Child Evangelism Fellowship / CEF

The information on this page was last updated 2/29/2024. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]


Summary

Child Evangelism Fellowship is a Bible-centered 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 Word of God and in a local church for Christian living.

CEF has many different ministries for children, but the primary ones are the Good News Club and the 5-Day Club.

The Good News Club and 5-Day Club ministries take place in neighborhood settings such as homes, backyards, schools and community centers all over the world. These fast-paced, one-hour programs are designed to bring the Gospel of Christ to children on their level in their environment.

Along with these clubs, CEF also has fair, camping, open-air, and internet ministries for children. Last year through these combined ministries over 16.4 million children worldwide heard the Good News.

CEF provides classes to train their workers and other Christians who are burdened for evangelizing children. In fact, training Christians to effectively minister to children has been core to our ministry since it was founded in 1937. Training is offered throughout the USA and around the world through seminars, conferences, and formal courses.

The Children's Ministries Institute, a modular three-month course located at CEF International Headquarters in Warrenton, Missouri, is dedicated to providing quality, practical training for those called of God to take the Gospel message to children. Similar training is offered in various locations around the world. Courses are also offered online.

CEF Press produces and distributes Bible and missionary lessons and related materials for use in teaching children to help accomplish the goals of the ministry. Teaching materials are available to the public. Visit our web store. Many products are translated into over 200 different languages and distributed around the world.

An exciting program for teenagers is Christian Youth In Action (CYIA). In June all across the USA thousands of young people are trained to conduct 5-Day Clubs. Throughout the summer they have many opportunities to present the Gospel to boys and girls, experiencing the joy of leading others to the Lord.

An additional summer opportunity is Summer Missions. College-age adults are trained and teach 5-Day Clubs in large urban centers and in foreign countries. This program offers challenging, often times life-changing experiences that God has used to spiritually enrich many lives. Find out more about these opportunities.


Contact information

Mailing address:
Child Evangelism Fellowship Inc
PO Box 348
Warrenton, MO 63383-0348

Website: www.cefonline.com

Phone: (636) 456-4321

Email: [email protected]


Organization details

EIN: 386091187

CEO/President: Jeremiah Cho

Chairman: Albert Winterman

Board size: 18

Founder: Jesse Irvin Overholtzer

Ruling year: 1969

Tax deductible: Yes

Fiscal year end: 12/31

Member of ECFA: Yes

Member of ECFA since: 1980


Purpose

Our Purpose: Note from the President

For over 80 years God has been using Child Evangelism Fellowship to bring the love of Jesus Christ to children around the world. The Word of God puts a high priority on children. They are near to God's heart and we believe that He is uniquely concerned about their spiritual welfare. Without the foundation of a relationship with God and training in Biblical principles for life they are unequipped to face what life will throw at them.

With workers in countries around the world, CEF had personal, individual ministry with more than 16.4 million children last year. God has given us a passion to not only bring children into a right relationship with God, but to disciple them in His Word and establish them in Bible teaching churches so that they can become mature in their faith.

I am convinced that there is no work that is more pertinent or effective. Perhaps God is leading you to become more involved in the lives of children, for His kingdom's sake.

CEF is here to train, equip and encourage you as you follow that leading. I trust that this web site will be a rich resource for you and that God will use you in a tremendous way to make an eternal difference in the lives of boys and girls.

For His Name among the children,

Reese R. Kauffman

President Emeritus


Mission statement

To evangelize boys and girls with the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and to establish (disciple) them in the Word of God and in a local church for Christian living.


Statement of faith

WE BELIEVE:

1. That "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God," by which we understand the whole book called THE BIBLE; that it is inerrant in the original writings and that its teaching and authority are absolute, supreme and final. That the Holy Spirit guided the holy men of old in all that they wrote. 2 Timothy 3:16; Deuteronomy 4:2; 2 Peter 1:21.

2. The Godhead eternally exists in three persons - the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. These three are one God, having the same nature, attributes and perfection. Romans 1:20; Matthew 28:19; Deuteronomy 4:35; John 17:5.

