Becky Fischer
Encyclopedia
Becky Fischer is a Pentecostal children's pastor best known for her role in the 2006 documentary Jesus Camp
.
Fischer is a third-generation Pentecostal on her father's side and a fourth-generation Pentecostal on her mother's side. Her grandfather was an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God
for 75 years. Fischer was a businesswoman in her native Bismarck, North Dakota
for 23 years, the last eight as part-time children's pastor of her church. In 1999, she moved to North Wilkesboro, North Carolina
to join Tasch Ministries International, a ministry that specializes in mission
trips for children. After serving as a children's pastor for Rick Joyner's
MorningStar Ministries in Wilkesboro, she returned to North Dakota to begin her own ministry, Kids in Ministry International. She is the author of several Sunday School curricula for churches and the book Redefining Children's Ministry in the 21st Century and her own biographical review of her experiences during the filming of the movie Jesus Camp, My Story. Fischer rented facilities for the "Kids on Fire" summer camp in Devils Lake, North Dakota
for four years. She also ran an FM radio station and a motel before going into her ministry.
about filming her "Kids on Fire" camp outside Devils Lake, North Dakota
, as well as portions of her "Changing the World through Prayer Conference" at Christ Triumphant Church in Lee's Summit, Missouri
(a suburb of Kansas City
), where Fischer is ordained.
When the film debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival
in the summer of 2006, it generated controversy for overtly political subject matter. For example, in one scene shot at Christ Triumphant Church, a guest speaker brought a cardboard cutout of George W. Bush
and asked several children assembled there to stretch their hands out toward him. Some press accounts suggested that the children were worshiping him. The laying on of hands
and its derivative of stretching hands towards someone is a common practice in Pentecostal and Charismatic churches.
While somewhat uncomfortable with some elements of the final product (which led to accusations that she was indoctrinating children), Fischer has refused to disown the film. In fact, she has used it as a tool to publicize her ministry and its work. She claims to see the real message of the film embedded amidst the political overtones. To Fischer, the real message of Jesus Camp is to show how passionate children can be when given the right opportunities.
Fischer has announced that because of negative reactions to the camp after the film, including telephone calls and vandalism, the camp, which was held once a year for three weeks, will be discontinued indefinitely and will be replaced by other events.
is content to merely give children a roll-over of Bible stories for the first twelve years of their lives, causing them to lose interest in God
and the church by their teen years, and opting out of the church culture as a result. Fischer declares, "As a result, we have a crisis in Christianity resulting in as many as 70% of our own children leaving the Church and never returning." Her ministry explores ways to keep them engaged in their faith through adulthood.
Kids in Ministry International under the direction of Becky Fischer promotes supporting the nation of Israel and Christian Zionism
, a common practice within Evangelical churches in the United States. The most notable ministry promotion of Zionism
are events by Kids in Ministry International titled Kids Blessing Abraham Family Conference.
that believes in the existence of present-day apostles and prophet
s. The Kids in Ministry website includes teachings from prominent ministers, including Cindy Jacobs, Lou Engle
, Patricia King, Stacey Campbell, Kim Clement, Bill Hamon and Rick Joyner
.
Fischer's ministry also adheres to several Pentecostal traditions and teachings such as promoting Glossolalia
or speaking in tongues, spiritual warfare, healing the sick, prophecy, raising of the dead, and exorcism
from demonic possession
.
Jesus Camp
Jesus Camp is a 2006 American documentary film directed by Rachel Grady and Heidi Ewing about a charismatic Christian summer camp, where children spend their summers learning and practicing their prophetic gifts and being taught that they can "take back America for Christ." According to the...
.
