SUMMER MINISTRY
This ministry provides an opportunity for young people to do summer missions with CEFOntario in children’s outreaches during the summer months. Before intensive training mission they must successfully complete two weeks of training. They are trained to do games, songs, and Bible based lessons to help children learn good values and morals. The work they do may be done in backyard clubs, Church Day Camps or Vacation Bible schools, fairs, and parks.
Summer 2010
5 Day Clubs & VBS
Can you guess what it is?
We are excited about this year’s mystery theme that will be integrated with Bible lessons from CEF’s One Way series. The Bible lessons about the Prodigal Son, Cain and Abel, and Naaman emphasize there is only one way to become a child of God. The other two lessons - Peter Escapes from Prison and Samuel Obeys God’s Call teach the saved child to pray and to obey God. A clear gospel presentation will be given each day.
CEFOntario’s 5-Day Clubs are led by trained young people who choose to spend their summer doing missions in Ontario with a focus on sharing the Gospel with unchurched children. Our program includes solid Bible teaching, fun and interactive skits, songs, memory verses, games and a continuing story that brings the kids back day after day.
Our program can be implemented as a 5-Day Club (1.5 hour program for five days), a Vacation Bible School (half day program each day), or as part of a full day daycamp. Please contact our office or a CEFOntario staff member as soon as possible to ensure we are available to help you reach out to the children in your community this summer.
What is Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF)?
CEF is a worldwide, inter-denominational, evangelistic ministry to children. We were founded more than 70 years ago and are active in more than 150 countries. In Ontario we have been ministering since 1943. We are committed to three purposes:
- Sharing the Gospel with children so they can come to a place of personal faith in Jesus Christ,
- Helping children grow in their understanding of the Word of God and in their relationship with Him,
- Training and equipping others for effective ministry to children.
About CEFOntario Summer Ministry
For many years CEF has been helping churches, organizations, and even individuals across Ontario to have effective summer outreach to boys and girls. Each year we come alongside more than 100 churches that want to have a summer ministry to the children of their community, but need a little help to make it happen. We provide a trained team of two leaders, fully equipped with the program and materials needed for 5 days of Bible based ministry.
Why do we do this?
Our mandate is to share the Gospel with children, especially “un-churched” children who have never really heard or understood the story of Jesus. We also want to help those children become involved with a local Bible believing church, where they can learn and grow in faith.
One of the most effective ways churches can connect with the children of their community is through a summer outreach program such as a Vacation Bible School, a Day Camp, or what we at CEF call a “5-Day Club®”. Some churches find the preparation and work involved in doing these programs to be more than what they can handle on their own. Since our commitment to reaching children includes encouraging and assisting churches to reach children, we have a well developed approach to helping churches do the job.
How does it work?
At the beginning of the summer we conduct a training camp for teens and young adults who are interested in ministry to children. During two weeks of intensive training they learn the skills necessary to minister to children, and help churches with summer outreach. They learn how to effectively communicate the lessons, teach the songs, lead the games, and much more. These young people graduate to become our summer missionaries, dispatched in pairs to assist churches across the province.
The host church does the advance work of promotion, decorating, and preparation of snacks and crafts (though will provide suggestions for each of these things). Our team will arrive at your church on Saturday in preparation for the ministry of the following week. You will need to provide a host family where the team will be supplied room and meals for the next seven days. The team will come ready and equipped to do Bible lessons, songs, games, and stories. They will be fully prepared to work in support of your own experienced leaders, or to take that leadership role if that’s what’s required.
Our neighborhood-based 5-Day Clubs are highly effective in attracting children who do not attend church. Partnering churches may choose this method of summer programming as an alternative to their VBS or in addition to their regular ministry. Our summer teams can run up to three backyard clubs each day as long as they have adequate time to travel between homes. People who are willing to host a week-long backyard club are excellent connections to the children on their street. They are responsible for inviting the children and arranging for a snack. This club hostess can then follow up with the children once the club is over. Churches considering this option can book our team for a full day with the following options:
1) VBS in the morning at their church and a backyard club in the afternoon,
2) three backyard clubs every day for one week, or
3) VBS one week and backyard clubs the following week or during a different week in the summer.
We want to be flexible to help you impact the most children possible.
The 2010 Theme
We are excited about this year’s mystery theme that will be integrated with Bible lessons from CEF’s One Way series. Three of the Bible lessons (Cain and Abel, Prodigal Son, Naaman) emphasize there is only one way to become a child of God. Two of the week’s lessons (Peter Escapes from Prison, Samuel Obeys God’s Call) teach the saved child to pray and to obey God. A clear gospel presentation will be given each day.
