Amelia Elementary Off to a Great Start
On February 24th a team from Lindale Baptist Church began their Good News Club at the nearest elementary school to their church, Amelia Elementary. The club meets in the art room with 20 students, most of whom are in the younger grades. The children were attentive and enjoyed club which is easy with the vivacious and engaging teachers including both pastors, their family members and church members. Kathy Plavsik, a substitute teacher at the school came to observe and joined the team and the church.
Each new club has a learning curve and this club had a very quick one. It takes a little time to get into the groove and also figure out how the school office processes work for after-school clubs The club was doing very well at week three when COVID-19 hit. As disappointing as it was, the club is looking forward to starting up again plus possibly starting a second club in the fall. Thank you, Lindale Baptist!
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Lindale Baptist Church Team at Amelia Elementary
Back Row: Karen Holt, Associate Pastor Kyle Cox, Michelle Cox, Senior Pastor Ja Henline, Kathy Vandergriff, George Vandergriff
Front Row: Kathy Plavsik, Meagan Henline, Emily Henline
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Top Row: Pastor Kyle and Pastor Ja (aka Superman) introduce the "Three Questions" song and Pastor Ja plays the Bible lesson review game.
Bottom Row: Students learning the Memory Verse and more fun and games.
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Did You Know?
Four out of five Cincinnati area Good News Clubs are sponsored by churches.
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Rockdale Academy in Avondale Debuts
On the same day Amelia Elementary School started their club out in the country, Rockdale Academy began its urban club in Avondale. CEF Cincinnati contacted the school in October after we faced a dead end attempting to restart a club at Lincoln Heights Elementary School where team leader, Sally Bickett, had previously served. After working through the proper Cincinnati Public Schools channels, Rockdale Elementary started February 24th.
The team of four is comprised of well-seasoned Good News Club volunteers. In addition to Sally Bickett, Linda Williams joined who previously served as team leader at Western Row Elementary in Mason before the school closed and combined with Mason Intermediate and Rob Pritchett was part of the team in Milford's Pebble Brooke Apartments. Joe Boyatt is the Bible lesson teacher and he and his wife, Ruth, had a club at Brent Elementary in Finneytown for three years. Ruth currently serves on the chapter's CEF committee and focuses on training.
By week three when COVID-19 led to school closures the club was running well and had grown to16 students. The team is looking forward to next year and thankful for the time they had to make connections with school personnel and start building relationships with them and the students.
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Joe Boyatt teaches the Bible lesson in God: The Creator King to engaged students.
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Plan B and C, D E .....
Many of the area's Good News Clubs were in progress when schools closed so clubs are looking for ways to complete the year and connect with the kids. There are many ideas in progress including gathering at a park in the summer to wrap up, airing pre-recorded videos of club, live streaming clubs and using online CEF resources. Please pray for these clubs looking for ways to finish out the year if schools do not reopen.
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We also covet your prayers for our clubs for next year, especially the new ones that were just getting established. Students and volunteers alike are disappointed but do trust in our great God to continue His work.
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CEF Resources for Good News Clubs
During the quarantine CEF headquarters has made a number of resources available to clubs to keep students engaged.
- www.cefonline.com/4kids is a new YouTube channel that kids can go to for lessons, songs and other information. It is being added to each week.
- In a crisis children often wonder why and how God would let this happen. "Do You Wonder Why?" is an online video and pamphlet that answers this question. It's at www.cefonline.com/why.
- Clubs can get ideas and offer ideas on how to keep their clubs going through an idea network. It's at www.cefonline.com/ideas. You'll need a password to get in and it's 1937 (the year CEF started).
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God's Bible School Students Evangelize the Community
In February, 2019 we got a call from Kirsten Stroup, an education major at God's Bible School in Clifton. She wanted to start a Good News Club at Taft Elementary, the closest elementary school to her college. Kirsten was familiar with CEF growing up in Indiana and saw Good News Club as a great opportunity to minister to the community. She found three other students to join her and the team came to kick-off training in September and launched their club November 6th.
Kirsten Stroup married over the summer and is now Kirsten Manley. She and the team completed God:The Creator King in the fall and resumed club after Christmas break with Jesus: God of Power and Glory.
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Left: Taft team at September training - Zac Potteiger, Kirsten Manley, Khara Burley, and Karissa Bird
Right: Karissa Bird, Kirsten Manley and Khara Burley at club.
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The Taft Elementary club is on the smaller size and interest was growing when COVID-19 took hold. Although disappointing, we thank the Lord that in His providence three of the four team members are returning in the fall and will be continuing this club while one of the team is scheduled to graduate this spring. The plan to keep the club going is to find new students to carry on as Kirsten and others graduate.
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CEF Cincinnati Volunteers, Friends and Supporters - Save the Date!
Year-end Good News Club Celebration Luncheon
Thursday, May 14, 2020
Noon to 1:30 PM
Grace Bible Presbyterian Church
12060 Lebanon Road
Sharonville, Ohio 45241
If the luncheon needs to be rescheduled we will alert you.
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