Is anyone familiar with Child Evangelism Fellowship?

[Momgonepostal]

Is anyone familiar with the Child Evangelism Fellowship? My daughter handed me a flyer when I picked her up after (public)school about something called Good News Club, run by this organization. I asked her about it and she said the lady was handing them out just outside the classroom.

Basically, these guys are doing a one day a week, hour and 15 minute bible study class after school, and using school classrooms.

The flyer says "Good News Club is an exciting, fun-filled hour held once a week. It includes:
* Dynamic Bible Lessons
* Creative Learning Activities
* Inspiring Missionary Stories
* Meaningful Songs
* Life-changing Scripture Memory (give me a break--that was me, not the flyer)

Your child will learn:
* Respect for authority
* Character Qualities
* Moral Values
* Biblical Principles

It looks like they've gotten permission to use school facilities for this. Any thoughts? It must be legal but it seems kind of weird to me. Are these guys fundies, or what?

At any rate, my daughter won't be going. We can learn about religion at home and church.

[johnaries]

1. here ya go...

http://www.cefonline.com/
on edit: looks like a brainwashing group to me...
"ya gotta get 'em young and train 'em right, just like a good bird dog" - Jerry Lee Lewis.

[JHB]

2. See for yourself:

http://www.cefonline.com/


They sure sound like it: "Bible-centered", "born-again believers", "purpose is to evangelize boys and girls", "and to establish (disciple) them in the local church for Christian living".

They certainly use all their favorite buzzwords.



A Brief History of Child Evangelism Fellowship®, also known as CEF®, is a Bible-centered, worldwide organization composed of born-again believers whose purpose is to evangelize boys and girls with the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and to establish (disciple) them in the local church for Christian living. CEF has over 1,200 missionaries overseas, approximately 1,000 of whom are nationals. In the USA and Canada 700 full-time workers and an estimated 40,000 volunteers serve the ministry. CEF was founded by Jesse Irvin Overholtzer in 1937.

Growing up in a religious family, Jesse at the age of 12 was convicted of his own sin and sought counsel from his mother. He was told, "Son, you are too young." It wasn't until Overholtzer was in college that he heard the Gospel and trusted Christ as his Savior.

Later as a pastor Mr. Overholtzer read one of Charles Spurgeon's sermons which stated, "A child of five, if properly instructed can as truly believe and be regenerated as an adult." The Lord used this statement in Mr. O's life to lead him to begin the ministry of Child Evangelism Fellowship when he was 60 years old. The ministry has grown into the largest evangelistic outreach to children in the world. CEF is currently ministering in over 150 countries and in every state in the U.S.

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WE BELIEVE

1. That "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God," by which we understand the whole book called THE BIBLE; that it is inerrant in the original writing and that its teaching and authority are absolute, supreme and final. That the Holy Spirit guided the holy men of old in all that they wrote. 2 Timothy 3:16; Deuteronomy 4:2; 2 Peter 1:21.

2. The Godhead eternally exists in three persons - the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. These three are one God, having the same nature, attributes and perfection. Romans 1:20; Matthew 28:19; Deuteronomy 4:35; John 17:5.

3. In the Personality and Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, begotten of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, truly God and truly man. John 1:1,14; John 10:30; Matthew 1:20; Luke 1:30-31; Philippians 2:5-7; 1 Timothy 3:16; Colossians 1:19.

4. In the Personality and Deity of the Holy Spirit, the source and power of all acceptable worship and service, the infallible interpreter of the infallible Word, who indwells every true believer, and is ever present to testify of Christ, seeking to occupy us with Him and not with ourselves or our experiences. John 15:26; Acts 5:3, 4; Acts 1:8; Romans 8:26, 27; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 14; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 1 Corinthians 12:13; John 16:13, 14.

