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From Vegas, to a Garage in California, to a Family Around the World
Believers Ministry International (BMI) officially began in 1997 in a garage in Fontana, California. But the seeds of BMI were planted long before that first gathering - Believers' Ministry International Las Vegas with Evangelist Sandy Brown.
The Friendships That Started It All
In the late 1980s, friendships formed through Sandy Brown Evangelism School in Las Vegas became part of the foundation of what would eventually grow into a remarkable international family.
Sandy Brown Glassford, affectionately known as "Mama Sandy," and her husband, Greg, became treasured friends whose influence and encouragement reached far beyond those early years.
Sandy was a world-famous evangelist speaking throughout media genres and countries around the world. She was a cocktail waitress in Vegas in the 1970s, where she had an encounter with Jesus - it changed the world. She remained an active part of our ministry over the decades.
Claudia and Karie were honored to speak at Sandy's funeral in Tulsa. She passed away in 2026, but her legacy remains legendary — on both sides of Heaven!
Jeff & Karie
Back Row, Left to Right: JR Miller (Ft. Wayne, Indiana), Wyatt Moore (Glorybound ABQ, NM), Jeff Kirschbaum, Greg Glassford, Neville Owens (LFWOC Jamaica), Richard Aidoo (NLC Germany), unknown (2)
Front Row, Left ) Right: Mary Dorian & Claudia Baca-Moore (Glorybound), Karie, Sandy Brown-Glassford, and Sigrid Aidoo (NLC)
The picture is taken Circa 2009 in Bakersfield, California during the 11th Hour in the Vineyard Conference.
JR, Wyatt, Claudia, Wyatt, Jeff, Karie, and Sandy were all part of BMI Vegas in the late 1980s and continue to partner in ministry today.
It started in the Philippines...
In 1996, a journey with Evangelist Paul Hoffman to the Philippines introduced Jeff and Karie, and their friend Tony Salcido, to Edgar and Edna Bantique, Lem and Tessie Felicio, and Joon and Cita Biluan of Christ Faith Fellowship. These relationships, and the extraordinary love, dedication, and leadership demonstrated by the Christ Faith Fellowship ministers, helped shape the vision that would soon become BMI.
And then came 1997!
With a college-age Bible study growing quickly and inspired and encouraged by longtime friend J.R. Miller, whom they had met during their BMI Las Vegas years, Jeff and Karie opened their garage to a neighborhood gathering of friends and members of a college Bible study.
Among those early friends were Esther and Ron Pitts, Johanna and Alvin Sharp, Joey and Katherin Melendrez, David Paulson, Phil and Cheri Carreson, Jayson Washburn, and many others. Remarkably, several of those friendships remain an active part of the BMI family nearly 30 years later.
What began as a simple gathering of people who loved Jesus quickly became something much bigger than anyone imagined.
From the Garage to the Nations
Conferences became part of BMI's story almost immediately, drawing speakers, leaders, and friends from across the United States and around the world. Before long, those international visitors were extending invitations of their own, and BMI began sending teams overseas to encourage, teach, serve, and strengthen the friendships that were taking root.
Those relationships grew to include Neville and Jennifer Owens of Love & Faith World Outreach Ministries in Jamaica, along with other ministries throughout the West Indies; Richard and Sigrid Aidoo of New Life Churches in Germany; John and Doreen Greenaway and David Robinson of Northern Ireland; and numerous churches and leaders throughout Kenya, where BMI's relationships and partnerships have been firmly established since 2004.
Other treasured friendships include Wyatt & Claudia Moore (Glorybound, New Mexico) and Mary Dorian - the Moors have been friends since they were Associate Pastors at BMI (Sandy Brown) where Claudia was also in charge of the Sandy Brown Evangelism School where Karie Graduated in 1989. Also, Dr. Bola Rolls Arowolo of Nigeria, founder of Wave of Worship, whose influence has reached around the world, and Pastor Dennis Kingsland of Carpenter's House in Fontana, California - And those are just a few of the names and countries - not to even mention the BMI Kenya group!
Over the decades, the list of friends, leaders, churches, and ministries connected through BMI has grown far beyond anything that could be captured on a single page. Each has brought something unique to the journey, and many of those relationships have become lifelong friendships.
The Basement, Rialto, and the Go Era
Meanwhile, back home in California, BMI was growing too.
The little garage gathering soon needed more room. Loveland Church generously opened the doors of its former facility, providing a year of rent-free space while its own new building was being renovated. That generosity gave the young ministry a wonderful opportunity to establish itself and continue growing.
Then came "The Basement" in Fontana in 1999 — a season remembered for extraordinary gatherings, unforgettable encounters with God, and friendships that would last a lifetime.
In 2002, the church expanded to Rialto, meeting in a building owned by Arlie Matthews, father of longtime BMI friend Jennifer Matthews.
But by 2006, another chapter was beginning.
The local church closed its doors, and what might have looked like an ending was actually the beginning of an entirely new adventure.
We affectionately call it "The Go Era." And go they did!
A Family Without Borders
Across America and around the world, BMI continued to grow through conferences, gatherings, leadership development, international partnerships, community outreach, and relationships that would span decades.
Buildings came and went. Locations changed. Some beloved friends have gone ahead of us into eternity, while others continue to carry the heart of BMI into their own communities and nations.
But one thing has never changed: BMI has always been about people. People from different nations, cultures, churches, and backgrounds, brought together by a shared love for Jesus and a desire to experience and share the freedom of His grace. What began in a garage has become an extraordinary family without borders.
And the story is still being written! Meet Some of Our BMI Family & Friends
The Heart of BMI
Through every season, every adventure, and every friendship, one powerful conviction has remained at the heart of Believers Ministry International:
The finished work of the Cross is enough for all.
It was then. It is now. And it always will be.
Still Fearless!