June 8, 2026
As millions of children trade desks for devices, CEF® offers a life-changing summer break experience
Fred Pry, CEF Vice President of Administration: ‘The weeks away from the classroom are about more than simply filling time’
ST. LOUIS — As millions of children leave the classroom for summer break, many will trade desks for devices, spending more time staring at screens than engaging with the world around them. While increased screen time is a common reality during school vacation, child development researchers say young people also need real-world experiences that foster friendship, discovery and personal growth.
For nearly 90 years, Child Evangelism Fellowship® (CEF®) has provided opportunities through life-changing Gospel-centered programs that introduce children to the Lord Jesus Christ, help them grow in their faith and connect them with a local church. Through clubs, camps and community-based outreach ministries, CEF reaches boys and girls around the world with the hope of the Gospel.
According to Fred Pry, CEF Vice President of Administration, “Summer offers a unique opportunity to reach children when they have time to build relationships, explore new interests and create lasting memories.”
At the heart of CEF ministry is the Good News Club®, which helps children learn biblical truths amid year-round programs in their local communities. Through Scripture lessons, songs and games, young people encounter those truths in a familiar setting where relationships can grow, and faith is nurtured over time. CEF also invests in the next generation of leaders through Christian Youth in Action® (CYIA™), a ministry that trains and equips teenagers to effectively teach and share the Gospel with children.
During the summer, these trained teens help lead 5-Day Club®, a one-week outreach that both strengthens the biblical foundation of children who attended Good News Club® and introduces new children to the Gospel for the first time. Through engaging Bible lessons, Scripture memorization, songs, games and activities, children grow in their understanding of God’s Word while experiencing the love of Christ in a fun, high-energy, and welcoming environment.
Camp Good News® offers a more immersive experience, combining outdoor adventure, evangelism and discipleship in a camp setting. Removed from their everyday routines, campers spend time exploring God’s creation, building friendships and learning practical ways to follow Jesus Christ in their daily lives.
The spiritual impact of these ministries can be seen in communities across the country. At a recent 5-Day Club® hosted by CEF of North Dakota’s Northwest Chapter, workers recalled how children who were first shy and reserved quickly became enthusiastic participants. As the third day concluded, one young boy proudly ran to tell his mother that he had asked Jesus into his heart.
At CEF of Maine’s Camp Good News, every camper is paired with a volunteer prayer partner who commits to praying for them throughout their week at camp.
“One of the crucial elements of our camp ministry is our prayer partner program,” said John Romano, camp director of Camp Good News for CEF of Maine. “Every camper has a prayer partner who is committed to praying for them daily while they are attending camp. The prayer partner is not someone who is at camp, but someone who volunteers for that specific ministry. I believe God works in response to the prayers of His people, and I have no doubt that our camp ministry has borne fruit in the lives of campers due to this prayer ministry.”
The fruit of those prayers is reflected in the letters campers write at the end of their week. One nine-year-old boy who had never attended church and did not own a Bible wrote to his prayer partner, “Thank you for praying for me because God helped me to have an awesome, fun and safe time at camp. I also accepted Jesus into my heart on Tuesday! I feel so good now that I know I get to spend eternity with God, and that I get to share His Good News with others.”
Another camper wrote, “Thank you for praying for me because God helped me to understand His Word and why He died for us and forgave my sin.”
Pry remarked, “Stories like these remind us that the weeks away from the classroom are about more than simply filling time. They are an opportunity for children to build meaningful relationships, grow in their faith and experience the love of Christ in ways that can shape their lives for years to come.”
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 were impacted by 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.
