WARRENTON, Mo. (WordNews.org) Jan. 28, 2013  — Child Evangelism Fellowship, which bills itself as the largest Christian ministry to children in the world, reported ministering to nearly 900,000 children in the United States in 2012.
That’s up 10.3 percent from 2011. Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) ministers through 15 programs in the United States, including the popular Good News Clubs; 5-Day Clubs; the Truth Chasers Club, a Bible correspondence club; and wonderzone.com, a website specifically for children.
“This growth is a result of the goodness and blessing of God,” said Moises Esteves, vice president of USA Ministries for CEF. “We are particularly grateful that the number of After School Good News Clubs has steadily grown for the last 12 years.”
CEF had fewer than 17,000 children enrolled in After School Good News Clubs in 2001. In 2012, that number was over 156,000.
CEF said much of the increase is the result of the landmark 2001 U.S. Supreme Court case, Good News Club et al. v. Milford Central School. The court’s decision confirmed the constitutionality of the After School Good News Clubs’ freedom to meet in public schools after the school day ended. This decision markedly improved the accessibility of the clubs to public elementary school children.
“It’s the biblical curriculum taught by caring volunteers that draws parents and children in,” said Esteves. The clubs, which require parental consent to attend, offer a healthy mix of engaging Bible lessons, memory verses, songs and games which all emphasize that one’s faith in Jesus Christ is evident through loving others.
“We hear reports on a regular basis of improved behavior of the children and even improved test scores.” Said Esteves.
At Hernwood elementary school, in Randallstown, Maryland, Baptist Life Magazine reported in its August 2012 issue that the suspension rate dropped from 11.5 percent to 2.5 percent and report card grades were up since the After School Good News Club started at the school, according to Ms. Cathy Gantz, the school’s principal.
“That’s hard data. The Good News Club works,” Gantz said.

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