The Communicator

Welcome! Each of the archived Prayer lists or Newsletters offers a glimpse into the monthly happenings in CEF of King County,

OCTOBER 2024 PRAISES and PRAYERS

Praise God for 89 children starting in Good News Clubs in September at 6 different Clubs.  PTL that 7 adults have come for monthly Good News Club training.  Pray for more teachers!

Praise for 14 children starting at the Park Orchard Elementary Club. The following week 6 more came, and one 3rd grade girl prayed for salvation!          No children came to the Emerald Park Club, but the school secretary there is contemplating a Prayer Group for Christians at the school. (Margie told her about an ESL teacher there whom she knows is a believer). Pray that a prayer group will start.

Pine Tree Elementary GNC had five children at their first meeting. Pray that 3 others who registered at Open House will COME.  Pray for the 5 y.o. non-English speaker who attended to feel God’s love and to have quick learning. Praise that a 5th grader brought his N.T. given at GNC last year.  He said not only that he was in church Sunday, but also that he sang “STOP and let me tell you…” all summer long!

About 40 people attended the Celebration of Summer Ministries ethnic picnic potluck. There were CYIA teen testimonies, great times of fellowship, and a serious young speaker who challenged ALL to read a chapter of scripture each night and each morning. Then he asked for a show of hands to commit. Many raised hands!  PTL!

Pray for fruitful contacts with potential CEF Partners at the following three venues: a10/15 Pastor Appreciation Luncheon; RADIO Ads: 40 one-minute spots on 820 AM (M-W-F’s); &  Missionsfest 10/18-19th.

Praise God for answered prayer: 7 new Good News Guides will help on TelASory.  More still are needed. PTL for 1111 calls in September.

Pray that the Maple Hills Club will start. Co-leader just had a baby.

Pray for 10 Christmas Across America, Christmas Party Club outreaches.

Why Are 5 Day Clubs So Important?

We held a 5 Day Club in the Tukwila area from July 29 – August 2nd this year. The neighborhood in which we hold this club consists of low-income families, many of them single parents or some families where both parents work to survive. There is crime and substance abuse all around them and most parents will not allow their children out after dusk because of this.
These kids look forward to the opportunity to be able to go to an event where they are loved and given the attention that they do not always get at home. Anyone who has grown up in a single-family home knows exactly what I mean.
It was such a blessing to see them have fun singing, playing and participating in the lesson, memory verse and missionary stories that our CYIA teens provided for them. They can be around young people that model what they could be someday and that is more important than many of our teens may even realize. 
I had a group of girls ask me halfway through the club if we were going to continue into the following week. It was hard for me to tell them that it was not but at the same time it illustrated to me just how impactful these clubs can be. I had another child tell me that she wanted to be a “teacher” someday which is a testament to the effectiveness of our teens. Another child in particular loves to come to club. She lives in a home that is racked by substance abuse and she is raised by her grandmother because of this. This woman is heartbroken over what has happened to her children and wants something better for her grandchild. While she may not understand the greater value of club, she knows that it is a place where her granddaughter is safe and loved. We also saw some of these children make decisions of faith during this week and every child there heard the gospel clearly and plainly presented to them. 
We are given the privilege of participating in God’s great work here in Seattle and thankfully we can depend on God to provide the increase. Heaven only knows how much this year’s club will change the destiny of these kids who live in a very difficult environment.
God bless the CYIA teens in their service and pray for God’s grace and mercy to these children.
Jay Bexell, Chairmen of the King County Chapter

September 2024 PRAISES and PRAYERS

Praise God for our 9 CYIA students, their 3 Supervisors, and some former CYIAers who ministered all summer in twelve 5-Day Clubs.  Pray that ALL of the 235 boys and girls they reached will have opportunities to know- or grow in-Christ, especially the 6 children who made 1st time decisions to follow Him.

Pray for all friends of CEF to come CELEBRATE SUMMER MINISTRY:  September 28 from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm at a picnic potluck lunch.  Bring your favorite ethnic dish to the Dome Pavilion at Grass Lawn Park in Redmond. Beverages, plates, silverware, cups, and napkins will be provided.

