Past Volunteers return to CEF

Louise Meske

October is the start up month for most Good News Clubs in the Greater Madison Area. We are excited to see God’s plan unfold this year. We have experienced an increase in new volunteers who are on fire for Christ. God has also brought back two dynamic returning veterans, Alice Howard and Louise Meske. The combined experience of these two ladies’ spans over 30 years. Alice and Louise bring a wealth of experience. Both have taught GNC’s and 5DC’s with CEF in the past. They also served God as missionaries and teacher trainers. Louise received her training in Cypress and went on to India, and New Delhi where she served as a teacher trainer and a missionary. Alice received her training at CMI and was sent by CEF on a 4-month missions’ trip to evangelize and minister to children in Macomb, Mississippi and New Orleans after those areas were devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Alice also taught Good News clubs in several Madison schools during her years with CEF. When I look at the spiritual gifts of the volunteers and returning veterans God has blessed us with this year it lets me know He plans to do great things in the Greater Madison Area in 2018-2019.

Alice Howard teaching club

Cheryl Knox Ministry Coordinator
Greater Madison Chapter.

Little Kids Can Know God

Natalie Powers

At age 13 I was trained to teach older children whole 5 Day Club, but I remember being at a loss with how to translate that to little ones. When anyone younger than 5 or 6 came along it turned into play time, with no more emphasis on God or the Word. Then in my third year at CYIA training, we focused in on Little Kids and how to teach on their level. I had previously been helping/teaching at a weekday morning “Sunday school” type program for preschoolers, so the con-cept was not new to me. But as I gained information and techniques, I became confident and eventually became the full-time teacher at the program. Now I work with young children constantly, and am going for my associates degree in Early Childhood Education. I know Little Kids can know God. I led a 3 year old to the Lord just this last summer. Many young children are too egocentric to understand their need for a Savior, but knowing the gospel as they get old enough to truly understand God’s gift gives them the chance to respond as soon as they can comprehend it.

CEF Western WI
Anne Weibel

A Walk in the Park..One Summer Night

In early May, the idea of having a ministry walk-a-thon to raise funds and have a summer picnic was barely a blip on the radar. We had never done an event like this. The thought of doing a walk-a-thon prompted many questions, such as: who would come, where would we walk, could we raise awareness and raise funds for the ministry by doing a walk-a-thon, and most importantly, how could we possibly put this together before the summer was over?
   
This project would be a challenge for any team, no matter how many months you had to plan. As the wheels started to turn, we committed the idea to prayer and a plan started to formulate. God was our guide. He led us to the perfect location, inspired us through research and opened many doors to make this a reality. We received confirmation each step of the way that a walk-a-thon was in our future.

Fast forward to August 23, 2018…. God provided a perfect evening for our first annual ‘Step-Up’ for the Gospel Walk-a-thon. We chose this theme because we wanted to encourage people to take action and be intentional when giving towards this event because eternity matters. Nothing in this world is more important than when a person, or a child chooses to follow Christ and those who supported our efforts chose to be a part of God’s plan to spread His Word.

God’s abundance was evident in every aspect of the walk-a-thon.
More than 80 people joined us for the walk and picnic at Hoyt Park in Wauwatosa; several summer missionaries made us laugh and brought us to a better understanding of how God used them to reach children for Christ and how they had grown in their own faith through the process. We also enjoyed a wonderful evening of food and fellowship, one of the few times many who serve and support the ministry could gather together. The BIG NEWS though, is how God used people all over the country to help CEF of Southeast WI meet our financial goal, which we thought was unrealistic when we started this journey. Our goal was $10,000 and we are amazed how God provided above and beyond that amount!

Because of your generosity we can continue to build new relationships with children, schools, church partners and our volunteers. Our God is so BIG, so strong and so mighty, there’s nothing my God cannot do! We rejoice together and celebrate the abundance of His gifts on this humble ministry because the children we serve cannot support the work of CEF, but you can. Thank You!

CEF Southeast WI Chapter

The Constant Ebb and Flow of Ministry

Once again we wrap up another year of ministry here at CEF^® of the Greater St. Croix Valley. There is the temptation to think, “Same old, same old,” but God is always doing something new in the lives and hearts of His creatures - the men, women and children He created for His own good pleasure.

