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Child Evangelism Fellowship seeks to reach 100M children with the Gospel, urges Christians to mobilize
When it comes to missions, Child Evangelism Fellowship believes one of the most important — and overlooked — groups is children.
“One of the most beautiful passages in the Bible that reflects the heart of God is concerning children,” CEF Executive Vice President Moises Esteves told The Christian Post.
“Psalms 78 says we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord and His power and the wonders that He has done. The government is not going to do it. God wants believers to communicate to the children, to the next generation, about the knowledge of God. That’s our responsibility. Someone one day communicated with us, and it is now our responsibility to communicate with the next generation.”
CEF, an international nonprofit ministry, has been unwavering in its mission since 1937: ensuring every child is reached with the Gospel, spiritually nurtured and integrated into a local church.
Located in all 50 American states and in most countries around the world, CEF’s newly-established goal is to minister to 100 million children each year globally with the Gospel in the near future.
To reach this goal, CEF has established several in-person ministries, including the Good News Club. Described by Esteves as “an hour to an hour and 15 minutes, sort of a high-powered Sunday School,” these clubs combine fun with Gospel-centric teaching.
“It’s a lot of fun, but a lot of learning, and we share the Gospel so the unsaved child can have an opportunity to receive Christ as their Savior,” he said.
And in 2022 alone, CEF trained nearly half a million teachers worldwide. Esteves highlighted the importance of ensuring teachings are “biblically consistent while also culturally sensitive.” The methodology, he said, involves producing literature with strong biblical principles, which is then translated with cultural nuances in mind.
“If the child is interested in receiving Christ, what do you do? They need to be trained in how to counsel the child for salvation, and then there’s a whole slew of skills that need to be trained and understood when you minister to children,” he said.
“The structure is in place, the boots are on the ground to grow this ministry exponentially. And we have strict strategies, like children reaching children, which is teaching older, more mature children to evangelize their peers. It’s a beautiful training that we’re accelerating in the coming years.”
Esteves, a father and grandfather of two, understands firsthand the power of reaching children with the Gospel.
Born in Portugal, he first encountered the Gospel at a Christian camp at the age of 9, and unbeknown to him at that time, the missionary sharing the Gospel utilized CEF literature.
His life took another twist when he moved to the U.S. after marrying a woman from Vermont. By 1993, the couple found their calling with CEF in Vermont, eventually leading Esteves to the headquarters in Missouri.
“I’ve had the opportunity to share Christ with my own children growing up, and my two grandchildren, who are 8 and 6, both have autism. This morning I prayed for their salvation, but one of them is nonverbal, so it’s going to take a little longer to be able to share Christ with them so they can understand it. It’s extremely important to minister to children. There’s an openness in the hearts of children that we must take advantage of,” he said.
Drawing from a study by George Barna, Esteves emphasized the critical window between the ages of 5 and 12 when children are most receptive to the Gospel.
“All evangelism is child evangelism,” he added.
However, challenges do arise. Esteves identified finances as a significant impediment as well as getting Christians involved with the organization.
“If we had the money, we could hire another 1,000 people,” he said. “We’re a volunteer-based organization. So we have lots and lots of volunteers trained all over the world who could become staff if we had the funding. … We need more believers to catch this burden, this vision that it is our responsibility to tell the next generation the knowledge of God.”
Esteves said the success stories he hears make the challenges worth it, like the one involving twin sisters who not only embraced Christ through the Good News Club but were instrumental in leading their parents to salvation.
He also highlighted the impact their ministry has worldwide, especially in Europe, where large-scale operations are undertaken in countries like Ukraine and Russia.
“The reports we’re getting out of Ukraine of the ministry that’s taking place is mind-boggling, what God is doing in the midst of that very sad situation is amazing,” he said.
Yet, there are regions like North Korea where direct missionary work is unfeasible due to political constraints, Esteves said. External challenges, be they natural disasters or political upheaval, don’t deter the spread of the Gospel, he insisted. In fact, in times of suffering, many seek solace in faith, as evidenced by packed churches in Ukraine amid conflict.
“There are political challenges, there are sometimes situations with fires and hurricanes and earthquakes. There are challenges or difficulties, but none of those challenges stopped the Gospel and, as a matter of fact, as this world hurts, people need the Gospel even more.”
