Back in early 2008, right after Mandi and I got married, Mandi got a job for a few months working as a bank teller. As a bank teller, she directly interacted with the customers. There was a teller manager who helped oversee the tellers, and handled all of the escalated or complex banking transactions. Then there was a branch manager who was ultimately responsible for the whole banking branch.

However a couple times during that season, Mandi got to meet the district manager for the nationwide bank she worked for. This district manager (DM) was directly responsible for each of the branches, primarily communicating with each of the branch managers. The DM spent time understanding the various policies and procedures that the corporate office put out, met with nationwide VPs for the bank, and helping to solve any issues that the various branches had.

Each branch was different. Mandi would alternate branches at times and she would see the differences between the locations. Different workers, different customers, every branch had a different ‘culture’.

If the district manager did his/her job well, every branch would be healthy. The branch manager’s job would be easier, able to spend time with the customers instead of trying to understand a new policy or procedure. The tellers would be well trained, able to handle any customer that walked through the door. And ultimately, the branches would bring financial success to the bank. The district manager’s job was essential to be done well so that each individual branch would be both profitable and have efficient employee retention.

Why did I spend all this time explaining the ins and outs of banking hierarchy? Because in our region of Child Evangelism Fellowship, this example is almost directly related. The ‘customers’ are the children that we reach in our discipleship and evangelism ministries.

The ‘tellers’ and ‘teller managers’ are the Good News Club volunteers, Good News Club team leaders and board members.

The ‘branch managers’ are the national directors of each unique island nation. The ‘nationwide VPs’ are the regional directors and the ‘nationwide bank headquarters’ is of course CEF international headquarters. And I serve as a ‘district manager’ in this example, helping each ‘branch’ in my specific area to be as successful as possible. I travel back and forth to the ‘branches’ as needed and I serve the ‘branch managers.’

Except a major difference is that CEF is not a for-profit business focused on the bottom line, we are a non-profit ministry focused on helping local churches build the Kingdom of God in their country through outreach to children. I serve as an area director to help each nation of the area we serve to be healthy, thriving and locally sustainable.

And YOU are the ‘bank’ investors! You deserve regular ‘quarterly updates’ and ‘press releases’ on the results of your investment of your prayers and financial gifts. You are clearly directly interested in how your investment is making an impact on the Kingdom of God. We thank you so much for joining us on the path of ministry as we serve with and alongside those in the North Caribbean and Bermuda. We are all one team, serving together so that every child on every island will be reached with the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ!

November 8-12, 2018 I (Sean) went to Grand Cayman to assist CEF of the Cayman Islands with training new members of the national board and also with their first major promotional event!

CEF was locally established as a Caymanian Non-Profit Organization earlier in 2018, and so they desired to hold their first major promotional event to share about the ministry with the community in Grand Cayman.

The Cayman Islands are well known around the world, a beautiful twin-island country full of history and unique characteristics. It is one of the top diving sites in the world and one of the top-five centers for global business law and banking. But did you also know that there are millions of iguanas…so much so that there is a bounty of $6 USD per iguana? And did you also know that there are countless wild chickens and roosters that walk around?

CEF of the Cayman Islands also desired training for their new board members, so a second main priority of the trip was spending time with the national board to train the new members.

As I have shared in the past, I always try to travel with someone so that they can see the ministry first hand. However, I specifically try to bring someone who can strategically assist with the objectives of the trip. So it was a joy to travel with my long time friend Chris Carver, a Montgomery banker and CEF of Central Alabama committee chairman! Chris brought a wealth of experience to the table, able to speak to fellow national board members as a committee member himself.

The training went excellent, with us learning more about what the national board was already doing in the Cayman Islands, and us sharing policies, board responsibilities and strategic vision planning. It was an excellent time with the CEF Cayman national board.

The Cayman Islands has a population of 60,000-70,000 people, with 160 nations represented in only 76 sq miles! It is an incredibly diverse place.

The Cayman Islands may be a top tourist destination, but it does have its challenges. Over the past 5-10 years there has been great cause for the local people to be concerned for their nation, with a loss of many of the young men and women of their country. This has been heartbreaking for the mothers and fathers of these teenagers and young adults, and the local church wants to change the direction of their nation.

However, as Dr. Bramwell (CEF national coordinator) told me, “We (the Cayman Islands) are a small island nation, but we have the problems just like anybody else. But God is able, He knows all the challenges and He is is greater!“

One side highlight for me but also a strategic opportunity for CEF Cayman was a furthering of the relationship with First Baptist Church Grand Cayman. I have personally been spiritually enriched by God’s Word as taught by Thabiti Anyabwile, and he was the senior pastor there for many years. We were able to meet with pastoral staff there and invite folks to come to the promotional brunch.

