Ministry Is Growing!

Summer Ministry Harvest!

BECAUSE HE LIVES

A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me.

Because I live, you will live also. John 14:19

Dr. David Jeremiah recently wrote that Christian songwriters Bill and Gloria Gaither were experiencing turmoil in the 1960’s. He was recovering from illness, she was expecting their third child and they were discouraged by the state of the world and the future of their children. It was at this time the Lord inspired them:

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow;

Because He lives, all fear is gone.

They wrote the song, Because He Lives, which received a Dove Award for song of the year in 1974. Today’s verse recounts a time of trouble for the disciples and how Jesus reassured them with a promise:

Because I live, you will live also.

This year has brought one hardship after another! On a personal note, surgeries 7 and 8 for my left eye, which I am still recovering from and a 9th one is anticipated. On the ministry front, Clovis Unified has not yet reversed the facility use policy and this prevents children from hearing the Good News. And, this week, more obstacles surfaced that could threaten ministry.

But, because I know He holds the future,

life is worth living just because He lives…

I live with faith in the One who lives for me, and for the children He allowed us to reach this year. In fact, 548 children heard the Good News in the month of June alone. Of those, 104 professed faith in Jesus as their Savior! July is busy and we expect to reach more than 5,000 children by the end of this month.

Thank you for supporting this ministry with persistent prayer and sacrificial financial donations. Because of YOUR faith in Jesus and YOUR willingness to support our purpose, reaching kids for Christ, children can believe in Jesus. They can face tomorrow because He lives. And because He lives, all fear is gone!

Summer Missionary Testimony: Arianna Knee

From scrolling on my Church’s mission page a year ago to now, I never would have imagined that God was leading me to be a missionary at CEF this summer. For me, it has been the most fulfilling experience ever! When I think about what my time so far, I remember the little hearts that God has allowed me to touch. I have seen the Holy Spirit grip the hearts of so many children and have recognized in their eyes a true hunger and excitement in their desire to know Christ. The best way to share my experience is to share the stories of the children that God has blessed me with.

One girl was so invested in the Gospel that even when a friend tried to pull her away to play games just right before the invitation was presented, she stood strong and politely dismissed her friend so she could finish hearing the message. After accepting Jesus, she reached over the table to give me a hug and walked away with the biggest smile on her face which was literally glowing.

God brought a young girl one day to Summer School GNC, who decided to follow Jesus on her first day and then the following day she took being a “Mighty Missionary” very seriously. She came into the class simply asking, “I can bring anyone right?” and proceeded to pull a handful of kids into our club!

Some didn’t even know why they were there but when asked if they wanted to stay, they also said Yes! We made a bunch of calls to secure parent permission and doubled our class size that day. Then it tripled on the next!

With our weekly visits to Frank H. Ball Park, I have been able to build relationships with kids who keep coming back wanting to hear more. Last week I was blessed when a young girl who I had given a Bible to weeks ago returned. She came prepared with her own bookmark to show me she had found John 3:16 and was now ready to find another verse. Hebrews 13:5-6 holding fast to the promise that God would never leave her.

It’s amazing to see the faith of these children, some as young as 4 years old, boldly come to believe in Jesus. I now more deeply understand “to receive the kingdom of God like a little child.” (Matt. 18, Mark 10:15). These children come humbly, eagerly, open, and ready to respond to the call that God has given them and to all of us. 

Arianna has served as a Good News Club volunteer at three schools during the prior school year. She is working as a summer missionary through July. She will then move to Denton, Tx to complete her Masters in Music. We are so grateful for all she has done. I’m praying she will return and work with us in the future, Lord willing!

Please consider an extra gift this month as we prepare curriculum, purchase Bibles and gather all the necessary supplies for each Good News Club team. We expect to be in 100 schools this new school year. It takes a huge production to have Quiet Time sheets, visuals, and lesson support for each semester.

Your gift will help us be sure each child receives a Bible of their own. As you read in Arianna’s testimony, the children are hungry for God’s Word and eager to learn more when they have a Bible of the own! A case of 24 is $158.

Praise God for:

1. Children He has brought to each event and the summer volunteers and staff introducing them to Jesus.
2. Each location we have served at and those scheduled through the month. Praise Him for the Joy the team is experiencing and the Joy the children experience when they learn Jesus loves them, just as they are and He always will!
3. Donors who help us with supplies for the fall and the launch of afterschool Good News Clubs. Every gift matters and is a blessing for the giver and the receiver!

Pray to God for:

1. Tammy Beers’ meeting with Clovis Unified Superintendent, Dr. Corine Folmer, on July 26. May she understand the importance of restoring the afterschool Good News Club at each elementary school in the District.
2. New business sponsors for this years, Darryl Rogers Golf Tournament, at the $5000, $2500, and $1000 level and for a sellout of golfers (144).
3. Wisdom, knowledge and understanding as we manage difficult circumstances day to day and week to week. The enemy does not want the children to know, much less believe in Jesus as their Savior. He seeks to devour them. Pray for protection, preservation and expansion so that no child is left behind.

For His Glory,

Tammy Beers, Director