For Sure, For Sure, For Sure

   Ten days before our fundraiser last month, Nadya and I made the short trip to Denair to help volunteers from Connecting Point Nazarene church begin their Good News Club^® at Denair Elementary. Twenty-two children registered for the club, and about 18 of them came the first week. That first week we taught the entirety of the club while the church helped as needed.

    The second club, just three days prior to the luncheon in Turlock, we were responsible for doing the Bible lesson and memory verse, while the team did the rest . This is a normal pattern when we start new clubs. The first week they observe, the second week there is more involvement, and the third week we observe them in action.

    That second week Nadya was doing the Bible lesson and wanted me to position myself at a table in the back, in the event that any children would respond to the invitation.  

   As God would have it that day, six children responded to the invitation, and Nadya and I divided them up into two groups of three. Of the three that I counseled; it was very evident that the girl sitting in the middle was dead serious about receiving Christ. The others were interested, but just not yet at the point of receiving Christ. Ruth, however, was.

    I focused in on just her and asked her several questions to see what she had understood from the Gospel presentation. She understood perfectly, so I had her pray to receive Christ. It is such a blessing to hear children pray and confess their sins, acknowledge Jesus as the Savior, and express their faith in Him.

    I encouraged Ruth to be a witness and tell the lead teacher what she had just done. She excitedly went to Michele and told her that she had received Christ. She and I both knew, for sure, for sure, for sure, that Ruth was now a new creation in Christ!  

Ruth came to know Christ last month at the Denair Good News Club^®.

Praise & Prayer

– Praise  God for the $26,829 that was given at our banquet last month! God has always supplied our every need, and this year is no exception to that rule.

– Praise God for 17 Good News Clubs that have started as of this month in Modesto, Turlock, Salida, Denair, Valley Springs, Murphys, Groveland, and Escalon.

– Pray for clubs still in process in Stockton, Turlock, and Le Grand, that they will start soon.

– Pray for the upcoming Christmas season and the possibility of Christmas Party Clubs in our area.

– Praise God for supplying two new committee members in the last 12 months. Continue to pray for two more.

– Pray for the doors of the schools to remain open.

– Pray that the children who have received Christ will now grow.

The team from Connecting Point Nazarene doing GNC^® at Denair Elementary.

Assurance of Salvation

“These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.” – 1 John 5:13

    On October 19^th we launched the Good News Club at Valley Springs Elementary School. The first club had one child in it, but he was excited to be there (and wants to invite others to come). As I gave the Bible lesson invitation I asked if he knew for sure that he had received Christ, to which he responded, “I don’t know.” I asked him if he would like to know and he said “yes”, so I counseled him. He knew all the right answers in his head, but he still wasn’t sure that he had.

But he was interested in knowing more and was really thinking hard about it. I gave him a tract, encouraged him to read and think about it, and then to come back to club the following week, or to talk to someone at his church about it.

    I don’t know if he has received Christ, or if he just has doubts, but either way, it is our privilege in GNC^® to not only lead children to Christ, but to assure them as well. I know that, as a boy, I had recurring doubts, and my father used God’s Word to assure me of my salvation. Perhaps God will use the GNC team at VSE to do the same. We want to help him “know”.

Good News Club at Valley Springs Elementary School.

Year-End Giving

Believe it or not we are less than ten weeks away from the New Year. As we close out 2022, we would ask you to consider giving a year-end gift to the ministry of CEF. This will help us close out the books strong. 

We are praying for an additional $20,000 to come in by December 31, 2022. Will you pray about helping us meet that goal? You can give give safely and securely by clicking on the link below. Or mail your check directly to our office:

CEF Central Valley North

2925 Niagra St, Suite 6

Turlock, CA 95382

A Gift of Stock is also an option for year-end giving.

When giving appreciated assets, such as public stock, you not only receive a tax deduction for the fair market value of the stock, but you also avoid capital gains tax.

Timing is everything! As you consider your year-end giving, remember the IRS has very specific deadlines to claim credit on this year’s taxes, depending on what you give.

For cash gifts, it’s all about the postmarked envelope. For stock, its the transfer that matters. Checks from your IRA account have to be fully processed by December 31.

For more information on how to best give a gift of stock to CEF, click HERE. Simply fill out your contact information, choose “donation information” from the drop down menu, and type “gift of stock” in the “Other” box. We will get back to you promptly with the next steps to take.

You can also email Joel Cripe at [email protected], or call our office

(209) 250-2561.