About CEF

Mission:

Welcome to Santa Barbara County Chapter of Child Evangelism Fellowship also known as CEF. We are  a Bible-centered, worldwide organization that is dedicated to seeing every child reached with the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, discipled and established in a local church.

For more than 70 years God has been usingChild Evangelism Fellowship to bring the love of Jesus Christ to children around the world. The Word of God puts a high priority on children. They are near to God’s heart and we believe that He is uniquely concerned about their spiritual welfare. Without the foundation of a relationship with God and training in Biblical principles for life they are unequipped to face what life will throw at them.

With workers in 170 countries around the worldCEF^® has personal, individual ministry with more than 10 million children last year. God has given us a passion to not only bring children into a right relationship with God, but to disciple them in His Word and establish them in Bible teaching churches so that they can become mature in their faith

Our local chapter has seen tremendous success. Having been in 10 public schools last year with over 300 children attending, over 30 professions of faith, and a handful of whole families now attending church regularly, we have seen God working in our community!

We reach kids through many different types of evangelistic programs, but the two most identified with the organization are 5-Day Club^® and Good News Club^®. These two exciting ministries take place in neighborhood settings such as homes, backyards, schools and community centers all over the world. These fast-paced, one-hour programs are designed to bring the Gospel of Christ to children on their level in their environment.

Staff-Volunteers-Board Members

Colleen Ishimaru-Executive Director

Colleen began her career with CEF in the Redondo/Manhattan Beach area almost 20 years ago. While working in the preschool Sunday school department of her church, then called Community Baptist, she was impressed with a song visual that one of the other teachers was using for the class. When Colleen asked about it, she was told it was produced by CEF – Child Evangelism Fellowship. Colleen was so intrigued with the material that she visited there local store on PCH in Redondo Beach and it was then that she began her rewarding relationship with an organization that teaches and trains people to love kids and to teach them God’s Word.

Colleen, along with her husband, Si, served as the local director of the South Bay (Torrance, Manhattan, Redondo and Hermosa Beach, Palos Verdes, Rolling Hills, Hawthorne, Gardena, Lawndale) Chapter of CEF beginning in 1996. During their five years of service with this chapter they served almost 2000 children each year – through Good News, 5 Day and (one day) Party Clubs, and through the Mailbox Club and other CEF programs. In 2002, Colleen served at the first Good News Club to be held at a public school in California. The following year, she and her family came north to our fair community on the South Coast to serve the kids and their families in Santa Barbara, Goleta, Montecito and Carpinteria.

2003 saw the start of Good News Clubs at local schools – Ellwood, Isla Vista and Hollister. Every year since, a new club has opened in a new location – a total of more than 20 clubs in the last 7 years, serving more than 500 children!

Colleen has experience as a children’s director at different churches, a director of aquatics and other children’s programs at three different YMCA’s, as well as other child care and recreational organizations. She is a graduate of Biola University in La Mirada, CA and the Children’s Ministries Institute (a division of CEF) in Warrenton, MO. She and her husband have a combined total of 7 children and 5 grandchildren, four of whom have assisted with CEF here in Santa Barbara and in the South Bay.

Although she would never admit it herself she is one of the greatest teachers and trainers in the country. Her training is extensive and she is brings a level of leadership to our chapter that is the envy of chapters across the country!