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VSM:Not About Sun and Selfies

In our BMA Global family, ministry happens everywhere and all around the globe. And we’re not just talking at churches, worship services, and discipleship groups. Sometimes ministry happens during basketball in the park, a hula hoop game, or face painting. More organically but intentionally and relationally, just like Jesus modeled. One example of that kind of ministry is VSM (Volunteer Student Missions), and on a recent trip, thirteen students and four adults used those exact activities and others to minister in Costa Rica. 

Jairo Bonilla coordinates the work there with the help of Luis Ortega (not to be confused with Lifeword Director of Operations Luis Ortega here in the States). One of the many ways Luis serves is by managing VSM teams that host Bible schools for children. The VSM Costa Rica team was blessed to have him as a local contact, interpreter, “transportation director,” and so much more. One thing is for certain: He is a great example of godly leadership.

Well before the team left from the States, they met at VSM weekend in the spring for team-building, security training, dos and don’ts on the mission field, and cultural education. Team Costa Rica decided to use David and Goliath and Daniel in the Lions’ Den for their skits, then leaders purchased supplies for the props and decorations. In one week, they held four Bible schools at two churches and a community center.

The team spoke very little, if any, Spanish, but there didn’t seem to be a language barrier as I watched these young high school and college students find the shyest, the smallest, or the scaredest children and made them feel special. There were fist bumps, hugs, high-fives, and water balloon fights that left children breathless and laughing. And I watched the children as they listened to the story about a giant who was defeated and a lion whose mouth was shut, both because of a loving “Dios.” 

Despite the language barrier between us and the children, it was clear that the story captured their attention. Seeds were planted that day, and the gospel was shared, but only God knows what will take root. 

VSM is not a vacation. It’s the life-changing fulfillment of a calling to serve. And every student on the team understood that it was not about selfies, which there were plenty of when the children noticed our cell phones and wanted to see themselves in a photo. 

As summer winds down and VSM trips conclude, BMA Global personnel like Angela Rice and Margaret Anderson are already planning 2024 trips. If you’re considering joining one, don’t hesitate to let us know so you can experience the amazing things God can do with construction paper, a sword made out of balloons, and a plastic slingshot.

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SOAR Conference Still Going Strong

Originally concepted by the forward thinking of two men with a heart for teenagers, a new BMA-sponsored conference called SOAR (Sold Out And Radical) debuted in 1990. Yes, that was 33 years ago, for those of you who now have gray or graying hair and grandchildren! Bobby Tucker and Donny Parrish could hardly have imagined that SOAR conference would continue to be not only a powerful, life-changing event but also a recruitment tool for missionaries, pastors, and ministry leaders.

While many conferences come and go, SOAR has stood the test of time. It even survived Covid! Why is that? Maybe it’s the draw of what used to be the “midnight meeting” for VSM trips, or the simple fact that teenagers are happy to be away from their parents, or even that they get to meet other young people from all over.

Whatever the reason, God has blessed SOAR conference, and it is still a can’t-miss summer event for youth leaders and students who attend BMA (and other) churches.

So please pray for SOAR 2023 that teenagers would listen to the messages, music, and testimonies, surrender their lives to Jesus, accept the call to ministry, and be changed forever through the power of the Holy Spirit.

What is your SOAR story?

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What Actually Do We Do at Lifeword and BMA Global?

Have you ever wondered what we actually DO at “the Missions office”, now BMA Global? What about Lifeword? Have you ever wondered how they’re able to share the gospel via the  flawed and controversial social media world? 

If you come visit us on an average day, you’re likely to see a meeting in progress (impromptu or scheduled), someone packing for a conference or trip, a Zoom call in progress, and pretty much everyone using their computers. A fairly average office atmosphere, but what are we  really doing?

And more importantly at the highest level, what are we “doing” for God’s kingdom work? Both Lifeword and BMA Global have a set of guidelines to which they adhere, and they are always self-evaluating, restructuring, and praying for God’s guidance to do so. 