Our program can be implemented as a 5-Day Club (1.5 hour program for five days), a Vacation Bible School (half day program each day), or as part of a full day daycamp.
What do you need to do?
Here are the things you will need to do as a church to make this work.
- Provide a host home for the summer missionary team (Saturday to Saturday) and transportation to their next ministry location
- Take care of advance preparations such as promotion, decorating, snacks, and craft supplies
- Provide enough helpers to make the ministry safe and effective (one adult / teen leader per 5 children)
- Provide staff to take care of snacks and crafts, if you want that to be part of your program
- Have a plan for following up with the children who come, offering regular ministry opportunity
What is the cost?
The suggested honorarium to CEF is $250 for 5 days of half day ministry (VBS or 5-day club), or $475 for 5 days of full day ministry. Churches that can afford to do so may want to bless the work of CEF by going over and above those recommendations. Churches which do not have the resources to provide such an honorarium should let us know in advance. We will do our best to work out something you can afford. In some cases we are able to waive the honorarium requirement altogether.
How do I get more details?
Further details on lessons, games, songs, skits, crafts, snacks, etc. can be found on our website at www.cefontario.org/summer. You will be able to download files to help you prepare for your summer ministry. You will also find a section on Frequently Asked Questions. To reserve a summer missionary team or to resolve other questions, please call the CEF staff member who contacted you, or contact our office.
CEFOntario Office: 335 Robinson Road, RR #4, Brantford, ON N3T 5L7 Canada
Our new local phone: 519-751-1233
Toll Free: 1-877-788-8233
Fax: 519-751-2233
To contact CEFOntario by email info@cefontario.org.
Program Details
This summer’s Bible lessons are taken from CEF’s flashcard series “One Way.” Children all across Canada need to hear how they can become one of God’s children. Many have never heard the mystery of the Gospel explained to them and will readily invite Jesus Christ into their life once they hear this Great News. It is our great privilege and opportunity to be able to share the Gospel with them through our summer 5-Day Clubs, Vacation Bible Schools, camps and other summer outreaches. Our desire is to partner with churches and individuals who also want to help children discover the wonderful plan of salvation.
Bible Lessons
The Bible lessons are taken from our One Way flashcard series.
Day 1 – The Prodigal Son Returns (Luke 15:11-32)
Day 2 – Christians Pray for Peter (Acts 12:1-19)
Day 3 – Cain and Abel Come to God (Genesis 4:1-16)
Day 4 – Naaman Follows God’s Instructions (2 Kings 5:1-16)
Day 5 – Samuel Obeys God’s Call (I Samuel 1:1-28, 2:12-21, 3:1-20)
Main Teaching Points for the Christian child
Our main focus in our summer clubs and outreaches is to introduce the unsaved child to Jesus Christ. Our materials also include the Main Teaching points for the saved child for each day.
The Main Teaching Points are:
Day 1 – God wants you to talk to Him – Pray!
Day 2 – Believe that God will answer – Trust!
Day 3 – Read God’s Word – Listen!
Day 4 – Tell others about God – Witness!
Day 5 – Do what God says – Obey!
Theme Verse
Jeremiah 33:3 is one of the memory verses that the children will be learning. We have chosen this verse as our theme verse for the week to teach the children more about prayer.
Skit
Each day there will be a short skit that is related to the mystery theme. The summer missionaries will come prepared to begin the day on a fun note with a skit that relates to this summer theme.
Missionary Story
Each year we include a continuing story in our program that ends at a high point each day. This suspense element encourages the children to return the following day to see what happens next in the story. The exciting story of Ringu of India’s Forest is the CEF flashcard story that will be taught this year. The boy Ringu deals with issues familiar to children of fear, lying and stealing. When God’s offer of salvation is made known to Ringu by the missionary in his village, Ringu must decide if he wants to believe in the missionary’s God of love and forgiveness.
This is a brief overview of our program for this summer. Craft and snack ideas will be provided to churches that need them for their outreach. A handbook will also be available to those who partner with CEF. This handbook contains posters and flyers that can be individualized for each summer program as well as other information to help you have a successful summer ministry. Please contact CEFOntario for more information: 1-877-788-8233.
Helping YOU reach the children in your community
Summer 2010
Child Evangelism Fellowship of Ontario
For more information please contact the Ministry Development Associate.
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