Fischer is a third-generation Pentecostal on her father's side and a fourth-generation Pentecostal on her mother's side. Her grandfather was an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God
Assemblies of God
The Assemblies of God , officially the World Assemblies of God Fellowship, is a group of over 140 autonomous but loosely-associated national groupings of churches which together form the world's largest Pentecostal denomination...
for 75 years. Fischer was a businesswoman in her native Bismarck, North Dakota
Bismarck, North Dakota
Bismarck is the capital of the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Burleigh County. It is the second most populous city in North Dakota after Fargo. The city's population was 61,272 at the 2010 census, while its metropolitan population was 108,779...
for 23 years, the last eight as part-time children's pastor of her church. In 1999, she moved to North Wilkesboro, North Carolina
North Wilkesboro, North Carolina
North Wilkesboro is a town in Wilkes County, North Carolina, United States. The population was approximately 4,116 at the 2000 census and is now 4,245 as of the 2010 census. North Wilkesboro is the birthplace and original home of Lowe's Home Improvement, which continues to have a major presence in...
to join Tasch Ministries International, a ministry that specializes in mission
Mission (Christian)
Christian missionary activities often involve sending individuals and groups , to foreign countries and to places in their own homeland. This has frequently involved not only evangelization , but also humanitarian work, especially among the poor and disadvantaged...
trips for children. After serving as a children's pastor for Rick Joyner's
Rick Joyner
Rick Joyner heads MorningStar Ministries , which he cofounded with his wife Julie Joyner in 1985...
MorningStar Ministries in Wilkesboro, she returned to North Dakota to begin her own ministry, Kids in Ministry International. She is the author of several Sunday School curricula for churches and the book Redefining Children's Ministry in the 21st Century and her own biographical review of her experiences during the filming of the movie Jesus Camp, My Story. Fischer rented facilities for the "Kids on Fire" summer camp in Devils Lake, North Dakota
Devils Lake, North Dakota
As of the 2000 Census, there were 7,222 people, 3,127 households, and 1,773 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 3,508 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 89.23% White, 0.22% African American, 7.84% Native American, 0.28%...
for four years. She also ran an FM radio station and a motel before going into her ministry.
Jesus Camp
Fischer was approached in 2004 by Heidi Ewing and Rachel GradyRachel Grady
Rachel Grady is a film director involved in producing the documentary films Jesus Camp, The Boys of Baraka, and 12th and Delaware. She is the daughter of James Grady.- Jesus Camp :...
about filming her "Kids on Fire" camp outside Devils Lake, North Dakota
Devils Lake, North Dakota
As of the 2000 Census, there were 7,222 people, 3,127 households, and 1,773 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 3,508 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 89.23% White, 0.22% African American, 7.84% Native American, 0.28%...
, as well as portions of her "Changing the World through Prayer Conference" at Christ Triumphant Church in Lee's Summit, Missouri
Lee's Summit, Missouri
Lee's Summit is a city in the U.S. state of Missouri, and is contained within the counties of Jackson and Cass. As of the 2010 census found the population at 91,364 making it the sixth-largest city in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area and the sixth-largest city in Missouri...
(a suburb of Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
), where Fischer is ordained.
When the film debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival
Tribeca Film Festival
The Tribeca Film Festival is a film festival founded in 2002 by Jane Rosenthal, Robert De Niro and Craig Hatkoff in a response to the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and the consequent loss of vitality in the TriBeCa neighborhood in Lower Manhattan.The mission of the festival...
in the summer of 2006, it generated controversy for overtly political subject matter. For example, in one scene shot at Christ Triumphant Church, a guest speaker brought a cardboard cutout of George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
and asked several children assembled there to stretch their hands out toward him. Some press accounts suggested that the children were worshiping him. The laying on of hands
Laying on of hands
The laying on of hands is a religious ritual that accompanies certain religious practices, which are found throughout the world in varying forms....
and its derivative of stretching hands towards someone is a common practice in Pentecostal and Charismatic churches.
While somewhat uncomfortable with some elements of the final product (which led to accusations that she was indoctrinating children), Fischer has refused to disown the film. In fact, she has used it as a tool to publicize her ministry and its work. She claims to see the real message of the film embedded amidst the political overtones. To Fischer, the real message of Jesus Camp is to show how passionate children can be when given the right opportunities.
