Crista Ministries

CRISTA is a family of ministries serving people in the areas of education, global relief and development, youth camps, senior care and media. Since 1948, CRISTA (symbolizing "Christianity in Action") has been headquartered in the Richmond Highlands neighborhood of Shoreline, Washington, just north of Seattle. Its campus is the former Firland Tuberculosis Hospital campus.

In 1949, Mike and Vivian Martin leased the abandoned Firland Tuberculosis Sanatorium from King County for one dollar per year, and founded a youth home and retirement community of about 80 elderly residents, naming the operation King's Garden. The youth home quickly became a school, graduating its first class in 1951. In the early 1950s, King's Garden expanded both its operations and geography with Miracle Ranch, a summer camp near Gig Harbor, and a radio station, KGDN. The organization later added a second summer camp, Island Lake, and expanded to four total radio stations.

In 1970, Medicine for Missions, an international relief organization, joined the organization and renamed itself World Concern. Christian Veterinary Mission joined King's Garden in 1978.

King’s Garden became CRISTA in 1979 (an identity inspired by the concept of putting Christianity in action) and the school became King's Schools. In 1993, Seattle Street School, now Seattle Urban Academy, joined CRISTA Ministries.

CRISTA currently operates a total of seven ministries.

King's Schools has been a part of the CRISTA family since 1949.

CRISTA Media houses four Christian radio stations. It is currently made up of SPIRIT 105.3 FM KCMS) and AM 630 KCIS in the Seattle area, PRAISE 106.5 FM (KWPZ) in Lynden, Washington and SPIRIT 105.9 FM (KFMK) in Austin, Texas. The June 2010 acquisition of Austin's KFMK expanded CRISTA broadcasting beyond Puget Sound for the first time.

Christian Veterinary Mission (CVM) has been a part of CRISTA Ministries since 1978, contributing both veterinary and spiritual help to people in over 30 developing nations who rely on animals for their livelihood. CVM's student outreach group supports over 40 Christian Veterinary Fellowship groups on veterinary campuses across the United States.

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