by Dr. Rick Rhoads, BCM President
Image: Bessie Traber and the inside cover of her Bible in which she wrote: ““I choose to live as an overcomer. I choose to live in all things that He shall have the preeminence. I choose to live to trust the Lord with all my heart. I choose to live not my will but His be done. I choose to live always rejoicing, giving thanks, always in all things, knowing this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for me. I choose to live, anxious for nothing, never complaining or murmuring, nor grieving the Holy Spirit. I choose to live seeking always to please the Lord, praying always!”
Earlier this year, I received a special gift from Dr. Bob Evans (5th President of BCM International) in the form of Bessie Traber’s Bible. Bessie was the founder of BCM International. As I’ve taken time to page through the Bible, many details have emerged for me none greater than her wrestling with God, trying to become a person of faith, and the shear difficulty of trusting God when there seems no human solution possible for the problem or vision at hand.
As I’ve found solace in reading her notes, I’ve also begun to reflect upon the tremendous amount of courage it took to begin a new ministry. Imagine, if you will, the year was 1936. The first World War had come to an end, and the world was in the middle of a global economic downturn known as the Great Depression. This period of time from 1929 to 1939 was characterized by high rates of unemployment and poverty, with nearly one out of three workers out of work in industrialized nations. The result led to drastic reductions in industrial production and international trade, with adjoining widespread bank and business failures around the world. It was the worst possible time to start a business or an organization!
Also, during this time, Bessie, a missionary to the Philippines, came home to Philadelphia in the United States, due to health issues. Not long after returning, doctors told her she could never go overseas again! Her plans were drastically changed.
Yet one day she was sharing about her ministry to children in the Philippines. A child in the U.S. simply asked her, “Why can’t you do here what you did over there?” It was this prompting from a child which started a ministry. A ministry that flourished and became a movement. A movement which became a worldwide organization. An organization that now has presence in 62 countries and serves nearly 5 million souls on a weekly basis. Poised to make disciples and build kingdom-minded leaders who reach children and strengthen the church, with God’s grace for another 90 years and more.
Throughout 2026, the BCM International community will be celebrating. As part of this celebration, we will capture the following key areas.
Remembering the sacrifice which has gone before us…
None of us are self-made men or women. The work we participate in is only possible because of the deep work and sacrifice of those who have come before us. God has been at work through dear men, women, teenagers, and children throughout the past 90 years. It is their sacrifice which makes what we do even possible. We are simply picking up the torch and continuing the good work which they started.
We will be celebrating stories of those who’ve come before us, recognizing their significant work for the kingdom.
Celebrating what God has done and continues to do…
Through the 90-year history of BCM International, God has been on the move. From opening new continents and countries, to transforming souls and individual lives, He has not stopped. He seeks all to receive Him. In my past few years as president, I have had gift of witnessing churches planted under mango trees by children and teenagers, mass spontaneous revivals, and the simple whisper of God changing a soul through a profound one-on-one conversation.
God was moving 90 years ago during the “Great Depression,” and He is equally on the move now. Just a few days ago, I learned of our curriculum “In Step with the Master Teacher” (ISMT) being translated into Japanese. Trainers are now beginning to equip others.
Throughout this year of celebration, we will share stories from around the world that show how God is on the move.
Telling the stories of God’s people around the world…
God doesn’t need any of us, yet He chooses to invite us into His grand story. All throughout the global footprint of BCM International, God is doing amazing acts of love, sacrifice, and kindness through individual lives. These lives, as an act of worship to God, become the very essence of God to others. It’s in this place where those who are distant from Christ come nearer to Christ. Children, teenagers, and adults alike are becoming disciples of Jesus, and then in turn, they are inviting others to become disciples for Jesus.
Throughout this year we will tell their stories. Stories that will bless your heart and prayerfully draw you closer to God!
Setting a strategic plan for the future…
It would be easy to simply celebrate what God has done. However, He’s just getting started.
Another part of this year of celebration will be key strategic initiatives announced capturing the heartbeat of God, leaning into the future, and empowering a global team of 17,000 leaders to join God in the grand mission that He is bringing about on planet earth. BCM International will not simply look back; rather, we will look ahead in faith believing God to do the impossible in difficult times.
It’s hard to imagine what Bessie felt as she took this incredible step of faith.
Is this going to work?
Am I up to the task?
Why would God use me?
Basically, she would have asked all the same questions each of us ask on a weekly basis. It’s in the place where faith is, believing in the unseen, believing that the God of the Old and New Testament still is at work just as much now as He was then.
We live in a world that makes it easy to respond in fear. News comes every moment about wars, rumors of wars, floods, genocide, and cyclones. Yet now is the time, just like in 1936, when Jesus needs His people to show up! It is in this place that we celebrate what God has done, believe in faith as to what God is going to do, and step towards a God who simply delights in making the unthinkable true.
Please join me on this journey as we plan to celebrate 90 years of faithfulness, all God has done, and all He will do!
