Patricia Beall Gruits

Dr. Patricia Gruits, who is most often referred to as “Sister Pat” is a gifted minister and seasoned speaker, whose apostolic ministry has inspired church growth. She is the daughter of the late Pastor Myrtle D. Beall the founder and pastor of Bethesda Missionary Temple in Detroit, Michigan.

Rev. M.D. Beall

The church grew from a store front mission to more than 5,000 members in just a few years. Rev. M.D. Beall was also a pioneer of the Latter Rain Revival. She continued pastoring at Bethesda until shortly before her death in 1979. Rev. Gruits met and married Peter Gruits and became the parents of four sons. Together they forged ahead in ministry. In 1972 the first publication of Understanding God, published during the height of the charismatic renewal, was made available to the public. The out come of the book inspired the founding of “RHEMA Ministries” by Peter and Patricia Gruits, in 1973. During that year, they were invited to speak and teach 4000 young people of the “Jesus Movement” who gathered together at St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral in Toronto, Canada that did not understand the word of God. During the three months of teaching; the lessons were recorded in Canada and the United States. The tapes led to the development of the first Rhema Seminar in Detroit, Michigan in 1974, to conduct a seminar on “Understanding God” with clear focus and teaching techniques to produce life changing faith. The word Rhema means “Living Word” in the Greek language. Rhema International Ministries is actively involved in spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ through teaching and preaching. This is accomplished by conducting seminars, publishing books, teaching materials and our monthly Rhema Newsletter.

Through the early years (1952-1983) Sister Pat was actively involved at Bethesda as the Minister of Education, writing curriculum and helping to establish many major departments within. Spiritually hungry people were invited to attend a Monday night prayer meeting held at the church. Out of these meetings a “Minister Candidate School” was birthed, the focus being on learning to hear, understand and respond to the Holy Spirit in the ministry call. Many well known ministers were taught under Sister Pat’s guidance. Lessons written for the students challenged them to totally commit their life to Christ and to have a meaningful relationship and fellowship with Him. This schooling continued at Bethesda for twenty three years under the direction of her mother.

In 1975, the Lord called Peter and Pat to pioneer a mission project in Haiti. There were many obstacles to overcome as they pursued the call. They founded Hope Academy (1983- 2003) a four year accredited Bible Vocation School in Port Au Prince, Haiti; graduation 200+ students. The sudden death of Peter Gruits left Sister Pat to continue the mission they had been called to do. You see, several years before, God had dropped into her heart these word, I want you to build a hospital for me in Haiti.” God also spoke to her that it would be a “Shangri-La.” No small task for one who knew nothing about medical facility operations. "

Neither did she know any of the terminology. She’s quoted to say, “All I know is aspirin, Band-Aids and Alka-Seltzer.” But the Lord knew it would took more than terminology… it would take determination and faith.

Back in Michigan, Rev. Gruits was led of God to open a Minister Candidate School in Rochester, a quaint town some sixty miles north of Detroit. She also began an annual seminar/school, teaching from her book, Understanding God with the addition of two other books she has written, Understanding the Masters Voice and Understanding Yourself. Students and Pastors from around the United States learn to effectively teach the foundational truths of God’s Word. Patricia B. Gruits makes her home Rochester Hills, Michigan, near her family and the headquarters of RHEMA International Ministries, where she is busy writing, teaching and training people to become pastors, missionaries, and ministers in the local church.