Pray for the Lord to send laborers into the harvest fields, ripe with needy kids.  Pray for opportunities for Alexa and Committee members to connect with churches.  Pray that radio ads on 820 AM, as well as CEF booths at Missions Fest and Pastors’ Appreciation Luncheon, will be effective in enlisting new partners to start more Good News Clubs to reach more children.

Pray for parents to register their children in all the Good News Clubs, especially at Emerald Park Elementary. Pray for a minimum of 5 children.

Pray for the local Committee to have wisdom and discernment in both their current strategic planning and budgeting for the coming year 2025.

Pray for the Good News Club Teachers and Helpers to be challenged and excited about resuming Good News Clubs.  Pray for their Health (physical, mental, and financial), Safety in travel, Spiritual Growth, and Strength.

Praise God for all who support this work with their prayers and finances. Our expenses have increased lately as we use new avenues of advertising to make people aware of kid’s spiritual needs and the great value of investing in them!

Pray that the twelve 5-Day Club hosts who gathered children this summer will continue to be lighthouses to the kids in their neighborhoods.

Praise God for Tel-A-Story’s 1,553 calls in August. May the callers be inspired to read the Bible for themselves. Pray for more Good News Guides to volunteer. Volunteers, please email [email protected].

Praise God for 16 new Mailbox Clubbers registering in July and August.

JULY 2024 PRAISES and PRAYERS

We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and His might, and the wonders that He has done. Psalm 78:4 ESV

Praise God for 9 teens who successfully completed the challenging training needed for teaching boys and girls at 5-Day Clubs.  Pray that the nine scheduled 5-Day Clubs will go well:  that teen teachers will be well-prepared so the Holy Spirit can work, and at-the-same-time Club will be exciting and FUN for the children!  Pray for safety for teens and drivers during the many miles of commuting to Clubs.  Pray for teens to have strength and enthusiasm because some weeks there are 2 or 3 Club locations each day of the week. Finally, pray that many children will come to hear the good news of Jesus’ love!

The CEF local Committee has interviewed an excellent candidate for the position of “Communications Specialist.”  Pray that she will accept our offer and if so, that it works out to be a good fit.

Praise the Lord for the fruitful Kids’ Day fair in Auburn on June 25th.  God supplied all the workers needed. One hundred and ninety-eight souls heard the message of salvation and 64 prayed to receive Christ as Savior. Twin boys heard the gospel and prayed for salvation just after 4 pm when the fair closed!

Pray for a sorely needed Fair Coordinator, the chief responsibility of whom is to enlist workers to staff the CEF canopy in 3-4 hour shifts. Witnessing at Fairs is a huge opportunity to speak with people who are spiritually lost!  A list of potential Fair Workers is available. There are many, many one-day fairs to choose from as well as larger 3-4 day fairs.

Please continue to pray that CEF of WA will find an insurer who can provide liability insurance that meets the new exceptionally stringent clauses required by certain school districts.  Perhaps these school districts hope to exclude Good News Clubs.

Pray for more children to actively participate in Mailbox Club, free Bible lessons by mail.  Lessons are age-specific.  Pray for many, many children to call Tel-A-Story for daily spiritual food:   888-878-8660.

JUNE 2024 PRAISES and PRAYERS

Praise God for the many years of faithful service by Ron Belcher, retiring this month from the local Committee. Pray that God will supply another member.

Praise God for 9 teens committed to CYIA training who will teach 3 series of 5-Day Clubs. Pray that their availability will line up with the dates and location where 5-Day Clubs have already been scheduled. Pray for Alexa to finish reviewing all pre-training homework and practicums before 6/22.

Pray for Ashley, Kristen, and Carolina, recent TCE1 graduates, who will serve as Supervisors of teens at the CYIA Training School. Pray that the Lord will help them evaluate constructively and mentor well.

Praise God for His help reaching198 souls with the message of salvation and for the 64 new professions of faith on KIDS’ DAY, JUNE 25th, at Les Gove Park in Auburn.

