BOOK REVIEW - "EVERY CHILD EVERY NATION EVERY DAY" BY ROBERT J. MORGAN WITH REESE R. KAUFFMAN

 "Every Child Every Nation Every Day" is the story of Child Evangelism Fellowship (afterward referred to as CEF), introducing us to the founder of the ministry and the person who served as President from 1990 to 2022 (this book was published in 2015), as well as CEF's work around the world.

This volume is divided into four parts. "Jesse Overholtzer and the Message of Child Evangelism Fellowship" gives a  short biography of CEF's founder, from childhood to serving as a minister to being convicted that children are as capable of believing in Christ as an adult. It follows the founding of CEF and how the ministry expanded through the U.S.A. and the rest of the world. The final chapter in this section gives a recap of the ministry from Overholtzer's death in 1955 till 1990.

"Reese Kauffman and the Mission of Child Evangelism Fellowship" tells of Kauffman's early life, focusing on his spiritual and career growth, and his 4+ decade ministry with CEF, from being in a local chapter to being President over 30 years. Among the things it mentions is their goal to have CEF ministry in every country by its 80th anniversary in 2017. As of the book's writing, there were 13 countries left, and it's been down to one since at least 2018.

Part three is "Jesus Christ and the Miracle of Child Evangelism Fellowship, with chapters on Child Evangelism in the Bible, Child Evangelism in the home, and how to lead a child (or adult) to Christ. This is followed by "Biblical Convictions and the Ministry of Child Evangelism Fellowship," we see how this ministry is empowered by leadership, giving, prayer, and enthusiasm. Finally, the last chapter deals with the importance of reaching children through a pair of anecdotes.

I found this book inspiring and encouraging, and I highly recommend it.

BOOK REVIEW - "THE INDOMITABLE MR. O: 75TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION" BY NORMAN ROHRER WITH YOLANDA DERSTENE AND BEATRICE LEVANOS

I have no idea how I ended up there (though it might have been through Sunday School at the church I attended in Prescott, AZ), but in sixth grade, I attended a group with fellow students where we sang songs and heard a Bible lesson taught with a flannel graph. During the summer, I moved to Cottonwood, AZ, where I was at a different denomination church, but there was an after school Bible study at that church, singing the same songs, also with flannelgraph lessons. I also was introduced to the wordless book. I didn't realize it at the time, but I was in two different Good News Clubs, a ministry of Child Evangelism Fellowship (which will be referred to as CEF).

"The Indomitable Mr. O" by Norman Rohrer is a biography of CEF founder Jesse Overholtzer, following the direction of his life into the moment he realized children can understand the Gospel, at age 60. The edition I'm reading and reviewing was copywritten in 1970 and 2012.

The book starts with a preface by Rohrer and forewords by international evangelist and author Luis Palau and Reese Kaufmann, who was President of CEF from 1989 to 2022. Part One, "The Dream Begun," looks at the life of Jesse Overholtzer and how Child Evangelism fellowship came into being. Part Two, "The Dream Fulfilled," focuses on the expansion of the work of CEF into all the world. These events include the Supreme Court ruling that allows Bible clubs equal access to Public Schools after hours as other organizations like the Scouts. My hunch is that Yolanda Derstine and Beatrice Levanos wrote this part.

There are six appendixes following this second part, including "Child Evangelism as Taught in the Word of God," by Dr. Jesse Irvin Overholtzer, the statement of faith, the mission statement, the vision statement and strategy, "The Culture of Child Evangelism Fellowship," and CEF's trademarks.

I highly recommend this book. It shows the importance of evangelizing youth, from what happens when we do - such as when Overholtzer experimented on a quote of Charles Haddon Spurgeon that if presented properly a child of five can understand the Gospel - and when we don't - as in Overhotzer's pastor and parents telling him he was too young to be part of the church and how it affected his life.

 

BOOK REVIEW - "TODAY'S SCRIPTURE DEVOTIONAL" BY REESE KAUFFMAN

 

This devotional is written by Reese Kauffman, President Emeritus of Child Evangelism Fellowship. Designed to be an annual devotional, it has 52 devotions - one for each week of the year. Personally, I wonder why. These devotions are short enough to be read daily.

I enjoyed Reese's writing voice in these short 2-4 page devotions, filled with plenty of practical ways to live out the passage, as well as it being understandable.

This is a good devotional, and I recommend it.