BMA GLOBAL

At BMA Global the values and actions that guide all they do, their approach to serving missionaries all over the world, are expressed in the following five statements displayed prominently on the wall in their downstairs wing:

  1. Motivated by the mission of God: To make his glory and love known to every nation, tribe, language and people
  2. Discipleship-based multiplication: To see the multiplication of believers and churches through discipleship
  3. Local church driven: To affirm that local congregations are both the source and the goal of multiplication
  4. Indigenous missions: To fulfill the mission of God according to indigenous principles aimed at sustainability and reproducibility
  5. Holy Spirit-led risk: To seek God and follow his leading in a courageous manner 

SEND – We mobilize churches and people to the mission field through 

·         Short-term missions

·         Student missions

·         Medical missions

·         Christmas shoeboxes

START – We plant churches that plant churches with 

·         U.S. church planters

·         International missionaries

·         ChangeMakers

SUPPORT – We provide care and support for leaders and churches through 

·         Healthy Church Solutions

·         Missionary Care

·         Training

LIFEWORD

Lifeword’s value statements are similarly displayed, but in paragraph form, in their wing upstairs:

“Lifeword produces biblically sound, culturally relevant gospel programming that is Great Commission focused and marked by excellence and creativity. Our ministry promotes an attitude of integrity and accountability along with kingdom partnerships and ministry indigeneity. We strive to be servant leaders, respecting our teammates, leading by example, and loving a lost world.

“Lifeword provides Christ-centered programming through local and mass communication media to make disciples of Jesus and fulfill the Great Commission. We are dedicated to helping local churches share the gospel of Jesus Christ with their community through the effective use of media.”

That “ministry indigeneity” means that programming originates with the many Lifeword partners around the world in almost 150 languages. The content doesn’t mean much if it’s produced by Americans instead of in the heart languages of people with whom the gospel is shared.

2 MINISTRIES – ONE MISSION

In the same way, the BMA is “global”. The emphasis is on church planting, making disciples and equipping and sending disciple makers all over the world map. 

Two ministries. One mission. 

So the answer to what we do is this: God didn’t give the responsibility of sharing the gospel around the world to a missions agency or a media ministry. He gave it to the local church.  Those of us who serve at Lifeword and BMA Global help you carry out God’s mission through our missions and media efforts.

If you’d like to understand the specifics of how we do that, please go to the websites and Facebook pages of these ministries for more information, then choose a contact number to be connected to us.

We serve and equip you, our people and churches, to fulfill God’s mission.  

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International Women’s Day 2023, Romania Style

Women’s conferences are not exclusive to America. All over the world and in different languages and contexts, women meet together, fellowship, and learn from each other. In large conference centers and tiny auditoriums, relationships are created. It’s in our DNA.

International Women’s Day 2023 was March 8, and in Oradea, Romania, a ladies conference  was organized to celebrate it. Hosted by Claudia Bagosi, Pam Risner and Candra Barnett, the theme was “Bloom Where You Are Planted” and Shelby Barker was the speaker. Most of the ladies were from Agape Church in Oradea or had been invited by their ladies.

Pam explained that, “Just like in the U.S. there are lots of mommas in Romania with young kids who are in the ‘thick’ of child rearing, and we wanted to encourage them. We also challenged ladies to invite guests, especially those who might not attend church or are unbelievers. There were about 40 Romanian women in attendance, and they seemed to have a very positive response.” 

The conference began with worship, followed by a time of teaching from Shelby then a delicious meal and painting craft. Shelby says, “I discussed what blooming is – the pinnacle of growth and flourishing – and I asked if there can be blooms in seasons of chaos instead of peace.  Sometimes we question where God has planted us (family, location, hard times, job, etc.) but I told them we are planted in certain places and times for our good or the good of others, all for the glory of God to do five things: Bless, Encourage, Challenge, Comfort, and Be an example.

“He has put me here for a reason regardless of whether I see it now or not. We have an enemy who doesn’t want us to thrive, and he is working all the time, so it’s important to take root downward and deeply in Jesus and bear fruit upward. Then I gave them six action points: 

Embrace the challenge, Lean into Him and the process, Be in the Word, Pray, praise and fast, Listen for His voice, and Share your faith.