And looking ahead, Esteves said he’s “excited” about the future and the opportunity to bring the Gospel to millions of children through CEF — and he’s hoping to mobilize the wider Christian community to come on board.
“Children need the hope of the Gospel, they need the hope that God can give into their lives,” he said. “There’s a great need for the Gospel. The doors are open, and we just need more believers to get on board. Let’s reach children for Christ while they’re young, while their hearts are open, because as they grow up, the backpack of sin begins to be heavy, and hearts begin to harden.”
Sources:Christian Post
നൈജീരിയയിൽ മറ്റൊരു വൈദികനെക്കൂടി തട്ടിക്കൊണ്ടുപോയി. ഇമോയിലെ ഇസിയാല എംബാനോയിലെ ഒബോളോയിലെ സെന്റ് തെരേസ ഇടവകയിൽ ശുശ്രൂഷചെയ്യുന്ന ഫാ. ഇമ്മാനുവൽ അസുബുകയെയാണ് അക്രമികൾ തട്ടിക്കൊണ്ടുപോയത്.
നവംബർ അഞ്ചിന് ഇടവകയിലേക്കു മടങ്ങുന്നതിനിടെയാണ് ആക്രമണം ഉണ്ടായത്. ഒക്കിഗ്വേ രൂപതയിൽനിന്നുള്ള വിവരങ്ങളനുസരിച്ച്, 2014 സെപ്റ്റംബർ 27 നാണ് ഫാ. ഇമ്മാനുവേൽ വൈദികനായി അഭിഷിക്തനായത്. നൈജീരിയയിലെ എഡോ സ്റ്റേറ്റിലെ അഗെനഗബോഡിലെ മൈനർ സെമിനാരിയുടെ റെക്ടർ ഫാ. തോമസ് ഒയോഡിനെ ഒക്ടോബർ 27 നാണ് തട്ടിക്കൊണ്ടുപോയത്. ഇപ്പോഴും ഫാ. തോമസ് ഇപ്പോഴും തടവിലാണ്.
വിവേചനരഹിതമായ ആക്രമണങ്ങൾ, മോചനദ്രവ്യത്തിനായി തട്ടിക്കൊണ്ടുപോകൽ, കൊലപാതകം എന്നിവ നടത്തുന്ന സംഘാംഗങ്ങൾ നൈജീരിയയിൽ വ്യാപകമാവുകയാണ്.
Sources:azchavattomonline.com
Pakistan — Muslim vigilante groups are working with federal authorities to lure young people into sharing blasphemous content on social media in order to put them behind bars, according to an investigation by Pakistan’s National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR).
A steep increase in blasphemy cases this year, many of them filed against Christians and other religious minorities, is tied to collusion between Muslim vigilantes and federal investigators, according to the NCHR report. Pakistan saw three times as many blasphemy cases in the first seven month of this year compared with all of last year, according to the NCHR investigation.
As of July 25, there were 767 people accused of blasphemy languishing in jails across Pakistan, whereas in 2023 there were 213 suspects incarcerated for blasphemy, 64 in 2022, nine in 2021 and 11 in 2020, according to the data gathered by the NCHR.
“Most of the blasphemy cases were registered with the Federal Investigation Agency’s Cybercrime Unit in collaboration with a private entity,” the NCHR noted, adding that young men were targeted through entrapment tactics involving females using pseudonyms to lure them into blasphemous activities online.
At least 594 blasphemy suspects were imprisoned in Punjab Province alone, followed by 120 in Sindh Province, 64 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, and two in Balochistan Province, the NCHR added.
The report follows a study by the Special Branch of the Punjab Police released in January, which for the first time revealed the presence of a “blasphemy business” that exploits the controversial blasphemy laws to entrap victims for extortion.
According to the Special Branch report, a majority of the cases were being brought to trial by private “vigilante groups” led by lawyers and supported by volunteers who scour the internet for offenders.
One such group was responsible for the conviction of 27 people who have been sentenced to life imprisonment or the death penalty over the past three years, the report revealed. It recommended the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) launch a thorough inquiry to determine the source of the vigilante groups’ funding, but the agency’s response was unknown.
The most active vigilante group is the Legal Commission on Blasphemy Pakistan, which is prosecuting more than 300 cases, led by Shiraz Ahmad Farooqi, the complainant in the blasphemy conviction of a 40-year-old Christian woman, Shagufta Kiran. Kiran was handed the death sentence by a special judge in Islamabad on Sept. 18.
