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 Saviour.
Later as a pastor 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.”
Charles Spurgeon
The Lord used this statement in Overholtzer’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 over 185 countries. The International Headquarters are in Warrenton, U.S.A.
CEF Europe
Since 1947, when five missionaries arrived in Europe from USA, the work has grown to become one of the largest children’s missions serving throughout the continent.
The CEF Europe region stretches from Greenland in the west to Russia in the east and from Finland in the north to Cyprus in the south. Over 630 CEF workers are assisted by many thousands of volunteer teachers and committee members. A CEF ministry exists in every country of the region.
It is encouraging to know that over 900,000 children learn of the Saviour each year through various methods of outreach. Thousands of Christians attend teacher training courses and CEF teaching materials are available in 38 European languages. CEF is committed to taking the life-changing message of the Gospel to all children.
CEF Britain
CEF was introduced in Britain in 1947 when Mr. & Mrs. D. Wisner from USA came over for 6 months to demonstrate CEF lesson materials and challenge Christians to evangelize boys and girls. The work got a more permanent character when in 1950 the first CEF missionaries from USA, Mr. Art and Mrs. Lucille Nickel, arrived in Britain. They established the first National Office in Cardiff. Since then the CEF work has been led from offices in Wimbledon, Shrewsbury, Manchester, Glasgow and is now being co-ordinated from Poole.