World famous evangelist, Luis Palau got his start in CEF?

Luis Palau, world renowned evangelist, spoke at a CEF conference last Tuesday night.   He told the gathered audience of over 1000 CEF missionaries from around the world attending the Conference about his start in evangelism.

It seems that back in Argentina, over 60 years ago, there were two CEF missionary ladies – one from England, the other from South Dakota, who came to Luis’ home town. Luis was a young teenager and these two saints recruited him, as well as his brother and sisters and other teens to lead CEF 5 Day Clubs during the coming summer.

Last week Tuesday, Palau went into great detail, as he remembered the scriptures he learned and then taught to young children as well as how the ladies instructed him on how to lead a child to Christ. Palau also remembers that one of the women taught him that if he could lead a 12 year old boy to Christ, he could lead the Queen of England.

Many years later, Palau had almost that very opportunity. He was invited to a formal dinner with British royalty which was attended by Princess Alexandra, cousin to Queen Elizabeth II. It was at that dinner that Palau had the opportunity to give the plan of salvation to the princess, remembering the counsel of the CEF missionary. Apparently, that evening the princess, in the sanctuary of her room, asked the Lord Jesus Christ to be her savior! She graciously reported the details to Mr. Palau in a note sent a few days later. In the note she said that while she had asked the Lord Jesus Christ to be her savior, her husband was not ready. Several years later however, Palau had the opportunity to meet her again. This time she told him that her husband, Sir Angus Oligivy now had made that same decision!

Who knew, that this dynamic crusader for Jesus Christ, who has given the gospel message to over a billion people in his lifetime, with over a million of them dedicating their lives to Christ, got his beginning with Child Evangelism Fellowship!

And who knew that CEF is now working in 176 countries throughout the world, including Iraq and Iran, and on track to have missionaries in all 207 by 2017 – the CEF 80th anniversary! “Around the World in 80 Years!” Who knew that almost 11,000,000 children heard the message of Jesus Christ and His salvation through Good News Clubs around the world this past year?! And that our goal is to reach 14 million next year!

And finally, who knew that CEF of Santa Barbara had 303 children enrolled in our local Good News Clubs this past year, with over 75 children inviting Christ to be Lord and Savior of their life?!

To God be the Glory! Thank you for being a part!

P.S. We are looking for leaders and teachers for our summer camps. We also hope to expand our Good News Clubs in the Santa Barbara area by 50% next year and will need teachers and leaders starting in October. Come and be a part of this exciting ministry. Maybe you will lead the next Luis Paulu to Christ! Click here to learn more.