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
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