Below you will find the latest updates from Chicago CEF team members.
To follow all the updates of individual Chicago CEF missionaries, click through the links on the right-hand side.
Jul
27
2010
27
2010
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The five of us sat in a circle on the cold tiled floor between the men’s and women’s restroom doors, trying to ignore the hordes of kids, adults, and janitors stampeding around us. I looked at the girl and three boys, all of them Korean, who had just left their scheduled activities to ask me questions about salvation. They all wore the same neon green shirts; they all chattered self-confidently; they all appeared content to talk with each other and not listen to me–all except David. As the others talked about their salvation experiences, David asked, “What’s sin?” I dealt with the other kids’ questions first, explaining how they can be assured that they’re saved, and then I turned to David. As kids yelled and ran in circles around us, David kept his eyes on me the entire time. Over the hubbub, I was barely able to hear the words David prayed after he decided that he wanted to ask Jesus to save him: “Jesus, please cleanse my heart from all my sin.” I hadn’t even used the imagery of Christ CLEANING our hearts, but David must have heard it before and understood this was what he was asking Jesus to do. I am still so amazed that he understood so clearly and put it into his own words so accurately–amidst so much mayhem!
“Have you ever done this before?” I asked.
“No.”
“Do you think your parents could help you start reading the Bible?”
“I don’t know.”
I’ll never see David again. I don’t know if his parents are Christians–although I think he’s planning to tell them all about his new friendship with Jesus. I don’t know if he has any Christian influences in his life. But I helped him figure out how he could get his hands on a Bible and how to find the book of Mark so he can get to know Jesus by reading a little bit every day, and I’m so excited to see David again in heaven and hear how God used him!
Thank you so much for your prayer and financial support this summer! I can tell that you’ve been praying, as the above story shows. This is just a snippet of the ministry chances I’ve had this summer as I scamper madly from Bible club to Bible club. Sometimes I’m teaching kids who grew up with the gospel but need help making salvation personal or growing into a friendship with God; sometimes I can tell I’m charting new territory with kids who have never heard about God before.
Please pray:
1. that God will keep introducing Himself to kids this summer, and that He will create a growing relationship with each child my coworkers and I teach.
2. that God will give me wisdom and energy as I teach the youth group and clean houses–which are my part time jobs that I do alongside teaching Bible clubs once or twice a day this summer!
Jul
17
2010
17
2010
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What’s on the horizon?
5-Day Club at Crossroads Church has ended. We had 5 fantastic days of giving the gospel message to children in the community. I look forward to next year as other young children have an interest in joining the team of SMA students and sharing God’s wonderful message with the world as a result of us being out in the community and sharing God’s word in a fun yet effective way. That’s what it is all about “regeneration”. The Lord has worked powerfully once again, as a result of sharing ministry opportunities with our youth, three young students came along side and partnered with me to fulfill God’s purpose for us all. To go out and preach the gospel to every living creature. To God be the glory.
Please keep praying for the spirtuality of the children. We still have three more weeks of clubs, where we will be going out in other communities and shaing the gospel message again.
28 children attended last week’s 5-day club. They all proclaimed to be saved. There were five children who said they did not have their own Bible and guess what. I made sure that they were no longer able to make that statement. They now have Bibles. Praise God.
This gospel teaching activity was an interesting use of a traffic light. This traffic light illustrated how God will hear and answer when you call on Him. The red light symbolizes to “stop”! God does not want us to move at this time. The yellow light means to “wait” wait on God, now may not be the appointed time to move. Last, but certainly not least the green light means “go”! God has spoken to you and you heard the Lord and Savior tell you now is the time to move.
Love it, love it, love it…how to use easy to relate to symbols and teach children how to obey God.
Below, the children have a funfilled time as they play the review game. This time is where bible truths are reinforced and they can really relate to the memory verse so they can apply it in their lives daily.
Jul
14
2010
14
2010
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Review game brings exercise and from 8 to 22
Yesterday was fantastic! Our first club at the park was still a little low on kids, but we taught club to 6 children. And the evening club in the backyard of the Cedeno home, hosted 22 kids up from the 8 we had on Monday. It was awesome! Please PRAY for more children to come out and hear God’s wonderful message of love to them.
