I f you know me, then you know I love to make crafts. It’s a huge hobby and takes up a good bit of my free time. Last year a friend from school convinced me that going to a craft sale would be a benefit. So, I packed it up and off we went. It was so much fun, we decided to make it a little hobby-business. When this year rolled around we began planning and registering for the craft shows: these were cancelled due to social distancing. I needed a new plan and decided to hold an online auction. I set my beginning prices and figured “If I sell a few things it will be worth it”. The problem is I didn’t place a lot of “value” on the items I made. I figured “who would want these things.” Boy, was I wrong. Others put a lot of value in what I was offering.
Sometimes as Christians, we don’t put a lot of value in who we are and what we can offer. God does that; He values who we are more than what we do. As we read in Genesis 1:27, our value begins with the fact that we are made by the hand of the Creator, in His very image. In Jeremiah we learn that God’s thoughts toward us are wonderful, and He has great plans for our life! “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11).
His love for us is relentless, immeasurable, and infinite. He considers us his children.
“But God, who is rich in mercy, be-cause of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ … that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus”
(Ephesians 2:4–7).
Your heavenly Father planned a magnificent, never-ending future for you. He values you so much that He sent His Son to be beaten, tortured, crucified and to die the most horrendous of deaths so that one day we could have a relation-ship with Him, never to be separated again. How valuable are we?
“But God demonstrates His own
love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
The Creator of life loves you so intensely that He allowed His own Son to die in your place before you ever repented of your sins.
Let’s remember how valuable we are and how valuable others are. Will you remember to pray for the summer team, for them to value those little lives and to bring the Message boldly, being mindful that this is not what they were expect-ing and is way out of comfort zones for the entire team.
My prayer is for them to remember, “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us” (2 Corinthians 5:20).
Remember friends, you belong to God, and as long as you cling to Him, no one can take that from
you. His Word overwhelmingly confirms that you are His cherished treasure!
Blessings
Jimmie Lu
What to do about Good News Day Camp?
It was a decision I wrestled with for several weeks: whether or not to cancel camp for the summer.
After much time spent in prayer and seeking wise counsel, the decision was made to cancel Good
News Day Camp for the summer of 2020. Our main concern and heart’s desire was to continue to
share the Gospel with the children in Schuylkill County. God is faithful and He desires for children to
come to a saving knowledge of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Lord has led us to prepare for 5-Day Club® LIVE! which is an online Bible club held through
ZOOM. We have a full summer of ministry planned. Beginning June 15-19 the summer missionaries
will participate in CYIA™ training held at a local church. CEF® workers throughout the state will record
their class session which will then be shown to the students in their individual chapters. June 22-
26 the missionaries will continue with training and evaluations, being evaluated in a live 5-Day Club®
setting (on ZOOM).
Beginning June 29 through July 31, the CYIA™ students will teach three clubs a day each week (one
club in the morning and two clubs in the afternoon). While this is not what we planned for or expected,
we are excited for what God has ordained for us.
Connie shared this quote from a Sudanese believer who shares the Gospel with Muslims in Darfur,
“When people are in their comfort zone, they are getting cold. I have overcome my desire to even stay
comfortable. It is time for me to invest in the freedom of Sudan.”
Pray for us as we are taken out of our comfort zones. It is good that God is moving us to new and unchartered
waters. Pray for us to be warmed by the Spirit’s fire.
For information about 5-Day Club® LIVE! go to our website, cefschuylkill.com
Shelley
The Community Aid:
The bin is open!
The Mailbox Club:
April
Lessons graded: 54
Certificates earned: 3
New students: 5
Salvation: 0
Meet the Summer Missionaries:
For the full version of our newsletter, click here.
My name is Jerusha (or just “J” to some) and this is my fourth summer serving with
CEF. During high school as I grew in my faith I realized how important it is to be involved
in ministry, whether in church or a local Christian organization. That is part of
the reason why I decided to serve again with CEF. To be honest the idea of virtual 5-
Day-Clubs makes me feel uncomfortable, but God reminded me that it’s HIS work to
begin with- not mine. I had a choice; plod through the summer wishing things were
how they used to be or accept it’s HIS work and join Him in it. I decided to join Him and I know that
I’ll have to continue to choose it daily. I have to remind my worrisome heart that He is present, all powerful
and never aloof to what’s going on.