“Finally, I asked them what their legacy would be. I told them they may think their lives don’t matter very much or have an effect on anyone, but think about this: A legacy is built on one lesson at a time, one small moment at a time, doing the right thing for the right reason for an impact lasting long after you are gone.” 

This time of encouragement included an emphasis on prayer, and the ladies broke into groups to pray for each other.  

After the conference concluded the ministry team women mentioned above attended Good Soil training, which teaches discipleship principles. Eli Semedo facilitated the training that  Roma pastors and leaders also attended. For both groups, it was a conference that emphasized worship, time in the Word, and encouragement to be part of building relationships through discipling other believers. 

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ChangeMaker Challenge: A Bike Ride For Those Who Serve

Beginning in Bilbao, Spain, the Tour de France will take place this summer amid stunning views that include the Pyrenees mountains and the Alps. In 23 days, these first class athletes will wind their way through the French countryside one hundred miles a day to the bikers’ final goal: the Champs-Élysées and its victory laps. At the end, one man will hoist a trophy and be declared champion of the most famous bike ride in the world at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.

It’s estimated that twelve to fifteen million people will line the route to cheer them on.  

On May 5th of this year, BMA Global President Dr. John David Smith began the first of five ninety-mile legs of a 444-mile bike ride beginning in his home state of Mississippi where the Natchez Trace Trail begins. At the end of the ride, he crossed the finish line to receive fist bumps from BMA Global VP John Meriweather and Lifeword Director of Digital Strategy Jon Dodson, who chronicled the sometimes painful journey he had trained for.

There’s no way Dr. Smith could have guessed that so many people would follow his journey that ended without ceremony in Nashville, Tennessee. 

John Meriweather said, “Before the ride, we knew we wanted to create a mini-documentary, posting at checkpoints along the way and stopping at milestone markers. As we were loading up the van in the morning we noticed people engaging, and there were already 200 likes by the time we got to the hotel that night before the first leg. We could tell that people were engaging, then they began asking questions about his nutrition, the weather, their exact location, so we began taking questions and answering them to make it an interactive experience. People told us they were waiting on those posts.

“In every single video John David gave attention to the ride’s purpose: raising funds for ChangeMakers around the world who work tirelessly for God‘s mission. It was his main message even though the physical challenge was what they were curious about. We intended to tell the story but weren’t sure how people would react. The hundreds of interactions clarified what we needed to do: Bring people on the journey and let them follow along. Honestly, John David would have done the ride even if no one was following.”

According to Jon Dodson, “During the week of Changemaker Challenge, the videos, pictures and posts created a large amount of interest and engagement online for BMA Global. The BMA Global web site realized a 502% increase in traffic with 3,407 visits. BMA Global’s Facebook page reached 382,000 Facebook accounts (5900% increase in reach). There were 39,400 minutes of Changemaker Challenge videos posted on the BMA Global Facebook during the week of the ride, with 32,125 engagements on the BMA Global Facebook page during the ride.”

As far as the funds raised, donations continue to come in, and there have been promises of matching funds and other commitments. On-line giving continues at https://app.securegive.com/BMAMissions/main/donate/category

Middle East Coordinator Charlie Costa says, “Recently we saw leadership at its finest from the president of BMA Global. It was not leading from behind or by proxy but from the front and by design. Weeks of preparations went into the lengthy bike ride Dr. John David Smith took along the Natchez Trail to raise funds and awareness for our work. 

“I wonder how many will respond to such faithfulness and commitment. Never in the history of the BMA have we seen such selflessness. What I love about it is that the funds raised will go to an endowment that will fund church planters (ChangeMakers) for years to come. That’s forward-thinking leadership. That’s a leader I want to take our churches and pastors to.”

Small but mighty. That’s our association. ChangeMaker Challenge did not have millions of excited, fanatic people encouraging their favorite riders along the route. There was no fame or fortune for the winner. No declaration of victory over the other riders. Just one man’s obedience to the cause of Christ.

What an honor for all of us to be part of a “family” that desires to give God the glory through both prayer and financial support.  

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An Opportunity I Shouldn’t Have Turned Down

On a cold day last December, several Lifeword and BMA Global team members served in a very unique way. Theresa Book had asked a group of Pastors Oasis attendees if they would be interested in volunteering to help with a Special Olympics fundraiser being held in Conway, Arkansas, where BMA Global Missions Center is located. Almost everyone at that table said, “Yes.” 

