Child Evangelism Fellowship® (CEF®) was founded in 1937 by Rev. J. Irvin Overholtzer - a man with a God-given vision for boys and girls in need of the Savior. Today his vision lives on, as the organization works diligently to share the love and truth of Jesus Christ with children. As Jesus said, "Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish" (Matthew 18:14). CEF's greatest need is for God to inspire and call many more dedicated Christians to become involved in this amazing outreach to children. "Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!" (John 4:35)
CEF is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that is not associated with any one particular church. It is a Bible-centered, interdenominational, worldwide organization, composed of born-again believers whose purpose and mission are to evangelize boys and girls with the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, disciple them in the Word of God, and establish them in a Bible-believing church for Christian living. For the past 85 years, across the United States and throughout the world, CEF has been has been faithfully carrying out this mission and impacting the lives of countless children for the glory of God. Through this ministry, children are able to "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18). This not only has an eternal impact in the lives of children, but it also promotes moral and spiritual growth, and builds character. The results create a lasting positive impact on the children's personal and home life, school performance and decision making skills.
CEF has many different ministries, but the primary ones are Good News Club® and 5-Day Club®, where well trained, screened, and equipped teachers and volunteers meet with children in a safe environment right where they're at. Good News Clubs primarily meet in public elementary schools, and 5-Day Clubs can also be held in apartment complexes, community centers, churches, homes and even parks. Each club always includes a clear presentation of the Gospel on a child’s level and children are given an opportunity to trust in Jesus as their Savior. Upbeat biblical songs and fun review games complement the children’s learning during the 90-minute club time. Attendance in Good News Club is strictly with parents’ permission only.
Along with these clubs, CEF also has fair, camping, open-air, and internet ministries for children. CEF® reported that in 2018 nearly 98,618 Good News Clubs were held worldwide, 671,941 children heard the Gospel from trained workers in North America, and within the 6,310 Good News Clubs in the USA 71,209 children professed faith in Christ!! CEF Coachella Valley also trains and equips teachers and volunteers to effectively teach children about the good news of Jesus Christ and share the Gospel in a way that even a child can understand. Our training is based on spiritual and educational principles that provide methods and procedures to lead children to Christ. We equip believers with basic skills for organizing and conducting productive children’s Bible classes, as well as beginning and sustaining a children's ministry where they live.
