by Lynnese Castle
Meet FPC's Lynnese Castle. She works for Child Evangelism Fellowship as a Ministry Coordinator. Good News Club is a ministry of Child Evangelism Fellowship in which trained teachers meet with groups of children in schools, homes, community centers, churches, just about anywhere else children can easily and safely meet with their parent’s permission. We asked if we could send out this update she recently sent us. She said YES!
Our team which consists of myself, Margie Nunez & Jim Grunwald started the Good News Club at Lowell last fall and this semester we’ve been at John Muir Elementary. It’s been exciting to see kids come to faith in Christ at both school locations.
We launched Good News Club ministry for the 2023 new year in January. The second week of the club I taught the lesson about Nicodemus coming to Jesus asking important questions, and Jesus explaining to Nicodemus how one must be born again to enter the Kingdom of God. One boy responded to the invitation and came for counseling. When I asked him why he wanted to talk to me, he said with teary eyes, “I want to ask Jesus to forgive me for the bad things I’ve done to my mom and dad, AND my brothers and sisters.” It was evident he was sincere in his repentance. That day he experienced his second birthday. Birthday party blowers were given to the children that day to remind them of the lesson and how to have two birthdays—a physical and spiritual. As this boy left the Good News Club, I wished him a happy 2nd birthday. He had a big smile on his face as he left the club that day.
A few weeks later I taught the lesson about God choosing David to be the king of Israel because David had a special friendship with God and a heart for God. David was an unlikely choice in the eyes of Samuel (the prophet who obeyed God’s direction for a new king to replace Saul). When I gave the invitation and challenged the children if they wanted a heart for God starting with putting their trust in Jesus as Savior, another little boy responded. He also had teary eyes when I asked him why he came to talk to me. He said, "I want to be forgiven of my sin and to have a friendship with God like David.” He was also repentant and sincere in his profession of faith in Christ.
I am so thankful CEF is on school campuses with the Good News Club! Pictured below are the two boys who have started their journey with Jesus as a result of the presence of the Good News Club on campus.
Please know your partnership is making an eternal difference in the lives of children. If you'd like to get involved in with this team or a Good News Club near you, contact Lynnese.
Currently CEF is in the middle of their March Mercy campaign. It's their primary fundraiser for the spring to sustain the ministry financially the first part of the calendar year. Please pray God will provide as their office continues to reach hundreds of children every week with the life-changing good news of Jesus. Their goal is to raise one hundred thousand dollars.
If you feel led to make a gift for March Mercy use this link, or mail your donation to CEF NorCal, Central Valley South, 1322 E. Shaw Ave., Ste. 110, Fresno, CA 93710.
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