Campaign for Kids
Over 150 children have been sponsored since Thanksgiving! Your generosity has made that happen! 150 more, however are still in need! Remember just $8.33 a month, less than a trip to McDonald's or two to Starbucks trips can ensure that a child will be able to hear the "Good News". Make it happen - change a child's life!
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Kiwanis & CEF Partner Up
Saturday, December 4 and 11 found many of our dedicated Good News Club leaders giving of themselves once again. This time to help the Santa Barbara area Salvation Army raise much needed money to help the less fortunate in our community. Pictured is Marina King and her son, Justin who serve and attend the Vieja Valley GNC. With them is Si Ishimaru, husband of Area Director, Colleen and Rich Rojas, a Santa Barbara Kiwanis member. There is a special partnership being formed between these two clubs and everyone is benefitting. Kiwanis has taken on our Campaign For Kids project. They are raising funds for GNC across Santa Barbara county. CEF in turn was out to help Kiwanis do some Bell Ringing for the Salvation army. We hope and pray this partnership grows! Just goes to show, that together we can do much more to bless our community. |
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Greetings!
God did some amazing things for CEF Santa Barbara in December! He brought us over 35 new children to Good News Club AND He provided abundantly with our financial needs! It was an incredible month! Read below about the details and thanks for all your prayers!
In His love and mine,
Colleen
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Good News Clubs Seeing Unprecedented Growth!
37 New Children Enrolled since Thanksgiving and 7 professions of faith!
Between Thanksgiving and winter break, almost 40 new children enrolled in the ten Good News Clubs on south coast. That is the largest increase ever in that period of time with the exception of the beginning of the new club year. Canalino (in Carpinteria) and El Camino (in Goleta) School GNCs had the most with 6 new children. These clubs were closely followed by Brandon, Hollister and Vieja Valley GNCs. December is always a special time of the year for obvious reasons - celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ - but with this tremendous growth in enrollment, it made Christmas parties even more exciting for everyone.
The lesson for this year was titled "The Light of Life", a fun, almost interactive visual that features many of the principle people in the Christmas story, but the "light" remains Jesus Christ. Because it's a party and a special celebration, kids had more fun than usual with games, goodies and treats.
Pictured above (select a picture you have from the files - one that shows kids in action and then I'll write a description.)
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God Brings the Increase
Perspective from a GNC Leader
Julie Churchman has been a faithful and wonderful volunteer for CEF. She is the Leader of the Adams GNC. We are so thankful for people like her who partner with us in this effort. She is on the front lines, but as a result is able to see just how God is working to bring kids to Jesus.
First week...3 leaders, no students. Second week... 3 leaders, 2 students. Third week...3 leaders , 3 students. Nine months later...3 leaders, 20 students. How did we do it? We did nothing...God does it.
Our GNC at Adams has grown so much this year. It is amazing what God has planned for us. We are made up of 1st, 2nd. 3rd. 4th, 5th, and 6th graders. We are evenly split between boys and girls. All of them are very excited to learn about God and have learned so much already by studying Moses' life. We meet on Fridays which I thought would be a difficult day to get kids committed to, but a week does not go by that several of them do not come up to me to confirm that GNC is "happening" on Friday.
This past week it has been exciting to have several students ask me to give them another copy of the Bible verse because they had lost theirs. This means that they are thinking about God at school. What more can we ask for?
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More Kids Means We Need More Leaders
God blessed us in amazing ways this December! More than 30 new children enrolled in Good News Clubs between Thanksgiving and Christmas - in just a three week period of time! Two clubs - El Camino in Goleta and Harding in Santa Barbara - finally got off the ground, with significant increases each week.
With this tremendous growth however, has come a greater need for leaders. Four clubs in particular are in need of leaders to keep going and growing:
El Camino which meets on Wednesdays
Brandon which meets on Thursdays
Ellwood - meets on Fridays
Expansion club for Foothill-which will meet on Mondays when it gets started.
To be a leader or helper all you need is a heart for the Gospel, love for kids, and a willingness to be used by God. We will provide you with the training and equip you with the resources to bless these kids. If you or someone you know is willing to help serve, even only once or twice a month,please contact us at: www.CEFSantaBarbara.org or at 805.845.3188.
And pray that God would provide the workers for the harvest - children, the greatest mission field!
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A Special Thank You to Our Volunteers!
CEF is a special organization. It must be to have the volunteers that we do. Each week talented, caring, bright individuals give up their time to lead, teach, play and pray with the kids who come to the clubs. We are only as good as our volunteers and CEF is extremely grateful to have such devoted and wonderful ones. To show our appreciation the board hosted the volunteers for a delightful night of food, sharing stories, and even some "gifts". It was a very special time of fellowship and honoring Godfor what He has done with the clubs, both in the hearts of the kids and the leaders.
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Bill & Sandee Beckers
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It was a chance for theboard to hear what it is like on the front lines and be encouraged. As Steve Richardson, our new Chairman put it, "After attending the Rescue Mission Christmas Party and hearing stories of how people had been saved out of a life of abuse; I couldn't help but think they could have been spared all that heartache if they had only had a Good News Club at their school."
Special thanks to Bill and Sandee Beckers who hosted our 7th annual gathering at their clubhouse and to Melissa Wayne of Honeybee Desserts who donated a cake for the gathering that was almost too beautiful to eat!
Good News Club leaders got new game equipment that night that will make club time even more special for the kids in the new year. |
2011 is full of promise for the kids of the south coast. God has given us 10 Good News Clubs and over 30 volunteers with which to reach them. Your prayers help to further that reach and your financial support is the final piece to ensure that children will know the love of God and the salvation promise when accepting Jesus Christ into their life.
Our mission is not just harvesting new believers. It's planting seeds, watering the sprouts and tending gently to the new growth. Together, you and CEF Santa Barbara, we are raising up a field of new saints for Him.
In His love,
Colleen Ishimaru
Area Director
CEF Santa Barbara
CEF Santa Barbara is a 501(c)3 non profit organization. All contributions are fully tax deductible as allowed by state and federal law. You can donate with any major credit card on-line at www.CEFSantaBarbara.org You can also donate shares of stock. For more information contact CEF at 805-845-3188.
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