On Thursday evening, February 3, The Gathering, a coming together of evangelically minded Christians, placing emphasis on child evangelism, met at the Church of God (Holiness). Under the auspices of the local Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) chapter, their aim was to share the progress of the local child evangelism ministry, to share updates, and to make plans for future child evangelical ventures.
According to Mrs. Celia Jones-Connor, Missionary Instructor, “Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) is a Bible-centered organisation composed of born-again believers, whose purpose is to evangelise boys and girls with the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, and to establish them in the Word of God.” She said that CEF is the largest children’s ministry worldwide — reaching children in almost every country of the world.
Mrs. Ann-Marie Campbell, National Coordinator, related how CEF is reaching youth in Anguilla: “CEF has been taking the message of salvation and hope to the nations for over eighty-four years,” she said. “The organisation has been diligently working in Anguilla for the past seven years, and since its inception here the work has been growing and continues to grow.” She noted that in 2020 CEF reached over 25 million children worldwide, and of that number, Anguilla boasts of some 2006 children who have been positively influenced for Christ.
To explain more about the work of CEF in Anguilla, Celia Jones-Connor, Missionary Instructor said: “CEF in Anguilla presently hosts the Good News Club at the six public primary schools. There are also CEF Good News Clubs in one private primary school, one community centre and one church. In addition, CEF conducts morning devotions at five privately operated preschools. We also have an outreach at the Zenaida Haven home for boys.”
She continued: “Over the past two years, with the interruptions of Covid-19, we have sought other means and ways to minister to children, particularly through online platforms, hosting our weekly Zoom Good News Club activities, as well as online preschool devotions.”
Mrs. Florita Kentish, the Regional Area Director, said at The Gathering: “What a wonderful God the Lord is to Anguilla and the children of Anguilla. Praise God! We have come this far by faith. Jesus is indeed across Anguilla. Anguilla is known as a Christian community. However, it is evident that we have a form of godliness here, but deny the power thereof, as the scripture says, and we see it affecting the lives of the children.
“Therefore, I thank God that He has brought together many of his people who are willing to be a part of this CEF programme and to bring about a change in lives starting with the children.”
Mrs. Kentish said that CEF is established in 207 countries of the world and has trained 357 volunteers in the year 2020 alone.
During The Gathering event, two volunteers, namely Mrs. Kristy Harrigan and Mrs. Tracelyn Hamilton, testified of their training and the rewarding benefits that they had derived from being a part of the Child Evangelism Fellowship ministry. One child who has stood out in the ministry is Abigale Campbell who has been working very hard with her peers as a young evangelist to bring children to Christ.
