2021 is the Platinum Anniversary of CEF of South Carolina!
One way we’re celebrating is to highlight one of our staff members each week. (You can read more about our 70th Anniversary on our blog here.)
This week, meet Paul Mullen! He is the Director of Stewardship here at CEF Greenville. He was introduced to Child Evangelism Fellowship, when a child, through CEF materials. His mother taught a home Bible club for neighborhood children one afternoon each week during the school year. When he started working with CEF Greenville, he realized how much of his foundational understanding of the Gospel was because of a faithful teacher/mother using CEF materials. He has been working here at CEF Greenville for 7 years. After being a pastor for thirty years, he says,” I very much wanted to, need to, continue in ministry. CEF has afforded me that opportunity, one that is a constant joy.” Here are some memorable moments for Paul during his time serving the ministry:
Paul as a child.
My favorite part of CEF ministry, apart from the children, is working with or talking with our ministry volunteers and/or donors—particularly the elderly. My first Good News Club experience was at Taylors Elementary. Siting with the children was a group of mostly older people from Taylors First Baptist Church. In their retirement years they were still giving themselves to others—to children. I, of course, knew that this was true because giving was the habit of their lives. I became friends that day with one elderly gentleman in particular, Clyde Wright, a retired pastor. I watched that dear old man lower himself, with some effort, to the floor where he became one with his children. His love for them was on full display, a love that was returned by the children. When club was over, Pastor Wright asked me to help him stand. I will never forget the next few minutes we had together—as he shared his gentle heart with me. I later told his grandson, Kinley, that I wanted to grow up to be just like his grandfather. The strength of our ministry is found in the giving hearts of our volunteers.
The first event that I was a part of, when new on staff, was the spring Golf Classic. I barley knew the staff and knew only a few of our volunteers. What I witnessed that day has stayed with me through the many events in which I have had the joy participating. That memory is of a staff and volunteers who gave themselves not just to the success of an event, to the needs of those attending. The joy of serving others was seen in each individual. The Lord used that first event and the people who made it a logistical and spiritual success, to make certain in my heart the privileged place He had given me a member of the CEF family.
It is the seeming inclination for us to gravitate to the “good” children and away from the “bad”. I could share many happy stories about the “good” children I have had in Good News Club, but I want to tell you about one of the “bad” kids. Lisa (not her real name) was determined that she was going to rule our table of nine fifth graders. She was contrary, bitterly sarcastic and mean. I was constantly breaking up fights that she started for no other reason than to be disruptive. After three weeks of getting very little accomplished during grade shepherding time, I told Lisa that she would have to decide, by her behavior, if she was going to be allowed to come back to club. Even though I tried to be gentle and loving with her, she let me know that she would not be coming back. The next week I was disappointed when she wasn’t there, carrying through on her threat. I sent her a card that week, letting her know that we missed her. When I walked into the club the next week Lisa was waiting for me at the door. She very sweetly apologized and asked if she could stay. She was a changed kid, even going so far as to ask me if she was being good. She was. In fact, that day she was awarded the Quiet Seat prize, which she accepted as though it was something of great worth. This “bad” kid from a very bad home situation had learned a life changing lesson—God loves her and so do God’s people.