I’m ashamed to say that I was not one of them. 

Theresa Book is the field rep for northeast and north central Arkansas Special Olympics (SOAR), mom to two grown children, and wife of Prospect BC Pastor Mike Book in Jonesboro. She began working for SOAR in 2014, and says, “It is in more than 170 countries and there are more than twenty different sports played throughout the year. We all desire friends, and a way to grow them is with our athletes and coaching a community team or becoming one of our Fans in the Stands. You could also join a unified team and play along with our athletes. So seek out programs in your area.”

Born in Hernando, Mississippi, Theresa met Mike at Arkansas State University, where she was studying education. She says, “I attended church my entire life, but not until I was sixteen and my best friend asked about my relationship with the Lord did I see the need for salvation. Fortunately God put people in my life through my late college years who encouraged me to get back to church.” 

She graduated with a BSE degree in elementary and special education in 1989, a year after she and Mike married, then spent 21 years teaching before God opened the door for other work opportunities. “God truly opens doors when we seek his will and allow him to work in our lives. I have the gift of service. I see needs and work to fill them whether it’s my job or ministry with Mike. Whenever God uses you, just be the example he has taught in Scripture and follow your heart in service.” 

The sport they were playing on that cloudy day was softball, but you would have thought these competitors had just won the Super Bowl with all the smiles and hugs they gave and received. Theresa says that Special Olympics athletes give way more than she can give back, love unconditionally, encourage team members, share all they have, and faithfully pray for others. Truly, they are a picture of Jesus. 

Next time, I promise I will say, “Yes.”

If you’re interested in serving through Special Olympics, Theresa says it’s easy to find programs in your area, but I know she wouldn’t mind if you contacted her directly as well:  Theresa@specialolympicsarkansas.org

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Writing a Christian Superhero Novel and Trusting God

It all started with a show called Bibleman that I watched as a little kid.

He was a superhero, but everything about his character was Christian-based: A wealthy, famous man tired of his lifestyle who turned to Christianity and decided to fight evil in God’s name. Bibleman had gadgets and armor based around Scripture, and he carried a lightsaber-like sword that he called the Sword of the Spirit. Bibleman eventually gained a young sidekick . . .

Sound familiar?

Yeh, basically a Christian Batman. It was pretty cheesy but a solid character to teach basic Bible truths to kids who enjoy superheroes.

But these days, superheroes aren’t just for kids. Marvel movies in particular have drawn such a worldwide fanbase that most people can tell you the name of at least half a dozen superheroes: Iron Man, Captain America, Thor . . . the list goes on. Children and adults alike love these characters. Simply put, superheroes have become mainstream, but well before I even realized that or cared, as a pretty young kid I decided I wanted to be a writer. I even took a few classes and attended a conference on writing Christian fiction. 

But in the summer of 2016 while watching my favorite TV show, a superhero drama called Arrow, gave me an idea that I couldn’t shake: Why couldn’t Christians have a superhero story that was serious, could be occasionally dark and gritty but still uphold biblical themes, and Christian characters at its core? I decided Christians could have that—and I could be the one to write it.

I started a manuscript that summer simply titled called The Crusade. Although I was passionate about the idea, fifty pages in, something just felt off, and I couldn’t get into the story. Energy fizzled out and I set the story aside. But hat was not the end of the story, and college had a great deal to do with that restart.  

Going into my third year of college, I was about the busiest I had ever been: I became the editor of the Tower, the Central Baptist College student newspaper, worked two to three nights a week at David’s Burgers, had more friends than in my previous two years of college combined, and  unfortunately, began working on The Crusade. College life caused writing to take a back seat for a while.

When I graduated in 2018, I began doing contract work for Lifeword, so I quit my job at David’s Burgers. Without classes, homework, or a night job to occupy my attention, I had something that was a precious commodity during my college years: time.

In the fall of 2018, I picked up watching Season 7 of my favorite show, Arrow. My girlfriend (now wife) and I watched it together, and my spark for writing a Christian superhero novel reignited my passion. For the first time in over two years, I reopened The Crusade. 

