BGMC Helping Kids Live “On-Mission”
Most elementary kids — and beyond — would struggle to answer those questions. Yet church leaders are finding that when they introduce and get their kids involved in the BGMC Trading Card Game, it opens their hearts and minds to a whole new world of missions understanding and possibilities.
“We are creating tools that are helping to raise up the current and next generation of missionaries,” states Boys and Girls Missionary Challenge (BGMC) National Director David Alexieff. “We believe missions isn’t something for kids to ‘someday’ aspire to, we are wanting kids to totally live on-mission right now.”
With the help of the BGMC Trading Card Game, kids are introduced to missionary champions, global missions locations, missionary needs and opportunities, fundraising ideas, Christian character traits, and more.
“I recently heard from one district superintendent that nearly all — if not all — of the churches in his district that have grown this year are using the BGMC Trading Card Game,” Alexieff says. “Kids get excited about playing the game, collecting the cards, and learning all sorts of cool things about missions and they start talking about it with their friends, who then want to play — next thing you know, they’re wanting to come to church and see what the excitement is all about.”
Alexieff says that so far more than 2.5 million BGMC trading cards have been printed in total for the Gen 1 packs, Rise of Revival packs, Champions of Disaster expansion packs, the Silver and Gold expansion packs, and limited edition Snowy Wonders card packs.
“To give you an idea of the popularity of the cards,” Alexieff says, “during our Black Friday sale, for every $25 of BGMC products purchased, the purchaser received a free single Snowy Wonders BGMC Trading Card — the card was one of four cards that together created a scene. We originally printed 2,000 individual card packs . . . we ended up having to order an additional 4,000 more card packs!”
Alexieff says that the new Above and Beyond generation cards coming out this summer — a total of 150 new cards in all — will include some special feature cards, including a “Salvation” card and location cards with true missionary stories as shared by current AG missionaries.
“We’ll also be including several more Super Action Cards that feature the illustrated likeness of kids who did something creative in their efforts to raise money for missions and BGMC,” Alexieff says. “And a little insider news — the new missionary legend cards include evangelist Dan Rector and Royal Rangers founder Johnnie Barnes!”
Alexieff says that the BGMC Trading Card Game has already developed a passionate group of followers. In addition to a BGMC Trading Card Fans Facebook page, there’s a YouTube channel called Buddy Odyssey, which features the creator, Sam Goss, and more recently, his wife, Katie, joining him.
Buddy Odyssey videos include unexpectedly captivating videos of opening of new card packs while Goss carries on a conversation about the trading cards and rare cards he hopes to find. The channel also offers more pragmatic videos that explore things such as how to play the BGMC Trading Card Game, misprinted cards to watch for, cards with “Easter eggs” in them, rare trading cards, new rules, and more.
“Sam has put so much effort into Buddy Odyssey — posting about twice a week,” says Alexieff, “that we decided to include him as one of the Super Action Cards in the new Above and Beyond Generation cards.”
As BGMC Sunday, March 8, approaches, Alexieff says there’s so much to be excited about. Along with the undeniable success of the trading card game, kids and churches have remained strong in their support of BGMC. In 2025, more than $10.8 million was given to BGMC to help missionaries reach the lost and share the gospel message.
“We also have a number of new things that we’re working on,” Alexieff says. “We’re developing a BGMC Club and an eight-week KidMin Roadmap experience where kids are transported to different parts of the world through video and missionary stories. In addition, we’re working on more digital shorts and a trading card app for the Apple and android stores.”
And a little further down the road, BGMC will be showcasing a revitalized Pencil Pal program where kids can write to and encourage missionaries around the world — including those in the trading card game.
“I believe the Pencil Pal program will really help kids connect with missionaries and missions even more,” Alexieff says. “The Pencil Pal program will give kids the opportunity to put their missions thoughts on paper and to pray for missionaries.”
Alexieff explains that the trading cards, the fundraising, the missionary lessons, the upcoming Pencil Pal program, and other BGMC efforts are all designed to bring missions to the forefront of kids’ thoughts.
“We want to help kids develop a heart and passion for missions and sharing the gospel,” Alexieff says. “We want BGMC kids to be the ones sharing Jesus with their friends, to be the ones who go on to start Youth Alive clubs in their junior high and high schools, and are the ones who either enthusiastically support missions or personally respond to the call of God to missionary service.”