The NCHR’s report called for “a comprehensive review” of the roles and accountability of both government and private entities. It also noted the inhumane conditions of blasphemy suspects in jails.
“Individuals accused of blasphemy are housed together in single, severely overcrowded barracks to protect them from potential harm by other inmates who may attack or threaten them,” the NCHR reported. “However, this arrangement results in inhumane living conditions, as the barracks lack adequate facilities and are grossly overcrowded.”
Detainees also face coercion, extortion and pressure from the vigilantes involved in their entrapment, “who sometimes encourage them to engage in further criminal activities within the prison,” according to the report.
The NCHR recommended engaging the highest levels of government and judiciary to address the FIA’s involvement with Muslim individuals and vigilante groups entrapping people. It also urged constituting a Joint Investigation Team comprising officials from the Special Branch of the Intelligence Bureau, the ministries of Law and the Interior, the FIA, and other relevant departments to investigate blasphemy cases.
Mere allegations of blasphemy in Muslim-majority Pakistan can ignite public outrage and sometimes result in mob violence. Hundreds of people have been accused and jailed for alleged blasphemy, and some were handed the death penalty, though none has been executed so far.
The United Nations Human Rights Committee on Oct. 17 observed that Pakistani authorities have failed to curb a range of human rights violations, including a sharp increase in blasphemy-related violence. Expressing serious concern over frequent attacks against religious minorities, including accusations of blasphemy, targeted killings, lynchings, mob violence, forced conversions, and desecration of places of worship, the committee stated that Pakistani society has become increasingly intolerant of religious diversity.
“Religious minorities are facing a constant threat of persecution and discrimination amid the rise of religious radicalism,” the committee stated.
Pakistan ranked seventh on Open Doors’ 2024 World Watch List of the most difficult places to be a Christian, as it was the previous year.
Sources:Christian Post
Nigeria — On the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church on Sunday, persecuted Christians in Nigeria gathered to pray for the church in their country and their persecuted brothers and sisters worldwide.
Pastor Gah Yohanna Sunday, a pastor with the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) and a dedicated leader from the Irigwe community in Bassa, Plateau state, shared his remarkable journey of faith and resilience.
He entered the ministry in 2005 after he became a Christian. Though he initially pursued a career in accounting, the pastor said God had other plans for him.
“I prayed for God to reveal my purpose and role in His kingdom,” Pastor Sunday said. “That’s when I understood my calling as a pastor.” Since that transformative moment, Sunday has committed himself to mentoring, evangelizing, and providing spiritual guidance in his community — all in the face of persecution.
Today, Pastor Sunday’s community faces significant challenges as Irigwe Christians have recently endured attacks.
“They killed four people recently, grazed cattle on our farms, and burned homes — including mine,” the pastor said.
This violence has forced many families to grapple with poverty, hunger, and trauma and has driven them from their homes. Despite all he’s lost, Pastor Sunday remains hopeful. He draws strength from Scripture, citing Romans 8:27-39, Philippians 4:12-13, and Ephesians 6:10-18, reassuring his congregation that their struggles are consistent with the challenges and persecution foretold in the Bible.
“God is good, even when I don’t fully understand,” he shared.
Pastor Sunday said the attacks appear systematic and aimed at Christians. With churches destroyed and access to resources severely affected, the community often relies on external support. Organizations like the Stefanos Foundation, the Red Cross, and the Norwegian Refugee Council are providing essential food, trauma care, and financial assistance. Unfortunately, the need far exceeds available resources.
In honor of the International Day of Prayer, the Stefanos Foundation organized a prayer session in Jos. 2 Chronicles 7:14 resonated deeply: “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray … I will hear from heaven …”
Pastor Sunday also prayed with 23 widows who lost their husbands to Islamic Fulani extremists, encouraging them to stay strong in their faith. He called on the international community to assist persecuted Christians in Nigeria and urged Christians worldwide to pray and advocate for persecuted Christians.
Despite the ongoing persecution, Pastor Sunday remains focused on his mission. “This attack will eventually end — whether in this life or the next,” he said. “I will continue to proclaim the gospel, regardless of the circumstances.”
Sources:persecution
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Muslim vigilantes colluding with authorities to entrap Christians in blasphemy charges
Pakistan — Muslim vigilante groups are working with federal authorities to lure young people into sharing blasphemous content on social...
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