Something still didn’t feel quite right, but this time I worked through name changes, character details, the setting, the plot and the title . . . which is now Vigilante’s Light. In two months, I had a complete first draft then spent the next several months in editing and revision. Finally, it was time to contact publishers and agents, which meant rejection emails and silence. I prayed about what God wanted for my book and kept moving forward. In the summer of 2019, Vigilante’s Lightfinally found a home.

There was a Twitter event called #FaithPitch for Christian authors where entrants tweeted a brief synopsis of their book and if a publisher found the story idea interesting, they would like the Tweet and the author could contact them.

I received exactly one like on my Tweet about Vigilante’s Light. Ambassador International sent a message requesting a full manuscript . . . and the rest is history. I signed a contract with them and on February 23, 2021, Vigilante’s Lightbecame available for the world to read. Two days later, I got to hold a physical copy of my own book. It was beyond surreal, and Vigilante’s Light is out now on Amazon. Freedom’s Fight has also been published, and in October of 2022, the sequel Heroes’ Might will bring that tally up to three.

I learned a lot through this process, including the importance of serving God in the waiting, and looking forward to the blessings he will no doubt bestow if you are willing to obediently trust and follow him with your talents. Creative talent comes from God. He will use it in great ways. All we have to do is surrender that talent to him and let him guide the paintbrush to create our art. He’s the greatest artist in the universe.

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Gabe’s Story For God’s Glory-Part One

by Jenae Polok

I’d love to write a beautiful fairy tale beginning to this story, but it might be best to steal a few lines from the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella: “If you lost all your faith, I wouldn’t be here, and here I am.” Or her even better line, “Even miracles take a little time.”  This is certainly a story of faith and miracles!  

Once Upon a Time  . . . 

In 2010 I met the craziest, most opinionated, kindest, quirkiest guy. And in the midst of all that, really spiritual, too, meaning a good Baptist boy. Probably can’t call him Prince Charming yet, which is good since I am by no means Cinderella. We had so much fun working on ministry teams together and we just really liked each other, becoming best friends in fact. Just don’t ask if we were dating or “just friends”!  

Of course, eight months into this friendship thing, he proposed at church camp, so I guess we moved past the “just friends” phase. Happily ever after was on its way! It was a miraculous time where everyone in the church got involved with the wedding planning. They probably thought we would be single forever. Aaron had said he would never marry, and I was sure I would be the first Baptist nun! But God did a number on our lives. Oh, it was wedded bliss for sure. Only one problem: Aaron thought he wanted twelve kids. I said, “Let’s just start with one and see how we handle this parenting thing.” 

We would go six years hoping, dreaming and being devastated. At the time, I was a short, round, 35-year-old woman. In addition to the heartache, we were reminded by those close to us that that it was probably a weight issue as to why I couldn’t conceive. But the doctor said it’s really more of an age thing because you are past your prime and few others issues too.

Fat and old, just what every woman wants to hear. I felt like a broken vessel.  

Oh, the conversations I had with God as to why I should be able to have children. I mean, come on, Aaron and I didn’t even kiss during the best friend/dating phase. That wedding kiss was something special now! That much restraint deserves some kind of reward, right? We’ve taken care of everyone else’s kids. Surely we could handle some of our own. Our dream of family seemed to be slipping away.  At 41, it seemed all hope was lost. I really related to Hannah’s story in 1 Samuel. If you heard me praying you would have thought I was as messed up as she was . . . because I was! I truly felt broken, like I was causing Aaron to miss out on something, too. 

The girl who spent her childhood loving baby dolls and dreaming of being a mama now had crushed dreams and a shattered heart.

My aunt and uncle have done foster care for over thirty years and encouraged us to think outside the box. So we went through all the classes and got everything prepared, but ministry life would change. We would go through a move back to our hometown, Aaron would assume a full-time youth pastor job, and remodel a house. My 94-year-old Grandma began the end of life process. Sure glad I didn’t ask what else could change in our lives! We still felt the call to finish getting the house licensed for foster care. Of course, I heard things like, “Now don’t get your hopes up. Nobody in this county ever gets little babies.” Or, “Are you sure you want to do foster care? Those kids are usually pretty messed up?” Thank you, Lord, for helping me hold my tongue and not give dirty looks in those moments. Several months would pass and nothing seemed to work out.

