October 26, 2026
CEF® honors and serves military families this Veterans Day as ministry reaches 36 bases worldwide
CEF® Military Children’s MinistrySM brings good news to children facing the unique challenges of military life
ST. LOUIS — Approximately 1.6 million children and youth had parents serving in the active-duty military, National Guard, and Reserve forces in 2025. These young people can face challenges unique to military life, including long separations from parents, greater responsibilities at home, and disruptions to established friendships and community ties. A 2026 survey by the National Military Family Association further highlights the need for support among military-connected teens: Only 9% of respondents reported high mental well-being, while 22% reported low well-being and 70% reported moderate well-being.
As Americans prepare to honor veterans on Nov. 11, Child Evangelism Fellowship® (CEF®) is drawing attention to the children whose lives are impacted by their parents’ service. Through CEF Military Children’s Ministry℠ (MCM℠), the organization is helping young people find and build a strong foundation in God’s Word amid the unique demands of military life.
“Military children are often asked to adjust to changes they have little control over,” said Andy Bunn, director of CEF Military Children’s Ministry. “We want them to know that even when their circumstances change, God’s love remains constant. By helping them understand His Word and grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ, we want to provide them with a lasting source of strength, hope, and confidence for whatever challenges lie ahead.”
Through partnerships with military chaplains, MCM helps establish CEF programs such as Good News Club®, Bible-based gatherings held in homes, schools, and other facilities within military communities. Filled with engaging lessons, fun songs, and interactive activities, the program shares the Gospel, biblical truth, and values while giving them opportunities to make friends and connect with trusted adults. For children adjusting to a new assignment or unfamiliar surroundings, those connections help a new community begin to feel like home.
CEF Military Children’s Ministry currently serves young people within all six branches of the U.S. armed forces, with ministries operating on 36 military bases in the United States and at Aviano Air Force Base in Italy. Plans are underway to begin programs at four additional bases by January 2027.
Recent ministry launches include a Good News Club at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia, established by the CEF of Northern Virginia office in September, and new outreach at Naval Air Station Whiting Field in Florida through the CEF Emerald Coast office. Teams are also preparing to establish ministry at Naval Station Mayport in Florida, while outreach is expanding to Fort Knox, Kentucky.
In addition, Christmas Party Club® programs — seasonal gatherings that share the Gospel through the biblical Christmas story — are planned for Naval Support Activity South Potomac in Dahlgren, Virginia, and Indian Head, Maryland, as well as Buckley Space Force Base in Colorado.
As these efforts grow, MCM invites believers to pray for these children, the teams ministering today, and those preparing to serve in the future.
“As we honor those who have served our nation, we also remember the children and families who share in the sacrifices of military service,” Bunn said. “Our heart is to help these children know Jesus Christ, grow in their understanding of God’s word, and find a sense of belonging wherever they are stationed. As God opens doors at more installations, we want to ensure that more families have the opportunity to experience the hope found in Jesus Christ.”
Child Evangelism Fellowship® (CEF®), founded in 1937, has been establishing Good News Club® ministries 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 serving 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.
