Winter 2018

Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas Friends,
We are beginning our 2018-2019 school year on an optimistic note. Out of the 34 elementary schools in Collier County, there are 20 that have Good News Clubs. We have 3 new clubs this year, including our very first middle school club, “Jesus & You Connection,” or JYC™. We are so excited to be able to reach our middle schoolers with the Truth! The Lord has been so faithful to open these doors and raise up the workers!
There are over 70 returning volunteers and 34 new volunteers that serve in Good News Clubs. They come from all over our area and from the 6 churches who partner with us yearly to reach children in our community. We almost lost one club at Laurel Oak Elementary when the sponsoring church was unable to continue doing the club, but Covenant Church of Naples has stepped up to keep it going this year! Please pray for our sponsoring churches! What a blessing they are to our community and our children!


We have made special efforts to recruit new volunteers and church sponsors this year. Please share the benefits of Good News Clubs with family, friends, neighbors, Sunday Schools, and pastors. Good News Clubs positively affect the children that attend, their friends, their families, their schools, and ultimately our community.
I would ask that you prayerfully consider a monetary donation to support our ongoing efforts to reach the children of Collier County. You may donate right here online:
May God Bless you and your family during this Christmas season.
“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel” – which means “God with us” Matthew 1:23
Al Winterman
Chairman, Collier County Board
The Light of the World
Isn’t it wonderful to look back and see how the Lord has changed us? I’m amazed at how much He has done in my life and I’m so thankful He keeps working on me. I am naturally a task oriented person. I like to check off lists, plan and organize. Don’t tell anyone, but I really like things to be “perfect.” I know its not possible, but that’s still what I would like. So, when I took the Director position for the ministries of Child Evangelism Fellowship® in Collier County, I wanted to have really well structured and organized Good News Clubs. We would strive to have the best program possible.
But the Lord has corrected me, because my focus should not be on the program. Programs cannot save. No matter how perfect they are. Instead, He reminded me that WE are the light of the world! Everyone one of us that have believed in the Lord Jesus, who have been saved by grace, are placed in this world to be THE LIGHT! It is Christ in us that saves! It isn’t programs or techniques that bring children to Christ, but people who step out, sacrifice and obey the Lord. People who go where they are called and people who support them through giving and prayer.
It is good to try to have an organized, well planned club and to prevent as much chaos as possible, but it isn’t having a perfect club that saves children. It is God’s people living and loving the world the way that He does that brings children and people to himself. So, I am still working to help our volunteers have a great program, but more than that I want to remind them who they are. That it is the life of Christ in them that is shining in our schools. We may not be perfect or have perfect clubs, but Jesus is using us to make an eternal difference in this world! So, this Christmas, I want to thank you for following Christ and making Good News Clubs possible! Whether you are called to pray, give or go, thank you for being the Light of the World!
Lori McGraw, Local Director

Thank You Lord!
We are praising God for helping us to successfully launch our website, “Good News in Collier.” In the last two months, without any real advertising we have had almost 100 children register online! We are so thankful to the Lord for this new avenue to Good News Club! In January we will begin advertising on the radio and we are expecting God to continue to bless this ministry and bring the children in!
Our website has information about Good News Clubs so that people can learn more about the ministry, how to volunteer, donate and register their children for Good News Club. The more people who visit the site, the easier it is for people to find it, so please, visit our website by typing goodnewsincollier.com into your browser. Share on social media by clicking on one of the buttons below. Thank you and Marry Christmas!