One Good Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

This is me, 4 years ago, when I visited Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. You can't see me very well because I don't have a telephoto lens. The only camera I had was an old digital camera that I was given when a friend upgraded their own. He let me use it for my trip to Chicago and then let me keep it. I was thankful and have used it constantly for the last 4 years. I am always taking pictures of our ministry activities so I can put them in the newsletter for you to see what we are doing. They say “one good picture is worth a thousand words” so I make good use of them in my letters. It is now time to purchase a new camera which will cost approximately $300. If you would like to help me get a new digital camera, put the word “camera” in the memo of your check. Thanks for your help.-Nancy

The check should be made out to Child Evangelism Fellowship (or CEF for short) and sent to the attention of "Project N." CEF Address: 16815 Bellflower Blvd. Bellflower, CA 90706.

CYIA 2008 Records-Greater Long Beach

6 Summer Missionaries

20 Bible Clubs

313 children heard the gospel

47 children put their trust in Jesus

In Good Company

Earlier this year, Nancy was asked to teach two clowning seminars at the CMTA Convention (a place where many churches get equipped). The clowning seminars were about how to get started in Clown Ministry and when it makes sense to use clowns for your church outreach events. Of course, Starburst was part of all the excitement. She was ready to shine as she taught, networked and exhibited for the Child Evangelism Fellowship Bookstore. It was a privilege to assist others in finding and using their gifts. Above Starburst is pictured with Michael and Eva LaFond, some of the staff from the new Kidhelper Resources. I found I was in good company with others who are committed to building up the ministries of the church as well.

Faithfulness Rewarded

One of our students, Joseph Mastron, attended the CYIA Training Retreat for his 5th year in a row. He was honored in front of all his peers by the CEF Southern California State Director awarding him with a brand-new Children’s Ministry Resource Bible. He has been faithful to help out both during the summer and the school year. I am proud of this big accomplishment and maturity that he has developed along the way. We were off to a great start for our summer of ministry back in the Greater Long Beach Area!

First Big Steps

We arrived home from CYIA Retreat encouraged and were ready to get to work but requests for Bible clubs seemed to come in slowly. After the first two weeks we were plenty busy. As our 6 Summer Missionaries worked as a team, God brought us to areas where kids were hungry for the gospel.


One hostess, Nicole Sweeton, called before the club to ask us to pray for Paul, a neighborhood kid from an atheistic home. When the subject of God came up, Paul told Nicole’s children that he believed in nothing. The next week, we came to her house to conduct Bible Club. When Roger gave the invitation the first person to go back and pray with him was Paul!


In a few instances, our high school summer missionaries arrived at a 5-Day Club only to discover that kids their own age had been invited. In the past, teens who come to Bible club get bored, stop participating and sometimes make fun of whoever is teaching. Our Missionaries beautifully just kept going, focusing on the smaller children. The teens either left or participated, playing along but we did not have any trouble.

Not only were the children’s lives touched, but our Summer Missionaries discovered how to trust God in a whole new way. For example, we all prayed for the Father of one of our Missionaries when he went to the hospital unexpectedly. Later that week, he was restored to health. Another student had serious family problems and we prayed for her. God chose this summer to bring reconciliation and forgiveness in her family. We thank God for how faithful He was to us.


Every journey starts with a first step. This summer, God showed us that if we will trust Him with the details of our lives, we are taking the first big step in the incredible journey that He has planned for each of us.

Off To A Great Start

Christian Youth In Action (aka: CYIA) is a program of Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) in which high school and college students are trained to present the gospel to children in the context of a Bible Club. Every year we hold a Training Retreat where students spend their mornings studying what and how to share with children. Then in the afternoons they conduct Bible Clubs in the afternoon for hands on experience. The club is called a 5-Day club becuse like VBS it runs for 5-Days in a row. The students alternate responsibilities as they prepare as a team. The students worked hard to study their Bible lessons, memory verses, missionary story, songs and games so they would be ready for their part of the club.

Christian Youth In Action this year saw noticeable success. Thanks goes out to those of you who were praying for our week in Riverside at the CYIA Training Retreat! The records show the great work God did among us.

• 29 students
• 13 staff
• 9 Bible Clubs
• 165 children heard the gospel
• 44 responded in faith!