Shalom in His grace,

This letter is coming to you from both the Kerstetters and Dr. Mitch Glaser, the president of Chosen People Ministries.

After 11 wonderful years serving with Chosen People Ministries (CPM), God is clearly calling us to continue our campground ministry for Israelis in partnership with a like-minded organization: Life in Messiah International (LIFE). Investing in a campground is beyond the scope of what CPM believes it can do at this time, and LIFE is excited to partner with us in this venture. Our mission and direction remains the same, we are merely switching vehicles. We invite you to learn more about our new organization by visiting www.lifeinmessiah.org.

As we look back on the past 11 years, we are grateful that God allowed us to be a part of CPM and are thankful for all He accomplished through our time with them. In our early years, our mentors in CPM were instrumental in training us for our career in Jewish ministry. Through various mission trips and ministry positions over the years, God enabled us to minister to Jewish people in the United States, Brazil, Argentina, Europe, and Israel. Most of all, we are grateful to have been a part of the amazing team that built the Host Israelis network, which has multiplied across hundreds of Christian homes around the world, the mission dearest to our hearts: hosting Israeli travelers! We will continue our partnership with this powerful network in our future ministry. We would not be where we are today without CPM and we praise God for His provision.

Dr. Glaser adds, “We are excited about what God has in store for BJ and Carissa as they continue to reach Israeli travelers with the Gospel near the Grand Canyon. We value their family and our partnership in the Gospel. We have encouraged the Kerstetters to search for another ministry that would embrace their specific vision for their future ministry.”

As we make this transition to LIFE, we value your continued partnership with us through prayer and financial support – we cannot do this ministry without you. We will not be able to bring our funds with us from CPM, so every gift given to us through CPM from now on will go to CPM’s general ministry. If you would like to continue supporting our ministry, please switch your giving to Life in Messiah as soon as possible by using one of the three choices listed below. If you have automatic monthly giving set up with CPM, please call (212-223-2252) or email ([email protected]) the office to request cancellation. (If you would like to stop receiving CPM general mail, you also need to request to be unsubscribed from their mailing list. If you receive our personal monthly prayer letters by email and wish to continue, no action is necessary. Click here to subscribe to LIFE emails for the latest videos, blogs, and more.)

May God graciously bless you according to His promise in Genesis 12:3. 

Love,

BJ, Carissa, Ari, Aviya (and Baby Girl due in January!)

Carissa and I are so grateful for your faithful prayers and generous support which enable us to remain in the mission field doing the work God has called us to do. As we wait for God to provide the property for Camp Zula, we are encouraged to see God expanding the Host Israelis network and using it to reach Israel with the Gospel!

We now have 233 hosts in 19 countries and 541 Israelis using our network. Two of those Israelis came to stay with us in Williams, AZ while we were parked in a host’s driveway. Tal* and Shir* planned to only stay one night, but due to inclement weather at the Grand Canyon, they ended up staying two nights. We had a great time with them the first night and our hosts had a long conversation about Messianic prophecies the second night. Tal was especially engaged and asked questions about these prophecies. Tal and Shir had a great experience using our network and plan to stay with more of our host families as they travel through California.

We recently heard from Mary, another one of our hosts in the U.S. She and her family had a great time hosting Alon. The experience was a first for Alon as well as Mary and her family. Alon is a young Israeli man who had been backpacking for six months in New Zealand before he decided to visit America. On Alon’s first night in America he stayed in a hostel, and it was not a great experience. He called a friend in New Zealand who encouraged him to check out Planet Zula. Alon signed up but was pretty nervous, thinking to himself, “Do I trust this, is it legit?” Then he saw a picture of Mary and her family and decided to try it out. Mary writes, “We all fell in love with him, so it is chalked up as a great experience with our kids as well as us. He is the sweetest guy. I know he’s loving it here and I know that he’s feeling the love.” This young Israeli man went on to meet other believers who shared with him and spoke of his openness to the Gospel.

Please pray:
– that Tal, Shir and Alon will come to saving faith in Jesus as their Messiah
– that God will continue to grow our Host Israelis network and reach many more Israelis with the Gospel
– that God will provide the right property for Camp Zula

We cannot thank you enough for your prayers and support! This ministry would not be possible without your partnership with us.

Love,
BJ, Carissa, Ari, Aviya and Baby

*names changed

Carissa is pregnant with our third baby, due at the end of January! In light of this news, we are ready to make changes to accommodate the growing size of our family. Over the last 4 years we have lived in a travel trailer in order to be mobile and flexible to God’s leading as we sought His direction for our ministry and the location for Camp Zula.

Now that we have settled in Northern Arizona, we are ready to move into a house without wheels that can comfortably withstand cold winters and fit a family of 5 (and a dog). Ideally, this house would be on the same property as Camp Zula, but God has not yet provided that property. We need wisdom and clarity from God on how to proceed in the coming months as we simultaneously prepare to welcome a new baby into the world and work to build Camp Zula.