5. That man was created in the image of God, after His likeness, as stated in the Word of God, but the whole human race fell in the fall of the first Adam. Not only was his moral nature grievously injured by the fall but he totally lost all spiritual life, becoming dead in trespasses and sins, and subject to the power of the devil. "The carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then, they that are in the flesh cannot please God" (Romans 8:7, 8). Therefore, he cannot see nor enter the kingdom of God until he is born again by the Holy Spirit. That no degree of reformation however great, no attainment in morality however high, no culture however attractive, no humanitarian and philanthropic schemes and societies however useful, no baptism or other ordinance however administered, can help the sinner take even one step toward Heaven; but a new nature imparted from above, a new life implanted by the Holy Spirit through the Word is absolutely essential to salvation. Genesis 1:26, 27; Romans 5:12; Ephesians 2:1-3; John 3:3, 6, 7; Titus 3:5.

6. That Jesus Christ became the sinner's substitute before God, and died as a propitiatory sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. That He was made a curse for the sinner, dying for his sins according to the Scriptures, that no repentance, no feeling, no faith, no good resolutions, no sincere efforts, no submission to the rules and regulations of any church can add in the very least to the value of the precious blood or to the merit of that finished work wrought for us by Him, who tasted death for every man. 1 John 2:2; Hebrews 2:9; Galatians 3:13; Romans 3:25; Romans 4:4-5; Romans 5:8; Colossians 1:13, 14, 20, 21.

7. In the resurrection of the crucified body of Jesus Christ; that His body was raised from the dead according to the Scriptures, and that He ascended into Heaven and sitteth on the right hand of God as the believer's high priest and advocate. Luke 24:39; Acts 1:10-11; Ephesians 4:10; Hebrews 1:3; 1 John 2:1.

8. That Christ in the fullness of the blessings He has secured by His death and resurrection is received by faith alone and that the moment we trust Him as our Savior we pass out of death into everlasting life, justified from all things, accepted before the Father according to the measure of His acceptance, loved as He is loved and made one with Him. At the time of acceptance of Christ as Savior, He comes to dwell within the believer and to live out His life of holiness and power through him. Hebrews 9:15; John 5:24; Romans 3:28; Romans 4:3, 23-25; Ephesians 1:3; John 17:23; Galatians 2:20; Galatians 4:6-7; Galatians 5:16; Acts 1:8.

9. That the Church is composed of all those who truly believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior. It is the body and the bride of Christ. That every believer, whether Jew or Gentile, is baptized into the body of Christ by the Holy Spirit, and having thus become members of one another we are responsible to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, rising above all sectarian prejudices and denominational bigotry and loving one another with a pure heart fervently. Ephesians 1:22, 23; Ephesians 2:19-22; 1 Corinthians 12:22-27; 1 Corinthians 1:10-13; Romans 12:4, 5; Ephesians 4:3-6; Ephesians 5:32; Philippians 2:1-5; Galatians 5:13-15.

10. That all believers in our Lord Jesus are called into a life of separation from worldly and sinful practices and should abstain from such amusements and habits as will cause others to stumble, or bring reproach upon the cross of Christ. Believers are created in Christ Jesus unto good works. "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith" (Galatians 6:10). 1 John 2:15, 16; Romans 13:14; Romans 14:13; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Ephesians 2:10.

11. In the evangelization of the world; that the supreme mission of the people of God in this age is to preach the Gospel to every creature. That special emphasis should be placed upon the evangelization of children. Mark 16:15; 2 Corinthians 5:18, 19; Matthew 18:14.

12. In the personal return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; that the coming again of Jesus Christ is the "Blessed Hope" set before us, for which we should be constantly looking. Our citizenship is in Heaven from whence we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:20). Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17; John 14:1-3; Titus 2:13; Philippians 3:20, 21.

13. That the souls of those who have trusted the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation do at death immediately pass into His presence, and there remain in conscious bliss until the resurrection of the body at His coming, when soul and body re-united shall be with Him forever in glory. Luke 23:43; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Luke 16:22, 25; Philippians 1:23; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18.

14. That the souls of the lost remain after death in misery until the final judgment of the great white throne, when soul and body reunited at the resurrection shall be cast "Into the lake of fire" which is "the second death," to be "punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power" (2 Thessalonians 1:8, 9). Luke 16:22-23, 27-28; Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 20:5, 11-15; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9.

