The Child Evangelism Fellowship loves to share the Gospel with children. One of its tools is the Good News Club. For the fourth year, Greenville County Good News Clubs directed the Good News Spectacular, a free all-day event for children and their families. Not only did BJU sponsor the event for the third time, but 225 students volunteered to help run the event.
This year’s event, held on February 23, offered 7,000 people a fun day packed with activities, snacks and the good news of Jesus Christ.
Understanding the Vision
“As Christians, we are called to be aggressive about our evangelism,” said ministry coordinator Debbie Howell. “[At CEF] our heart is for children.” After realizing the number of latchkey children in the Greenville, Anderson, Oconee and Pickens counties that cannot attend Good News Clubs, the Greenville County team “felt the urgency for them to hear the Gospel.”
The team wanted a way to bring all those children together for a single Gospel-filled day, and the Good News Spectacular was born. From the center stage acts to the vendors, the large-scaled celebration shared the Gospel with all who entered.
Partnering with BJU
The University always encourages students to serve others, especially in the greater Greenville area. When offered the chance to be part of the Spectacular three years ago, the answer was a resounding yes.
The outreach coordinator of the BJU Center for Global Opportunities, agrees that the event is a great evangelistic opportunity. He said the value was in bringing together thousands of children “for the purpose of not only having a fun day but also to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with many of them who have never heard an accurate or full presentation of the Gospel before.”
Volunteering for the Gospel
The 225 students who volunteered spent one or two three-hour shifts at the Greenville Convention Center, working different stations. While the children enjoyed puppet and magic shows at center stage, some students manned inflatables, served popcorn and snow cones, and welcomed families to the event. Other volunteers made salvation bracelets, face-painted or helped clean up.
Senior Daniel Kim said, “[The Good News Spectacular] has been such a unique community service that allowed us as Christians to show God’s love through serving the kids and the parents. One of the parents told me that she found out about GNS last year, and she could not wait to come back.”
