Giving Tuesday 2024

Will you help us meet our financial need so we can continue to share the gospel of Jesus with children in our area?

We know Jesus loves the little children of the world and wants them to hear and believe the gospel message.
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​Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) is the oldest and largest organization focused on elementary school children. We know all children need Jesus and CEF is active around the world. But, perhaps right now in our culture our children need the strength and hope only Jesus can provide, more than ever.

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LET THE CHILDREN COME TO ME
15 Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.” (Luke 18:15-16)

Parents report there is more depression and anxiety in their children. Therapists are busier than ever, schools report rage and anger manifesting in their students, even in the lower grades. Many children have never heard about Jesus, except as a swear word.

A missionary from the Middle East, who was visiting Cedar Valley Bible Church this fall and had not been in the United States for three years said, “This isn’t the same country it was three years ago. Christians here may find it harder to live and practice their faith.”

​CEF Hawkeye Chapter experienced slow steady growth for eight of our last ten years. We were, like everyone else, all but shut down by the pandemic. In the last two years we have seen amazing, God given growth. Since we began our Kids Blast trailer events, we have had hundreds of families with young children enjoy our activities, and hear the gospel. This fall we are opening ten Good News Clubs (GNC) with the possibility of starting five more when we have enough volunteers to lead them.

In September, at Wright School’s GNC in Cedar Rapids, four children accepted Christ after hearing the stirring Bible story about Moses parting the Red Sea. In the lesson, they learned about the mighty power of God as He saved His people from Pharaoh's army. When they were told that Jesus can do wonderful things in their lives and save them from eternal separation from God, they believed.

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At Cedar Valley Christian School’s GNC the children were challenged to picture each of the ten plagues that God sent to Egypt. They imagined what a river of blood might look like, and how 3 to 4 feet of frogs on top of frogs might make it impossible to walk down the street. They experienced all 10 plagues in their imaginations and learned to remember who God is. (Who says the Bible is boring?) What a privilege it is to bring the Bible to life for children!

The present state of our country’s economy has made it difficult for all nonprofits to raise support. Hawkeye Chapter is experiencing these difficulties as well.

​We need funds to:

• Purchase materials for the Spring and Summer 2025 Good News Clubs and 5-Day Clubs
• Support for our small paid staff
• Train Christian Youth In Action (CYIA) high schoolers to serve in both GNCs and 5-Day Clubs
• Train, support, recognize and encourage our many volunteers without whom we could not have a thriving and growing ministry.
• Purchase Bibles to give to each child in Good News Clubs. We want to teach them not only what is in the Bible, but also how to find passages to help them grow and become disciples of Christ. We will also teach them how to use the Bible using songs and games.

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We are asking all our current and former donors to generously help us reach our budget of $110,000.

You can help take the gospel of Jesus Christ to more elementary schools, neighborhood events like the Salvation Army, Renewing Our City (ROC), the Linn County Fair, Walker Pickle Days and others in our eight-county service area.

In Christ,

Sara Brownell
​Committee Chair

Rod Peyton
Chapter Director

P.S. Thank you in advance for prayerfully considering how you can help the Hawkeye Chapter take the much-needed message of Jesus to our children!

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