CMI: Our Founder
Steve Karges is the Founder and President of Children’s Ministries International, Inc. (CMI) which he started in 1980. CMI is based in San Diego, California.
Steve is a graduate of Palomar College in 1979 and was ordained into the Christian Ministry in 1980. For over 25 years he has been leading CMI. Steve has organized, directed, or assisted at over 110 Kids’ Retreats across the United States and overseas. He has ministered to children in Australia, England, Haiti, India, the Philippines, and Russia.
Steve and Janette were married in 1983. Janette is CMI’s Vice-President. She volunteers her time and talents to this ministry. The Karges’ have two children, Stephanie and Kevin. They reside in Escondido, California and are active in thier local church.
A Worldwide Outreach
Steve Karges has a heart for overseas evangelism! He has ministered to boys and girls in Australia, England, Haiti, India, the Philippines and Russia. Janette Karges has accompanied Steve, and ministered with him, in several of these countries. She has also served on a ministry team in Hungary.
Children’s Ministries International, Inc. is committed to reaching kids for Christ at home and abroad! Their worldwide strategy is to evangelize children in foreign countries by training natives to teach and reach their own children for Christ. Through teaching and training seminars, local leaders learn how to effectively communicate God’s Word with boys and girls. As Children’s Ministries International equips foreign leaders to evangelize and disciple their own kids, the result will be thousands of boys and girls hearing and responding to the gospel. The goal is to help foreign churches and their leaders “catch the vision” of sharing Jesus with kids! In many countries outside of North America, the idea of specifically ministering to children is a new concept!
When a foreign leader attends one of Children’s Ministries International’s OVERSEAS TRAINING CLASSES, they do not learn about Kids’ Retreats or the “American way” of doing things. Instead, Steve and other “trainers” adapt their teaching to the local culture, customs and environment. Children’s Ministries International, Inc. uses concepts and materials developed by Sylvia Foth of Kidzana Ministries. These training techniques are new and unique and on the cutting edge of children’s ministry. Steve and Janette Karges have been trained by Kidzana at their Reaching and Teaching Children Institute.
In order to maximize limited manpower and resources, Children’s Ministries International is partnering with Kidzana (and other ministries and churches) to teach Christians in other countries how to evangelize and disciple their own children. UNDER THE BANNER OF CHRIST, Steve Karges is working to foster a spirit of unity and cooperation among missionaries and mission organizations. Steve believes that more can be accomplished for the Kingdom by working together than separately.