Take a look at some of the photos. I had two young girls that are saved ask me how can they be Summer Missionary Assistants? They watched our three trained SMAer’s teach the class and were moved by how effective youth can be to other youth. So we’ll be working with them next year training. How awesome is that!
Both of these young girls already attend our Good News Club at Sunnyside school so needless to say I was overjoyed to see them at 5 day club too. Marisol, host of the evening club, brought Aniya to club. She is making a positive influence on this young girls’ life as Aniya volunteers at the neighborhood library under Marisol’s supervision. That’s what our children need, committed adults to join in on their spiritual journey. God brings us full circle doesn’t he? Tracey, Mom of Jayla and Jasmine also brought along two new friends. Again, committment to the youth is what it is all about. I can go on an on about Pastor Mike and Theresa and their committment to church and CEF, making sure it goes off with the full support of the church, constant encouragement and things like organizing meals for the team and parents to Michaela, trained SMAer. Then their is Kevin and Stephanie, parents of the other two SMA students Michael and Joseph and how they travel daily from Carolstream showing support and committmet to the growth of the their children and the example that sets for others. Twana who provided a ton of snacks and comes everyday to club to help out where she can, Tracey also volunteered to assist and comes and brings other children to club. Thanks to the GNC teachers who freely give of their time to teach the lesson, because they love the Lord and sharing the gospel message with the children.
I don’t want to leave anyone out, so know that if you are not mentioned does not mean your part isn’t significant, keep looking for updates and how your work has made an impact on the growth and spreading of God’s word. Thanks Dave and Charlene for the spaghetti dinner, all of us really enjoyed it.
The children are growing in God’s word, we want to continue to encourage them in that way. On Monday one of the young girls I’m talking about found out we had two clubs this year and she did like most of our kids and came to the earlier club and attended the later club too. They just can’t get enough of being around God’s word and other kids that believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. How powerful.
I am lifting up a prayer request for a Church Van, one that we can carry all the children to the clubs, carrying all the material needed for club and kids, car space is low and we don’t want that to be a hindurance.
These efforts could not be done without committed Christians, this is no one man or one woman show, it is a team effort.
Love you all for all that you do.
May we all continue to grow in God’s grace.
It’s a race and we want the children to win in God’s race!
Angela Bailey, Missionary
Ministry Coordinator
636-297-6673
Jul
12
2010
12
2010
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5 Day Club Update
Hello from the sunnyside of Berkeley and Hillside, IL. We were out today sharing God’s word with children in our communities. Our first club hosted 4 children and our evening club hosted 8. Those aren’t the big numbers we hoped for and the week is still young, but they are big to God! Matthew 18:14 says “In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.
We had a blast. The Summer Missionary Assistants better known as the “SMAer’s” from Crossroads Church were incredible. The joy and honor for being able to share God’s word with others shined, shined, shined. I can’t stop smiling 
. I am so happy for them and for the children that they were able to witness to. This is huge. This was their first year as Summer Missionary Assistants and what an awesome job they are doing. May God continue to keep and bless them.
We look forward to the coming weeks, where they will continue to grow in their teaching, participating in other clubs. I’m already looking forward to next year when they move into the next phase of sharing the Gospel.
God’s word is a blast…don’t miss out…our theme at 5-day club this year is Get in on it! Don’t hesitate to bring a friend.
Thanks to each one of you who donated snacks…we have snacks for both clubs, for all five days…woopee. Want to also send a big shout out to the Pastor and Theresa, the GNC teachers, the parents, the hosts, the volunteers, our helpers that allowed us to train on them, the CEF CYIA training team, CEF team members, Jonathan King our new Chicagoland Director, our Board members, all the Children’s Ministry Institute team, supporters of the CEF ministry, friends and last but certainly not least, our families. This could not be the success it is without each of you. Ken and Sharon, your hard work and teachings continue to blossom, you are always in my Prayers.
Love and blessings forever and ever and ever..come back soon for more ministry updates.
God bless you all. TO GOD BE TH GLORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Angela Bailey, Missionary
Ministry Coordinator
636-297-6673
Interested in being a part of the world’s largest children’s ministry, please feel free to contact me for information on how you can get involved.
Jul
02
2010
02
2010
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Let’s catch up 2008, 2009 and on to 2010
Check out some of the children at the clubs that took place from summer of 2008 and 2009. Stay tuned for 2010 coming to your neighborhood very soon.
