A Message From the President - A Time to Remember

For Bible Centered Ministries, International, 2006 is a time to remember. To remember BCM International is in its seventieth year of ministry since its beginning in 1936 as the Bible Club Movement. To remember that it is our 30th year of ministry in India. To remember 65 years of Bible clubs and children’s ministry in Canada. To remember that next year will be our sixtieth year of ministry in the UK and Europe.

It is a time!

It is a time to celebrate. To celebrate seventy years of God’s past providence for BCM. He knew where we would be going when we did not know if we would be going. He watched over us through danger and peril, and He walked with us along paths of His choosing.

It is a time to celebrate God’s present provision for BCM. He provides daily for nearly 750 BCM missionaries working in 46 countries around the globe. He provides for their ministries of evangelism, discipleship, teaching, training, and acts of compassion. The Gospel is being preached, and people are accepting Christ on a regular basis. Everywhere.

It is a time to celebrate God’s future promise for BCM--- a bright future that is filled with eternal hope and a certainty surrounded by the many souls redeemed along the way from every tongue, tribe, and nation. It is a future of expectancy.

While it is a time to remember and to celebrate, it is also a time to watch and pray, to plan and prepare. We are entrusted with a stewardship of BCM missionaries and ministries. We are to watch vigilantly over our missionaries and their ministries and to pray for them continually. We are to plan perceptively for tomorrow’s ministry opportunities and prepare properly for a new generation of missionaries. The stewardship for the future of BCM as a missionary agency has been entrusted to us.

Leadership Transition: During 2005, the International Board of Directors performed a presidential search, and extended me an invitation to come as BCM International’s sixth President. I accepted, and Jeanette and I moved to Pennsylvania the end of 2005, beginning ministry as President the beginning of 2006. I am now coming to the close of my first year with BCM. These months have been spent learning about the mission, meeting the missionaries, visiting many fields, and evaluating the systems. Understanding the legacy of where we have been has created both a vision for the future and an excitement for how God will lead us there. More on this later.

Not only has there been leadership transition at the presidential level, but there have also been transitions at the vice-president and director level as well. In July of 2005, Rev. Bill Ricketts, BCM missionary of many years, became the Executive Director of BCM Canada. He brings many years of ministry and management experience as well as an insider’s understanding of BCM to the Directorship on our leadership team in Hamilton. During this first year of activity Bill has been busy administering and restructuring the BCM Canada operations. In June of 2006, our new Vice President of Finance, Mr. Joe Bidus, was appointed to the IMC. Joe is now in his sixth month here in the Finance Department. Joe brings many years of financial and business acumen to the mission. His leadership will be greatly appreciated. On September 10th, 2006 we appointed a new Director of Latin America, Rev Daniel Ortiz, a Bolivian with over 25 years of ministry experience. In regards to the Director of Europe, pray with me for God’s direction in the appointment of this key position and other leadership transitions in the U.K. and Europe.

Missionary Personnel: Based on our BCM Missionary Directory for 2006, we currently have 746 full-time missionaries serving in 42 countries. Our five fields of greatest missionary concentration are India (277 missionaries), USA (149 missionaries), the Philippines (91 missionaries), Canada (30 missionaries), and Peru (25 missionaries). We currently have 21 missionaries in the UK and 66 missionaries in Europe.

Ministry Activity: BCM ministry activity continues to focus on our purpose of making disciples of all age groups and establishing and strengthening the church. I have heard the affirmation to “reach children and strengthen the church” many times and from many people. An overview of what we are currently involved in 42 countries:

• Children’s ministries. Bible Clubs and religious released time and religion classes in public schools. 1.2 million children in clubs.
• Developing teachers and teaching materials. Tiny Steps of Faith, Footsteps of Faith and In Step with the Master Teacher continue to be flagship publications in over 15 languages.
• Developing leaders. We have several Bible institutes and ongoing training.
• Camps. Over 25,000 campers every year in 25 camping programs around the world.
• Urban and ethnic ministries. We are currently involved in urban and ethnic ministries in several of our North American regions. We are also participating in coordinated planning with other organizations in developing this ministry.
• Compassion ministries. To disadvantaged people groups and disaster victims, community health and development in clinics and well-drilling projects.
• On-line publication. We have a general mission website, and many of our fields and missionaries also have developed and maintain a web presence. We have also recently rolled out the BCM World, our on-line quarterly magazine.
• Church planting and development. In India, BCM missionaries are spread throughout districts to oversee local pastors and congregations that have resulted from over 30 years of ministry. We currently have 16,000 churches and 390,000 believers in India.

BCM’s foundation lies in the strength of our missionary force and their continuing commitment to the ministries of BCM. They have provided initiative, continuity, and sponsorship for BCM’s ministries, often at great personal expense. It lies also in the faithfulness and commitment of churches, donors, prayer supporters, and countless thousands of volunteers who have stood behind this ministry for the past seventy years. Together we are a team that has impacted millions of lives over the last seven decades and continues to carry the Gospel of Jesus Christ to people in need. To build up God’s church around the world. To target that vulnerable 4-14 Window—two billion children between the age-span of four to fourteen when more than 80% of Christians make a personal commitment to follow Jesus Christ.

We can only do this ministry together as a team. As we look forward to the future of BCM, our methods may reflect changing demographics, times, and opportunities. But our focus remains on the Bible and its truths as central and absolute. Join with us as we celebrate BCM’s 70th Birthday and look forward to its continued ministry. Let’s run the race together.

In the service of our King,

Martin Windle
President BCM International