Illinois School District Lifts Restrictions on Good News Clubs and Pays $105,000
Child Evangelism Fellowship sued after its after-school clubs were charged extra fees and barred from Backpack Nights. A federal settlement now gives them equal access
The short answer
According to The Christian Post, the Moline-Coal Valley School District in Illinois agreed in a federal court settlement to lift restrictions on Child Evangelism Fellowship's Good News Clubs — giving them the same facility access as comparable nonreligious groups such as the Boy Scouts and Girls on the Run — and to pay $105,351.25 in attorney fees, costs and damages. CEF, represented by Liberty Counsel, had sued in February alleging discriminatory facility fees and exclusion from distributing literature and from Backpack Nights.
Good News Clubs — after-school Bible clubs run by Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) in public elementary schools — will get equal treatment in Moline-Coal Valley School District, Illinois.
What Happened
CEF sued the district in February, alleging, according to The Christian Post, that it was required to pay discriminatory facility use fees, was prevented from distributing literature for students to take home to parents, and was barred from Backpack Nights — restrictions other similar groups didn't face.
"An Illinois school district settled with Child Evangelism Fellowship, giving Good News Clubs the same facility access as groups like the Boy Scouts and paying $105,351.25 — a reminder that schools can't single out religious clubs."
Click to copy and shareUnder a settlement entered in federal court this week, the district will:
- amend its policies to give Good News Clubs the same access to facilities as comparable nonreligious groups such as the Boy Scouts and Girls on the Run;
- pay $105,351.25 in attorney fees, costs and damages.
The Law Behind It
In 2001, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6–3 in Good News Club v. Milford Central School that public schools cannot exclude the club from their property after hours simply because it is religious.
"The First Amendment prohibits public schools from discriminating against Christian viewpoints regarding use of school facilities," said Mat Staver of Liberty Counsel, which represented CEF, calling the outcome "a great victory for Child Evangelism Fellowship, parents, and students."
Why It Matters
Children are one of the most open groups to the gospel anywhere — which is part of why, in our report on Whitmire's revival, the altar filled with young people. Equal access for groups like Good News Clubs means children can hear the gospel where they already are, with their parents' permission.
It's also a reminder that freedoms like these are kept by being used. If your church wants to serve a local school, start with prayer — our guide on how to prayer walk your city suggests schools as one of the first places to pray.
An Illinois school district settled with Child Evangelism Fellowship, giving Good News Clubs the same facility access as groups like the Boy Scouts and paying $105,351.25 — a reminder that schools can't single out religious clubs.
Biblical Perspective
Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these" (Matthew 19:14). Scripture calls each generation to tell the next "the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord" (Psalm 78:4).
"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."
— Matthew 19:14 (NIV)
Pray With Us
Lord, thank You for the children of Moline who will hear about You through Good News Clubs. Bless the volunteers who serve them, the parents who trust them and the schools that host them. Raise up a generation that knows and loves You. In Jesus' name, amen.
Declarations to Speak
- ›Children will hear the good news of Jesus!
- ›Let the little children come to Him!
- ›This generation will tell the next!
Take Action
- 1Pray for the elementary schools in your neighbourhood by name.
- 2Ask whether a children's ministry near you serves local schools — and how to help.
- 3Talk with a child in your life about Jesus this week.
"An Illinois school district lifted restrictions on Good News Clubs and paid $105,000. Equal access for kids to hear the gospel."
Pray & Speak Life Over This Story
Don't just read — respond in faith. Click below to declare that you have prayed over this story and spoken life into it. Our prayers and words have power to change the world.
"Death and life are in the power of the tongue." — Proverbs 18:21
Your Prayers & Words Have Power
Every time you pray over a story and speak life, you are partnering with Heaven to see God's Kingdom come on earth. When believers around the world agree in prayer, mountains move. Keep praying over these matters — your consistency in intercession is changing the world.
"The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." — James 5:16
Prayer Is Powerful — So Is Action.
You've prayed. Now take it further. Join or start an outreach group in your area and take the love of Jesus to the streets. Every act of love, every meal shared, every prayer prayed in person is the Kingdom advancing in your community.
"Faith without works is dead." — James 2:26
Questions people are asking
What are Good News Clubs?
+
Good News Clubs are after-school Bible clubs for children run by Child Evangelism Fellowship in public schools, with parental permission. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Good News Club v. Milford Central School (2001) that schools cannot exclude them simply because they are religious.
What did the Moline-Coal Valley settlement require?
+
According to The Christian Post, the district agreed to give Good News Clubs the same facility access as comparable nonreligious groups such as the Boy Scouts and Girls on the Run, and to pay $105,351.25 in attorney fees, costs and damages.
Sources & further reading
About the Author
Daniel Ziedins
Founder & Editor-in-Chief
Daniel Ziedins is the founder and editor-in-chief of Thy Kingdom News. A passionate believer with a heart for revival, missions, and seeing God's Kingdom advance across the earth, Daniel created this platform to report on what God is doing in the nations — the stories the mainstream media won't tell. He is also the creator of LoveOnTheWorldMap.com, a global initiative to map acts of God's love worldwide. Daniel believes that every testimony, every revival report, and every prayer answered is evidence that the Kingdom of God is here and advancing.
"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."
Matthew 19:14 (NIV)
Get encouraging Kingdom news, testimonies, and prayer points weekly.
Related Stories
How to Prayer Walk Your City: A Simple, Biblical Guide
Prayer walking means praying on-site, with your eyes open, for the people and places of your city. It needs no training — just two or three believers, a route and Scripture. This guide covers the biblical basis, how to plan a walk, what to pray and how to follow up.
New Religious-Freedom Appointments Put Global Persecution Back in Focus
The U.S. religious-freedom commission welcomed several appointments while calling for a swift Senate confirmation process for ambassador-designate Cissie Graham Lynch.
Police Raided His Church With Machine Guns. Attendance Went Up.
An armed police unit stormed Wera Forum in Duisburg over an allegation its source later admitted was false. The pastor says he left with a broken nose. The church has since grown past 1,000 across four locations.