Brethren in Christ World Missions (BICWM) has 65 global workers located in 17 countries. While continuing in our support of these existing teams, we’ll look to SEND workers for witness and service by advancing the ministry of Hank and Michele Dannecker, the only BICWM workers currently in the Middle East.

A system of walls, gates, and trenches has separated Israelis and Palestinians for decades. These barriers have also kept Palestinian children, who suffer from congenital heart defects at exceedingly high rates, from having access to the more advanced medical facilities available in Israel. To begin speaking peace into the lives affected by this, the Danneckers founded 1NewHeart, a sponsor agency that enables 10 Palestinian children to receive life-saving heart surgery from Israeli doctors each year. In addition to facilitating this care, Hank and Michele are also committed to establishing relationships and sharing the Gospel of peace with each family, most of which are Muslim, and with the Israeli doctors, many of whom are Jewish.

We'll seek to take these steps to expand our ministry in the Middle East in 2012:

• Recruit new workers for 1NewHeart, since the Danneckers’ visas to live in Israel expire in 2012
• Support the outreach being done at The House of Bread, a pizza shop opened by the Danneckers in Bethlehem
• Raise awareness of peace issues in Israel and Palestine

There are 262 BIC churches in 25 states across the U.S. While continuing in our support of these locations, we’ll look to MULTIPLY sites for life change by planting 15 new churches, revitalizing five existing congregations, and establishing five new sites for worship (e.g., small groups, outreach ministries, worship services).

All the churches along Baltimore Street in Mount Holly Springs, Pa., have closed. But not Wesley BIC. Although it’s been a struggle, Wesley BIC has managed to stay open. At the same time, just six miles away, in Carlisle, Pa., is New Life Community (NLC), a diverse BIC church eager to grow and see the acceptance, healing, and hope of Jesus lived out. Following this vision, the NLC family is planning to become one church in two locations by adopting Wesley BIC. While continuing its outreach in Carlisle, the church will launch NLC Mount Holly, a renewed fellowship led by a team of people from both congregations who will seek reach people in the community not currently being served.

We’ll seek to take these steps to build up the community of faith in 2012:

• Think outside the box for ways to help churches expand by sharing their resources, coordinating their ministry efforts, planning additional services, etc.
• Connect churches with the BIC Foundation’s Matching Grant Program, which helps fund new outreach initiatives
• Provide coaching and encouragement to churches in need of renewal thru Regional Conferences and bishops

The BIC Church employs 10 Church leaders (bishops, executive directors, moderator, & general secretary) and their teams, who assist 350 pastors and their teams. While continuing in our support of these workers, we’ll look to EQUIP leaders for transformation by investing in young people and actively inviting them to join in the work of the Church.

Since 2003, 41 young adults have participated in STEP, a nine-month cross-cultural training program based in Honduras and offered by BIC World Missions. Of those 41 participants, more than half of them are now involved in leadership and ministry within the Church. This year, STEP will be establishing a second site in India, where the BIC Church is growing by the thousands, despite intense persecution. This dynamic new setting will provide one more way for young people to learn about the global family of faith, expore their ministry gifts, and receive training to serve and lead the Church into the future.

We’ll seek to take these steps to raise up a new generation of leaders in 2012:

• Launch a new location in West India for STEP
• Provide young people with hands-on leadership experience and training—through Equipping for Ministry, General and Regional Conference internships, seminary scholarships, and the Missionary Development Program
• Invite 20- and 30-somethings to take part in the work and conversations of the Church