"We reach more children in the summer than during the school year because each week we are in a different location," said Nadine Welk, children's ministry specialist coordinator with Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF), perhaps best known for the Good News Clubs the organization runs after school. Over the summer, CEF organizes Five-Day Clubs, vacation Bible school (VBS) programs, and Good News Camps. This year, summer programs will be held at 17 locations in Lancaster County.

Welk explained that the basic ministry curriculum is the same for all programs, which begin with a 90-minute activity period including large group game time, welcome and prayer, a Word Up period with a catchy phrase concerning the main lesson, Bible verses and songs, a Bible lesson, a review, and closing games. Five-Day Clubs, which use the 90-minute basic format, are held in host homes. For the summer of 2022, host homes have been secured in the Hempfield area, the Lampeter-Strasburg area, Lititz, Mount Joy, the city of Lancaster, Manheim, Manheim Township, and Paradise. Hosts generally invite participants to their home, where CEF summer missionaries and staff oversee the program.

VBS programs are held at churches. They add a snack and a 30-minute craft to the basic program. "The church that hosts us will provide volunteers to help with the crafts," said Welk, who explained that CEF missionaries and staff work with the church VBS director on the craft and can be present to help if needed. CEF VBS programs are lined up at seven area churches. They are Smithville Church of God in New Providence, Monday, July 11, to Friday, July 15; Victory Church, Columbia, Monday, July 18, to Friday, July 22; Conestoga United Methodist Church (UMC), Conestoga, July 18, to 22; ACTS Covenant Fellowship, Strasburg, Monday, July 25, to Friday, July 29; Christ UMC, Lancaster, July 25 to 29; Crossings Community Church, Manheim, Monday, Aug. 1, to Friday, Aug. 5; and Refton Brethren in Christ Church, Refton, Aug. 1 to 5.

Day camps, which are held weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., are scheduled for Grace Baptist Church, Marietta, July 11 to 15, and Elizabethtown Grace Church, from Monday, Aug. 8, through Friday, Aug. 12. "The difference with camp is that we add a lot of enrichment activities," said Welk. "This summer, we will be focusing on the Wordless Book, which is a way of explaining salvation to children without any written words." Campers bring their own lunches, but a snack is provided. "(For camps) we have water day on Fridays," said Welk. "The kids are encouraged to wear a bathing suit with a T-shirt over it, and we use buckets and hoses, and the kids love it."

"Our theme for all our programs this summer is 'Turned Around,'" explained Welk. "All of our lessons talk about how a belief in Jesus and a relationship with God transforms your life."

Welk said that CEF Lancaster summer missionaries and interns, ages 14 to 18, will train at Camp Harmony in western Pennsylvania in June. During their week at camp, they will learn the program and be evaluated on each part that they teach. "So it is older kids teaching younger about Jesus," said Welk.

Space is limited in the camps, and registration for each program is required one week before the program starts. Children may be registered for a program by clicking on the "summer programs" button at http://www.ceflancaster.org. Readers who have specific questions may call 717-569-5412.