THE FIRST TO REACH THEM WINS!

At Castleton Community Church, Indianapolis. If you can't read the screens, both read, "Every Child, Every Nation, Every Day," the slogan for Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF).

"The first to reach them wins." This was the theme at the annual dessert night for the Central Indiana Chapter of Child Evangelism Fellowship.

 Is it any wonder why government backed education presents a godless worldview? Is it for the same reason China makes it illegal to take children under 18 to church? And is it coincidental that most Christians come to know Christ as children (yours truly at 9)?

CEF has a heart for reaching children. Here in the United States, they have Good News Clubs at public schools. For those who think that's violating the separation of church and state, the Supreme Court ruled in 2000 that Christian groups have equal access at schools as any other group.

But CEF's focus is not limited to North America. Their motto is "Every Child, Every Nation, Every Day." When Becky and I started getting involved with CEF's Central Indiana Chapter, there were only 17 nations that did not have trained workers working with children. It wasn't long after that the number dropped down to one (North Korea). That means there's CEF work going on in the majority of what Voice of the Martyrs designates as Restricted and Hostile Nations.

Some might say that children are too young to understand the Gospel. Charles Haddon Spurgeon disagrees. He stated that at 5, a child can understand the Gospel.

Before you object, CEF isn't alone in that view. The enemy might say it's too young, but what they mean is they want us to wait until after they indoctrinate them. There are ideas being taught the children that are for tack of a better term war against traditional values and the Christian faith.

Back in college, I read of a history textbook where two paragraphs were devoted to George Washington, compared to five pages to this great historical figure - Marilyn Monroe? That was in the '70's; has it improved today? 

Okay, enough pontificating. Let me get to the dessert night. The event was emceed by Randy Ollis, long-time and recently retired weather man of WISH TV. The featured speaker was WTHR-TV's anchorman Scott Swan. Scott did an excellent job pointing out the importance of grandparents and parents in training up children in the way they should go. We also heard of what's going on in our chapter. The Central Indiana Chapter encompasses 5 counties: Marion (which is synonomous with the City of Indianapolis), Hancock, Hamilton, Hendricks, and Boone. 

One last comment I want to make - I'd like to share the culture of CEF:

• The Importance of Godly Leadership at Every Level. Spiritual leadership is the highest form of authority. The men and women who lead must have a personal heart for God in order to be able to discern the will of God and lead the ministry effectively.  Regardless of the skill of a leader, if he or she lacks a heart for God, the work will be eroded at its very foundation.
• The Importance of the Spiritual Welfare of our Workers     It is vital that we are never satisfied to simply teach our staff the methods of how to reach children and how to train others to do so, but we must purposefully invest in the spiritual lives of our staff. When CEF staff are men and women who are primarily driven by passion for God and His glory and have a clear call from the Lord, the work will prosper. If we keep our focus on God and on His calling, then we will be sustained in times of challenge. 
• The Importance of Prayer as Our Foundation It is not the work we do, the meetings we hold or the decisions we make that bring the greatest advances in the work; it is the time spent before the throne of God in prayer, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that brings power, laborers and resources into the ministry. 
• The Importance of Evangelizing Children There is no limit to the number of organizations that do many good things that are important to boys and girls in need.  We are thankful for them and believe that God uses them to help hurting children. CEF, however, has been called by God to make it our highest priority to present the Gospel so children may be saved and discipled in God’s Word. We must stay on point. 
• The Importance of a Clear and Biblical Presentation of the Gospel The fact that a young child can comprehend the simple message of salvation and become a child of God is the foundational principle of CEF. Everything else that we do is based upon this fact. The good news of Jesus Christ is the power of God unto salvation. We must present it clearly and accurately. 
• The Importance of a Commitment to Excellence, for the Glory of God Every aspect of the work, no matter how big or small, has significance. This includes the training we conduct, the materials we produce, the facilities we use and the way we present ourselves. In every area we must strive for excellence to the glory of God!
   
  
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