The first quarter of 2026 was a rich and active period for BMS International. Mission properties around the world served as vibrant centers for conferences, youth camps, and weekly programs. Basfour Group in South Africa welcomed a new group of young trainees and continued advancing its strategic vision. BMS remains thankful for the dedicated volunteers, local church members, and donors who make this work possible.
Mission Activities and Regional Impact
Mission properties across multiple countries began the year with energy and purpose. A series of conferences drew participants from around the world — from the International Conference in Cabreúva, Brazil, which brought together members from South America and Europe, to the Annual Conference in Paso Flores, Argentina, the New Year’s Conferences in Yaoundé, Cameroon and Kerala, India, a Summer Conference Feast in Tauranga, New Zealand, and the Christian Conference in Ozerne, Ukraine that welcomed participants from eight countries. The BCC Sisters Conference and BCC Easter Conference broadcasts from Brunstad, Norway were followed at mission properties worldwide, while the BUK Easter Camp brought energy and fellowship to properties including Bafoussam, Lubumbashi, Kisumu, and Kerala.
Sunday services, youth services, children’s Sunday school, Bible studies, and fellowship gatherings were held weekly throughout the quarter. The Africa Online month-end conference continued to be a meaningful point of connection for the African mission properties, while the monthly Francophone service brought French-speaking communities together in live online worship. Special moments enriched the rhythm of weekly life: in Tauranga, a Bible Kids Camp saw children camping in tents at the mission property and enjoying a full program of activities and themed Sunday school, followed by a special Music Feast. In Ozerne, local youth and youth from Moldova came together for a youth weekend of both voluntary work and services.
“February was a very special month for us at the mission property as we had our annual Bible Kids Camp. It was a time filled with laughter, fun, and special moments together. The children’s services were especially touching. Seeing the kids listen, participate, and respond reminded me how important the mission property is. It’s more than just a place — it’s a space where children feel safe, valued, and open to learning about God.”
Lara (23), Tauranga
BMS properties are sustained by the willing hands of local church members who contributed approximately 5,900 hours of voluntary maintenance work during the quarter. Across the world, local volunteers gave their time for cleaning, gardening, painting, plumbing, and snow clearing, with several communities dedicating significant effort to preparing facilities for upcoming conferences. Kerala stood out with church members from Coimbatore joining the local team for a dedicated maintenance weekend, while in Mexico the youth helped prepare food for the BCC Sisters’ Conference alongside their regular field work.
Basfour Group: Empowering Through Christian Social Entrepreneurship
The Basfour Group in South Africa entered 2026 with renewed momentum, advancing its dual mission of generating sustainable returns to support mission work in Africa while providing meaningful development opportunities for young people. The first quarter was marked by a strategic shift toward anchor events and premium experience packages at Pont de Val. The annual wine festival drew strong guest participation and was followed by the start of the yearly Pont de Val wine production, with CYDEP trainees gaining hands-on experience in the process. New partnerships were established in sports and fitness tourism, positioning the estate as a premium destination for fitness and lifestyle groups.
Serve IT expanded its student WiFi network with an additional 600 users during the quarter, now servicing approximately 8,000 students in the Vaal area, with further agreements lined up for the second quarter. Enova completed a major installation project and made further investments in solar energy and infrastructure. Progress was also made on the property development front, with rezoning and subdivision applications advancing through municipal processes and a new strategy adopted for accelerated development of residential and hospitality facilities on the estate.
Training of CYDEP Members in Basfour Group
January 2026 marked the start of a new season for the Christian Youth Development and Empowerment Program (CYDEP) with six new trainees from Cameroon and South Africa beginning their training journey across the Basfour Group’s subsidiaries. Over the course of the quarter, the group completed more than 1,000 hours of hands-on training at Pont de Val (Events and Hotel & Spa) and Serve IT, gaining practical experience in hospitality, event coordination, wine production, and IT and network installations, alongside the development of soft skills such as teamwork, communication, and professionalism.
At Pont de Val Events, trainees gained experience in event setup, floral design, venue coordination, and booking systems, while also contributing to the estate’s wine production process. Within the Hotel & Spa, participants received focused training in housekeeping, reception and reservations, and spa treatments. At Serve IT, training covered cabling, WiFi installation, server cabinet management, and network maintenance. As part of the program, participants were also enrolled in the Small Business Management and Community Development Course at the local university, attending their first classes at the campus during the quarter. By March, the team showed strong progress across all placements. Their managers noted their growing confidence, attention to detail, and a genuine willingness to learn – qualities that reflect the heart of what the program aims to develop.
“The skills I am gaining here will stay with me long after the program ends, and I believe they will help me make a meaningful difference in my community.”
Eunice (21), Cameroon
Supporting Participants Beyond the Program
The Basfour Group’s commitment to CYDEP participants does not end when they return home. Recognizing that many graduates face challenging employment markets in their home countries, the post-CYDEP employment initiative continues to create pathways for former participants to apply their skills and build sustainable careers.
A meaningful development in the first quarter was the onboarding of Kevin, a 2025 CYDEP former participant from Kenya, who now performs remote bookkeeping work for Pont de Val’s finance department. Kevin trained in accommodation and accounting during his time on the program, and his transition to a remote working role demonstrates the program’s capacity to support participants’ professional establishment in their home countries. Alongside Kevin, ongoing collaboration continued with former participants in Nigeria, where a small team contributes remotely in administration and bookkeeping.
“My training and experience from CYDEP have created a very strong impact on me. I am glad that Pont de Val has given me the opportunity to virtually work with them in accounting. This is a great opportunity for me to continue learning, serving while earning a living. This also gives me the opportunity to remain connected with South African friends.”
Kevin (28), Kenya
Discussions also continued with the local university to develop an advanced community development course for returning participants, with a launch planned for later in 2026.
