One of Blessings Cultural Mission Fellowship’s (BCMF) core ministries is the long-term cultivation of kingdom workers. Since 1996, BCMF has offered the Blessings Seminarian Scholarship to support seminarians who share the vision of cultural mission and are committed to serving within Chinese cultural contexts. Each year, six to seven seminarians receive support; as of 2023, a total of 60 seminarians had been supported through this program. These seminarians are known as members of the “Blessings family,” and BCMF is committed to walking alongside them faithfully over the long term.

As the proverb says, “It takes ten years to grow a tree, but a hundred years to cultivate a person.” Raising up faithful servants for God’s kingdom cannot be accomplished overnight; it requires sustained commitment. While financial assistance is certainly valuable, emotional and spiritual care is often even more essential. Blessings-supported seminarians study at various seminaries. During their years of preparation, in addition to financial support, BCMF seeks to encourage and support them in many ways, including regular contact, faithful intercession, visits from the president, and monthly family letters from the seminarians.

Each summer, we host the Blessings Family Retreat, where current seminarians, graduates, board members, and staff gather together. Each person has the opportunity to share about their walk with the Lord and exchange reflections from ministry. This is a treasured time for building unity and deepening our shared vision. Smaller alumni retreats are also organized in Asia and other regions to encourage and support graduates.

With the addition of full-time staff dedicated to pastoral and member care, the breadth and depth of this ministry have steadily expanded. In breadth, our care now extends beyond the Blessings family to include spiritual leaders who have served for a period of time and find themselves physically, emotionally, or spiritually depleted, or even approaching burnout.

In depth, our commitment goes beyond listening and understanding, respect and acceptance, empathy and encouragement. We are also willing to offer practical and tangible support. Like the good Samaritan in Jesus’ parable in Luke 10, BCMF seeks to provide care and attention to those who have been wounded along the road, while encouraging them toward growth and breakthrough, so that they may experience restoration and rebuilding in body, mind, and spirit.

To pursue holistic care for the whole person—body, mind, and spirit—BCMF seeks to partner with churches and Christian ministries. May the Lord bless this shared endeavor.