My name is Bobby Oravitz, I am 19, and this is my second year as a summer missionary.
I have just completed my first year at Messiah College as well, and I am very excited
to continue pursuing my education there. This past year has been absolutely
amazing because of how God has been pouring into me. He has truly become the rock
of my stronghold and the foundation of my being. However, I am extremely excited
for the journey ahead with my Father, and I cannot wait to see the great things that He
will unveil. That definitely includes this summer because where there is uncertainty,
you can count on God doing something amazing.
Hi, My name is Thor DeBruyn and I am returning to CEF for my second year as a summer missionary.
I am 17 years old and will be a senior this fall. I live in Pine Grove and I attend Suedberg
Church of God. This summer has been quite a daunting thing to think about and honestly, for a time I
was rather unsure of whether it would be worth it if we cannot do camps as planned.
After all, “The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is
hasty comes only to poverty.” (Proverbs 21:5).
But God has shown me that this obstacle is an opportunity. That is why I want to be a
summer missionary this season. I know that God is in control and though our plans for
the summer are out the window, I know that He will prevail.
“The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.”
My name is Ellie McCarthy. I am 18 years old and a senior in high school. Throughout
the school year I serve in CEF’s Good News Club in Pottsville. Serving in club this year
was a refreshing reminder to me of the childlike faith and curiosity of kids. But it was
also sad to see how little some kids know about God and the Bible. Somebody needs to
tell them! I am excited to be coming back for my second summer serving with CEF. Last
year I spent most of the summer directing crafts at day camp and teaching clubs. God
grew me a lot in the area of stepping outside of my comfort zone. Teaching through
Zoom this summer is honestly not what I expected. But God has been reminding me that it is His, and
not my power that works in the kids lives no matter what our ministry looks like. I’m looking forward
to seeing what God will do through our team this summer.
My name is Anna Oravitz. I am returning as a summer missionary for my second year. I’m going
into tenth grade at North Schuylkill, and I’m 15 years old. Last year I was a summer missionary
because I wanted to teach kids about Jesus, and that is why I’m returning. I’m excited for this
summer and what God has planned for me and CEF!
I am Katie Burian and I am returning again this summer to work in the office and help with
the new adventure of 5 Day Club Live!. I am the wife of Ray and mother of four as well as a
full time teacher. I am excited to see the Lord using this ministry for His glory this summer.
An added joy is to also have my son on the team.
My name is Alexander (Xander) Burian and I will going into 10th grade at Tri-Valley Jr/Sr High
School. I am the son of Ray and Katie Burian and have three younger siblings. At Tri-Valley I
play soccer, basketball, shoot Archery, and am in band, drama club and chorus. I attend church at
Calvary Chapel. This is my first year as a Summer Missionary, but I have helped at camps in the
past. I decided to become a Summer Missionary because it is something my family has done, and
I think it is very important to tell others about Jesus and what he did for them.
Hi, my name is Timmy Berg and I am being a summer missionary this summer because I believe
I am being called to serve the Lord. I also really enjoy teaching and mentoring kids.
My name is Vladimir DeBruyn, and l will be sixteen years old in June. I was born into a Christian home
where I was taught about God’s love and mercy for me. I accepted Christ at a very young age
and was baptized when I was about eight years old. I attend Suedburg Church of God, where I
help lead worship on Sundays along with my brother Thor, and I’m also part of our Bible
quizzing team. I am young in years but what I have learned and experienced throughout my
life I want to share. At times I may feel inadequate but I am encouraged by 1 Timothy 4:12,
“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers
in speech, in conduct, in faith and in purity.” I joined CEF not just because I saw the growth in my
brother’s faith and relationship with God, but because I feel the Lord has called me to use all that I have
learned to grow His kingdom.