This week in Christian history: Roger Williams’ book burned, CEF founder dies
Child Evangelism Fellowship founder dies – Aug. 6, 1955
This week marks the anniversary of when Jesse Irvin Overholtzer, the founder and first leader of the influential youth ministry group Child Evangelism Fellowship, died at age 78.
A native of Banta, California, Overholtzer founded CEF in 1937, having been inspired by a quote from English preacher and writer Charles Spurgeon: “A child of five, if properly instructed can as truly believe and be regenerated as an adult.”
“Overholtzer became affectionately known as “Mr. O” as he reached children with the joyful truth of the gospel,” explained The D. L. Moody Center. “He knew the beautiful simplicity of child-like faith. One summer, he led 5,000 children on the streets of Chicago to faith in Jesus using the Wordless Book.”
“Since its founding in 1937, CEF has reached hundreds of millions of children around the world with the message of salvation by grace through faith.”
CEF oversees the Good News Club, a Christian student club that meets in public elementary schools outside of class hours and boasts of having approximately 5,000 chapters nationwide.
