April 27, 2026
Child Evangelism Fellowship® programs serve the emotional and spiritual well-being of young people
Fred Pry, CEF® Vice President of Administration: ‘CEF is committed to seeing children develop spiritually and emotionally support families in that process’
ST. LOUIS — Children in the United States are affected by mental health challenges, with about 1 in 5 young people experiencing emotional, developmental or behavioral issues before age 14. Despite growing mental health concerns and worsening outcomes among children, including an alarming prevalence of personal distress and suicide risk, these challenges continue to increase. Many children still experience long waits and limited access to appropriate care. Amid these challenges, families and communities are seeking sources of hope, stability and support.
As a global leader in youth evangelism for almost 90 years, Child Evangelism Fellowship® (CEF®) knows firsthand that young people raised with the love and knowledge of Jesus experience life-changing benefits, including a deeper sense of mental and emotional well-being.
According to Fred Pry, CEF Vice President of Administration, these benefits stem from a young person’s growing understanding of their identity as a child of God.
Pry observed, “CEF shares the Gospel with children to help them develop a Christ-centered identity rooted in who God says they are, rather than the ever-changing standards of the world.”
Two primary venues for this ministry are the Good News Club® and 5-Day Club®, where many children experience hope, encouragement and care through engagement with Bible teaching, caring volunteers and a supportive community. These local ministries are designed to meet children where they are — in schools, neighborhoods and community spaces — offering creative Bible lessons, fun songs and opportunities for children to hear the Gospel and respond.
In addition, CEF Teach Kids! ™ encourages parents and ministry workers to support a child’s growth across key areas of health, including physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual. This invaluable online collection of resources helps caregivers foster a strong foundation of faith, wholeness and healthy development, while guiding children as they grow into the individuals God created them to be.
In response to the increasing rate of mental health concerns, Teach Kids!is offering biblically-based guidance for helping children cope with anxiety. The resource encourages young people to replace fear with trust in God through Scripture, prayer and the assurance of God’s presence, while helping them develop a sense of peace and stability.
CEF also recognizes the vital role of regular church attendance in a child’s spiritual formation and overall well-being. In a chronically online world, the organization emphasizes the crucial need for in-person community, noting that church involvement helps children build friendships, experience belonging and grow within a supportive ministry environment.
Taken altogether, Pry said, “CEF is committed to seeing children develop spiritually and emotionally support families in that process.”
Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF), founded in 1937, has been establishing the Good News Club® in countries around the world for decades.
In 2025, more than 34 million children worldwide heard or read the Good News through CEF ministries.
For more CEF news, see the ministry’s latest edition of the online magazine Impact.
CEF is an international, nonprofit, Christian ministry that has been dedicated to seeing every child reached with the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, discipled and established in a local church since 1937. CEF is located in all 50 American states and in most countries around the world, with over 3,800 paid staff and tens of thousands of volunteers around the world.
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To interview a representative from Child Evangelism Fellowship, contact Hamilton Strategies, Media@HamiltonStrategies.com, Beth Bogucki, 610.584.1096, ext. 105, or Daniel Moyer, ext. 104.
