Child Evangelism Fellowship of North San Diego County
Praise & Prayer Bulletin 5.25.09

PRAISE REPORTS

PRAISE the Lord for a fine day at the Escondido Street Faire on May 17th and for a long-time CEF volunteer who made a generous donation to cover the costs of the space rental and materials. Above, kids stop by our booth to make their own Gospel bracelets with ribbon and colored beads, then take a seat (below) to hear the Bible truths that the colors represent -- it's all about who Jesus is and what He did for us! Lots of parents listen too, and passersby often sit in the shade for a few minutes to hear the Good News. The kids get a Gospel tract to take with them and a complete Bible on CD (check out the contents on our website: http://cefkids.com/bibleadventures/1_START.htm). One hundred thirty-two heard the message and twenty-eight made professions of faith in Christ. Sixty girls and boys signed up to get a free CEF Mailbox Club Bible course by mail (http://cefkids.com/MailboxClub).

PRAISE the Lord for a fruitful first season of our unique "Good News Club for Neighbors" at Redwood Terrace Retirement Community in Escondido. Seniors are matched with students for encouragement and friendship as they study God's Word together. Above, partners review lessons from the book of Daniel along with their weekly memory verses.

Dorothy held Good News Club in her home in the 70s and now she joins the club at Redwood -- the Good News is for every generation.

The season ends with a sweet and tasty watermelon party. Below, "bowling on the green and red" is one of the games, passing the watermelon from partner to partner, while keeping it on the table and racing against the clock!

PRAISE God for the 48 volunteers who've signed up so far for our outreach at the San Diego County Fair, June 12 - July 5. In the photo above from last year, fair veteran Pamela Shattuck explains to the kids that after Jesus died for our sins He came back to life. If you'd like to get in on the blessing of reaching children with the Good News of the Savior as either a storyteller or helper, there are still lots of dates to choose from. Click here to learn more http://cefkids.com/fair, then call 760-480-4191 to reserve your spot at the fair. We'll be holding two orientation classes for our volunteers and those who'd like to find out what it's all about:

June 6 (Sat) 10:00-11:15am, Vista Library (community room, left of foyer) 700 Eucalyptus Ave Map & Directions

June 9 (Tues) 7:00-8:15pm, Escondido, Emmanuel Faith Church (Ed. Center #24) 639 E 17 Ave Map & Directions

PRAYER NEEDS



PRAY that the Lord would continue to use Good News Clubs to make His love known to the unreached kids of North County. At our first middle-school "Teen Good News Club" at Bear Valley in Escondido (above) we saw God drawing kids from non-Christian religious backgrounds to hear the truth. Pray that this club would continue next season and see growth and that this small beginning would be just the start of an expanding ministry to kids in the crucial middle-school years. Pray also that the Lord would keep our elementary school clubs growing in number, that He would bring many kids who've never heard about Jesus, and that He would use GNCs to gather more and more of the lost, hurting, needy children around us to Himself.

PRAY about the climate of increased opposition towards Good News Clubs encountered this season. We saw it at a couple of schools in North County, and recently the Santa Barbara Independent newspaper published a front-page article that was extremely unfavorable and contained numerous distortions: http://www.independent.com/news/2009/may/07/reading-writing-and-original-sin. Pray that the author of the article and those who feel the same way will, like Saul on his way to Damascus, have a complete change of heart after coming to know Jesus personally! Pray for our El Camino Creek School club where a small group of vocal parents raised objections to the principal. As a result, the club was moved to a smaller room at the back of the campus, and has seen dwindling attendance. Pray that everyone involved in GNCs will, by God's grace, manifest the Spirit of Christ in their response to those who would hinder children from having access to the Gospel in the schools and parents from having the freedom to choose to allow their children to come to GNC. And pray that each Good News Club will continue to be a presence on campus demonstrating God's love and concern for all people (of all ages!) everywhere through the wonderful truth of His Word: "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." (John 3:17)

PRAY for three specific requests sent by Judy Erickson, who serves on three GNC teams -- Glen View, Reidy Creek, and Bear Valley:
1. That the Lord would touch and change the heart of a boy who has been disrespectful and defiant.
2. That a boy who was causing trouble repeatedly and whose parents were asked not to let him return would be transformed and be able to come back.
3. That God would raise up new leaders for existing clubs so that current leaders can move on to start clubs at schools that don't yet have them.

PRAY as our last GNCs wind down for the school year and for the children who have been attending but have not yet trusted in Christ. Bohdana Bruccoleri, leader of the club at Reynolds School in Oceanside, emails: "Please pray that these last two club meetings would bring salvation to those whom God has chosen, and any seed that has been sown will spring up in the hearts of these children."

In the fellowship of our Lord,
Robert Burkley

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Child Evangelism Fellowship of North San Diego County
PO Box 267, Escondido, CA 92033
760-480-4191 email: cefnorth@hotmail.com
website: cefkids.com

To learn more about our primary ministry of reaching kids in the public schools through after-school Good News Clubs, please click to visit our website: cefkids.com/GoodNewsClub

..."Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it." And He took them up in His arms, put His hands on them, and blessed them.   --Mark 10:14-16