Pastors Francisco & Karla Ruiz are the founding pastors of the ministry, Misión Internacional Brazos Abiertos (MIBA).
Pastor Ruiz was born in Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA, to Puerto Rican parents, and Pastor Karla was born in Choluteca, Honduras. Pastors Ruiz met in Germany in 2004, and after dating for nearly two years, they were married in Choluteca, Honduras, in May 2006.
Pastor Francisco is a retired colonel in the United States Army, where he served his country on active duty as a dentist for 34 years.
In 2010, the Ruizes founded the Encuentro de Paz Christian Church at Camp Humphreys in South Korea. To this day, the church continues to bless the Hispanic community stationed in South Korea.
Upon returning from Germany in 2015, God sent them to Hunter Army Field in Savannah, Georgia. This would be their final posting before retirement. Even before leaving Germany, God had already spoken to them, telling them that they were coming to establish a ministry wherever God led them.
In October 2015, God opened the doors for us to join in ministry with the American church, The Sanctuary, to found a Hispanic church, which was named “El Santuario de Savannah.” Approximately three months later, the Ruiz pastors began the ministry with about five people. The church held its first service on January 12, 2016. The Ruiz Pastors served as pastors of El Santuario de Savannah until November 2020.
During this time, God gave Pastor Karla the opportunity to establish KVR Ministries, a ministry focused on women. Within KVR Ministries are the ministries “Diamonds from God’s Treasure Chest,” “Diamonds,” and “Every Person Has a Story to Tell,” which includes “A Time of Counseling for Your Story.” All of these ministries are directed toward women.
God has called the Ruiz Pastors to this new ministry of missions. Serving others has always been close to their hearts, and this new ministry, Misión Internacional Brazos Abiertos (MIBA), will be no exception. We provide spiritual and physical aid—through donations of food, clothing, and other forms of assistance—to people in need. We do this with the purpose of sharing the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.