It’s not often that two significant giving records are broken in the same year, but national Boys and Girls Missionary Challenge (BGMC) Director David Boyd has announced that not only did BGMC break its previous annual giving record by more than $831,000, the Peninsular Florida District became the first-ever Assemblies of God district to give more than $1 million to BGMC in a single year!
According to Boyd, the total giving to BGMC in 2016 was $7,843,886.85 — a 12 percent jump in giving over 2015’s record total.
BGMC is the Assemblies of God missions program for kids that is designed to help develop hearts of compassion to reach people for Christ. Funds raised go towards assisting missionaries in meeting critical needs around the world, including projects such as building water wells, developing feeding programs, building and supplying Bible schools, even purchasing livestock — whatever a missionary needs.
“Right now, district by district it seems BGMC is waking up,” Boyd says. “Last year, right at 40 districts went up from the year before and half of those had record years! In every church there are kids God may want to call as missionaries. It imperative that every church inspire their kids to care about the world.”
The Pen-Florida District has a passion for BGMC, as once again it led the nation in giving, only this time in record fashion.
BGMC Coordinator Mary Boyd reports that the Peninsular Florida District gave a record total of $1,186,079.33 to BGMC in 2016. “They have been the top district for the last 11 years, including 2016,” Mary Boyd says. “What else is remarkable is that eight of the top-10 churches that gave to BGMC in 2016 were from the Pen-Florida District, including the overall number-one church, Fort Myers Assembly of God, which gave more than $166,000 to BGMC in 2016.”
Mark Entzminger, senior director of AG Children’s Ministry, is excited about the increase and the passion children and churches have developed for BGMC.
“This is what it feels like to be a part of a movement that wholeheartedly believes in the empowerment of the Holy Spirit and the fact that kids can do great things for God,” Entzminger says. “Peninsular Florida is one of the great examples of dreaming big and watching God do the impossible.”
The BGMC national office also recognized the Wyoming District for its outstanding giving, as it led the nation in per capita giving to BGMC with an average of $17.76
Entzminger adds that the Boyds have been uniquely used by God to impact BGMC. “This last year’s record giving year means that now over $100 million has been given through BGMC since their time at the national office.”
Although BGMC set a first-time record, approaching $8 million last year, David Boyd says the goal for 2017 is $9 million.
“In man’s eye, this would be impossible,” he says. “But It is our prayer that God would ignite the children’s leaders in every district across our nation. Every pastor should examine their church and see if their children’s leaders are raising up a generation of missionary champions!”
IMAGE – David and Mary Boyd are BGMC Directors
(Source: AG World News)
