By: Michelle Jones, Follow South Jersey Corresponding Writer
SALEM, N.J. – Salem County has approximately 15,000 children with about 11,000 of them being school aged according to Censusreporter.org. While that is a lot of children, every one of them is in the heart and mind of a wonderful children’s ministry team from Salem City, fully dedicated to loving each and every child they encounter by meeting their needs while teaching them about the love of God.
Claudia Fuse, the coordinator and facilitator of children’s ministry at Spirit Life Church has a gift for bringing people together, facilitating programming, and praying for each and every person she meets. However, Fuse is quick to point out that she is not alone.
“It takes a team of dedicated and loving adults to make a difference in a child’s life,” she explained
While not all could attend the interview, there are a large number of people who have a heart for children’s ministry and who are making a huge impact on the lives of children from all around this county.
Joanna Wolfe is the director of Salem County’s Children’s Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) and is responsible for ensuring that after school bible clubs are available for any child who wishes to attend. As the world’s largest mission agency for children, established in 1938, they have planted The Good News Club in 10 schools county wide. The clubs are designed for children ages 5 through 14 and are focused on biblical teaching and connecting children to local churches to ensure a well rounded upbringing for those children and families that are interested. These clubs have also been held in homes, yards, churches, daycares, community buildings and playgrounds.
Along with Wolfe from CEF is Pastor Skip Kite. Kite trains the Good News Club leaders and teachers and now even trains Pastors. He is involved in Fellowship International Mission and has a dual focus of reaching both children and adults to grow the body of Christ. He is currently training Salem’s very own Helena Johnson in evangelism and teaching to help enhance her work at St. John’s Day Care and her church. It is Johnson’s desire and passion to bring more fellowship to the community linking people from all walks of life together to grow the kingdom of God.
But the team hardly stops there. Elder Tom Orsini who has been at Spirit Life Fellowship for 30 years is a critical part of making children’s ministry happen at his church and throughout the community. Not only has he worked with children here, but he also led children’s ministries in Jamaica and Guatemala. His ministry spans from teaching the children to Wednesday night classes, to soup kitchens, and to prayer walks.
Along with Elder Tom, Deacon Phil Taylor is by his side. Taylor has worked in the children’s ministry teaching ages 6-12 and now continues at Spirit Life Fellowship with teaching the men’s ministry and is involved with the praise and worship team. Phil ensures that what is taught to the children continues in adulthood.
However, no ministry team is complete without a dedicated prayer partner, and so it is with CEF. Patty Allen is a beautiful prayer warrior. Allen explains that she is a product of Children’s Evangelism Fellowship and has a passion for praying for the leaders and children involved. She explained that it was this program that formed her as a human and developed her love for the Lord.
One person unable to attend the meeting was Minister Michelle Parsley, who along with Allen, is a consistent prayer warrior, with a heart for children’s ministry and evangelism. Along with this mission she would like to see more activities in Salem for the children such as bus trips to museums and more family involvement with the church community. This feeling was echoed throughout the team along with other desires like joint community cleanups, ecumenical services throughout Lent and Advent, and a new community center.
While they have a heart of desire for change, one thing they all agreed on is the love of the city and the people. Wolfe, director of CEF in Salem County, sees a heart for God here in the city. Fuse added that the desire for God is echoed in all people here, from politicians, to community business owners, to the general public. What inspires her is the coming together of local church leaders in an effort to have an effective impact on the community.
Overall this team together with the community is making a giant positive impact on Salem City and as well as the county.
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