15. In the reality and personality of Satan, "that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world" (Revelation 12:9) Ephesians 6:11, 12; 1 Peter 5:8; Revelation 20:10.

[madfloridian]

3. Here is an interesting article on this.

I think I would not be interested.
http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/news.aspx?id=14779

"Fox News' talk-show duo "Hannity & Colmes" traveled to Cupertino, until then known mainly as the headquarters of Apple Computer Inc., for a live broadcast titled "Take Back America."

"It's just sad to me that the separation of church and state has been just kind of warped to mean that we can't even include some of our founding documents in the classroom," Williams said on the show.

His lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Oakland and names the principal, the school district superintendent and the board of education for the Cupertino Union School District.

Williams joined the district as a substitute in 1995 and became a full-time teacher in 1998. He has said he wasn't raised in a religious family but converted several years ago. "My relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ is the one thing that makes me who I am today," Williams wrote in the 2002-2003 Stevens Creek yearbook.

In the lawsuit, Williams says he knows better than to proselytize in class. Some students said Williams is far from a zealot.

"If he ever brought up religion, he wouldn't say that what he believed was the right religion," said Melissa Govaerts, 13, an eighth-grader who had Williams in fifth and sixth grades. "He'd also mention the other religions and say what they believed and stuff."

But at least 25 to 30 parents have requested that their children not be placed in Williams' classes, and some say his agenda is to spread Christianity.

As an example, they point to an Easter assignment he tried to give last year. It required students to complete two tasks from a list that included reading excerpts from the Book of Luke or presenting a skit on Jesus Christ's more famous teachings."

[CornField]

4. Shit-Stirrer that I am... I'm wondering who gave permission for the flyers

to be distributed in the school. Our schools use to send flyers home with students once a week (anyone could drop off flyers to be sent home with students). That changed when a principal objected to the content of a flyer and refused to send it. Now the schools send home no flyers at all.

I'd be really curious to know if the local parks & recreation department is allowed to pass out flyers... or the fire department... or maybe the local pagan association?

[thecrow]

5. I am FIRSTHAND familiar with CEF

My mom was a CEF person for years and she held "Good News Clubs" in our home. She would send me out to pass out tracts and invite friends. I remember losing a lot of friends esp. if they were Catholic or Jewish. I lost a dear friend because of this.
She came to one of the GNC's my mom had and learned that "all Jews are going to hell". Well, her mother was EXTREMELY upset at this lack of respect and she forbade her daughter from ever even seeing me again. CEF was how I learned the agenda of disrespect for other religions. I think it was a turning point in my life.... it turned me away from the CEF agenda !!

And yes, it is a fundamentalist group.
If you're not a fundamentalist, steer clear!

I can't believe they are letting CEF adults onto school property!

[Momgonepostal]

7. WOW...thanks for the heads up

We weren't considering sending our daughter, but I thought the whole concept was interesting, that they let a church group meet on campus.

I think that's a pretty horrible thing to tell a child, that they're going to Hell because they follow the wrong religion.

[checks-n-balances]

6. What state do you live in?

Not that these people aren't everywhere...

Just curious.

[Momgonepostal]

8. California

But more of a red part than a blue part. My daughter is in the 4th grade and has been at the school since kindergarten, but this is the first year any thing like this has been sent home.

[loudestchick]

9. I wonder what method they're employing to teach "respect for authority"?

You EARN respect as an authority. You only teach fear of authority figures, IMO.

[Momgonepostal]

10. I can't imagine

I thought that was odd, too.

[seabeyond]

11. how old is your daughter, i have a 9 year old i would send

just to see what they are teaching, to see if i need to then go to the principle or school board.

too much youth warrior christians going around for my liking and going after the kids, and public school kids.

[Momgonepostal]

12. She's also 9

[seabeyond]

13. my son went to a christian school for 6 years

it really turned to fundamentalism the last two years. he can hear the hypocrisy a million miles away. he is good at sitting in htis stuff and putting it and the people in place. they do have a christian thing going on every once in a while at this public school they now go to. i never thought much of it. religion is high here., really didnt figure it to be donominational. but maybe i ought to check it out