CEF of North Jersey Welcomes Stephanie Shover as Assistant Director for Greater Paterson

Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) of North Jersey welcomes Stephanie Shover as the new Assistant Director for Greater Paterson beginning on April 18. Stephanie will focus on building strategic partnerships with local churches to help evangelize and disciple unchurched children and families and connect them to a church.

Stephanie worked in talent acquisition for Hope Enterprises for 7 years before serving as Deputy Director for STEP Head Start in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. She relocated to New Jersey in 2020 when her husband answered the call to pastor Grace Bible Church in North Haledon. Stephanie has a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Clarks Summit University.

“Child Evangelism Fellowship has always held a strong reputation in my community,” Stephanie said. “However, as I researched the ministry in depth, I was struck by the 16.4 million children who were reached in 2020. During a global pandemic where life was uncertain, these children heard the life-saving Good News of Jesus Christ. When I read that number, I was so moved by the ministry of CEF and I count it a privilege to begin ministering in the organization.”

CEF of North Jersey recently received a grant from a local church to focus on evangelism in this geographic area. “For the past twelve years, CEF of North Jersey has had a single staff person serving a 5-county area,” local director, Twyla Pellegrino, explained. “Our local committee has been praying that the Lord of the Harvest would provide the financial resources and a gifted individual to focus on developing ministry in the Greater Paterson area. There are over 22,000 children between the ages of 5 and 14 in the city alone and many more in the surrounding communities. We believe Stephanie is the answer to those prayers for expanding ministry in Paterson.”

As a pastor’s daughter and now a pastor’s wife, Stephanie has a heart for the local church and desires to help churches grow their ministry to children and their families. “The Greater Paterson area is unique in its diversity and culture. We see people created in God’s image from multicultural, and multi-religious backgrounds who are striving for physical, financial, and emotional well-being,” Stephanie said. “However, many in this community have not heard the life-giving Good News of Jesus Christ, that is most vital for their lives eternally. I am so humbled to be able to serve the children in this area, and support those who are carrying out the Great Commission to these families.”

Stephanie is originally from South Africa. She and her husband, the Reverend Luke Shover, along with their two young children, reside in North Haledon where Luke pastors Grace Bible Church.