 students for the entire training school. (24 camp staff and 21 5-Day Club staff). I am in charge of the 13 first year CYIA/5-Day Club staff. For the first day or so the 24 camp staff plus the 13 CYIA will meet together for Wordless Book Classes. I will be teaching three classes today. Please keep us in prayer. There is so much yet to do. I need to go now. I will update you more tomorrow. Please keep us in prayer.

Judy: future Good News Club teacher

I first met Judy last year at Troy Shorewood Good News Club. Judy attended club each week faithfully. Last April, Judy prayed to receive Christ as her Savior! When the GNC started again at Judy's school, I instantly remembered her and welcomed her back to GNC. Last year we had a 12 children attending regularly. This year we could not pass out flyers so we have four children enrolled and Jackie is the only child to attend each week faithfully. We typically have two children in attendance. Most children would be daunted by a club of so few, but not Judy. She loves coming to Good News Club.

There is one other thing about GNC at Judy's school, we share our meeting room with another after-school program for the first 15 minutes of club. This other club is very large 60 plus children on one side of the cafeteria and Judy and three teachers on the other side. Judy sits waiting eagerly for GNC to start. She loves the extra attention she gets. Judy memorizes her verse each week and can tell you point by point what happened in last week's Bible lesson. We are teaching through Moses and the Exodus and there is alot of rich teaching for the saved child. Judy hangs on every word. This past week, Judy walked in, picked up the GNC theme song "Good News Good News" and said "I will be the teacher today." And she did! She taught the song to us. I have told her many times that she may be a GNC teacher herself one day.

For Judy, it does not matter who attends club, as long as she can come and learn more about her Lord and Savior!

"Teacher, you forgot Good News Club!"

Two weeks ago, Mary's parents signed her up to attend Good News Club at Troy Craughwell. At the start of club, we looked for Mary, but she never showed up at the library after school. We assumed she forgot and that she would come next week. It is often common to receive a registration form for a new child to GNC and not seem them for a week or two.

This past week, Mary's teacher came up to me and my teaching partners and asked if Mary was signed up. I double checked the records and said she was enrolled in GNC. The teacher told us that she forgot to remind Mary last week to go the GNC. The next morning, Mary walked right into her classroom and said " Teacher, you forgot about Good News Club!" So Mary joined us for the this week. She listened intently throughout the club and she was clearly having a blast. After the Bible lesson, Mary responded to the invitation to receive Christ. She asked for a Bible and was so excited. In the last few moments of club, a school staff member walked in and asked when club was over. Mary's brother and sister wanted to come to club as well! At the end of club, Mary left her Bible and I ran it out to her and she smiled wide when I gave it to her. She may have forgot about GNC, but she will not soon forget that she is now apart of God's family.

Food for thought from a 6 year old

At Good News Club at Nadia's school, we are teaching through the Life of Christ 4 series. This week, our lesson was on the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ. While explaining the events of our Savior's death on the cross, the GNC teacher commented on how terrible the events were and how dare these people, God's creation, do this to Him. Nadia, age 6, raises her hand and said "They're just being sinners!"

As soon as she said that I literally stopped. I was amazed and marveled at the profound statment Nadia made. It's true. The people who crucified Jesus were sinners and acted that way because they were acting out of their sin nature. I am forever amazed at how God works in the lives of the children we reach and how He uses them to teach me.

Brady: a bold witness for the Lord

A smiling Brady came back to talk with me after I gave the invitation to receive Christ as Savior. I was surprised to see Brady come back because I knew he has already received Christ as Savior. He has been coming to GNC faithfully this Fall and Spring. He has attending 5-Day Club at his church every summer for the last three summers. He is also enrolled in the CEF Mailbox Club and loves it. So, when Brady sat down I asked him what he wanted to talk to me about. Brady told me he had just been baptized the week before. As the other kids came back to us, Brady said "I want to stay and talk with kids who come back. I want to tell them what it is like to live for the Lord." I was blown away by that statement. Praise God for the work He is doing in 8 year old Brady's heart.

Good News Club...in a closet?

Walking into a school for the first time can be overwhelming for the Good News Club teachers: where is the school office? Where do I go? Believe me it can be very challenging.

Our team a this particular school arrived and were told the room number to find. We searched and could not find it. After some time, we finally found the room we were assigned. At first, we thought this cannot be our room. It looked like a restroom on the outside. When we opened the door, we found it was a resource room/closet. It was not the most ideal space, but we made the most of it.

Despite the lack of space, as a team we entered with a willing and gracious spirit because we were able to have space to share God's love to boys and girls. We have children coming with eagerness and open hearts. The second week, we had one girl invite a friend, Jasmine, who responded to the invitation to receive Christ as Savior. Praise God!

Record breaking start to GNC at Hermansen

For the past several years, we have had a Good News Club at Hermansen Elementary School, in Romeoville, Illinois. As we preparing for the start of the club this year we learned that there was no possible way to distribute flyers to the children through the school as we had done for the last several years. So, we did a mailing to every Hermansen contact and placed flyers in the school office. We realized that this was going to be a different year and that they attendance would probably drop. However, we were praying that God would bring the children of His choosing to the GNC. We were not sure what to expect the first day. To our great surprise, there were 115 children on the first day with a few more children signed up but asbent. Since then, I have been getting calls from a few more parents interested in sending their children to the club. What a great God we serve!! Last year the club enrollment was 115 at the end of the club run. God continues to amaze me. How about you?

