CHILD EVANGELISM FELLOWSHIP® OF IRELAND

NewsletterWinter

Since 1937info@cefireland.com www.cefireland.com

IN THIS ISSUE:

Greetings from Kilchzimmer

Introducing Paige Atkinson

10:10 Youth Mission

Looking Back at the Summer

All Aboard Children’s Mission

Family News

Diary Dates

The airports are busy, the car ferries are booked out, and people are travelling in all directions to various destinations. Around 2000 years ago it was a

busy time for one family as they made their way to Bethlehem for a census. But that wasn’t all they were thinking of, they had something much more exciting on their minds, their fi rst child, Mary’s baby was due to be born very soon. We know the story so well but somehow down through the passing years the truth of that fi rst Christmas has become immersed in shopping, rush, hurry and general merriment. The “Reason for the Season” has been overshadowed by all of the above.We as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, need to be careful we don’t get sucked into the vortex of commercialism, it happens so easily.

It is good for us to spend time looking back and thanking God for sending His Son to be the Saviour of the world. Having that faith in Jesus enables us to look forward with confi dence to all that lies before us, whether that is joy or sadness, trial or ease, acceptance or rejection. We know we can face everything with confi dence when we are in a correct relationship with Jesus.

What concerns us more are the thousands of children in Ireland who cannot look forward in confi dence to the future because they don’t know Jesus. Sadly there are many children who know more about X Boxes, Play Stations and Coca–Cola than they do about Jesus Christ.

As we look forward into 2012 we want to address that, and enable the children of Ireland to hear, learn about and come to know Jesus Christ. We need your help to accomplish this task. We desire to see the decline in our core ministry of Good News Clubs® halted and to see the numbers increase; we need you to bring that about. Time is precious to us all, but so are the souls of the children. Have you ever thought about a Saturday morning club in your home or holding a Christmas Club for the local children?

So this Christmas as we “Look Back” on all God has done, let us also set our hearts and minds to “Look Forward” and be determined to do all within our means to ensure children think about the Lord Jesus Christ more than all the gifts there will be over Christmas. As one of our colleagues recently said, “Don’t look back and down, instead look forward and up”.

May each of you have a great Christ-centred Christmas and a blessed 2012.

CEF® of Ireland199 Templemore AvenueBelfast BT5 4FRTel: 028 9073 2263Fax: 028 9073 2330

1 Tamarisk WayKilnamanaghDublin 24Tel: 01 452 0374

National Directors:Mr & Mrs Philip Annett135 CarnreaghPortadown BT64 3AL

Chairman:Mr Philip Beattie43 Tullyrain RoadGilford BT63 6DY

Hon. Treasurer:Miss Jean Porte7 Milebush CottagesCarrickfergus BT38 7QH

&Looking backLooking forward

David & Rosemary EdwardsAssistant National Directors

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The hills are alive with the sound of cowbells and

students. It could only be one place, Kilchzimmer. On 23rd September, I grabbed a suitcase, hopped on a plane and headed to the picturesque country of Switzerland. Situated 915 metres above sea-level, Kilchzimmer is the CEF European headquarters. Twice a year a training programme is provided called ‘Children’s Ministry Leadership Course’ (CMLC). This is to prepare and equip people with the tools to evangelise, edify and establish unreached children who have never heard the life changing Gospel message.

During my time I have thoroughly enjoyed the different classes and assignments. We have covered subjects such as learning Bible doctrines, how to teach a Bible lesson and interpreting and teaching scripture. However, it has not always been easy. Not only do we have to

complete assignments, arise bright and breezy when the bell rings at 6:30am, remember to speak slowly and clearly for the German students (I am not in ‘Norn Iron’), learn some German, but also, how could I forget, do my own washing!

From the very start of the course God has been teaching me many things from His word and through the different teachers. I have been

reminded that we serve a faithful God who is mighty to save. It is precious to spend time with people from many different countries, listening to how God is at work in Europe. I have been blessed to spend time here while God reveals more of His plans for me.

With 2.7 billion children in the world to be reached, the work is plentiful but the workers are still few. I pray that God will raise more people to take this course, to be empowered to reach the children on our own doorsteps.

Ephesians 3:20, “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.”

I was born into a Christian family in Eastern Canada, and trusted Christ

as my Saviour at the age of six.

After graduating high school, I decided to do one year at New Brunswick Bible Institute. That one year turned into three and I graduated with a diploma in the three-year course in 2008.

That fall I decided to take an Offi ce Administration course at the local college, which then led to receiving a job at Moncton Flight College. I worked there for a year and a half, but was unsure of what the next step was. The idea of doing my fourth year with NBBI kept returning to my mind. Fourth year consists of schoolwork via correspondence and an internship with a church or a

mission. While still considering the idea, MFC was bought by another company and many were laid off, including myself. This felt like a clear sign from God for me to take the next step and do my fourth year. I contacted my professor at NBBI and asked him if he knew of a missionary organisation I could work with. After much searching and prayer, he got in touch with the National Director here at CEF Ireland and was told of a position available.

It was God’s perfect timing that brought me to this place at this time. I will be here until April when I will return home for graduation. I am thankful for the opportunity, and hope to be of great help in the National Offi ce this year.

Greetings fromKilchzimmer

forget, do my own washing! With 2.7 billion children in

by Steven Condy, Candidate with CEF® Ireland

Paige AtkinsonIntroducing

Temporary Admin Assistant, National Offi ce

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The world is full of distractions for teenagers, we just

need to watch TV to realise how much society can infl uence and ruin young lives. Young people need Jesus, they need to hear the amazing news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

10:10 is a mission run by Youth Challenge™ alongside a local church. It is a great way of bringing both churched and unchurched young people into the church. The format can vary but we like to have a relaxed atmosphere, a coffee shop style set up, a worship band, areas for chilling out and games and having leaders sit and chat with the young people.