3. In the Personality and Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, begotten of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, truly God and truly man. John 1:1,14; John 10:30; Matthew 1:20; Luke 1:30-31; Philippians 2:5-7; 1 Timothy 3:16; Colossians 1:19.

4. In the Personality and Deity of the Holy Spirit, the source and power of all acceptable worship and service, the infallible interpreter of the infallible Word, who indwells every true believer, and is ever present to testify of Christ, seeking to occupy us with Him and not with ourselves or our experiences. John 15:26; Acts 5:3, 4; Acts 1:8; Romans 8:26, 27; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 14; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 1 Corinthians 12:13; John 16:13, 14.

5. That man was created in the image of God, after His likeness, as stated in the Word of God,but the whole human race fell in the fall of the first Adam. Not only was his moral nature grieviously injured by the fall but he totally lost all spiritual life, becoming dead in trespasses and sins, and subject to the power of the devil. "The carnal mind is emnity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then, they that are in the flesh cannot please God" (Romans 8:7, 8). Therefore, he cannot see nor enter the kingdom of God until he is born again by the Holy Spirit. That no degree of reformation however great, no attainment in morality however high, no culture however attractive, no humanitarian and philanthropic schemes and societies however useful, no baptism or other ordinance however administered, can help the sinner take even one step toward Heaven; but a new nature imparted from above, a new life implanted by the Holy Spirit through the Word is absolutely essential to salvation. Genesis 1:26, 27; Romans 5:12; Ephesians 2:1-3; John 3:3, 6, 7; Titus 3:5.

6. That Jesus Christ became the sinner's substitute before God, and died as a propitiatory sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. That He was made a curse for the sinner, dying for his sins according to the Scriptures, that no repentance, no feeling, no faith, no good resolutions, no sincere efforts, no submission to the rules and regulations of any church can add in the very least to the value of the precious blood or to the merit of that finished work wrought for us by Him, who tasted death for every man. 1 John 2:2; Hebrews 2:9; Galatians 3:13; Romans 3:25; Romans 4:4-5; Romans 5:8; Colossians 1:13, 14, 20, 21.

7. In the resurrection of the crucified body of Jesus Christ; that His body was raised from the dead according to the Scriptures, and that He ascended into Heaven and sitteth on the right hand of God as the believer's high priest and advocate. Luke 24:39; Acts 1:10-11; Ephesians 4:10; Hebrews 1:3; 1 John 2:1.

8. That Christ in the fullness of the blessings He has secured by His death and resurrection is received by faith alone and that the moment we trust Him as our Savior we pass out of death into everlasting life, justified from all things, accepted before the Father according to the measure of His acceptance, loved as He is loved and made one with Him. At the time of acceptance of Christ as Savior, He comes to dwell within the believer and to live out His life of holiness and power through him. Hebrews 9:15; John 5:24; Romans 3:28; Romans 4:3, 23-25; Ephesians 1:3; John 17:23; Galatians 2:20; Galatians 4:6-7; Galatians 5:16; Acts 1:8.

9. That the Church is composed of all those who truly believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior. It is the body and the bride of Christ. That every believer, whether Jew or Gentile, is baptized into the body of Christ by the Holy Spirit, and having thus become members of one another we are responsible to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, rising above all sectarian prejudices and denominational bigotry and loving one another with a pure heart fervently. Ephesians 1:22, 23; Ephesians 2:19-22; 1 Corinthians 12:22-27; 1 Corinthians 1:10-13; Romans 12:4, 5; Ephesians 4:3-6; Ephesians 5:32; Philippians 2:1-5; Galatians 5:13-15.

10. That all believers in our Lord Jesus are called into a life of separation from worldly and sinful practices and should abstain from such amusements and habits as will cause others to stumble, or bring reproach upon the cross of Christ. Believers are created in Christ Jesus unto good works. "As we therefore have opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith" (Galatians 6:10). 1 John 2:15, 16; Romans 13:14; Romans 14:13; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Ephesians 2:10.

