Candace's Story

Our friends from CEF of South Carolina gave us permission to share the following testimony that appears on their Web site. This is another powerful reminder of why we do what we do!

This was her first time to a CEF after-school Good news Club, but Candace really liked the songs, games, and especially the Bible lesson. As the volunteer teacher told the story from God’s Word, Candace listened intently. "...and God has made the promise from Hebrews 13:5, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’…"

As the invitation was given at the end of the Bible lesson, Candace responded. "I want to know the God that will never leave you." she said beginning to weep. She wept deeply as she explained why she wanted so desperately to know ‘the God who would never leave her’. Months earlier, her mother decided she would no longer care for little Candace. So, her Grandmother took her in and began to love Candace in a way she had never been loved before.

Months had passed and ‘Grandmomma’ began to get sick—so sick that she could no longer care for the little girl. When Candace’s mother was called upon to begin caring for her once again, her mother refused and signed the child over to the State. Now living in a foster home, Candace was being cared for but she so missed the love and attention she had received from her Grandmother.

"Will God really promise to never leave me? Will He hear me if I talk to Him about my Grandmomma?"

That day, Candace accepted the love and salvation of God. She still hurts and wants to be with her Grandmother but she has found a new relationship that she is growing in - a relationship with the Almighty God.

The volunteer workers at the after-school Good News Club are continuing to help Candace grow in her new found relationship through visits and guiding her through a special discipleship tool called The Wonder Devotional Book. Through this two month devotional and additional volumes to follow, Candace, and all the children who come to Good News Club, are not only learning about God but are learning how to spend time with ‘the God who will never leave them nor forsake them’. That’s really good news, especially for little Candace.

It is amazing how many children come to an after-school Good News Club with such heart-wrenching stories. Children just like Candace are finding hope in a real and everlasting relationship with Jesus Christ.

There are so many hurting children like Candace, who need to know the Father’s love. You might want to share Candace’s story with your TCE students as a reminder of why we need to know how to effectively present the Gospel and lead children to Christ. We’re glad those volunteer teachers in Candace’s club were well trained in how to evangelize the children and then follow them up. Because of them—and the work of the IOTs who trained them—Candace has the opportunity, not only to know God, but to develop deep roots in her relationship with Him.

Thank you to all of you who are faithfully training those teachers and volunteer workers. May God continue to multiply your efforts so that children around the world can come to know the God who will never leave or forsake them!