Missions to the 4/14 Window- a new name to an old emphasis

Luis Bush, who wrote a booklet on missions to the 10/40 window, has now written a challenge to what he calls the 4/14 window- “Raising Up a New Generation from the 4/14 window to Transform the World”.(www.4to14Window.com)

What or who is the 4/14 window?  The 10/40 window emphasized a geographical area.  The 4/14 window is a demographic group- children, ages 4 to 14.  Why?  Because as the chart shows, if we are to fulfill the Great Commission, we must reach the 85% who are humble, trustful, and welcomed by our Savior (Matthew 18:1-6).  They not only need to be evangelized but they also need to be empowered by that gospel to transform their world.  They are the “presence of the future” – the church of today, not tomorrow!

As we examine the population of the world’s 1.2 billion children, we see that most of them are in the 10/40 window geographically.  Here in Harrisonburg, VA, we have these children coming from 64 countries speaking 46 different languages.  Our “4/14 window” of the “10/40 window” is on our doorstep, our neighborhood, our schools.  And the door of opportunity is open to reach them with the gospel and empower them to serve the Savior.

            Child Evangelism Fellowship® has been emphasizing this open door for over 70 years, reaching into 59 nations around the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Their main program for reaching the children is the Good News Club®, a one hour, after-school Bible club.  The CEF ministry of Shenandoah Valley has been under development for less than three years now with four Good News Clubs in Harrisonburg, one in Strasburg, and a party club in Middletown.

            A present opportunity has opened up in the Boys & Girls Clubs of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County.  We have been given the open door to offer a Good News Club as an elective activity in their program.  Already clubs are being planned for Lucy Simms Community Center, Plains Elementary in Timberville, and South River in Grottoes.  I plan on teaching these initially, but teams are needed to assume the leadership as soon as possible. 

            Another opportunity this summer is to conduct day camps at these Boys & Girls Clubs.  Three camps are already scheduled: July 6-10 at Ralph Sampson Park/Simms Community Center, July 20-24 at Plains Elementary in Timberville, and July 27-31 at South River in Grottoes.  The theme will be “Creation Discoveries” – an adventure in God’s creation that will take them from the Creator to the Redeemer.

 

Teacher Training Workshop:  A training workshop has been scheduled to train and equip teams to conduct these clubs and to assist in the Creation Discovery Day Camps this summer.   It will be held at the Lucy Simms Community Center, Room 103, on May 29^th from 6:00-9:00 PM and May 30^th from 9:00-2:00.  There will be no cost for the training but donations will be welcome.  CEF is faith-based ministry, trusting God through His family to provide the resources needed to evangelize and disciple the children.  The training will equip you to evangelize children, to counsel them for salvation, to present an effective, evangelistic Bible lesson, and much more.  If you would like to attend, contact me by calling 540-746-0313 or by email at tedunc@gmail.com