To complicate things further, we have lost over $2,000 in monthly support in the last year. Although God has provided new donors recently, it has not been enough to make up for this huge loss. Due to this, I am not able to receive my full salary, which severely limits our housing options. Please pray with us that God would quickly provide new donors and financial support for us in this critical season, as well as a house for us to move into this year.

Meanwhile, Carissa is homeschooling our girls and they are thriving. Ari just turned 6 and she likes all forms of arts and crafts that she can get her hands on. Aviya is 2½ and she likes music and singing and copying everything her older sister does.

Praise God, our Host Israelis network continues to expand with now 224 hosts in 18 countries reaching 521 Israelis with the Gospel! Pray for these precious Israelis as they hear the Gospel and receive New Testaments in Hebrew, that they would come to saving faith in their Messiah Jesus.

Thank you for all your prayers and support. This ministry truly would not be possible without you.

Love,
BJ, Carissa, Ari, Aviya and Baby

You have provided the answer to a very big need and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Rising antisemitism in the U.S. makes Israelis afraid to travel here. According to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), U.S. antisemitic incidents skyrocketed 360% in the aftermath of the October 7th attack on Israel. The ADL recorded over 10,000 antisemitic incidents in the U.S. in the year following the attack. This is the highest number of antisemitic incidents ever recorded in a one-year period.

Israelis need an escape from their country and a break from the war, but they don’t know where they can safely travel. Consequently, it is no surprise that Israelis love our Planet Zula network, because we provide safe places all around the world for them to stay for free with Christians who love them.

Recently, an Israeli friend messaged Carissa to thank YOU for your part in building this hospitality network: “Carissa, I want to give a big shout out to this ministry. Tomorrow, we will be hosted by one of the hosts on the platform. I told you how much I appreciate this as an Israeli. I am so paranoid about going to hotels and motels with all the [growing antisemitism]… The Planet Zula platform allows our family to travel and have peace that we are safe. I’ve been to a hotel before where the people knew we were Israelis and it was unpleasant.

We are so blessed by the Planet Zula program. We’ve both hosted and been hosted many times before, and for us, it’s always been more than just free accommodation — it’s a way to share stories, make new friends, and build relationships that last for years.

As Israelis and Jews, especially after the October 7th terror attack and the rising antisemitism around the world, Planet Zula’s wonderful and kind hosts give us peace of mind — allowing us to travel freely, speak Hebrew, and proudly express our Jewish and Israeli identity without fear.

Additionally, my husband lost his job due to the war in the Middle East, which placed us under financial stress. Traveling with Planet Zula has enabled us to continue enjoying God’s creation, explore new places, and meet incredible people — all without the heavy burden of financial strain.

Thank you to the Planet Zula developers, hosts, and everyone who makes this community possible.”

It is heartbreaking to hear of the evil acts being committed against Israelis and Jewish people, but this provides a huge opportunity to meet a very real need for love and hospitality. Thank you for every prayer you have prayed and every donation you have given. This ministry truly would not be possible without your support.

Love,
BJ, Carissa, Ari and Aviya

Back in September, I received a message from Noam, an Israeli guest using our Host Israelis network. He was planning to visit the Grand Canyon with his family and asked if we could meet up and hang out. As we continued messaging back and forth, I mentioned that I was one of the developers of the Planet Zula (Host Israelis) app and that I was glad his family was having a great experience staying with our hosts. He replied that he is a photojournalist and asked if he could interview me to write a story about Planet Zula because he loves the network, and said, “everyone in Israel should be hearing about this!”

Carissa and I met up with Noam and his family in November and had wonderful conversations with them. In the midst of war in Israel and growing world-wide antisemitism, God is using our Host Israelis network to provide doors to hope and healing for hurting and traumatized Israelis. 

In February, Noam published his article about us in his Times of Israel blog, saying, “In an increasingly polarized world, hospitality extends beyond mere shelter—it becomes a bridge to understanding, healing, and shared humanity. This has been the essence of our journey with Planet Zula, a remarkable network of Christian believers who open their homes to Israeli travelers out of love for Israel, its people, land, and biblical heritage.”

Please read his full article here: https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/embracing-hospitality-and-faith-the-transformative-experience-of-planet-zula/

Praise God, He continues to bless and grow the Host Israelis network. By the end of April we had 212 active hosts in 16 countries with over 450 Israelis using our network, staying with our hosts, hearing the Gospel, and receiving New Testaments in Hebrew.

Please pray for Noam and his family to find the truest peace and healing in Jesus, and continue praying for our ministry reaching these precious Israeli travelers for Messiah. Thank you for making it all possible through your faithful prayers and support.

