# Child Evangelism Fellowship

> Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) is the world's largest evangelistic mission agency to children, founded in 1937. CEF is a Bible-centered, interdenominational organization focused on evangelizing children with the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, discipling them in God's Word, and establishing them in local churches. Operating in over 148 countries, CEF reached more than 34 million children in 2025 through trained missionaries, volunteers, and strategic ministry programs.

CEF's mission reaches children through multiple in-person and digital ministry channels. The organization's approach centers on the "4 to 14 window"—the statistically significant age range when 63% of people accept Christ. CEF operates from its International Headquarters in Warrenton, Missouri, which houses the Children's Ministries Institute (CMI) and CEF Press, the publishing arm producing curriculum and training materials used globally.

The ministry's core philosophy emphasizes reaching "every child, every nation, every day" through systematic evangelism, biblical discipleship, and practical training. CEF's organizational structure includes over 3,500 international missionaries (97% national workers), approximately 852 full-time staff in the USA and Canada, and an estimated 40,000 volunteers. The organization maintains strict child protection protocols and holds 501(c)(3) nonprofit status with comprehensive financial accountability.

## Core Ministry Programs

- [Good News Club](https://www.cefonline.com/ministries/goodnewsclub/): Weekly after-school clubs for children ages 5-12 held in schools, homes, and community centers featuring Bible lessons, songs, Scripture memorization, and games
- [5-Day Club](https://www.cefonline.com/ministries/5dayclub/): Intensive summer outreach program conducted over five consecutive days with dynamic Bible lessons, missionary stories, and activities taught by trained teens
- [Christian Youth in Action (CYIA)](https://www.cefonline.com/get-involved/serve/short-term-missions/cyia/): Teen training program (ages 12+) equipping young people to teach children about God through 1-2 week training schools followed by community club ministry
- [Camp Good News](https://www.cefonline.com/ministries/campgoodnews/): International camping program using CEF-owned or rented facilities with trained staff focused on evangelism and discipleship
- [Military Children's Ministry](https://www.cefonline.com/ministries/mcm/): Specialized Good News Clubs for military families on or near military bases providing stability and biblical truth
- [Junior Youth Challenge (JYC)](https://www.cefonline.com/ministries/junior-youth-challenge-jyc/): Evangelistic and discipleship ministry for ages 11-14 bridging the gap between Good News Club and CYIA
- [Christmas Party Clubs](https://www.cefonline.com/cpc/): Holiday outreach events teaching children the true meaning of Christmas with goal of reaching over 12 million children annually
- [U-Nite TV and Radio](https://www.cefonline.com/unite/): Digital ministry platforms providing safe, Christ-centered media alternatives with animated adventures, songs, and missionary stories
- [Children Reaching Children](https://www.cefonline.com/ministries/children-reaching-children/): Ministry equipping children ages 8-15 to share the Gospel with peers through the Go and Tell training program

## Training & Education

- [Children's Ministries Institute (CMI)](https://www.cefonline.com/about/training/childrens-ministries-institute/): Main campus in Warrenton, Missouri offering diploma and certificate programs for strategic ministry leadership to children
- [CMI Online](https://www.cefonline.com/about/training/online-training/): Specialized practical training courses including Romans Road for Children, Praying the Word of God, and self-paced seminars
- [Teaching Children Effectively (TCE)](https://www.cefonline.com/about/training/tce/): Foundational training course with over 55 years of success equipping Christians to evangelize and disciple children
- [Free Wordless Book Training](https://www.cefonline.com/about/training/online-training/wordlessbook/): Online training for effectively presenting the Gospel message using the iconic Wordless Book tool used with over 260 million children
- [Free Bible Lesson Demonstrations](https://www.cefonline.com/articles/free-cef-bible-lesson-demos/): Video demonstrations showing effective teaching techniques for Good News Club and 5-Day Club lessons

## Articles & Resources

- [Sunday School Solutions](https://www.cefonline.com/sundayschool/): Comprehensive teaching resources for Sunday School teachers, children's church workers, and VBS leaders covering practical ministry dilemmas
- [Teach Kids Articles](https://www.cefonline.com/category/teach-kids-articles/): Parenting and teaching guidance including biblical approaches to child development, spiritual formation, and practical ministry applications
- [Impact Magazine](https://www.cefonline.com/impact/): Quarterly publication featuring missionary stories, ministry updates, testimonies, and strategic vision for reaching 100 million children annually by 2032
- [Press Releases](https://www.cefonline.com/press/): Official media communications about ministry milestones, legal victories (including Supreme Court case allowing Good News Clubs in public schools), and impact stories

