Our History

Bresee Institute for Metro Ministries (BIMM) was founded in 2002 by a creative group of scholars and urban practitioners who felt that denominational urban ministry training often neglected specific concerns for leadership in the city, and that seminaries, given their accreditation limitations and costs, were unable to extend their niches of training.

Five of the initial board members of BIMM had direct involvement with the Bresee Institute for Urban Training, founded in Los Angeles in 1983, either as staff, faculty or student. This Institute experienced substantial success in training urban ministry leaders who now minister throughout the world. Its affiliation and prime linkages were through Azusa Pacific University, Fuller Theological Seminary, Point Loma Nazarene University and Nazarene Theological Seminary. By the late 1990's, the program was seconded to Azusa Pacific University, made an undergraduate program, and was renamed, "L.A. Term."

Two tangential programs, Bresee Foundation and Bresee Youth, continue in Los Angeles but do not have an official training component nor organizational linkage with BIMM.

The vacuum that these changes opened up, encouraged these practitioners and educators to design a 501c(3) charitable institution that would have, as primary focus, the training of people for metro ministries. Since its beginning, Dr. Fletcher Tink has served as executive director.

However, with the increase of contracts, grants and other financial resources in the past year, BIMM is becoming multifaceted, offering training in prison ministry, creating a wide variety of literature, extending training opportunities both geographically and in affiliation with an expanding list of of collaborative institutions. It is serving not only the Kansas City area, but also is becoming a contributor in national and international dialogue on matters or urban/compassionate issues.

A board of trustees has been comprised of up to 13 members who govern the organization. These members have included: Chairman Rev. David Best, Executive Director of Towel and Basin; Vice Chairman Dr. Ron Benefiel, President of Nazarene Theological Seminary, the Executive Director of YouthPartners Net, the Director of Mission Strategy US/Canada, the Executive Director of Reaching the City, Inc., Church of the Nazarene, the pastor of True Light Church, the pastor of Rainbow Blvd. Church of the Nazarene, and others.