Founders

Michael and Edith Coombes, Founders Bridgehouse Ministries International

Bridgehouse Ministries International's vision is to be a portal of provision in underdeveloped countries by training and sending missionaries to set up small businesses and to help churches and missionaries on the mission field. Bridgehouse Ministries International (BMI) was founded by Michael & Edie Coombes in 1989 as they went on their first mission trip to West Africa. The vision to build a bridge between the business world and mission work was launched with the “Kingdom Business” concept. The Coombes Family were involved in several family businesses in the 1980's & 1990's and had a heart to go the nations to create a business that could support a family in an underdeveloped nation. BMI has begun several businesses in Ivory Coast & Ghana to be owned & operated by the local Christians. BMI has been to several African nations and to Central American nations to lead mission projects and to partner with other ministries to fulfill the call of God for BMI.

Bridgehouse Ministries is currently involved in a mission project in Guatemala & Honduras and have partnered with House of Refuge Street Ministries with Stephen & Karla Stoffelson. In January 2015 BMI took its first group to Guatemala to do ministry to locals who live on the streets.

In August 2012, BMI took a giant leap of faith and owner financed the farm property from a Moncton, N.B. Christian businessman. The 200 acre farm is located outside of Moncton, in Lakeville N.B. and was purchased to become the mission training headquarters for BMI. The plan for 2015 is to purchase a training building and three cottages for the first phase of the property development. On the property BMI will also develop an agricultural training area, walking/4 wheeler/snowmobile trails and possibly a fish pond.

BMI held its first “Global Mission Training Class” in November 2014 with students from the Moncton area and also students from Faith School of Thelogy in Charleston, Maine. BMI has two training classes scheduled for 2015 and will bring a team to Guatemala in January 2016.

Michael & Edie Coombes have two sons, Phillip and Peter, each with a family. Peter & Alica and their three children live on the farm. In 2014, the Coombes Family moved a minihome onto the farm for Michael & Edie. Phillip & Aralee and their five children live in the area. To date, three of Michael & Edie's grandchildren have been on mission trips.