July 15, 2026 / by Jyothi Kudari
I am reminded of the words of C. T. Studd:
“Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.”
When I look back on my life and how I came to know the Lord Jesus Christ, I can trace it back to the influence of a teacher at my school. Through that relationship, I began to understand who God is and why I needed His gift of salvation. That experience showed me how a simple act of outreach can influence a child’s life by pointing them to Christ.
When we moved to Bloomington, we saw many Indians who needed to hear the good news of salvation. We initially began reaching adults, but as the outreach grew, we also recognized an opportunity to reach children.
As we prayed and pondered how to move forward, God providentially connected us with Pastor Larry from East White Oak Bible Church. He was also seeking local partners for children’s outreach and introduced us to Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF). Through this partnership, we had the opportunity to gather children each summer for a three- to five-day program where they could enjoy fun activities while hearing the gospel through Bible lessons, missionary stories, songs, Scripture memory, and small gifts.
By God’s grace, we have been able to continue this outreach for the past fourteen years. As Doxa expressed, it has been a joy and privilege to share the gospel of Christ with children in our community, trusting the Lord to use His Word to draw them to Himself and to open doors to minister to their families as well.
Kathy Schierer observes, “We see some of the same kids each year, but there were also a lot of new kids this year. One of the highlights was hearing so many of the kids recite Ephesians 2:8-9 from memory.” Hannah expressed her own joy in serving: “When I teach the stories, I like learning about them too.”
Each year, God has brought between 75 and 100 children for us to minister to. Many of these relationships began through friendships, personal connections, acquaintances, and encounters with families in local parks and communities.
Through every step of this journey, even when the temperatures were over 95°F, we have seen the Lord’s faithfulness. This outreach would not be possible without the faithful service of many volunteers. Sisters from our small group and members of East White Oak Bible Church have assisted us in many ways—providing transportation, preparing the facility, helping during each session, serving refreshments, and cleaning up afterward. We are deeply grateful for their willingness to serve and for the ways they have used their gifts to make this outreach possible.
We have seen God working in the hearts of children through their questions, eagerness to learn, and desire to know more about Him. Please pray that God would continue His work in their lives, that the seeds of His Word planted through this outreach would bear fruit, and that He would draw these children and their families to Himself.
Jyothi and her husband, Elia Kudari, have been attending East White Oak Bible Church since 2008. They have three daughters: Doxa, Hannah, and Joy. She enjoys hosting Gospel outreach events, meeting people, and sharing her testimony.
Learn more about Neighboring!
Consider how you can serve your neighbors by visiting the East White Oak Outreach page and discover creative ways to serve your neighbors, make disciples, and read some fantastic stories! Download this Community Engagement Guide or grab a printed copy at the Gospel Resource display at church to learn how to engage with and share your faith with a simple 3-Circle Gospel Outline!
We’re praying for your outreach! Do you have a story to share? Contact [email protected].
