So you want to start and International Ministry? Do the dishes! Karie 's story of BMI Beginning

At various points in every person's life they come to cross roads. This one in particular is the one where you get to "tell the tale" so the next generation understands what the foundation they are dancing on. The next generation will never pull up the wood to look at it, never find the person who laid it, but they will enjoy it for many years to come. That is kind of how I feel about Believers' Ministry International, our worship, our relationships and our heritage. Let them enjoy it – they have plenty to build in front of them and they will do us all proud!

So... Here is a "yarn" to do the Irish proud (if I was Irish).


The Prayer
In 1996 Jeff was in Florida at a convention and I was home in California. Believers' Ministry International was not even a twinkle in our eye. “God will send you to the nations and use you to network amazing people” was not even in our vocabulary much less “International Ministry Association”.

On this gorgeous California day while doing my dishes, I was praying for the Lord to send Children's Pastors into His Kingdom who had a passion and faith that a child "could" and "would" lead us". Suddenly I heard the minister on the TV in the background call for Youth Pastors to come to the altar.

Listening with half an ear while praying, I looked up and there was a handsome young man in a grey suit standing before the minister and the preacher asked him "sir, are you a Youth Pastor?". The young man answered "No sir. I am a Children's Pastor". He said it with such pride that I started to cry.

The open Vision that changed my life
As I did, suddenly I had an open vision like a video. Not a “normal” part of my spiritual life! I get a lot of dreams - but not a movie screen in front of my face. Anyway as the “movie played”, I saw Jeff and I on a stage. What?

My brain was reeling and I rubbed my eyes… but it continued. There were many cultures of people in a stadium from all over – different cultures & tribes. They were white, black, Hispanic, Asian, hip hop, gothic, big hats, baseball hats, suits and levis – it was kind of like the neighborhood we lived in! LOL.

The movie continued and I heard the Lord say - "because you have touched my hearts praying for the children, not only will you send out Children's ministers but worshippers, prophets, apostles, missionaries, pastors, teachers and ministers who will reach this generation'. As I heard Him say that, this giant hand came from heaven and began to scoop handfuls of people up and remove them to other places from our gathering.

My phone rang... in the middle of “all this”. WHY I picked it up could only have been Jesus, but I did (movie still playing in front of my face). There was a woman's voice on the line that I did not recognize (I had only met her once and had no idea she had my number). She said "GOD has called you to pioneer many, many churches and you will be Apostles to the nations".

“Are you kidding me?” were the only words in my mind as I grabbed a pen, started to write. It freaked me out because I knew that was what my vision was showing me - we would be a "sending" community of people"... “Was there a bug in my house” ??? "Who IS this", I asked. "JoAnne." she said ... and I don't remember anything else. Did the “movie” stop? Not sure. Did she say something else? Don’t know.

Stunning is the word that comes to mind. I loved outreach, the streets (saved as a cocktail waitress in adultery in 1986 in Las Vegas NV - I 'get" streets), youth and travelling. Jeff was so painfully shy that he held managerial meetings sitting down because his knees shook. “Jeff & Karie Kirschbaum” were united in matrimony in 1989 in Las Vegas, NV. USA and up to this point there was no "thought" of ministry that came out of Jeff’s mouth, much less “International” ministry, planting churches, etc... Many prophets would speak it over us. When they did we would look at each other and say, "Wow." That will be God." ”Church" or "Pastor" or "Apostle" or “Ministry” (organization) had never crossed our minds or lips.

A little while later when I had pulled myself together, our phone rang again. This time it was Jeff. "Karie - You would not believe what just happened to me in the hotel room!" he said.

"Try me". I answered. He went on to explain that he was praying and had just finished an open vision. His description matched my own “movie”, “Karie - I saw a vision of us going to the nations from church to church and we were overseers of those churches and we planted many, many churches in America and all over the world”.

As I write this now in 2010, Jeff sets beside me on the couch; this is all true now (happening, happened and ongoing) and it is “our life”.

He came home from Florida and without really knowing what to do next; we waited for the "timing" (or a bomb to drop). Timing for ministry is like timing for a baby. It is just never “perfect”. It comes and you “hope” the parents are prepared. “Clueless” was our middle name!

In December of 1996 or January of 1997 (can’t remember exactly), a good friend of mine from the days back at Sandy Brown’s in Vegas came to stay with us; J.R. Miller of Ft. Wayne Indiana USA along with his little boy William. His wife, Nancy "Honeytree" Miller was up the mountain doing a "First Love" recording with many artists from the "Jesus Movement" of the 70's. J.R. and I have been friends since 1987. We are friends and warriors in the trenches of ministry and life together. I was happy he was there as his council is usually both balanced and “spiritual”.

Jeff and I told him what happened to us. He just said "Karie, How big is your garage?” What a strange question – but we answered “Six hundred square feet was our measurement a few minutes later”. "How much money do you have?" was his next question. After a check on the bank account we found around $500.00. "That's enough." he said and off to Home Depot he and Jeff went.

Our first meeting in our new “church building” was February 7, 2009. People who were with us at the beginning of this time are known as 'garage people". They include people like Johanna Sharp, Esther Pitts, David & Tina Paulson and others you will see here and there in our meetings.

We only lasted about six months in the garage, outgrew it and have had many adventures since then but THE GLORY BROKE OUT IN THE GARAGE after a visitation in April of 1997. Go to Believers' Worship; Karie's Story Link

Note: Jeff and I, Karie didn’t “call” ourselves. It helps to remember that through good times and bad. Jesus called us. If He changes His mind, He'll surely let us know the same way he told us to "go". Ha Ha!We were just two people trying to blend a family (each of us had a little girl when we married in ’89), be good Christians and serve the Lord. Ha Ha… the laugh was on us. God surely takes the foolish things to “confound the wise”.

I’m open to questions if you have any. These times can be the most exciting and the most frightening times in your life – but at least it is “life” with an “adventure”!
Karie