11. In the evangelization of the world; that the supreme mission of the people of God in this age is to preach the Gospel to every creature. That special emphasis should be placed upon the evangelization of children. Mark 16:15; 2 Corinthians 5:18, 19; Matthew 18:14.

12. In the personal return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; that the coming again of Jesus Christ is the "Blessed Hope" set before us, for which we should be constantly looking. Our citizenship is in Heaven from whence we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:20). Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17; John 14:1-3; Titus 2:13; Philippians 3:20, 21.

13. That the souls of those who have trusted the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation do at death immediately pass into His presence, and there remain in conscious bliss until the resurrection of the body at His coming, when soul and body re-united shall be with Him forever in glory. Luke 23:43; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Luke 16:22, 25; Philippians 1:23; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18.

14. That the souls of the lost remain after death in misery until the final judgment of the great white throne, when soul and body re-united at the resurrection shall be cast "Into the lake of fire" which is "the second death," to be "punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power" (2 Thessalonians 1:8, 9). Luke 16:22-23, 27-28; Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 20:5, 11-15; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9.

15. In the reality and personality of Satan, "that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world" (Revelation 12:9) Ephesians 6:11, 12; 1 Peter 5:8; Revelation 20:10.

Donor confidence score

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Transparency grade

A

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Financial efficiency ratings

Sector: Evangelism

CategoryRatingOverall rankSector rank
Overall efficiency rating696 of 110132 of 45
Fund acquisition rating766 of 110234 of 45
Resource allocation rating494 of 110224 of 45
Asset utilization rating640 of 110123 of 45

Click here to read Child Evangelism Fellowship / CEF's response to our ratings


Financial ratios

Funding ratiosSector median20222021202020192018
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts =
Fundraising expense /
Total contributions
7%10%12%11%12%11%
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio =
Fundraising expense /
Total revenue
6%10%12%10%11%11%
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance =
Total contributions /
Total revenue
97%107%102%92%95%99%
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio =
Fundraising expense /
Total expenses
6%10%14%12%13%12%
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance =
Total other revenue /
Total revenue
3%-7%-2%8%5%1%
 
Operating ratiosSector median20222021202020192018
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio =
Program services /
Total expenses
82%81%71%73%74%79%
Spending ratio Spending ratio =
Total expenses /
Total revenue
99%99%82%83%91%90%
Program output ratio Program output ratio =
Program services /
Total revenue
78%81%58%60%67%70%
Savings ratio Savings ratio =
Surplus (deficit) /
Total revenue
1%1%18%17%9%10%
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate =
Surplus (deficit) /
Net assets
1%1%24%28%21%32%
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio =
Management and general expense /
Total expenses
11%9%14%15%13%9%
 
Investing ratiosSector median20222021202020192018
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover =
Total expenses /
Total assets
1.011.140.921.021.351.45
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment =
Total assets /
Total current assets
1.531.731.641.802.082.84
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover =
Total expenses /
Total current assets
2.221.981.511.832.814.11
 
Liquidity ratiosSector median20222021202020192018
Current ratio Current ratio =
Total current assets /
Total current liabilities
11.3213.1813.0110.674.652.17
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio =
Total current liabilities /
Total current assets
0.090.080.080.090.220.46
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level =
(Total current assets -
Total current liabilities) /
(Total expenses / 12)
4.645.617.315.963.351.57
 
Solvency ratiosSector median20222021202020192018
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio =
Total liabilities /
Total assets
11%14%15%24%33%47%
Debt ratio Debt ratio =
Debt /
Total assets
0%2%2%6%6%12%
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio =
Net assets /
Total expenses
74%75%92%75%49%37%