Pastor Brad teaching in Spring Valley

Our ministry has two seasons, summer 5-Day Clubs with teen training and Good News Clubs with adult training throughout the school year. In the 2017-2018 ministry year we had six Good News Clubs with 149 enrolled, 34 first-time professions of faith and 12 assurances of faith. We held five teacher trainings with over 60 in attendance. There were fifteen 5-Day Clubs taught with 275 enrolled, two first-time professions of faith, one assurance of faith and one Christian dedication. There were 50 volunteers putting in over 1,285 hours to make all this happen!

Last year a new Good News Club^® was started in Spring Valley and this year a new one will begin in Luck. It is so exciting to watch the Lord work in giving us new avenues to share the Gospel with children.  We also have interest from two churches for teacher trainings in October and November. We plant and/or water the seeds of God’s Word and He alone gives the increase. Thank you Father for the privilege of working alongside You for the furtherance of Your glorious kingdom!      ~ Lisa Inlow St Croix Valley Chapter

Ministry in Janesville

CEF® Janesville Mark and Maurene Olson joined the Greater Madison CEF team in January 2018, with Mark serving as Volunteer Rock County Ministry Coordinator. With the goal to be on staff full-time by the end of 2018. He and Maurene have been married for 39 years. They have 2 married daughters and 4 grandchildren. Update from Mark: We have a great opportunity for churches to utilize CEF ministries to reach the children of Rock County. Our goal is to build church partnerships for Good News Clubs® (GNCs) and 5-Day Clubs® in every City in Rock County. Right now we have five new supporting churches, and have shared with their congregations the opportunities in Rock County. On June 30, Maurene and I were at the Freedom Fest in Janesville sharing CEF and our role with pastors and others. This led to discussing how we can partner with them to reach Rock County for Christ. We have three new churches that are interested in learning how they can sponsor a GNC at the Elementary School they sponsor. To make these new opportunities in Rock County happen we’d like to be able to become full time paid staff with CEF. That means we need to raise additional financial support. Our goal is to raise $2800 per month for our monthly needs. We have raised nearly $800 per month at this time. We also need $3000 Startup funds for three-month schooling at CEF International Headquarters in Missouri. Would you prayerfully consider becoming a part of our ministry? We are excited and look forward to the opportunity to share CEF with you and to partner with you reaching the children of our county. In His Service ph.# 1-608-314-7341 Mark and Maurene Olson E-Mail. rockcty@cefmadisonwi.com

Madison August Newsletter

How God Can Use Summer Ministry

For many people, summer is a time to relax. Most people look forward to taking time to go on vacation, spending time with family and friends, and enjoying being outdoors. But for those involved in CEF’s summer ministry, summer is not a time of relaxation – it is a very busy, sometimes stressful season! Is summer ministry worth all of the work our staff and volunteers invest?

Here’s what some people shared when asked what the benefits of summer ministry are:

For the church

Pastor Scott Plays Games with children

“We are a smaller and older church and we didn’t know how doing summer ministry with CEF would really work. God works in amazing ways, and even though our clubs were not very well attended, we were able to build new relationships in the community. Our community saw that our church cares enough to leave our 4 walls and go to where they are, and children not only attended clubs but received the life-saving Gospel that will lead to lives surrendered to God. The best part is that, because we broke out of our comfort zone, our volunteers and prayer warriors have been more committed and excited to take what we have learned from this experience and apply it to the rest of our ministries.  Team­ing up with CEF allowed us to go beyond our walls and impact a community that desperately needs to know the Lord.”

– Pastor Scott Ehle, new church partnership through GNAA® ‘17

For the hostess

“I host 5-Day Clubs® because it allows me to fulfill the command of God to go and make disciples. I want the children in my neighbor­hood to hear about Jesus and how they can be saved. Hosting 5-Day Clubs helps me to build relationships with families in my community, and impact them for Christ.”

- Emma Swan has hosted 5-Day Clubs in her yard since 1978

For the summer missionary

“Being a summer missionary not only benefits the children who are taught, but the missionaries who are involved. During Christian Youth In Action® training, I really become closer to God and learn a lot about relying on His strength in whatever I do, whether it be ministry work or just day-to-day chores. In general, I become more confident in Him as well as more equipped to share the Gospel in whatever circumstance I might find myself.”