The promotional brunch went extremely well, with a full room of folks from many different churches. The ministry vision was shared clearly, and there continues to be fruit from this major event. Here is footage from the event and plenty of pictures!

When the brunch was over, and everything was cleaned up, everyone was quite tired from the weekends events. But Chris Carver and I are Auburn Football fans, and we couldn’t miss watching Auburn beat the snot out of (unfortunately lose big time to) Georgia!

Sunday morning we worshiped at Cayman Islands Baptist Church, and many of the CEF Cayman Islands national board members joined us. CEF Cayman was recognized in the service, and we are grateful for their partnership with CEF in the Cayman Islands!

Sunday afternoon was an extra special blessing, we spent time with the national board over a delicious meal, chatting together and building relationships as I continue to work with each of them and serve them in ministry.

Will you pray for CEF of the Cayman Islands, for Dr. Caris Bramwell and for the children of the Cayman Islands? CEF Good News Clubs are working. One principal told me during the trip: “Since GNC, there are children walking down the school yard singing GNC songs, detention visits have gone down in my school. There is a new spirit among the children at my school.“

As Dr. Bramwell said: “There are 12,000 children under 12, we must reach them all!“

September 19-24 I (Sean) was in Bermuda to serve, train and equip the CEF nation-wide ministry there. This summer CEF Bermuda held their first Christian Youth In Action training and they commissioned ten local teenagers! They divided them into two teams and those local Bermudian teenagers taught hundreds of children in 15 5-Day Clubs! Almost every corner of Bermuda had a 5-Day Club nearby!

The CEF ministry there is led by Dr. Melvyn Bassett, a dynamic gentleman who has spent decades creating a better future for Bermuda through its public school system. He was a principal for many years and God used him mightily in that role. When he retired, he later became the volunteer CEF national coordinator! Melvyn is a faithful worker that cares about local churches reaching all of Bermuda. Melvyn personally has been an encouragement to me as a husband, father and leader. I have learned so much from his example and fountain of wisdom in every conversation.

A blessing on this specific trip was that my pastor James Williams and his wife Barbara were able to join me on this trip! This was a vision trip for them to see firsthand what we do as missionaries and also how our church could be more specifically involved. I was so thankful for the time spent with them but also their special blessing to the trip. James and Barbara faithfully encouraged everyone they met and James spoke on Saturday and Sunday mornings at the main CEF event and also at Dr. Melvyn’s church.

I had three main objectives:

1. Train, equip, assess and encourage the CEF national board

2. Assist CEF Bermuda with their GNC volunteer appreciation brunch

3. Have meetings with various Bermudian officials and leaders regarding the CEF region and a few upcoming possible events

All of the objectives were met and it was a very fruitful trip!

The CEF Bermuda chapter is very healthy. On the detailed assessment survey, a national board member stated: “I cannot help but give my all!” This is the attitude of everyone involved, they believe strongly in both the priority and urgency of the vision of every child in Bermuda being reached and they are acting on that vision.

The beautiful room and table settings for the GNC volunteer appreciation brunch!

On Saturday morning Dr. Bassett said: “This morning is the first time the entire CEF Bermuda family has been all gathered in one place.” CEF Bermuda held their first annual Good News Club volunteer appreciation breakfast, they have six Good News Clubs in elementary schools! Pastor James Williams gave the main address to give appreciation to all the volunteers, and then afterwards the national board met and I presented the chapter assessment. I worked together with them on best practices and recommended a course of action.

Places like Bermuda have such an overwhelming reputation as solely a vacation destination, but when you strip away the tourism industry and the beauty of the beaches and the island, you have a key strategic place for reaching the next generation in global missions. Bermuda is the quiet hub of the global economy. The children of today are truly the next set of global thinkers and business leaders. Just one example, one of the CEF national board members for Bermuda has met and worked with four US presidents. Thankful for a thriving CEF ministry there mobilizing churches to reach all the kids.

On Sunday morning Pastor James preached the sermon at Dr. Bassett’s church and I preached the sermon at Rev. Steven Powell’s church.

Pray for Rev Steven Powell (L) as he serves as the CEF national board chairman and Dr Melvyn Bassett (R) as he serves as the national coordinator for CEF.

Pray also for Mandi and me as we serve CEF Bermuda in ministry!