About Carl and Brenda Krames
Carl Krames and Brenda Cannon met at a Christian campus outreach while attending Auburn University in the late 1970’s. During that time, God was pouring out His spirit on college campuses and the church nation wide in such a powerful new way that began a movement called the ‘Charismatic Renewal’. It was a dynamic move of God that crossed over barriers between denominations and revived God’s people. This outpouring is still impacting the entire world in such a powerful way today.
At the time, Carl and Brenda were involved in a strong discipleship ministry that stressed the Lordship of Jesus and holiness. It laid a good, solid foundation in their lives that has kept their marriage and family strong for three decades.
The Florida Cracker married the Georgia Peach in 1980 and launched their team ministry by leaving Auburn, Alabama and moving to Mexico City for two months of missionary work. This brought them into a season of church planting for the ministry they were involved in. Over the next decade they would have four sons, live in four states (TX, LA, GA, FL) and help start eight churches. Their roles during this time included working jobs to support the local church and their family, functioning as evangelists, pastoral counselors, teachers, elders, administrators, nursery and children church directors, ministry advisory boards, regional conference directors, intercessory prayer, home group leaders and whatever was needed at the time. This time of multiple ministry positions were accomplished along side of working jobs and becoming business owners. It was a great season of growth in their lives. Their discipleship foundation was balanced with the mercy and grace of the faith message during this season and their business began to flourish.
By 1990, the Krames realized that God had called them to two ministries: the market place and the body of Christ. God began a bloom and grow season for the Krames family. Nestled in Gainesville, Florida they developed a campus publication called Gator Greenbacks, home schooled their four boys, Brenda became the author of the Homeschool Huskies and Ponies series and their whole family became very involved in the community. With four boys, they entered the ‘soccer phase’ of their lives. This included Carl coaching teams and both were local Soccer Commissioners. During this time, Brenda helped lead a home school co-op, taught art classes and led workshops at the annual home school convention in Orlando. Church ministry and responsibilities didn’t drop a beat during this time.
In December of 1999, the Krames family became a part of Victory Church of Gainesville, Florida, pastored by Bill DeConna and his wife Rebekah. For the first eight years Victory was basically ‘a church in a box’, that had to set up and take down weekly at a local school cafeteria. Victory Church presently meets in Micanopy, Florida with plans to build a new sanctuary on ten acres in Gainesville, Florida. Victory is the hardest working, most loving congregation they have ever been (and still are) a part of. Its vision is to win souls and make disciples.
Fall 2002 Carl and Brenda viewed a documentary series by George Otis, Jr. titled, Transformations. This series highlights several outpourings of the Holy Spirit in various cities throughout the world, including the United States. These DVD’s ignited a fire within the couple to begin weekly prayer meetings to usher in revival for the university and community. By fall of 2004, God brought Carl and Brenda full circle and rekindled a desire to reach out to college campuses, starting with the University of Florida. Victory Church, their home church, ordained them as Campus Ministers. For three years, they hosted Victory UF Bible Studies on campus and for two of those years fostered unity among campus ministries with weekly worship and prayer meetings outside in Turlington Plaza every Friday night – rain or shine. Also during this time, Carl encouraged campus ministers to join together for weekly prayer that is still going strong.
There were so many important connections made during this time – not the least of which was the prayer movement now gaining momentum in our nation. While fulfilling the duties of the local church, Carl and Brenda also began to see the importance of intercession over a city that unites local churches and campus outreaches. They joined in with Forerunners Ministries, a powerful prayer network of intercessors linked across the state of Florida with once a month training seminars. Strategic prayer sessions were put to practical use with local government issues. These prayer meetings, combined with hard working grass roots efforts helped change the destiny of the city of Gainesville.
Carl and Brenda have found that college campuses provide a great missionary opportunity like no other. Hundreds of nations send their top students and the leaders of tomorrow for a short season. Reaching out to these students is one of the most efficient ways to evangelize the world. These bright minds will return to their countries, find good jobs, prominent positions and they already know the language. Good stewardship demands that Christians use this opportunity!
After 30+ years of serving the Lord and training up their boys, Carl and Brenda feel that God has now called them to be catalysts and encouragers for the body of Christ. God is bringing His church to a time of transition to meet the changing needs of the unsaved world. Traditional methods are not as effective as they once were; church attendance is far from what it should be. National opinion of the church has changed dramatically over the last decade and the young people of the United States are rapidly becoming un-churched. Transformation is needed to reach a lost generation. There is a great harvest and it will be gathered in with prayer, evangelism and discipleship. God’s church can be effective with preparation, prayer, accountability, unity and a mission mind set. Carl and Brenda want to offer their help and experience to mobilize the church, and turn cities and campuses upside down!