Financials

Balance sheet
 
Assets20222021202020192018
Cash$9,448,794$10,351,648$6,255,731$4,460,127$2,908,181
Receivables, inventories, prepaids$552,544$520,219$1,783,985$1,237,584$1,192,912
Short-term investments$0$0$0$0$0
Other current assets$0$0$0$0$0
Total current assets$10,001,338$10,871,867$8,039,716$5,697,711$4,101,093
Long-term investments$0$0$0$0$0
Fixed assets$7,131,189$6,982,282$6,390,888$6,133,731$7,525,007
Other long-term assets$173,722$1,700$1,700$1,700$4,738
Total long-term assets$7,304,911$6,983,982$6,392,588$6,135,431$7,529,745
Total assets$17,306,249$17,855,849$14,432,304$11,833,142$11,630,838
 
Liabilities20222021202020192018
Payables and accrued expenses$726,800$826,156$739,907$693,261$827,038
Other current liabilities$31,901$9,541$13,423$533,344$1,066,672
Total current liabilities$758,701$835,697$753,330$1,226,605$1,893,710
Debt$295,937$363,334$878,669$690,533$1,425,087
Due to (from) affiliates$0$0$0$0$0
Other long-term liabilities$1,452,985$1,555,962$1,798,631$2,004,767$2,138,170
Total long-term liabilities$1,748,922$1,919,296$2,677,300$2,695,300$3,563,257
Total liabilities$2,507,623$2,754,993$3,430,630$3,921,905$5,456,967
 
Net assets20222021202020192018
Without donor restrictions$11,211,557$12,354,961$9,380,874$6,709,113$5,482,357
With donor restrictions$3,587,069$2,745,895$1,620,800$1,202,124$691,514
Net assets$14,798,626$15,100,856$11,001,674$7,911,237$6,173,871
 
Revenues and expenses
 
Revenue20222021202020192018
Total contributions$21,217,769$20,472,837$16,361,820$16,841,885$18,527,785
Program service revenue$424,592$328,372$479,087$782,457$426,014
Membership dues$0$0$0$0$0
Investment income$1,772$172,826$86,135$226,605$40,412
Other revenue($1,736,455)($838,741)$789,533($171,335)($191,316)
Total other revenue($1,310,091)($337,543)$1,354,755$837,727$275,110
Total revenue$19,907,678$20,135,294$17,716,575$17,679,612$18,802,895
 
Expenses20222021202020192018
Program services$16,029,202$11,762,657$10,657,221$11,892,541$13,248,255
Management and general$1,689,619$2,335,617$2,240,775$2,119,212$1,599,919
Fundraising$2,060,256$2,365,784$1,778,180$2,021,570$1,994,784
Total expenses$19,779,077$16,464,058$14,676,176$16,033,323$16,842,958
 
Change in net assets20222021202020192018
Surplus (deficit)$128,601$3,671,236$3,040,399$1,646,289$1,959,937
Other changes in net assets$0$0$0$0$0
Total change in net assets$128,601$3,671,236$3,040,399$1,646,289$1,959,937

Compensation

NameTitleCompensation
Moises EstevesExecutive Vice President$107,877
Peggy KampmannDirector of Finance$76,991

Compensation data as of: 12/31/2022


Response from ministry

Child Evangelism Fellowship Inc. International Headquarters located in Warrenton, Missouri is a support base for CEF workers in the field worldwide. This office supplies services for thousands of paid and volunteer workers in 180 countries around the world. The budget that we provided to Ministry Watch was solely for the International Headquarters. While limited direct ministry does take place under our International Headquarters budget, the primary activity is to provide support services. Taking into account the 12.1 million children reached through our work around the globe would have a significant positive impact on CEF's Resource Allocation Rating.


The information below was provided to MinistryWatch by the ministry itself. It was last updated 2/29/2024. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]


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.


Program accomplishments

15,628,921 children reached in 2021


Needs

CEF offers a variety of opportunities for involvement in the ministry-from part-time service as a Good News Club teacher or International Headquarters volunteer to short-term, summer or full-time service in the USA or overseas. There are programs for all ages from junior high school age through retirement.

A program for teenagers is Christian Youth In Action (CYIA). In June all across the USA hundreds of young people are trained to conduct 5-Day Clubs. Throughout the summer they have many opportunities to present the Gospel to boys and girls, experiencing the joy of leading others to the Lord.