From the President
“My friends, you were chosen to be free. So don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do anything you want. Use it as an opportunity to serve each other with love.” Galatians 5:13 (CEV) In today’s world the idea of “Servant-Leadership” is a paradox. Leaders expect to be served, not to serve. In God’s world, however, servants are empowered by God for leadership because of their willingness to serve Him. That is why we at BCM International believe a true leader is a Servant-Leader. Galatians 5:13 reveals two important things about Servant-Leadership. Firstly, it is only possible in the context of liberty. Secondly, love is its only acceptable source of motivation. Release from bondage of sin and death creates opportunity for us to live as we choose. Only love can properly motivate us to take that next step of service to others. Jesus Christ loved and served others, laying down His life for them. If He is our Master and Lord, we will only be happy when we follow His example of selfless service. To truly be a Servant-Leader, self must die and Christ must live through us. Faithful service to others has been a core value of BCM since a young missionary returning from the Philippines in 1936, Miss Bessie Traber, took up the challenge of taking God’s Word to children of inner-city Philadelphia and from there to the uttermost parts of the world, birthing the Bible Club Movement. It remains a distinctive of missionaries, pastors, and volunteers I am privileged to encounter in BCM fields of ministry on five continents. That spirit of faithful servanthood is a legacy to be celebrated and a challenge to be emulated. As we celebrate that legacy in this issue of BCM World, pray with us that today’s new generation of BCM ministry leaders and partners will also be found good and faithful servants. Blessings, Rev. Marty Windle President