![](https://cdn.christianpost.com/images/cache/image/15/02/150232_w_760_500.png)
When it comes to missions, Children’s Evangelism Fellowship believes that one of the most important – and neglected – groups is children.
“One of the most beautiful passages in the Bible that reflects the heart of God is about children,” Moises Esteves, executive vice president of CEF, told The Christian Post.
“Psalms 78 says that we will tell the next generation of the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power and the wonders he has done. The government will not do it. God wants believers to pass on to children, to the next generation, the knowledge of God. It’s our responsibility. Someone once communicated with us, and now it is our responsibility to communicate with the next generation.
CEF, an international nonprofit ministry, has been steadfast in its mission since 1937: to ensure that every child receives the Gospel, is spiritually nourished and integrated into a local church.
Operating in all 50 U.S. states and most countries around the world, CEF’s new goal is to preach the Gospel to 100 million children each year around the world in the near future.
To achieve this goal, the CEF has implemented several in-person visits ministries, including the Good News Club. Described by Esteves as “an hour to an hour and 15 minutes, a very powerful kind of Sunday school,” these clubs combine entertainment with gospel-centered teaching.
“It’s a lot of fun, but it takes a lot of learning, and we share the gospel so that unsaved children can have the opportunity to receive Christ as their Savior,” he said.
And in 2022 alone, the CEF has trained nearly half a million teachers around the world. Esteves stressed the importance of ensuring that teachings are “biblically consistent while also being culturally sensitive.” The methodology, he explained, involves producing literature based on strong biblical principles, which is then translated taking into account cultural nuances.
“If the child wants to receive Christ, what do you do? They need to be trained in how to counsel the child for salvation, and then there’s a whole set of skills that need to be trained and understood when you’re ministering to children,” he said.
“The structure is in place, the boots are on the ground to grow this ministry exponentially. And we have strict strategies, like kids reaching kids, which involves teaching older, more mature kids to evangelize to their peers. It’s a great training course that we will accelerate in the years to come.
Esteves, a father and grandfather of two, personally understands the power of reaching children with the Gospel.
Born in Portugal, he first encountered the gospel at a Christian camp at age 9, and unbeknownst to him, the missionary sharing the gospel used CEF literature.
His life took another turn when he moved to the United States after marrying a woman from Vermont. In 1993, the couple found their calling with CEF in Vermont, eventually leading Esteves to the headquarters in Missouri.
“I had the opportunity to share Christ with my own children growing up, and my two grandchildren, ages 8 and 6, both have autism. This morning I prayed for their salvation, but one of them is non-verbal, so it’s going to take a little longer to be able to share Christ with them so they can understand Him. It is extremely important to take care of children. There is an opening in the hearts of children that we must take advantage of,” he said.
Drawn from a study by George BarnaEsteves highlighted the critical window between ages 5 and 12 when children are most receptive to the gospel.
“All evangelization is the evangelization of children,” he added.
However, challenges arise. Esteves identified finances as a significant obstacle as well as the involvement of Christians in the organization.
“If we had the money, we could hire 1,000 more people,” he said. “We are a volunteer organization. So we have many, many trained volunteers around the world who could become employed if we had the funding. …We need more believers to take on this burden, this vision that it is our responsibility to pass on the knowledge of God to the next generation.
Esteves said the success stories he hears make challenges worth taking on, like the one involving twin sisters who not only embraced Christ through the Good News Club but were also instrumental in leading of their parents towards salvation.
He also highlighted the impact of their ministry around the world, particularly in Europe, where large-scale operations are undertaken in countries such as Ukraine and Russia.
“The reports we are receiving from Ukraine about the ministry taking place there are mind-boggling, what God is doing in the midst of this very sad situation is incredible,” he said.
Yet there are areas like North Korea where direct missionary work is impossible due to political constraints, Esteves said. External challenges, whether natural disasters or political upheaval, do not deter the spread of the Gospel, he insisted. In fact, in times of suffering, many seek solace in faith, as evidenced by packed churches in Ukraine amid the conflict.
“There are political challenges, there are sometimes situations of fires, hurricanes and earthquakes. There are challenges or difficulties, but none of these challenges have stopped the Gospel and, in fact, as this world suffers, people need the Gospel even more.
And looking ahead, Esteves said he is “excited” about the future and the opportunity to bring the Gospel to millions of children through CEF – and he hopes to mobilize the wider Christian community for her to join us.
“Children need the hope of the Gospel, they need the hope that God can give in their lives,” he said. “There is a great need for the Gospel. The doors are open and we just need more believers to join. Let us reach children for Christ while they are young, while their hearts are open, for as they grow, the knapsack of sin begins to be heavy and hearts begin to harden.
Leah M. Klett is a journalist at The Christian Post. She can be reached at: leah.klett@christianpost.com
Free Religious Freedom Updates
Join thousands of others to get the FREEDOM POST free newsletter, sent twice a week from The Christian Post.