Becky Fischer

Becky Fischer (born 1951) 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, [ [http://www.taschministries.com/ Welcome to Tasch Ministries International Online ] ] 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 also pastors a church in Mandan, just outside Bismarck and is the author of several Sunday School curricula for churches and the book "Redefining Children's Ministry in the 21st Century". [Fischer, Becky (2005) "Redefining Children's Ministry in the 21st Century" ISBN 978-0976764700]

Jesus Camp

Fischer was approached in 2004 by Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady about filming her "Kids on Fire" camp outside Devil's 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 a lot of controversy for what was perceived by filmmakers as overtly political content and "crazy" 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. [ [http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003365311_jesuscamp08.html The Seattle Times: Nation & World: Pastor will shut down controversial kids camp ] ]

Ministry

Fischer complains the average Sunday School is content to merely give them 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, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JECP9qzjmF0] and opting out of the church culture as a result. [https://kidsinministry.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=category&sectionid=3&id=51&Itemid=1] 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. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fq4wZ_lQjc&feature=related]

Kids in Ministry International under the direction of Becky Fisher has turned to promoting Christian Zionism, a recent phenomenon within Evangelical churches in the United States. [https://kidsinministry.org//index.php?option=com_expose&Itemid=36] The most notable ministry promotion of Zionism are events by Kids in Ministry International titled "Kids Blessing Abraham Family Conference" [https://kidsinministry.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=106&Itemid=89] .

Theology

Fischer's ministry is part of an "apostolic network" of charismatic churches and ministries known as Harvest International Ministries. [http://harvestim.org/index.php?a=home] This organization is an offshoot of the charismatic movement that believes in the existence of present-day "apostles" and "prophets". The "Kids in Ministry" website includes teachings from prominent Latter Rain ministers, including Cindy Jacobs, Kim Clement, Bill Hamon and Rick Joyner. [https://kidsinministry.org//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=105&Itemid=88]

Fischer's ministry also adheres to several Pentecostal traditions and teachings such as promoting Glossolalia or "Speaking in Tongues", "spiritual warfare", "paranormal/psychic resistance", faith healing and exorcism from demonic possession. [https://kidsinministry.org//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=107&Itemid=93] Fischer's ministry also teaches and promotes "PeeWee Prophets" or youth evangelists. [https://kidsinministry.org//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=70&Itemid=78]

Criticism

Religious organizations and notable individuals of various faiths have criticized Becky Fischer and her ministry for heretical and deviant teachings most notable was the claim of raising a child from the dead [http://kidsinministry.com/Current.PastEvents/ReportExtremeProphetic.html] , Islamaphobia and militant discipleship. [http://www.founders.org/blog/2006/09/jesus-camp-and-lessons-from-13th.html]

Becky Fischer has also come under considerable criticism for her morbid obesity considered the sign of gluttony see:"Proverbs 23:20-21" "Proverbs 25:16, 27". [http://www.bibleprophecytruth.com/JesusChrist/dietstatistics.asp] [http://www.gotquestions.org/gluttony-sin.html] [http://www.higherpraise.com/outlines/top/sevendeadly.htm] This debate becomes very poignant in light of the various criticisms Becky Fischer levels at other Christian denominations for "fat and lazy" Christian behavior and evangelizing efforts. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JECP9qzjmF0] [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20080507/ai_n25392650] [http://www.broowaha.com/article.php?id=157]

Fischer's ministry is heavily criticized for using well known and sophisticated physiological procedures for behavioral modification. Fischer begins her children's camps by repeated "breaking down" and "rebuilding" procedures similar to techniques developed by military interrogation specialists. [http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a788004685~db=all] Many film clips from the film Jesus Camp show Fischer and her team reducing young children to tears in situations where high pitched vocal audio prompting, repetitive singing and chanting help manipulate the subjects into a state of heightened stress. Some review of the methods used in the ministry raise questions about mental abuse. [http://www.rickross.com/brainwashing.html] [http://www.answers.com/topic/behavior-modification]

References

External links

* [http://www.kidsinministry.org Kids in Ministry International] , Fischer's ministry
* [http://www.country95radio.com/JesusCamp Media Reports on Jesus Camp] , TV, Radio, Print Reviews & Reports
* [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/main.jhtml?xml=/health/2006/11/18/ftjesus18.xml Telegraph Magazine: Kindergarten of Christ] , extensive article about Kids in Ministry