Pray that CEF will find an insurer who will provide Good News Clubs with liability insurance that meets the requirements of ALL school districts. Several Districts have excluded Good News Clubs by requiring extreme coverage clauses that our current insurer is not willing to cover. Specifically pray that Clubs be allowed at Cherry Crest, Cedar Trails, and Maple Hills.

Praise God for Tel-A-Story! Started here in King County in 2008 by the Ewalds, Tel-A-Story has reached more than a quarter-million kids. Pray for more counselors, “Good News Guides,” who speak to the boy or girl who presses “1” having questions, desiring prayer, or wanting to receive the Lord Jesus as Savior. A Good News Guide takes an hour shift each week. There is a script to follow. To volunteer please contact Heather at roger.heather@ yahoo.com.

Thank the Lord for faithful financial supporters, estate gifts, and fundraisers who have provided CYIA scholarships for all who needed them.

“And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

MAY 2024 PRAISES and PRAYERS

“God is real. More powerful than any forest fire, hurricane, or tsunami.” Extreme Prayer by Greg Pruett

ALEXA’s Requests:

• Wisdom to organize 5-Day Clubs and to prepare CYIA students.

• Energy to do what is needed in work each day.

• Health, strong immune system. Nathan and I have been getting sick often.

• Unity in my marriage

• Locations for 5-Day Clubs

• God to open teens’ availability to teach several 5-DCs already promised, including two with weekend-overnights at church retreats.

Pray for our nine CYIA teens to study the scriptures (for their 5 Bible lessons); pray that they will practice the Wordless Book. The first two named are new: Isaiah, Esther, Alisson, Aiden, Veronica, Alexica, Haley, Anika, & Ezekiel.

For the Ewalds: safe travel, productive ministry, good visits w fam. & friends.

Praise God for this Good News Club year: 12 Clubs with 281kids. May God follow and protect, especially the 10 who made first-time decisions. Praise for 4 Easter Party Clubs held with 43 new children reached (+ 10 Hindu parents).

Pray for children to receive Christ at Kid’s Day in Auburn June 21, 11am-4pm. Ask God to supply twelve volunteers needed to staff two Gospel-Sharing booths. (two shifts: 11-1 or 1-4pm). Workers are needed to: 1. Share the Wordless Book, 2. Run the ring- or bag- toss games, and 3. Keep track of how many children hear the gospel and how many make salvation decisions. To volunteer: please text Jan 206-618-6456.

Praise God that 879 callers heard God’s Word in the Tel-A-Story message during the month of April. Let’s be persistent in prayer for more Good News Guides needed to talk to those who press “1” after the message. Calls come in at all hours, so pray for volunteers to cover the “empty” hours each week.

APRIL 2024 PRAISES and PRAYERS

Alexa Sicoi, King County Coordinator, praises God for more teens interested in Christian Youth in Action training. She praises Him for a successful fundraiser which provided 4+ scholarships to CYIA Training this summer. Pray that God would clear family-vacation calendars to allow each trained teen to teach 3 weeks of 5-Day Clubs. Pray that God’s choice of teens will Register by the 4/20/24 deadline. “Pray that God will continue to direct me in ministry.”

Praise the Lord for Heather’s amazing opportunity to hold an Easter Party Club for 10 Hindu children and about as many parents. The kids participated enthusiastically and had many questions! Their leader requested a follow up!

Praise God for a record attendance (47) at Grace Point/Foster Tukwila’s Easter Party Club on 3/28. Three children raised hands indicating a desire for salvation. In recent weeks 3 others there were counselled for salvation and professed new faith. One of them a 9-year-old, “has trouble focusing, but clearly understood what Jesus had done for her.” Praise God for 2 other Easter Party Clubs involving 26 children and 4 counseled for salvation.

Carolina, CYIA Supervisor this summer, requests that God will provide GNC volunteer helpers who can remain committed for the full year starting in Sept.

Good News Clubs generally finish after Easter. Praise God for the many very faithful volunteers who have prepared lessons and taught or mentored children in the faith this school year. May God keep His children, help them in times of temptation, and establish them in local churches.

Praise God for 3 new children enrolled in the Mailbox Club. Pray that they will be faithful to continue.

