BJ grew up in Brazil and met Carissa, a Jewish believer, at a Bible school in Wisconsin. Impacted by their experiences as missionary kids, they both passionately desired to reach unreached people groups with the gospel. At a retreat for Jewish believers in 2012, God burdened their hearts for Jewish people, who are actually one of the largest unreached people groups in the world. The Kerstetters have three daughters: Ari (6), Aviya (2), and a new baby girl due in January 2026!

BJ and Carissa began Jewish ministry in 2014. Equipped with a degree in Jewish Studies from Moody Bible Institute, a zeal for evangelism, and the gift of hospitality, they now reach Israeli travelers with the gospel by loving and serving them through hospitality.

They helped develop and launch a global hospitality network called Host Israelis , and are now working to start a campground ministry near the Grand Canyon to love and serve Israelis in the name of Jesus, the Jewish Messiah.