A change in plans leads to changed life

Ever since September of last year, I had been planning on being in Warrenton, Missouri with a group of chapter committee members and staff to attend a weekend seminar at CEF International Headquarters. Reservation were made and everything seemed ready to go, or so I thought.

First, my dad got sick and was hospitalized for 7 days. He is getting better each day, but is not up to par yet. Then another person from our group had to cancel because of pressing family needs. Our trip for training and team building was loosing steam and people fast. Then, with our chapter secretary being on medical leave, that left the office work for me. Still I was planning on going. Then I started GNCs again after the Christmas Break. After a week filled with exciting clubs, I had this overwhelming sense that there was too much here for me to do. At the same time, my dad was praying about this trip and had come to the exact same sense as well. So, after months of planning the trip was cancelled. Why after so much effort, would God tell us to postpone the trip? He had other plans.

Instead of going on the trip, I was able to be at my Thursday GNC. One mother was suprised to see me there, since I had told her I would be away. Club went on and the Gospel was presented through out the club. When the invitation to receive Christ was given, Avery responded. Avery is an older sister of one the other children. She came last week as a visitor and not as an attender. Avery must have liked the club because she signed up this week as a GNC attender. Avery came back to talk to me and said that she never wanted to sin again. After explaining and review the Gospel, Avery made a decision and she prayed to receive Christ as Savior.

God in His providence knew exactly where I was supposed to be--at Good News Club yesterday not driving to MO. If I had not listened to God and changed my plans, perhaps Avery may not have made her decision to receive Christ.

Can I help you? Can I help too?

As I was gathering my Good News Club materials from my car, I saw two smiling faces run towards me. Richard and Christian were so happy to see me. I was so blessed to see these two kids so excited about Good News Club that they couldn't wait to get started. Christian said "Can I help you with something?" Richard said "Can I help too?" I was greatful for their help as I had much to carry into the school. As we walked to our Good News Club room Richard and Christian were so thrilled about GNC. They had so much fun last week and were looking forward to another week of club. Once in the room, my teaching partner and I began setting up for the club. As we were doing so Richard and Christian,who were there early, asked about different aspects of club and what was the plan for today. I was nearly done setting up when Christian said "Mr. Steve you forgot the Good News Club sign!" I thanked him and asked him if he wanted to hang it on the door for me. Tp my surprise he did one better. He and Richard took the Good News Club sign and walked up and down the halls of the school shouting "Good News Club. Come to Good News Club. Good News Club!"

I was so moved by these two boys. So eager to learn more about God and not afraid to show it. Even now I sit here amazed at God at how He is working in their young lives. Praise God with me for Richard and Christian, my two little helpers.

Technology brings blessing in Good New Club!

This past week I learned just how much of a blessing technology can be to the Good News Club Ministry. How you say? Read on.

A parent came in with her daughter to a Good News Club I was teaching in and sat down. I knew there was something familary about this mom. I carried on with the club and the mom left. At the end of club, this mom came up to me and said that she thought she knew me. Turns out, we went to high school together. She told me that she and her husband had received the GNC flyer in their daughter's backpack from school and how they were not sure at first if they should send their daughter. The mom saw our website given on the flyer, so she logged on viewed it. She came to the staff page and saw my picture. Then she called our office and heard my voice on the voicemail message. It was confirmed! She did know me and so the rest is history. Her daughter seemed to enjoy herself. I look forward to seeing what God does in through this. And to think this opportunity came about through the blessings of technology. I know that sometimes technology brings problems. But not today! PRAISE GOD!

Rockdale GNC: what a start!

The Good News Club at Rockdale Elementary School began yesterday(Jan 12, 2011), and boy was it a great start! This school has a special place in my heart for many reasons. One, it was the very first GNC I started on my own, second, it was the place were I lead my first two children to the Lord, and lastly because the school reminds me of my grade school in rural Bureau County, Il. Seven years ago, my GNC team and I walked through the doors of this school for a GNC. It is hard to imagine that many years have past.

As we were getting our room set up, the school superintendent walked by and gave me a warm welcome. He showed me all the new improvements the school has made since our last time we were there. It was a great conversation and I was left with such a positive feeling from Mr. Espinoza. He made me feel like he really appreciated our coming in with this program for this school. As the children arrived, they were almost entirely all new to club. As the club progressed, I watched the faces of the children and I saw joy and faced having fun. We have 8 great children attending and they are very new to things of the Lord. This excites me greatly because this means I will be able to watch God move and work in their lives for perhaps the first time!

But the highlight of the day was when one of the older boys Gary*(named changed) prayed to received Christ as Savior!! What a way to start off the new quarter of Good News Clubs! I am so energized and cannot wait to see what will happen next week.

Good News Club: an inside look

For the last five years, I have been sharing with you all about Good News Clubs and how thrilling they are to be apart of. I have shared many stories with you. It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words. If this is true, what about a video. Last month, Mike(my dad and local chapter director of CEF Will County) and I visited the Good News Club at Saratoga Elementary School in Morris. This club has been up and running for well over 10 plus years. This club is filled, and I mean filled with boys and girls eager to learn more about God. Don't believe me? Then watch the video and see just how excited ALL the kids are as they enter and get ready for Good News Club. I hope you enjoy this video as much as I do. Each time I watch I say to myself "Wow look at all those kids entering GNC. Will they ever stop?" (For those who love to count there are over 50 kids in attendance on this video. Can you count them all?)