2009 5-day back yard club
Thanks for helpers
another 2009 5-day club at the park You too can participate in spectacular life changing events for the children you know, please ask me how! Angela Bailey, Missionary
2008 backyard 5-day club where it all started for me
Ministry Coordinator
636-297-6673
Jun
29
2010
29
2010
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on the edge of my chair
Her name was Kaitlin, and I fell in love the moment I saw her smile (minus a few teeth), dark eyes, and straggly brown bangs. She was one of quietest, shyest kids in our Summer Bible Club–and I so badly wanted her to know Jesus! But as she sat on the white plastic lawn chair inside the living room where we taught our club, Kaitlin was too shy to ask questions, too nervous to make eye contact, too quiet to answer my questions with more than a few words. (“What’s your favorite color? If you could be any animal, which one would it be?”) With just two days left in the club, I knew she might never hear the gospel again, as her parents wanted nothing to do with church–so I asked people to pray for Kaitlin. Why Kaitlin? She had a sister, she had friends–and I cared about teaching them too–but somehow, I knew I’d never be able to get her dimples and brown eyes out of my mind. The next day Kaitlin wasn’t at club at all, but the last day as my friend taught the Bible story, Kaitlin put up her hand to ask Jesus to take away her sin. I took Kaitlin and a few other kids (including her sister) into another room, and we sat down in a circle on the multicolored rug. I asked question after question, trying to make sure Kaitlin and her friends understood what they were doing–and Kaitlin answered each question correctly without hesitating. Her reasoning went something like this–
I can’t get into heaven because of my sin? I want to get into heaven–it ROCKS. Jesus, God’s Son, died for my sin, so I can go to heaven if I ask Him to take away my sin–that makes sense. I wanna do that… what? There’s more? Like, God wants to know ME? He wants to be my BFF (Best Friend Forever)? AWESOME! I want a Bible. No, seriously, you’re going to give me a Bible. I just won’t leave until you do.
In fact, she wouldn’t leave the room where she asked Jesus to take away her sin until I let her walk out holding MY Bible as collateral until we could get her one of her own! I hope she heard the rest of the Bible Club, but I don’t know, because she just sat there staring at the verses about salvation that I’d shown her, making me whisper them to her over and over, whispering to herself, “I get a Bible…”
My favorite part of this story is that Kaitlin couldn’t read yet–so if she was going to listen to her new Bible, her mom or dad would have to read it to her. I haven’t kept in touch with Kaitlin since that week last summer, but I left her in touch with a local pastor’s wife, who promised to take Kaitlin to church. Besides, I was right–I’ve never been able to get that dimply smile out of my mind–so I can’t help praying for Kaitlin.
Several weeks ago I nearly fell out of my chair at a work meeting as my coworker explained that God had burdened her to contact a children’s home to see if CEF can teach there this summer. My friend couldn’t help making eye contact with me–I was almost bouncing up and down and gasping like a fish out of water–the moment we made eye contact, I mouthed, “ME TOO!!” She scheduled a visit, we prayed and planned, and then we visited. This home is actually for children who still usually have parents or guardians, but who are not adequately provided for at home. These kids, ages 2-18, receive on-the-spot education, medical attention, love, and so much more! The director drove us over the extensive property, which looks more like a farm than anything else! We passed fishing areas, plumbers’ offices (!!!), riding trails, horse barn, archery field, clinic… the list goes on! The houses where the kids live (10 per house, with house parents) are elegant, comfortable, and fully-funded; the school was highly equipped; but my favourite part of the entire tour was sitting around a table on tall stools just outside the home’s bowling alley (!!!) and telling the director about CEF’s summer Bible clubs. As we finished our presentation, the director exclaimed, “A week before you contacted us, we decided we needed something exactly like this. And now here you are! Talk about timing!” Again, I nearly fell off my perch.
I can barely sit still as I think about all the things CEF has got planned for this summer. We’ll be teaching Five Day Bible Clubs (similar to VBS, but held in parks, homes, and fairs, for kids who probably never set foot in a church). Thinking of these clubs, I can’t help remembering God’s amazing work in Kaitlin’s heart last summer.
We’ll be teaching clubs like this to kids like Kaitlin all summer long, sometimes more than one club per day, but we won’t be doing it alone–before the clubs start, we’re spending two weeks in a camp-like setting, training local teenagers to teach children the Bible (this program is called “Christian Youth In Action,” or CYIA). Then we’ll take the teens into these Bible clubs, where we’ll coach them from the sidelines, and they’ll teach the kids.
