The motto of Christian Endeavour is 'For Christ and the Church', and Junior Christian Endeavour (JCE) is an organisation whose main objective is to bring boys and girls to know Jesus as their Saviour and to begin to train them to serve Him through the Church.

The Leaders of a JCE Society should be people who are themselves committed to Christ in a positive and living experience. It helps if they also get on well with children. They must be able to give the time that is needed, not only for the weekly meeting, but also for careful and prayerful preparation. This is a keynote for all successful work with children and should never be skimped or neglected.

“It would be easier to do it myself than to get others to help, with all the planning and getting ready for them”. Perhaps you have heard a leader say something like that or you have said it yourself. It may seem easier for leaders to do all the work in the CE meeting themselves, thus operating JCE as a children’s meeting or giving the impression to YPs that they are in a school type situation and are passive recipients instead of being active participants in what they are being taught. Juniors and YPs should be involved in the planning, preparing and participating in the activities of the meeting.

The first YPCE Society was formed in 1881 by Dr Francis Clark, the pastor of a church in Portland, Maine, USA.

He was in the midst of a revival in the work of his church.

A number of young people had accepted Jesus Christ as their Saviour and it was clear that something was needed which would develop their new experience and lead them on into Christian service.