## About CEF

- [Our History](https://www.cefonline.com/about/history/): Founded by Jesse Irvin Overholtzer in 1937 after personal conviction about the need to reach children; first international missionaries sent to Mexico in 1943
- [Statement of Faith](https://www.cefonline.com/about/statementoffaith/): Biblical doctrinal positions held by the organization
- [Child Protection Policy](https://www.cefonline.com/policy/): Comprehensive protocols ensuring child safety across all ministry contexts
- [Executive Leadership Team](https://www.cefonline.com/about/leadership-team/): Organizational leadership structure and key personnel
- [Financial Accountability](https://www.cefonline.com/about/financial-accountability/): Transparent financial practices and audited reports demonstrating stewardship
- [Our Vision and Culture](https://www.cefonline.com/about/vision/): Core values emphasizing prayer as foundation, teamwork, excellence, and strategic focus on children

## Get Involved

- [US-Sent Missionary Program](https://www.cefonline.com/get-involved/serve/career-missions/the-missionary-program/): Long-term cross-cultural missionary opportunities with comprehensive preparation including ministry training, language study, and support-raising
- [Short-Term Missions](https://www.cefonline.com/get-involved/serve/short-term-missions/): CEF mission trips and summer ministry opportunities including CYIA and Impact Program
- [Career Opportunities](https://www.cefonline.com/get-involved/serve/career-missions/openpositions/): Full-time staff positions at International Headquarters and local chapters
- [Volunteer Opportunities](https://www.cefonline.com/get-involved/serve/volunteer/): Local chapter involvement through Good News Club, 5-Day Club, and other ministry programs
- [World Day of Prayer](https://www.cefonline.com/get-involved/pray/worlddayofprayer/): Annual day of focused intercession held first Wednesday in November with global participation

## Ways to Give

- [Donate Today](https://www.cefonline.com/give/donate-today/): General giving to support worldwide children's evangelism and discipleship
- [Sponsor-A-National (SPAN)](https://www.cefonline.com/give/span/): $75 supports a national missionary for one week of ministry
- [Boxes of Books](https://www.cefonline.com/give/give-boxes-of-books/): $85 provides teaching and discipleship tools for a missionary for an entire year
- [Christmas Party Club Support](https://www.cefonline.com/donate/give-christmas-party-clubs/): Direct funding for holiday outreach events reaching millions of children
- [Individual Missionary Support](https://www.cefonline.com/donate/give-individual-missionary/): Partner financially with specific missionaries on the field
- [Church Partnership Resources](https://www.cefonline.com/church/): Tools and curriculum to help churches effectively reach children in their communities

## For Churches

- [Church & Ministry Tools](https://www.cefonline.com/church/): Resources including training materials, promotional videos, and Gospel presentation tools to help churches double their impact with children
- [Curriculum from CEF Press](https://www.cefonline.com/get-involved/forthechurch/curriculum/): High-quality, biblically-sound, Christ-centered curriculum with Scripture at the center of every lesson
- [Adopt a Public School](https://www.cefonline.com/get-involved/forthechurch/adopt-public-school/): Strategic partnership program enabling churches to establish Good News Clubs in local public schools
- [Summer Ministry Resources](https://www.cefonline.com/get-involved/forthechurch/summer-ministry/): Complete support for churches planning VBS, camp programs, and 5-Day Club outreach

## International Ministry

- [Big Picture - Global Ministry](https://www.cefonline.com/big-picture/): Country-specific ministry information and prayer needs for CEF's work in 148+ nations
- [USA Ministry Statistics](https://www.cefonline.com/big-picture/usa/): Detailed information about CEF's domestic reach including challenges facing American children (poverty, homelessness, literacy, abuse)
- [80 Years of International Outreach](https://www.cefonline.com/press/child-evangelism-fellowship-celebrates-80-years-of-international-outreach-to-children/): Historical overview of CEF's international expansion since 1943

## Optional

- [CEF Press Catalog](https://cefpress.com/): Complete catalog of curriculum, visualized lessons, missionary stories, music, and discipleship materials (external site)
- [Sitemap](https://www.cefonline.com/sitemap/): Comprehensive site navigation and page index
- [Contact Information](https://www.cefonline.com/contact/): International Headquarters contact details and local chapter directory
- [Find a Local Chapter](https://www.cefonline.com/locations/): Geographic search tool for locating nearest CEF chapter and ministry opportunities
- [Testimonies and Stories](https://www.cefonline.com/articles/): Personal accounts of life transformation through CEF ministry programs
- [FAQ Resources](https://www.cefonline.com/get-involved/serve/career-missions/the-missionary-program/faq-general/): Answers to common questions about missionary program, support-raising, and field service