National BGMC Day is almost here. Here is some more information as well as some ideas on how to celebrate that day.

The Purpose of National BGMC Day
National BGMC Day is the second Sunday in March. In 2006, National BGMC Day is on Sunday, March 12. The purpose of National BGMC Day is to involve the entire church in the Boys & Girls Missionary Crusade (BGMC) program. It’s also a time to expose the adults to what BGMC does, the purpose of BGMC, and to take up an adult offering for BGMC. Many times the adults in the church do not know about all the great things BGMC does and how much BGMC helps our missionaries. This day is a great time to show a video about BGMC and encourage the entire church to participate in the BGMC offering.

Theme for 2006
BGMC partners with World Missions and uses the same yearly theme. This way all the children’s activities at mission conventions will coincide with all the adult activities. So, BGMC’s yearly theme for August 1, 2005, to July 31, 2006, (the same as the Assemblies of God World Missions) is “Finish His Work” (John 4:34).

World Missions has developed great resources for this theme. They have created banners, place mats, stickers, bulletin covers, pins, activity books, etc. To request a free catalog, call 417.862.2781, extension 2061 and ask for item number 719-045 for the current theme.

BGMC Yearly Goal
Churches are also asked to turn in their yearly goal for BGMC on this same day. Churches are to call in their BGMC yearly goal to their district office by National BGMC Day. Call the CDE Office at 916.379.9600, extension 141 or . Churches can also use this day to award the kids for their faithful giving from the previous year. Be sure to look in the new BGMC resource catalog for great ideas for giving awards and incentives.

Ideas To Celebrate National BGMC Day
First, have a special missions month for the children. Emphasize missions to your children every Sunday in March. Read them thank you letters and true missions stories from current and past BGMC missions manuals. Have the children pray each week for missionaries. Perhaps each Sunday School class or Royal Rangers or Missionettes class may want to adopt certain missionaries and pray for them.

Second, encourage the children to make a faith promise to God and give it to missions through BGMC. Special faith promise materials are free and can be ordered from Gospel Publishing House. Set a goal for the church and have all the children make individual faith promises. Add them up to see if they meet your goal. Announce the goal to the whole church so that they can join in on the faith of the children. Perhaps some adults will want to help match the faith promises of the children. That’s a great way for the children’s offerings to double. Remember that when you give to BGMC, you’re helping to support nearly all of the missionaries all around the world and here in America.

Third, have a special offering emphasis with the whole church involved. Have all the kids and the entire congregation save coins for six weeks. Then turn in the barrels for one giant offering on BGMC Day, March 12.

Fourth, consider involving the children and adults of your church in the annual March Missions Madness campaign.

The March Missions Madness campaign is called “Lost Change for Lost Souls.” This month-long campaign occurs during March, which is also the month of National BGMC Day. Every person is challenged to take home a Buddy Barrel bank and search their homes, cars, offices, couches, and dresser drawers for “lost change” that can help win “lost souls” around the world for Jesus! We have also designed posters (free of charge) so you can track the weekly offering totals. More information on “March Missions Madness” can be found at the national BGMC website: www.bgmc.ag.org. Go to the section called “The BGMC Files.”

Also, you can order the above pictured “BGMC Day Posters.” Please at the National BGMC Office or call 417.862.2781, extension 4009 to order the posters. Please do not call Gospel Publishing House because the posters are in the BGMC office.

Once you have your children praying for missionaries, giving to missions, and your adults participating, then you’re ready to try some of the other ideas. These include:

1. Invite a missionary to speak with the children (either on Sunday or Wednesday). Download a list of itinerating NCN Missionaries here.

2. Let the children decorate the church foyer like places around the world.

3. Have special services in Children’s Church to emphasize missions.

4. Have the adults take up a special offering on BGMC Sunday to emphasize children’s ministries.

5. Have the adults help the children with their faith promise goals by giving them jobs to do and then paying them for the work that is done.

However you do it, don’t miss this chance to help your kids reach the world!