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Outreach for Presbyterians

Child Evangelism Fellowship

             We are blessed to have the Kennedy family as one of the missionary families who make up our diverse group of missionaries we support. We learned many details regarding their mission on October 12^th at a mission luncheon. Here are some of the details of their mission:

· CEF sponsors after school Bible clubs in all of the school districts in Lycoming county at the elementary and middle school levels. Our congregation sponsors one of these clubs at Hepburn-Lycoming elementary school.

· CEF sponsored 29 different ‘Five Day Clubs’ over this summer. Nine high school and college students worked as trained summer missionaries in these clubs.

· CEF sponsors a summer camping program for K-8^th grade.

· CEF sponsors a number of ‘Back Yard Clubs’ in area homes. The national organization provides training materials with the Kennedy’s providing instruction.

· CEF is very attuned to its responsibility to have more than one staff member or volunteer at each children’s group and follows all laws to protect children from any appearance of or actual abusive activity.

· CEF is in need of additional volunteer teachers and will provide needed training. Training and children materials may be seen at cefonline.com.

· CEF wishes to partner with churches in order to channel children who attend their events into a church in order to encourage further training in the Christian life.

· CEF also is willing to work together with churches to sponsor one day ‘Carnival’ events as well as to train church workers in children’s ministry.

The Kennedy’s recently moved to our locale, living off Pleasant Hill Rd. just off Lycoming Creek Rd. They attend church at Fairview Christian and Missionary Alliance church. We are blessed to have their enthusiastic presence in our community.

Please come to the next mission luncheon on Nov 9^th when the Shepherd of the Streets, Dr. Morris Smith will come to share with us regarding our community and its needs.

Jim Redka

             On October 18^th, Pastor Younger and I joined maybe one hundred other Presbyterians of our presbytery in a Saturday seminar devoted to planning Outreach and Evangelism for our respective congregations. Our Executive Presbyter, Rev. Bill Knudsen and staff worked with a group from the Knox Fellowship to plan and produce this program.

             The definition of evangelism is the proclamation of the Gospel for the salvation of humankind, a primary task of the church. The goal of is to present Jesus Christ who, when received, transforms a person’s life.

             Our Lord does command us to become secure in our understanding of the message of the Gospel and to share this message with our families, friends and neighbors. We have a strong congregation of members who do much of the Lord’s work in their work life as well as their leisure time. We do need to focus as a congregation on evangelism and outreach as a congregation. The Lord can bless our work together and He will when we pray and discuss our plans together.

             We are in planning for the Living Nativity which will focus our whole congregation on a project we can and will do well with the Lord’s blessing. We will have more and more opportunities to grow from this project. So, as you participate, pray for us to find His will in outreach.

Jim Redka

Centre News