Praise God for 7 new kids joining the Maple Hills Good News Club in March.

Thank you. Lord, for Zoom, through which children have been discipled and growing in their faith in Good News Clubs (twice weekly) these last four years. Boys and girls zoom in from different parts of the country. Some have joined the Bible Memory Club and have memorize hundreds of verses.

MARCH 2024 PRAISES and PRAYERS

Praise God: not only is He “Emmanuel” (God with us) but also, He is God for us. “For while we were still sinners Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8.

Pray for host locations for Easter Party Club outreaches, that children will learn the real reason to celebrate Easter. May all our Clubbers know in their hearts that JESUS IS ALIVE!

Seattle Times, March 1st: 64% of adults in King, Pierce & Snohomish Counties never attend church or religious services. The data comes from the ongoing Household Pulse Survey, a product of the US Census bureau. Of the 15 largest metro areas in the USA, Seattle ranked least religious. The need is great. Pray for revival among believers!

Pray for more CEF partnerships with churches and other missions that serve children. Pray for more people willing to be trained and available to teach children in Good News Clubs.

Praise God for bringing new helpers, sufficient to restart the Maple Hills Good News Club. The Club resumed March 6th. Praise God for the 24 who attended, five of them new!

Pray for Alexa Sicoi, our King County CEF Local Coordinator, during her first-time instructing the challenging course, “Teaching Children Effectively.” Pray the 10 students will study diligently now and continue as teachers afterward. They meet all-day on Saturdays.

Praise God for the 4 churches already signed up for summer 5-Day Clubs. Pray that the CYIA teens, whom God is calling to be summer missionaries, will heed His call.

Praise God for a successful Pancake Breakfast on March 9th –$2,309.76 was raised toward CYIA scholarships (our next generation of Gospel proclaimers). Good planning resulted in a delicious meal, good fellowship, a fun Silent Auction, and opportunities to chat with the waiters and waitresses (CYIA teens). Teens gave inspiring testimonies. A big thank you to everyone who worked and to everyone who attended!

Pray for CEF Office Space to rent, either N. of Seattle or East (near intersect of I-5 and I-90). CEF needs a small office, but one having extra meeting space to rent when needed. Does your church have an extra room available to rent? Contact [email protected].

Pray for Tel-A-Story Good News Guides needed to answer the phone when children press 1. CEF provides a script to use when answering the calls. This requires a 1-hr/week of your time. The 1st step to volunteering is Online Screening at cefofwa.com. Click: Get Involved.

Praise God for the life of Barbara Jean Benson who went to be with Jesus 2/21/2024. She prayed for the boys and girls in King County for many years and now has left a bequest to CEF of King County to impact children’s lives for eternity.

Let’s encourage children to join or continue doing their CEF Mailbox Club’s Bible Lessons. Only two children submitted lessons in February. Ninety-three were active last year.

FEBRUARY 2024 PRAISES and PRAYERS

“Be still and know that I AM God. I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth!” Psalm 46:10

 

Praise Him for a new Good News Club that started Jan. 30th with six children from Cherry Crest School. Thank Him for Westminster Chapel’s grace in providing space.

Praise the Lord for bringing 219 children to 12 King Co Good News Clubs since 9/1. May each of them grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior.

Praise God for faithful financial supporters. CEF in King County finished the year well “into the black” thanks to God’s gifts through faithful and generous donors.

Continued prayers, please, for Office Space in North King Co, a base of operations.

Pray for those taking TCE 1 each Saturday to become excellent children’s teachers. Pray especially for King Co. students: Amy, Ashley, Carolina, Kristen, and Instructor Alexa. It is a very challenging course! (5 Continuing Education units)

Pray for health and strength for kids’ workers so that they may be available consistently to mentor their Good News Club children. Pray for Nancy to recover from illness. Pray God’s protection against all illness.

Pray for Tel-A-Story counselors needed for 60 one-hour slots. Praise for 1,369 calls in January—326 more than in December. Volunteer at roger.heather@yahoo.