Love, 

BJ, Carissa, Ari and Aviya

Praise God for His provision for Camp Zula! Back in September, we set a goal to raise $50,000 to launch the first season of Camp Zula, and within 5 months God provided about 90% of that goal! The last thing we need for Camp Zula is the right property to lease.

According to our plans, we thought we would be launching Camp Zula this month, but God has not yet provided the right property for the campground, and the permit process could take several months from the time we submit the application once we are on the property. Depending on when God provides the property, we may not be able to launch Camp Zula until the end of this year or beginning of next year.

We are tempted to be discouraged by this delay, but we are reminded to “trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6) This has been a theme verse for us this year as God has been drawing us into deeper dependence on Him. God has a plan for Camp Zula and we trust that His timing is better than ours.

So what will we do this year while we wait for the property and permit process? We don’t want to let this season pass without hosting Israelis in some capacity, so we are looking into some options to possibly rent a house near Williams, AZ, to host Israelis in until Camp Zula is ready.

We are also spending a lot of time this year studying Hebrew. Most Israelis are fairly fluent in English and it is easy to communicate with them in English; however, it is far more effective to communicate the Gospel in their heart language. It is our goal to eventually be fluent enough in Hebrew to have in-depth spiritual conversations with our Israeli guests, and we are actively working towards that goal this year.

Lastly, we will continue fundraising for Camp Zula and for our personal support, as well as studying and training in the glamping business so that we can be better equipped to run our campground ministry.

Please pray with us that God would provide the right property for Camp Zula and the remaining funds needed. Thank you for your continued prayers and support in reaching Israel with the Gospel!

Love,

BJ, Carissa, Ari and Aviya

As we look back on 2024 and look forward to 2025, we have some exciting updates and prayer requests for you to bring before the Lord.

Camp Zula
Our goal is to raise $50,000 by May to cover Camp Zula startup costs, including rent, campground permit and insurance, glamping tents, bathroom/kitchen facilities, etc. As of March, God has provided 87% of this funding goal! (See the current level of funding, watch our Camp Zula video, and learn more at campzula.com)

In February I flew to Florida and met with the leadership of Chosen People Ministries to present our vision and plans for Camp Zula. The leaders are excited about Camp Zula and gave encouraging feedback.

We are spending March and April fundraising, searching for the right property for Camp Zula, and making preparations for this upcoming season of hosting Israelis – including a lot of Hebrew studies. Our goal is to eventually be able to share the Gospel and speak with Israelis in their heart language.

Host Israelis / Planet Zula
January 31st marked my last day with the Host Israelis/Planet Zula development team. I handed over all my app and web development responsibilities in order to focus fully on launching Camp Zula. God has tremendously blessed this project and I’m honored to have been a part of it for 5 years. We now have over 400 Israelis using the app and staying with our 200 hosts in 13 countries around the world. Praise God that so many Israelis are being blessed and hearing the Gospel!

Passover Tour
April will be a busy month of travels in Virginia and Arizona – God has provided 12 church meetings for me to present Messiah in the Passover, share about our ministry, and raise financial and prayer support.

Prayer Requests:
– Provision of the perfect property for Camp Zula by May 1st.
– Safe travels for all the church meetings in April.
– Wisdom and clear direction on every detail as we work to launch Camp Zula.
– Provision for an additional $1,500 in monthly support.
– Steady progress in Hebrew acquisition.

Thank you for your invaluable prayer support for our ministry. We could not do this without you.

Love,
BJ, Carissa, Ari and Aviya

     We saw them as soon as we pulled into the parking lot of the Starbucks just outside Grand Canyon National Park – a young family with four kids. BJ said, “We should offer to take a picture for them!” (This is an approach we often employ to start a conversation with Israeli tourists at scenic vistas from the Grand Canyon to Rio de Janeiro, but struck me as an odd approach on a nondescript Starbucks patio.) But just as we were getting out of the truck, the dad was standing up to take a family photo!  

     We suspected they were Israeli before we said, “Shalom,” but our hunch was confirmed when we saw them recognize the Hebrew writing on my shirt and soberly exchange knowing looks. The shirt reads, “Bring Them Home NOW,” in Hebrew, and we make sure one of us is wearing it every time we go out. Not a moment after the photo was taken, Eli* nodded to me. “We really like your shirt,” he said, “It means so much to us.” He and his wife Yam* were visibly emotional as they shared how challenging it is to be abroad, worrying about family and friends back in Israel during the war. 

        At the time of this writing, Israel has released hundreds of convicted terrorists, including mass murderers with life sentences, in exchange for 7 Israeli women who were held hostage in dark terror tunnels for over a year. Many of these terrorists were released back onto Jerusalem’s streets. The Israelis we encounter here in the US are caught in an impossible dilemma. To remain in Israel is to daily face rocket sirens, terrorism, protests, and news of war, with no reprieve. To travel abroad is to leave family behind and venture into a world that has predominately and violently turned against Israel, not knowing who is friend and who is foe. 