– Lauren Parsons, 5th year summer missionary

For the child

Parachute Game at club

Last summer, a 10-year-old boy named Daisean attended a 5-Day Club in Milwaukee sponsored by Ethnos church. On the last day of club, he came back to be counseled. He had a lot of questions about different gods he’d heard about. “Is Jesus more powerful than Thor?” “Is Zeus real?” “Did God create Mother Earth?” By the end of that conver­sation, Daisean put his trust in Christ as Savior. He understood the Gospel and was excited to have the real God on his side to be his helper. At the rally on Friday night, he told a visiting CEF staff worker, “Jesus came to earth, and He died for three days and came back to life. If you believe in God, He will accept you, so I believed in Him and we prayed, and He accepted me.”

While there is absolutely nothing wrong with relaxing during the summer, summer ministry is worth the work! Through CYIA, countless young people are impacted in their walks with Christ. Through 5-Day Clubs, children who might never be able to attend church or Good News Club have the opportunity to hear about Jesus. Partnerships with churches and individuals are strengthened and lives are changed.

This summer, we have eleven summer missionaries who are excited to at­tend CYIA training from June 10-22. We are praying for forty 5-Day Clubs, and we anticipate reaching hundreds of children! 
SE WI June 2018 Newsletter

13 adults trained and now teaching

June 6, 2018

TCE Gilman 2018

This past winter/ spring I had the privilege of coordinating and instructing a Teaching Children
Effectively TM 1 course. A pastor who attended a one day seminar I held last fall has a vision: to reach his community’s youth with the Gospel! As a result of that burden, he motivated 16 adults from his church to not only take the 30 hour course, but pay tuition and also mileage for me to commute the 101 miles one way to his church (Gilman, WI). By God’s grace, 13 students will be receiving their certificate of completion!

Jon Schussman, CEF State Director of Wisconsin, commented that this may be the largest TCE class outside youth training in over a decade. The church didn’t just take the training, but they immediately began a weekly Good News Club® in a local school. The pastor then motivated a
neighboring church to “take over” the newly established club so they can begin a second club. Who
knows how eternity has been changed as a result of the one man who had a burden and a vision? This
is the type of work I’ve had the joy of being part of as a CEF missionary.
Ben Larson, Nicolet Region CEF

Lisa Inlow St Croix Valley Chapter

Greater Madison Announces New Director of Training

Jeaneen Dau - New Director of Training

When I was a child, growing up in Denver, Colorado, we hosted a 5- Day Club™ at our home every summer. I remember it being a highlight of my summer. As I grew up, my older sister and I became 5-Day Club missionaries, teaching throughout the Denver area.

After moving to Madison my sophomore year of High School, I began teaching 5-Day Clubs in Wisconsin. After teaching for 5 years, I enrolled in TCE1 and even helped with some of the demonstrations. I really enjoyed that class and found myself using what I learned in the children's ministries I led at our church.

Later as my husband and I chose to homeschool our children, I used the tools I learned with my involvement with CEF on a daily basis, and we continued to host 5DC’s in our neighborhood.

Fast forward about 20 years, my daughter Morgan started teaching 5- Day Clubs in Madison, which started the dominoes falling into place for me to get involved with CEF again. I attended IOT training at CEF Headquarters in March of 2015 and became a teacher trainer for the Madison Chapter.

It wasn’t long until the Lord brought another opportunity with CEF. We learned that our dear Director of Training, Eddie Marshall, was moving out of state to be closer to family.

Jeaneen Dau

Eddie was one of the first people I met when I moved here from Colorado. She drove me to CYIA training and was one of my instructors. I was touched by her kindness and graciousness to me. With the news that Madison would need a Director of Training, I felt a calling to this position. I began to pray about this opportunity and the Lord made it clear to me that He wanted me to pursue the position.

I have been blessed to walk hand in hand with Eddie Marshal this last year. She handed me the “baton” with all the graciousness in the world. I’m still overwhelmed when I think about the ministry Eddie has had here for over 50 years and sometimes I feel so inadequate to follow in her footsteps. God promises to equip those He has called and in my heart I know that he is equipping me for this new position.

Jeaneen Dau

Director of Training

Summer Missionaries Ready to Serve

Western WI Summer Missionaries

“On the first day of our Good News Summer Club last year, no kids from the community came, but we invited a sister and brother nearby to join us. They came to the Club and were excited to tell friends about it. The next day they returned and brought friends back with them. Each day afterward, the num-ber of kids grew as word spread through the neighborhood. Later in the week I had the opportunity to talk one-on-one with a little boy about believing in Jesus. He shared with me that he put his trust in Jesus that day at Club! God knew each child that would come to camp that week. He brought them to club in His timing and allowed us to share His salvation with them!”

“Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.”

It is amazing to think of all that went in to reaching those children and hundreds of others like them last summer! Yes, we had a team of missionaries, but they wouldn’t have been able to go out and teach if people had not given money to support them and pay for the materials they used and the training they got. People prayed, making it possible for them to have spiritual victory. People gave of their time to host Clubs and serve snacks. People encouraged them during and after a long week of ministry. It takes the body of Christ to go and bring the Gospel to the lost in our neighborhoods! And we are getting ready to do it all again!

Anne Weibel Western WI 

Upper Fox Appreciation Night

Teacher’s Appreciation Night

Beaver Dam Club - Pat Davis

uses her guitar to lead song with

the children

Our Good News and Party Club teachers and their families gathered together at Walkers Restaurant in Beaver Dam on May 1st for a meal and fellowship. It was also an opportunity to formally say thank you to our faithful teachers that give of their time and talents throughout the year to make sure the Message of Salvation is taught properly to children. Through these teachers, children may come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Without our teachers, CEF would not exist. Thank you Teachers for a great year!

Joe Pacheco
Upper Fox River Chapter

The Birth of New Good News Clubs®: Joys and Challenges

Five of the churches that partnered with CEF® for Good News Across America® this summer have received a passion to do whatever it takes to offer a Good News Club in a new school in their community. The process necessary for this to become a reality is wrought with joys and challenges.

Lighthouse Gospel Chapel in Milwaukee has a team coordinator from the church named Rosalind who is on fire to make a difference in the lives of the children. They have openings available in four different MPS elementary schools. The children desperately need the Word of God. The principals are begging for Good News Clubs to be established in their schools. So what is the problem? Why has the club still not opened up? Sadly, not enough volunteers have signed up to make this club a reality. They need six vol­unteers and only have three at this time. What a tragedy when the secular world is crying out for the Gospel and the body of Christ says to the children, “I am too busy for that!” Pray that God would raise up workers to minister in a school near Lighthouse Gospel Chapel.

New Hope Missionary Baptist Church in Milwaukee has worked hard to establish a Good News Club at Benjamin Franklin School in Milwaukee. Many have been trained from the church. Garrett, the team coordinator, works with at-risk children and is knowledgeable about building relationships with the kids. They have gone to the school and passed out over 100 registration slips for the Good News Club. What is the challenge? Parents aren’t taking the time to fill out the registration form so their children can attend the Good News Club. No children came to their first club meeting, so the team ran through the entire club, including the Bible lesson, games, songs, and memory verse to become better at it for when the children actually come. This group is excited and ready go. They are on fire for bringing these children to the cross where Jesus can change their lives forever. Pray that God will prompt the parents to register their children for the Benjamin Franklin Good News Club.

New Berlin Free Methodist Church has done their due diligence in meeting with school personnel, canvassing the neighborhood, putting up posters around town, praying, and more. The coordinator, Carolyn, is so excited about getting into Orchard Lane School with the Gospel. And the senior pastor is even serving on the team himself as the lead Bible teacher! However, they are facing a huge obstacle in inviting children to the club: the school is not allowing them to distribute registration forms or promote the club in any way on school property. Pray that the New Berlin school district will correct their unconstitutional policy so that children will be able to learn about and attend the Good News Club.

Lakewood Church in Pewaukee has had more than a dozen volunteers attend training over the past several months to serve in the Good News Club. Dennis, the team coordinator, was ready to start moving forward with the after-school club the very next week after the church’s 5-Day Clubs® this summer. When his team was unable to get into the first school they had selected, he didn’t give up, but instead moved on to launch the Good News Club at Lowell School in Waukesha. Although they’ve faced many obstacles, such as being forced to meet thirty min­utes after the bell rings and being unable to mass-distribute registration forms to the children, the team has excitedly embraced this opportunity to reach the community with the Gospel. Each of them has invested countless hours in training, preparation, and prayer for the club. So far, there are only eight children attending, but those kids are being lavished with the love of Jesus! Pray that the obstacles that are preventing this club from growing would be removed soon so even more children can hear the Good News at Lowell School.

