Ron & Bernadette Gartner

Refuge Ministries was founded in the hearts of Rev. Ron and Bernadette Gartner in obedience to the Lord in 1980. It started as an inner city mission work in Milwaukee, WI. From there the work expanded and continues to expand. Refuge Ministries has always been called to help the poor and hopeless. We feed people spiritually by planting churches, preaching Evangelistic Crusades, teaching Pastors and leaders conferences and personal ministry. To meet physical needs we do feeding programs, clothing and medical distribution. In 1998 God led us to establish a Children’s Home in Chihuahua Mexico. In the future we hope to establish more Children’s Homes and Orphanages and plant more churches in poor areas of the world.

Mexico

In 1985 the Gartner’s moved to El Paso, TX. where they made their headquarters and began to work in Juarez, Mexico. They started the first church with one family. It has since grown and five other churches have been started along with a Children’s Home and more under construction. Our churches all have national pastors and operate under a religious association and the Children’s Home operates under a civil association. The Children’s Home takes in children who have been abandoned or abused by their parents.

We have begun the construction of the 2nd Children's Home in Lerdo, Durango, MX.  Brother Menny, who will be the director when we open, is doing the construction work.  He will dig out the foundations using a shovel and a pick and wheelbarrow.  We have purchased the cement, gravel, sand and re-bar.  We also bought 500 blocks to begin the work.  We hope to be in a positin to take in children in this new work before school begins in fall.

Mexico Children’s Home

Many of these little ones have never known a loving home or family. Since coming to the home many of our children have come to know Jesus and have been healed of emotional wounds. It is a blessing to see these children pray and worship God with all of their hearts. Some of the children have been able to go back to their families as their parents have been set free from alcohol and drugs. Some of them do not even know where there parents are and will probably be with us until they become adults. We nurture them in the spiritual and physical. Most of our children come emotionally wounded, but soon they are filled with joy and love as Jesus fills their lives.
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