Fischer has announced that because of negative reactions to the camp after the film, including telephone calls and vandalism, the camp, which was held once a year for three weeks, will be discontinued indefinitely and will be replaced by other events.
Ministry
Fischer complains the average Sunday SchoolSunday school
Sunday school is the generic name for many different types of religious education pursued on Sundays by various denominations.-England:The first Sunday school may have been opened in 1751 in St. Mary's Church, Nottingham. Another early start was made by Hannah Ball, a native of High Wycombe in...
is content to merely give children a roll-over of Bible stories for the first twelve years of their lives, causing them to lose interest in God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
and the church by their teen years, and opting out of the church culture as a result. Fischer declares, "As a result, we have a crisis in Christianity resulting in as many as 70% of our own children leaving the Church and never returning." Her ministry explores ways to keep them engaged in their faith through adulthood.
Kids in Ministry International under the direction of Becky Fischer promotes supporting the nation of Israel and Christian Zionism
Christian Zionism
Christian Zionism is a belief among some Christians that the return of the Jews to the Holy Land, and the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, is in accordance with Biblical prophecy. It overlaps with, but is distinct from, the nineteenth century movement for the Restoration of the Jews...
, a common practice within Evangelical churches in the United States. The most notable ministry promotion of Zionism
Zionism
Zionism is a Jewish political movement that, in its broadest sense, has supported the self-determination of the Jewish people in a sovereign Jewish national homeland. Since the establishment of the State of Israel, the Zionist movement continues primarily to advocate on behalf of the Jewish state...
are events by Kids in Ministry International titled Kids Blessing Abraham Family Conference.
Theology
Fischer's ministry is part of an "apostolic network" of charismatic churches and ministries known as Harvest International Ministries. This organization is an offshoot of the charismatic movementCharismatic movement
The term charismatic movement is used in varying senses to describe 20th century developments in various Christian denominations. It describes an ongoing international, cross-denominational/non-denominational Christian movement in which individual, historically mainstream congregations adopt...
that believes in the existence of present-day apostles and prophet
Prophet
In religion, a prophet, from the Greek word προφήτης profitis meaning "foreteller", is an individual who is claimed to have been contacted by the supernatural or the divine, and serves as an intermediary with humanity, delivering this newfound knowledge from the supernatural entity to other people...
s. The Kids in Ministry website includes teachings from prominent ministers, including Cindy Jacobs, Lou Engle
Lou Engle
Lou Engle is a controversial American charismatic Christian leader, best known for his leadership of The Call and association with prominent members of the Christian Right. He also is a senior leader of the International House of Prayer and has planted several smaller houses of prayer...
, Patricia King, Stacey Campbell, Kim Clement, Bill Hamon and Rick Joyner
Rick Joyner
Rick Joyner heads MorningStar Ministries , which he cofounded with his wife Julie Joyner in 1985...
.
Fischer's ministry also adheres to several Pentecostal traditions and teachings such as promoting Glossolalia
Glossolalia
Glossolalia or speaking in tongues is the fluid vocalizing of speech-like syllables, often as part of religious practice. The significance of glossolalia has varied with time and place, with some considering it a part of a sacred language...
or speaking in tongues, spiritual warfare, healing the sick, prophecy, raising of the dead, and exorcism
Exorcism
Exorcism is the religious practice of evicting demons or other spiritual entities from a person or place which they are believed to have possessed...
from demonic possession
Demonic possession
Demonic possession is held by many belief systems to be the control of an individual by a malevolent supernatural being. Descriptions of demonic possessions often include erased memories or personalities, convulsions, “fits” and fainting as if one were dying...
.
External links
- Kids in Ministry International, Fischer's ministry
- Media Reports on Jesus Camp, TV, Radio, Print Reviews & Reports
- Telegraph Magazine: Kindergarten of Christ, extensive article about Kids in Ministry
- MovieGuide Review by Dr. Ted Baehr
- FAQ About Jesus Camp, the Movie, by Becky Fischer