Our History
Mr. O came to understand that a 5-year-old child could comprehend the Gospel and receive Christ as Saviour. In 1937, at age 60, he incorporated CHILD EVANGELISM FELLOWSHIP in Chicago.
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Mr. O was known as the modern-day weeping prophet, because he would often weep over the lost children of the world. Matthew 18 (pictured left) confirmed for him the importance of evangelizing children. Mr. O dreamed of an army of evangelists to children circling the globe.
Mr. Jesse Irvin Overholtzer
a.k.a. Mr. O
July 20, 1877 – August 6, 1955
The ministry of reaching children through Bible Clubs began in Berks County in 1940. The Clubs were called Y Bible Clubs at that time. In 1955, it was incorporated as CHILD EVANGELISM FELLOWSHIP OF READING AND BERKS COUNTY, INC., though we are widely known as Good News Clubs.
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In 1969, Harry Hoffman created Dial-A-Story in which children could call a number to hear a Bible Story. Then if they had a question or wanted to talk to a counselor, they could call another number. Harry kept statistics from 1969-2004: 1,992,287 telephone calls received, 27,658 calls received from children either wanting to be counselled or having questions, and 11,250 decisions for Jesus!
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The building that serves as our office (pictured below) was purchased May of 1959. It was the former Frederick S. Jones Carriage House.
1307 Good Street
Reading, PA 19602