Praise God for answered prayers: Jon agreed to fill in at the Emerald Park Elementary (Kent) Good News Club since Ari started a job that conflicts with Club.

Pray for more leaders needed to teach the forty-some children (brought in by vans) at the Grace Point/Foster Tukwila Good News Club on Thursday nights. They had to cancel one week in January for lack of staff.

Please come to the CYIA Flapjack Fundraiser to help King County’s (Christian Youth in Action) teens raise tuition for their 8-day Training Camp. Camp prepares them to share God’s good news with kids in 5-Day Clubs all summer.

You’ll be able to interact with these fine young people as they serve you breakfast: Saturday, March 9th from 8:30-10:30 am at the Evangelical Chinese Church: 17460 NE 67th Court, Redmond WA 98052.

JANURAY 2024 PRAISES and PRAYERS

Praise God that He is always available and welcomes our prayers.  He can answer exceedingly abundantly beyond what we ask or think, according to His purposes.

Pray for north-end Office Space needed to conduct CEF business and to organize & store teaching materials. Snohomish Co CEF had a building donated: let’s pray big!

The “Teaching Children Effectively” course has moved to Kitap Co. Pray that both Alexa (King Co) and Miranda (Kitsap Co) will become credentialed as new TCE 1 instructors. Pray for excellence & strength for instructors and students.  1/27-3/3.

Pray for Alexa Sicoi, a new bride, who also has many new job responsibilities. She carries a new title with CEF: “Local Ministry Coordinator in King County.”  Pray Alexa does not become overwhelmed, but with God’s help works step by step.

Pray for a helper for Margie’s GNC at Emerald Park: Tuesdays after school in Kent. May the Lord increase attendance at all Good News Clubs and provide teachers & helpers so that many more boys and girls may hear of His great salvation.

Praise God for Christmas Party Clubs held all over King County where boy & girls, some new to CEF, heard the real meaning of Christmas. May they keep coming!

Praise God for faithful teachers and helpers. May the Lord give them good health and keep them actively reading His Word, so that they may be vessels fit for His service. May the Lord help us all to prioritize our time and our activities in 2024.

Mailbox Club activity was down during the holidays. May we encourage children to enroll in this Club, and for those who are enrolled to send in their Bible Lessons.

Praise God for working in Las Vegas. “The Redberry St neighborhood was recently known for its troubles. Residents of its 27 apartment buildings have endured two rival gangs, drug dealers, prostitution, car thefts, and nightly bursts of gunfire. But now thanks to a partnership between local police, Good News Club, a school, churches and other members of the Redberry Coalition, the neighborhood is reviving in important ways.”

In December CEF Tel-A-Story, created and managed by the Ewalds in Kirkland, WA, had 1,043 calls from 29 states and 2 Provinces. 106 pressed “1” to speak to a counselor. Sadly, ¼ of them received only a recording. Volunteers are needed to counsel kids! To volunteer: email [email protected].  Script provided.

Pray for State Director, Christina Herron, who carries many heavy responsibilities.

 

 

 

DECEMBER 2023 PRAISES and PRAYERS

Pray that in the busy-ness of Christmas that we do not forget that the Light of the World is in our midst. Pray we do not forget that our strength and joy is found in Him and comes through Him.

Pray that many children in King County and around the world will learn the true meaning of Christmas this year.  Pray for a large turnout of children from Moorlands Elementary as well as from the Romanian Church on December 12 at a Christmas Party Club in Kenmore. Pray also that on December 9th the Zoom-Good News Clubbers will come and invite their friends to the in-person Party Club.

Praise God that in November 2 children in the Mailbox Club completed their series and received awards.

Pray for more adults to enroll in “Teaching Children Effectively, level 1” taking place on 6 Saturdays:  January 13th–February 24th. This 34-hour course is very challenging but well worth the time and energy invested. Call Jan to enroll 206-618-6456.  Pray for strength and endurance for the 4 students and 5 instructors.

Praise God for 1,124 calls to TelAStory in November. Counselors are still needed to stand-by for one-hour slots each week. Script is provided.                                     Email Heather at [email protected] to volunteer.

Verified by MonsterInsights