The team from Open Door Bible Church just completed their training to begin a Good News Club at Dunwiddie School in Port Washington. Their team coordinator, Sue, has done an amazing job of pulling a team together for this great adventure. Two of her workers actually teach at Dunwiddie! Pastor Nate and Pastor Sid wholehearted support this great opportunity. Sadly, this school district is also blocking the team’s efforts to distribute registration forms to the children. Pray that Sue’s team will be able to get the word out at Dunwiddie and that many children will attend their first Good News Club meeting in February.

Clearly, the enemy is trying to thwart the efforts of loving believers to reach the children with the truth. Three of the five clubs are facing a legal chal­lenge, one is desperate for workers and the other needs the parents to look at the registration form and complete it for their child. Praise God, 1 John 4:4 “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world. “

We are excited to see what God will do with these courageous teams and the children they will reach. What amazing things will these children do with His Word and His indwelling? Rejoice and pray with us at the birth of five new Good News Clubs with all the joys and challenges.

Buzz Taves,   Southeast Wisconsin Chapter

February 2018

Teacher Enrichment in St Croix Chapter

Lisa Inlow - St Croix Chapter

March, 2018

Winter Retreat 2018 Portage

This year’s Winter Retreat was held once again at Camp Fairwood and the turnout was great!  There were a lot of new faces this year.  It was great to see some of the veterans also.

The topic this year was presented by Vince Pierri, the Youth Pastor from High Point Church in Madison.  His focus was “Faith, Hope and Love”.  He spoke that Faith is  believing that God has a plan.  Hope is not normal but it is suppose to be by realizing that God has worked in your past, is working for your future and is at work right now.  Love, is unconditional.  It is the kind of love that God gives and one that lasts.

The Worship was performed by the youth and was wonderfully done.  There were games and outside activities which everyone enjoyed.  We also had a time to fellowship and get to know one another.

Our Chapter’s team this year is composed of 4 members. It was a great time.

Joe Pacheco – Upper Fox River Chapter

Eddie Marshall Moves to Oregon

March 2018

Dear Partners in Ministry,

As many of you know, God is leading us to a new phase in our life’s journey.  In 2010 my husband was diagnosed with vascular dementia.  God has allowed this to be a slow but steady journey.  Last winter it was made clear that we need to move closer to family since all of our children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren live on the West Coast.  So, I plan on giving my official resignation as Director of Teacher Training of CEF of the Greater Madison Area  to our local committee effective at the end of March.  We will be putting our home up for sale April 1 and hope to be able to move around June 1^st out to Grants Pass, OR to live next door to our son.   Please pray regarding the logistics of all of this.

God called me when I was in high school to work with children reaching them through the ministry of Child Evangelism Fellowship. He gradually gave me experience in many areas of the CEF ministry as hostess, a member of the committee, teaching GNC and 5-day clubs, working in the fair ministry, being a nurse and an instructor at CYIA, teaching teens how to teach 5-Day clubs, and training others through local training classes like Teacher Enrichment and Teaching Children Effectively Classes, so they could reach children in their sphere of influence.  I have worked with five different directors over the years and seen how God has used each one of them to grow the ministry.  I have loved all aspects of the ministry, but especially seeing God lay a burden on the heart of others whether teens or adults to reach out to share the gospel with children.

One of my prayers for years has been to see a person trained to “take over” as Director of Teacher Training.  God has answered that prayer in sending Jeaneen Dau .  Jeaneen was a former Summer Missionary in the Madison area many years ago, who continued to pray for our ministry and has seen the value and how God uses CEF in the lives of children and adults.  She has been an Instructor of Teachers for over a year now.  We have been working together this past year so that she has been able to assume more and more responsibility.  Hopefully this transition will be that much easier for all involved.

To be honest, I went through a process of grieving when I knew it was time to leave WI and working with CEF.  However, never underestimate God’s leading. My son told me there was an active CEF ministry in Grants Pass, OR and that he personally knew the Director.  This gave me great peace even having the hope of perhaps doing some training in that area. The icing on the cake took place when I went to the International Conference last May and “happened” to sit next to a CEF worker from OR. We had a wonderful conversation and she was excited as I was to see God at work.

I will miss seeing all of you at various CEF events, but hope that we can stay in contact.  I have left my contact information with the office and do hope that you will reach out so we can fellowship through email, phone, text or snail mail. 

Continuing to Serve,

Edwina Marshall Director of Teacher Training
CEF of Greater Madison, WI