Our Culture

The Importance of Godly Leadership at Every Level

Spiritual leadership is the highest form of authority. The men and women who lead must have a personal heart for God in order to be able to discern the will of God and lead the ministry effectively. Regardless of the skill of a leader, if he or she lacks a heart for God, the work will be eroded at its very foundation.

The spiritual welfare of our workers

It is vital that we are never satisfied to simply teach our staff the methods of how to reach children and how to
train others to do so, but we must purposefully invest in the spiritual lives of our staff. When CEF staffs are men and women who are primarily driven by a passion for God and His glory and have a clear call from the Lord, the work will prosper. If we keep our focus on God and on His calling, then we will be sustained in times of challenge.

the importance of prayer as our foundation

It is not the work we do, the meetings we hold or the decisions we make that bring the greatest advances in
the work; it is the time spent before the throne of God in prayer, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that brings power, laborers, and resources into the ministry.

the importance of evangelizing children

There is no limit to the number of organizations that do many good things that are important to boys and girls
in need. We are thankful for them and believe that God uses them to help hurting children. CEF, however, has
been called by God to make it our highest priority to present the Gospel so children may be saved and discipled in God’s Word. We must stay on point.

biblical presentation of the gospel

The fact that a young child can comprehend the simple message of salvation and become a child of God is
the foundational principle of CEF. Everything else that we do is based upon this fact. The good news of Jesus Christ is the power of God unto salvation. We must present it clearly and accurately.

the importance of a commitment to excellence, for the glory of god

Every aspect of the work, no matter how big or small, has significance. This includes the training we conduct,
the materials we produce, the facilities we use, and the way we present ourselves. In every area, we must strive for excellence to the glory of God!

Our History

Child Evangelism Fellowship, also known as CEF, is a Bible-centered, worldwide organization composed of born-again believers whose purpose is to evangelize boys and girls with the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and to establish (disciple) them in the local church for Christian living. CEF has over 2,900 missionaries overseas, approximately 2,200 of whom are nationals. In the USA and Canada, 700 full-time workers and an estimated 40,000 volunteers serve the ministry. CEF was founded by Jesse Irvin Overholtzer in 1937. Growing up in a religious family, Jesse at the age of 12 was convicted of his own sin and sought counsel from his mother. He was told, “Son, you are too young.” It wasn’t until Overholtzer was in college that he heard the Gospel and trusted Christ as his Savior.

Later as a pastor, Mr. Overholtzer read one of Charles Spurgeon’s sermons which stated, “A child of five, if properly instructed can as truly believe and be regenerated as an adult.” The Lord used this statement in Mr. O’s life to lead him to begin the ministry of Child Evangelism Fellowship when he was 60 years old. The ministry has grown into the largest evangelistic outreach to children in the world. CEF is currently ministering in countries around the world and in every state in the U.S.

join our mission

Contact us today to learn more about how you can join our team in sharing The Gospel of Christ with the children of the Antelope Valley.

Our culture