This is why I’m in ministry; this is why I’m with CEF; this is why I teach kids–because of people like Kaitlin. And this summer, I can’t wait to meet more “Kaitlins,” and fall in love all over again.
Jun
27
2010
27
2010
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What’s Happening this Summer
Meet Michaela, Michael and Joseph along with Angela. These three youths attended the 26hour lock-in at the CEF office in Lombard, Illinois. They are part of the 2010 summer youth ministry officially called the 2010 Summer Ministry Asssistants (SMAer’s). After training for the 5 Day Club mission stories, IPEAR memory verse teaching, review games and song, they are well equipped to teach your clubs. We are so excited as these are three youths from my church Crossroads of Hillside, IL. What a great testimony to God’s awesome ability. Watch for more updates as they teach 5Day clubs throughout Illinois this summer. I remember like it was yesterday how excited I was when Chicagoland ‘08 pumped it up and I had the privilege to find out what CEF and 5 Day Club was all about. Here I am today teaching and serving, serving and teaching…oh you know what I mean, it is all for the Lord. Check back in for summer ministry updates.
Jun
23
2010
23
2010
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Children’s Church Training Class
As Children’s Church Youth Leader, I had the esteemed privilege to conduct a training class for our Children’s Youth Teachers. It was an exciting and encouraging opportunity, as we look to get more aggressive and high tech with our teaching. Moving into the powerpoint lessons is a step in the new age teaching that the children are already accustomed to at their schools. We look forward to using this system to effectively spread the gospel to the youth of our Church by also engaging them with opportunities to teach the memory verses and tell the mission stories from our CEF curriculum. The children are our future and we look forward to how God continues to grow our efforts.
Our Youth Ministry in action.
Night of the storm – Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Jun
19
2010
19
2010
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5-Day Club Training – Lombard CEF Office
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Well, the summer is officially off and running. We conducted a 5-day club training workshop today and the CMI 3month extensive training I had in Missouri was well worth it. I am humbled as I train others to host clubs, and teach our youth about the greatest love there is…Our Savior Jesus Christ. This training has provided for knowledge and confidence as I teach God’s amazing word.
It was a joy as we went through our 5-day club teaching in one day. I had a lot of fun teaching the review game portion for the lessons. This is one the main highlights of club, yet it is a time where we reinforce the Bible truths to the children. I am thankful to be part of an amazing teaching team. We look forward to seeing the blessings through the 25+ 5day clubs where Churches and individuals have partnered with us to host clubs this summer. Please check in frequently to read about the children’s exciting learning opportunities and how many more children will accept Christ as their savior for the first time or how many more will rededicate their lives to Christ. Pray that many others will catch the spirit of CEF and want to join in with us.
CEF has already reached over 10 million children worldwide with the Gospel and so God allows us to continue. If you have never accepted Jesus Christ as your savior and would like to today, please contact me via e-mail at abaileynow@yahoo.com, or by telephone at 636-297-6673 and I welcome the opportunity to come and show you from God's word how you can be part of his eternal family. GIVE GOD SOME PRAISE!!! If you already have accepted Jesus as your Savior, please continue to know that he has forgiven you of your sins and wants you to share this wonderful news with others. Please feel free to contact me and let me know how I can PRAY for you. Love and blessings,
Angela
Jun
18
2010
18
2010
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Wow, Youth Conference was amazing!
Pastor Mabins, wife Gina, put together an amazing Youth Conference at the Mario Parente Theatre in Villa Park. Pastor Mabins asked me to be the MC of the program and how excited I was for this honor. God’s spirit was all over the place and in all who attended. There was praise worship, song and dance, preaching and skits pertaining to God’s amazing love. The show was put on by the Youth, between the ages of 9-18. There were approximately 60 youth in attendance and about 120 total attendees. The youth were taught such things as purity, and you can achieve all things through Christ who strengthens us. It was encouraging to be part of their first annual Youth Conference and I look forward to partnering with them again. I met several individuals who have an interest in partnering with CEF to reach children through the public school system and I was also able to share my testimony of how CEF has impacted my life and what wonderful things it can bring for children who accept Christ as their savior.