On September 16, 2016, we had just returned from Galena’s big homecoming football game. My cousins from Texas had just walked in the door because Grandma had been taken to a care facility and things were declining rapidly. Then my phone began ringing like crazy. My aunt, the one involved in foster care, calls and says, “I just got a call for a temporary placement for a baby but I didn’t take him, so you call this number.” It was a Wichita number four hours away from us, but I knew the voice on the other end. Sure enough, the man who did all of our foster care training years ago was now living in Wichita and overseeing this case.  

He said, “Now, it’s only a 72-hour placement, but I’ll make sure I get him in your home. Aaron went home to set up a crib while I hugged my Texas family good-bye and hightailed it home. By the time I arrived, Aaron was sitting in the rocking chair singing to a tiny little baby boy. He paused and said, “Jenae, the strangest thing just happened. The police officer that just dropped this baby off goes to our church???” Oh, yes, I knew him and his wife and which pew they sat in. Still, what a weird coincidence?    This little baby was five weeks old and weighed only five pounds, still in newborn clothing and diapers. He was so tiny.    

Seventy-two hours flew by like it was only one night. The caseworker came and picked him up and off to court they went. The week before, he had been exposed to domestic violence, theft, lack of food, and countless other traumatic experiences. Would his family have things back in order to raise this infant in a safe and secure manner and to know and love God? We always prayed for the biological family.  We know they have a backstory and broken hearts, too. But in the end, what will be best for the child?  

We knew we already loved him. Now a judge would decide his fate.  

After court, they usually call and inform the PPC (police protective custody) home and let them know about the court’s decision, but we hadn’t heard anything. So Aaron jumped on the phone and soon discovered he was on his way to another home four hours away. We were on the phone again, tracking this baby down. In this moment, I felt like Cinderella at the stroke of midnight. It had been a beautiful dance, fairytale-like, but now the dream seemed to be slipping away. Just like I had lost my glass slipper. 

But I am a “real deal” kind of girl, not a dreamy princess waiting for my fairytale to unfold. I knew God was writing “some kind of special story.” Just maybe this would be the wakeup call his family needed to get on the right path. Maybe our hopes and dreams would finally come true: This childless couple answers the door to find a baby in a basket just waiting for them. Or would this be another lesson on God’s timing? How many lessons am I going to have to learn? As you can tell, at this point my mind was a bumbling mess . . . Instead of Cinderella, I was going to be Hannah and hit my knees . . . Pray, Jenae, Pray!

(Part Two coming soon)

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Tell Us What’s Going on in Your Church

by Holly Meriweather

It was one of the first Wednesday nights I attended a GMA meeting that I learned something I’ll never forget: “The church is not a building. It’s a group of baptized believers.” I was on my Maiden step at the time, but I understood the significance of those words and filed them away permanently in my memory. 

It was just the beginning of things I would learn as a GMA girl and never forgot, all because of a very special group of women who loved me well. They were the hands and feet of Jesus decades before I heard the term discipleship, but now I feel its life-changing effect on me. In addition to the amazing work God did in my life through his Holy Spirit, this “group of baptized believers” was the reason . . .

I tearfully followed a friend to the altar one Sunday night to tell my pastor I wanted to be saved.

I never completely turned away from faith in Christ.

I chose to raise my own family at Antioch.

For eight years, I have served at the BMA Global Missions Center, mostly through writing, alongside another group of baptized believers whose faithful service to God’s mission inspires me every day. I have been asked to “resurrect” a website and Facebook page called BMA Life, a place for celebration, information, profiles, remembrances, inspiration, community, and praises. So please tell me  . . .  

WHAT’S GOING ON IN YOUR CHURCH? 

Email me at BMAlife@bmaamerica.org and share a lot or a little about what you want to celebrate: maybe a pastor, church member, ministry leader, circumstance, event, or outreach. I’ll then reply to your email so we can have a conversation.

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