Sow the Good Seed!

Know the soil. To burrow ones head in the ground is unwise. Our culture has changed and continues to rapidly change daily. Understand the soil.

In Matthew 13:1-23, when Jesus told a parable to a great crowd of people... in their hearing as they stood on the beach. I wonder how many burrowed their head; eye and ear deep into the sand.

Jesus described several conditions of soil. The soil condition is important to understand because Jesus taught the lesson. The SEED is the centerpiece.

Sow the good SEED so that they may truly hear and see!

Paul knew the power of the Risen Christ and the importance of sowing the SEED of the Gospel. "That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile." Romans 1:15-16

Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you. 1 Peter 1:22-25

Give them the life changing message of The Good News of Jesus Christ! It will NEVER lose it's power to SAVE!

God Heard Her Heart!

At Good News Club children can fill out a prayer request slip that we place in the "GOD CAN". (This can with a lid just holds their prayer requests slips and the prayer team takes special care to read and pray for each child's prayer request all week.) GOD CAN AND DOES ANSWER PRAYER.

Club had ended and most of the children had already been picked up. One little girl was still waiting for her guardian to get there....the GNC volunteers were busy cleaning the room then the little girl ran over to me... I will call her Alison.

Alison run over to me and said..."where's that GOD CAN I got something to say!"

I dug into the tote of supplies that were already packed away and give her a prayer slip, a pencil, and the GOD CAN. Moments later Alison handed me the CAN, the pencil, and a blank prayer slip. I asked her "did you write down your prayer request? She said, "NO! I spoke it."

Her ride arrived to pick her up and I said..."OK, see you next week!"

The GNC Team and the Prayer Team of the host church begin to pray for Alison's prayer request, knowing that God heard her and HE cared!

Alison was in foster care and had been for most of the 8 years of her life. I believe that in her 8 year old way of thinking, she wanted to know that God was real and that HE was the only one that would know her prayer request. Alison did not want to take any chances that someone from the GNC Team would try to fulfil her request. (If that was even possible.)

A few weeks later at club... the children were gathered at the table after snack time to filling out prayer slips. I am so glad and blessed that God allowed me to see what happened next!

Alison was reaching across the table to get ahold of the GOD CAN... she grabbed it, cracked the lid open just a bit and said in a quiet little voice..."thank you." I do not know what Alison asked of the LORD, but without a doubt I know that HE heard her hearts cry and HE was growing her trust in HIM as a good Father that would listen to her and care about her need.

Alison received Jesus as her personal Savior during Good News Club the next school year. She continued to come to club. What a joy to see her grow in her faith and understanding of who God is.

Tell a Friend. Build a Team!

In many cases in the Southern Illinois Chapter a after school Good News Club can be launched with just 4 dedicated and trained volunteers.

CEF in Southern Illinois partners with local Bible-believing churches to mobilize and reach kids in their community with the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Last fall a (good friend) and Good News Club teacher said to me, "when I'm tempted to worry if we will have enough team members for club... I remind myself that the LORD provides for all our needs!" She continued..."The LORD has reassured me that I only need to SHOW UP and HE will take care of the rest."

This particular club started with 101 children registered for club on the first day. Needless to say they required more than just 4 volunteers on this team!

They had an average attendance of 86 enthusiastic 1st -5th graders each week. 17 precious little souls made a first time profession of faith in Jesus during club!

Since the pandemic the Herrin GNC Team has been temporarily connecting with GNC kids via Zoom to host club. The Team will prayerfully be back to in-person club soon!

For details on how your church members can mobilize 4 Kids visit:

http://cefsi.com/church-partnership/adopt-a-school.html

Child Evangelism Fellowship is a Bible-centered organization composed of born-again believers whose purpose is to evangelize boys and girls with the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and to establish (disciple) them in the Word of God and in a local church for Christian living.