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
