Executive Leadership Team

Reese Kauffman

President

Raised in a pastor’s home in Indianapolis, Reese trusted Jesus as his Savior at age eight. In 1967 he founded Kauffman Products, Inc., a manufacturer of high-volume metal stampings and components for automotive, appliance and military industries. In 1975 Reese became a member of the local CEF committee in Indianapolis and in 1977 the CEF International Board of Trustees. On October 1, 1989 Reese committed to serve for one year as president and has continued to serve full time since without compensation. Under Reese’s leadership CEF has grown from reaching 1 million boys and girls per year in less than 100 nations to millions of children around the world. God has given him a passion for global evangelism and discipleship among children. Reese’s goal is to keep the ministry on point for future generations. Reese and his wife Linda have three grown children and four grandsons and live on Sanibel Island in Florida.

Moises Esteves

Executive Vice President

I was born and raised in Portugal. There I was saved at age 9 and at age 17 God called me to full-time ministry. In 1993 God led our family to move to the USA to work with Child Evangelism Fellowship. I have served the Lord in CEF in several roles and currently as Executive Vice President. The greatest joy for those who serve at International Headquarters is to do everything we can to help our field staff and volunteers around the world share the Gospel with boys and girls. We have a God-given calling to “tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done” (Psalm 78:4). My wife Maryjane and I have four children and two grandchildren.

John Luck

Assistant to the President, Director of Global Partnership Ministry

I grew up in a church with a long history of working with CEF. My first official association with CEF came when, as a businessman, I was asked to serve on the local committee for CEF of Greater Richmond. I saw God using CEF to impact the next generation for Christ and soon my time and energy were less devoted to my business and more to the work of reaching children with the Gospel. In 2008 I served as volunteer project manager for Good News Across America for Chicago, and continued the following years in Little Rock, Boston, and Salt Lake City. In 2011 I began working full time at International Headquarters. I currently serve as the Assistant to the President and Director of Global Partnership Ministry, working to resource and assist Gospel ministry around the world. I enjoy teaching God’s Word and do so at Headquarters and in missions conferences.

Lynda Pongracz

Executive Director of Education

After serving with CEF 11 years as a local and state teacher trainer, God burdened my heart for a wider training ministry. Although I knew it would be difficult to leave my family and friends on the East Coast, God led me to work with the Department of Education at our International Headquarters in Missouri. My ministry here has enabled me to train workers from around the world and assist in developing curriculum, including The Wonder Book and Wonder Devotional Books. Now as executive director of Education, I have the joy of overseeing our training programs worldwide! How thrilling to realize that.

Fred Pry

Assistant Vice President of USA Ministries

God called me to be a CEF missionary in 2003 after 25 years in the business world. My journey with CEF began as a local director in Pennsylvania. I then accepted the appointment as Virginia state director, followed by joining the staff at International Headquarters in 2015 as Director of Literature. In April 2019 I began serving as Assistant Vice President of USA Ministries. My wife Dawn serves in the Creative Services department. She and I have raised four children, three of whom served in Christian Youth In Action and the fourth continues to volunteer in CEF. It is a privilege to serve our Lord and reach the most vulnerable of society with the Gospel.

Ron York

Executive Director of Support Services

My wife Deana and I were born in Massachusetts and raised in the New England area. I graduated from Toccoa Falls College in 1997. I first worked with CEF while in college helping to teach and host 5-Day Clubs. We came to serve at CEF International Headquarters in 2001. I started in the Information Technology Department and have served as director of Information Technology, international director of Wonderzone and in 2015 began serving as executive director of Support Services. My wife and I have three children, Amanda, Andrew, and Zachary. Our family has enjoyed serving together in summer ministry opportunities like Good News Across America.