The word Cherish means to protect and care for lovingly, hold dear, and keep in one’s mind. Do we truly cherish God’s word? I found myself pondering this question and examining myself about cherishing God’s word in recent weeks because of one little boy I counseled at Good News Club. My heart was deeply touched as tears streamed down his little face at the very thought of a God who loves him so much. When he said he did not have a Bible of his own I went to work at getting him one. The next week when I brought his Bible and placed it in his hands, he kept repeating as he caressed it lovingly, “My very own Bible, its mine?” He showed real meaning to what it is to cherish the word of God.
The next week, two of his cousins came for counseling. These girls had asked the week before how they might get a Bible of their own. In talking further they told me that the 2 of them and their cousin had been reading his Bible all week and sharing it, but that they wanted a Bible of their own. In giving the Bibles to them it was a very similar scene of cherishing God’s word. They held it and hugged it and again my heart was touched.
The story does not end here, it goes on even further. These 3 children are growing weekly now. They have invited 4 more cousins to join us at club. Again it is a tale of 3 Bibles being shared with 7 children. This is something you would expect in a country where Bibles are not available at every Wal-Mart, yet it is happening here in our county.
I want to challenge you to begin to fall in love with God’s word again. When is the last time you picked up your Bible just to hold it? to caress it? to cherish it? Psalm 119:11 says, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Protect God’s word by hiding it in your heart, hold it dear to you and keep those words on your mind, that we may cherish His word and not sin against him.
Jimmie Lu
Recent Gifts:
Gifts were given to Child Evangelism Fellowship of Schuylkill County between October 24 to November 21, 2018 to the Glory of God.
In Memory of:
David Guzick by: Grandmother Betzy
Gwen Houser by: Tim and Marie Houser
Bill Houtz by: Mrs. LaVerne Houtz
Our parents, Delbert and Helen Kistler by: Mr. and Mrs. Richard Kupres
Ralph and Charlotte Kutz by: Charles and Flo Walton
Maribeth M. Lantz by: Audrey and Charles Lantz
Les Mengel by: Joan Mengel
Irene Minnich by: Friends at Manbeck’s E. C. Church Roy and Cathy Nagle
My mom, Dorothy Sterner by: James and Brenda Ebling
In Honor of:
Theo Thomas by: Carol Merbah
Words of Encouragement:
Below are a few words of encouragement we have received in the office, you, our prayer warriors share in these blessings…
“Dear Sir,
Please accept this donation in memory , , our precious daughter, who was saved at Good News summer Day Camp many years ago. PTL!”
A response to a Good News Club® testimony posted on facebook…
“Thank you for reminding me how God brought Jesus into my life….. My Good News club leader, Mrs. Schwenk……way way back there!!!!! “
From the Director:
Change. It was the word I focused on last month. Change. CEF of Schuylkill County is facing more change. Pastor Gerald (Bo) Frey who has served on the local CEF committee for 18 years and most of that time as our committee chairman, has resigned
his position. He, his wife Julie, and children Amber, Cadan, Damien and Trinity have accepted a pastoral position in the Lancaster County area. Pastor Bo served with integrity, always with a burden for the children. He has a great faith in Jesus Christ and led the committee to always seek God’s will as decisions were made for the county. We will miss him.
Change. It also brings new people and friends to the ministry. As we will be turning the calendar to 2019 we are looking forward to adding new members to the committee. We are very thankful for the many men and women over the years who have led the ministry of CEF of Schuylkill County with love, grace, and always putting the needs of the children first. We ask that you would pray for the committee as they move through the
Changes that lie ahead.
For the children,
Shelley Hikes
The Mailbox Club:
October
Lessons graded: 55
Certificates earned: 2
New students: 5
“Yes. I love them. I wish we could do them in the winter.”
Kay was excited to inform the child that the lessons were for all seasons!
From the Committee:
Each fall we, the local CEF committee, discuss options for a yearly Christmas project. Over the years we have focused on office equipment, overseas missionaries, we even raised support for CEF workers who were victims of Hurricane Katrina. This year we are focusing on our own local missionaries, Shelley, Connie, Linda and Jimmie Lu, asking for donations to be made to the general fund to help cover the shortfall within the budget. We recognize and are very thankful that all our bills are paid. For the past three years we have withheld a pay increase for all office staff, due to the budget not being met at year end. This year we are stepping out in faith and have offered a 2.5% pay increase. The ladies in the office work without complaint and with great joy at serving the Lord and having the privilege of sharing the Gospel with the children in the county.
Thank you for supporting the local mission field of Schuylkill County through your faithful prayers and financial gifts.
Have a Merry Christmas,
The Committee
To view the full December 2018 newsletter, click here.