     It is our deep privilege to stand with Israelis in the midst of the grief and the noise of war, and to offer the comfort of a friendly face, a familiar greeting, and an acknowledgement of their grief. Thank you for standing in the gap with us. We want nothing more than to provide them a safe haven of healing and hope – an escape from the chaos, a quiet place to rest and encounter the Prince of Peace. Please pray with us that God would provide the perfect property for us to launch Camp Zula in June. Visit campzula.com for more details.

Love,

BJ, Carissa, Ari and Aviya

*names changed

As we look back on the year of 2024, we praise God for all the ministry He enabled you and us to accomplish together. Because of your prayers and support, Carissa and I were able to meet more than 90 Israelis during our first 6 months in Arizona, and were privileged to host 21 of them! This is especially surprising, because I spent most of that time at my desk building the new Planet Zula app, which we officially launched in October.

During our last week at the Grand Canyon, we co-hosted a family of 3 Israelis, connected through the Planet Zula app. On the day of their arrival, I received a message from another Israeli couple, Yosef and Mara*, who saw our flier at the Starbucks in town! They gratefully accepted our invitation for dinner, and we had a wonderful evening of sharing our testimonies, playing guitar and singing around the campfire with our 5 Israeli guests. Yosef and Mara were especially touched and excited by our work creating the Planet Zula network; they now tell every Israeli they meet about Planet Zula!

After we left our wonderful hosts of 6 months at the Grand Canyon, I spoke at a church in Page, AZ, where the pastor and his wife immediately applied to become our first hosts in Page! That evening we went to Horseshoe Bend for the sunset, where we met Ezra and Shani* with their 4 boys and had a great chat with them. I was wearing my “bring the home now” (in Hebrew) t-shirt, which was so touching to them, it brought Shani to tears.

The next day, October 7th, we prepared a meal in prayerful expectation that God would provide Israelis to join us for dinner on this significant anniversary – and the Lord provided! During our tour of Antelope Canyon that afternoon, we met yet another Israeli family of 4 and brought them back to our trailer for dinner. After a wonderful conversation about our faith in God and His promised Messiah, we gifted them with a New Testament in Hebrew, which they gratefully accepted.

We are meeting a surprising number of Israelis here in Arizona; we are seeing God’s hand at work here through the strategic combined efforts of Planet Zula and Camp Zula, and how strategic it is for us to start a campground here near the Grand Canyon where we can meet and host a considerable number of Israelis. Whether or not Israelis end up using our Planet Zula network or staying at Camp Zula – it is a huge hug from Jesus to Israelis just for them to learn of the existence of such a network and campground which generously host Israelis, expecting nothing in return.

Thank you for making this ministry possible! Have a happy and blessed new year,

BJ, Carissa, Ari and Aviya

*names changed

Have you ever stood beneath a starlit sky, overwhelmed by its vast beauty and the ancient promises it holds? This is the experience we want to provide at Camp Zula.

Nestled in the breathtaking expanses of the Grand Canyon, we will offer our guests a glamping experience that promises not only relaxation and fellowship but a profound spiritual encounter. Thousands of years ago, God promised Abraham that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars. As we gather under those very stars with those very descendants, we will proclaim God’s unending faithfulness across generations.

After years of praying, planning, and preparation, God is now providing the funds, resources, partners, labor and skills we need to launch Camp Zula – a haven of hope for Israelis.

In Hebrew slang, ‘zula’ refers to the cool go to spot where friends relax and hang out together. Israelis often struggle to find such spaces, especially while traveling. Camp Zula will offer a free, unthreatening and comfortable environment near the majestic Grand Canyon. Here, guests will get a true ‘zula’ experience while encountering God’s love.

We are now actively looking for property near Williams, AZ, on which to host our first Camp Zula season. This is where you come in. Would you please pray with us that God would provide the perfect property for our first season?

We are raising funds and are willing to pay rent for a property; but our prayer is that a Christian property owner who loves Israel would want to partner with Camp Zula and donate the use of their property for a year or two in order to reach Israelis with the Gospel. That way, we can use our funds on other start-up essentials.

We are seeking to raise $50,000 to rent and build out phase one of the physical space, buy glamping tents, secure resources, and create a haven of hope for Israelis. This is more than just a number; it’s a milestone that will enable us to start transforming our shared vision into a reality.

We eagerly anticipate God’s provision to lay the cornerstone of a ministry poised to change lives. The question isn’t whether this vision will be fulfilled. The question is how God is calling you to be part of it.

Thank you for considering how you might support this vision. Together, we can make a lasting difference.

To donate or learn more about Camp Zula, visit our new website: campzula.com

With gratitude, 

BJ, Carissa, Ari and Aviya