A Time of Transition

Transitions may be one of the most frustrating seasons of life. There are so many unknowns involved. Usually there is a period of waiting. But on occasion, as aggravating as seasons of transition can be, they are worth the wait. For me, this is one of those times. 

Last June, God placed me at a crossroads in my life. He made it clear that my “teacher era” was coming to a close, and it was time to use that blood, sweat, and tears-drenched ministry degree. I decided to knock on doors within my ministry network to see if my gifts and training were a match for any needs within the organizations in my network. I was hoping for a role that wouldn’t require Phil and I to move, since he is working at our home church, but beyond that, I had no expectations of what God may have for me.

I will be serving with Bible Centered Ministries International (BCM Intl.).

One of the organizations I reached out to was Bible Centered Ministries International (BCM), which is the organization my family has served with for years. Dr. Rick Rhoads, the new President, graciously agreed to sit down with me and share his vision for the mission and potential opportunities there. One areas he highlighted during our conversation was his vision to create a global education department within BCM. His dream was that this department would focus on developing ministry leaders internationally and further equip missionaries within the BCM itself. The more he spoke, the more neon signs started blaring in my mind. I left the meeting and all but cried in my car. I had asked God for clarity and direction, and during my very first meeting God had given it. Dr. Rhoads and I met a few more times after that initial meeting, but by the end of the summer, he invited me to join BCM as the Director of what will be the Global Education department, and I agreed.

Over this past year, I’ve been working through orientation and have been preparing for the road ahead. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t intimidated by the task ahead of me. On the good days, I’m bouncing around the house giddy with excitement, but on the days of doubt, I question what on earth Dr. Rhoads was thinking for entrusting so large an undertaking to me. However, even on the doubting days, there is still both peace and assurance that this is God’s will for me. God has been preparing me for this for years. Between my upbringing in Scotland as a multicultural person, the short-term trips I went on as a teen that grew my heart for the globe, my training in education and curriculum design, my experience in teaching and administration, and my seminary training which focused on International Theological Education, God has had this in the works for a long time. I’m excited to see what He does in me and through me in this upcoming season.

While the department is still in the vision and planning stage, I’m eager to get going in my upcoming position

As the Director of Global Education, I will oversee the equipping of ministry leaders globally within the mission.

as Director of Global Education! My new role will involve coming alongside missionaries in BCM who are already doing educational ministry to encourage them, work with them to set and reach goals, and to brainstorm creative ways to expand their ministry of equipping ministry leaders in their contexts. While I’ll be based out of Lancaster, PA, I will need to take international trips about four times a year to get to know missionaries and ministries in my department, and also to run trainings and/or formal courses to further equip our incredible leaders who are already serving in their contexts. My role will also involve a lot of networking. BCM is not the only mission agency out there who works in educational ministry, so I’ll connect with others in the same field as me to share resources, brainstorm ideas, and develop partnerships.

During this next year, I will be looking for partners who will support me in this ministry through prayer and finances.

My people-loving, global-wired, teacher-minded self is chomping at the bit to get to work on the ministry, however I can’t do any of it without a team partnering with me. My task over the next year (or sooner if God allows it!) is to build a network of partners who can come alongside me in provision, in prayer, and in encouragement. I need financial partners because my role’s salary will come through sponsorships of believers who want to invest in kingdom work. I need partners who can commit to praying for me consistently as the ministry I’m tackling is daunting, and the devil won’t like me doing it either. Finally, I will need partners in encouragement, people who will check on me regularly and remind me of why the hard things are worth doing and who God is in the midst of them. I know that I can’t do this alone, nor is it wise to try.

If you’re interested in the idea of partnering with me in any of these ways, or if you just have more questions about what I’ll be doing, please let me know! I’d love to talk more about how I’ve gotten to this point and share more of what God has in store for me in this upcoming season. If you want to track with me and stay in the loop through this journey, use the form below to sign up for monthly newsletter updates via email and/or text.

As much as I'm not a fan of change, I see God's fingerprints all over this transition, and I am excited to see what all He has in store!

Bekah Querfeld