This year we had the opportunity to work with Ballynahinch

Congregational Church. After many months of planning, the week of 10:10 fi nally came at the end of September. Flyers were given out, posters were put up, many young people were invited to come and as a result we had on average 40 young people from Wednesday to Sunday night, many of whom had never been to the church before.

The programme every night consisted of games in different rooms before the worship band played a song or two. Each night there were testimonies from church young people and other visitors. Then one of the team gave a short talk on the theme of living life to the full.It was a really encouraging week with many of the new young people saying they wanted to

come to some church activities

regularly. There were great questions asked by the young people and brilliant conversations were had.

We look back on this week and see the hard work put in by so many volunteers at the church. Their passion and drive was a real encouragement to us. We see how God really challenged some of these young people and how it gave the church a renewed passion to reach teenagers in their town.

We look forward expectantly, hoping that there will be more 10:10’s in churches around the country and that more young people will hear the Gospel and be changed.

10:1010:1010:10

I want to praise God for His faithfulness over the summer

months in all the clubs. In one area, four muslim families lived right next to where the club was held. From one family, three children trusted the Lord and they so enjoyed the club. A little boy in Ballymun said how last year he was taught that he must be born again and asked would if I teach him that lesson

again. It is always amazing to see God’s faithfulness to His Word in working in the hearts of children. This

same little boy told me that he was now a friend of Jesus because the night before he had asked Jesus to forgive his sins. He has now started to come to Good News Club. My longing is to see more of these children brought into the GNCs but this is diffi cult without more help and venues.

I was asked to come and run a HBC in a Church outside Balbriggan. Over forty children attended

this club, some from muslim homes. They asked questions in relation to their families and how were they to hear about the Lord Jesus and would they themselves be able to

trust Jesus.

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

Looking Backat the summer

youth Mission

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

by Attracta Hanna, Dublin

by Chris McCune, MultiMedia

cont. on back pagelonging is to see more of these children brought

is diffi cult without more

trust Jesus. trust Jesus. cont. on back page

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Diary Dates

www.cefireland.com

cont...

During this week fourteen children trusted the Lord! They were very hungry for the Word.Others also came to be counselled for salvation but decided “Not now, another day.”

I was invited at the end of the summer to return and run a one day

club. It again was a blessed club and we counselled a further fi ve children for salvation. Also two other girls, one from a muslin background, told me that they had trusted the Lord since the last HBC. God’s Word is powerful and will accomplish His purpose in the salvation of boys and girls. God has been faithful to those of you who have faithfully prayed for this ministry.

While it is exciting to see the hand of God working, my heart remains burdened for those children in areas where no clubs took place. Maybe they will hear the Gospel next summer. “The fi elds are white unto harvest but the labourers are few”. Pray the Lord of the harvest to send more labourers to the needy children in Dublin.

“where there is no vision, the people perish”

A number of people within Lurgan

Baptist church had a vision to reach the children of Lurgan, and so in September past a group from the church, and some volunteers with CEF Youth

Challenge embarked on a week of outreach.

During the day a team working with the Amazing Journey went to schools around Lurgan, reaching 1250 children with a 1.5hr Bible presentation, and every child receiving a Gospel of John. In the presentation the children had the opportunity to meet Bible characters, dress as in Bible times, taste Bible foods, but most importantly discover the message of the Bible.

During the evenings a special children’s mission themed as “All Aboard” took place. A programme around the nautical theme, with our very own boat, captain, songs, and even some pirates, took place in a large marquee erected so that it would be accessible to all of the community. Whilst this was going on a team from the church met in the church halls nearby and prayed for the children.

3000 invites went out around the homes and it was great to see over 200 different children come in throughout the week, along with a number of parents.A special fun day and BBQ brought the week to a conclusion along with invites to join the various GNCs in the area.

Many heard the Gospel that week, and over 60 requests for Bibles were made. Some children trusted the Lord, the many who helped were blessed, and God was glorifi ed.A fantastic week, now the challenge is...what next?

“where there is no vision, the people perish”

A Baptist church had a vision to reach the children of Lurgan, and so in September past a group from the church,

mission themed as “All Aboard”

Children’s Mission“All Aboard”

by Colin Hylands, Youth Challenge

Family News

The National Offi ce and Shop will be closed from 2pm on Wednesday 21 December and from 5pm Thursday 23 December until 9.30am Tuesday 3 January

The shop will also be closed for stock taking on Wednesday 4 January.

CEF Easter Conference : 6 - 10 April 2012 DV.

Congratulations to David & Kathy Coffey on the birth of their son Micah; to Marcus & Jayne Somerville on the birth of their daughter Georgia; to Jonathan & June Graham on the birth of their daughter Naomi.

Best wishes to David and Margaret Adamson’s son Andrew on his recent engagement to Rebecca Edge and also to Claire Lamberton on her engagement to Eugene Peters.

Please pray for David Adamson as he commences treatment for prostate cancer on 7th December.Keep praying for Julie Fenton, that her health will improve.

Continue to pray for the Calvert family, especially for Robin’s health. Leah has recently stepped down from her position at Seaview. We thank God for her faithful service.

We wish God’s blessing to Rona Taylor on her retirement from full time CEF work. We praise God for her faithful service in NW Ulster.

AppointmentsPaddy & Jill Crozier - Mid Ulster (Local Directors)Mark & Cathy Donnelly - Mid Antrim (Local Directors)Colin & Victoria Hylands - Youth Challenge Team LeadersHeather Meenagh - Youth Challenge TeamKim Bell - Seaview staff memberFiona Harrington - Candidate (Cork area)

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