info@thesummitbham.com

Personal history and bio. of MSM Founders: Pat Schatzline’s destiny was altered the day his parents, drug dealers on the streets of Detroit, turned to the Lord and later went into full-time ministry. At the age of seventeen, Pat took his first youth pastorate while still a senior in high school. While at Southeastern College in Lakeland, Florida, he met his future wife, Karen. Karen was a beautiful and gifted young lady whose family now resides in Georgia. It was love at first sight. They knew that Jesus had brought them together. Pat and Karen were married in Sept. of 1990 and they are best friends who are deeply in love! They have a reputation across the world of a couple that believes first in protecting their family. Their son Nathaniel (Nate), was born in November of 1991. In 2003, Pat, Karen, and Nate went to China to rescue their beautiful jewel, Abigail—adopting her as the newest member of their family. Nate will attend Southwestern University in Dallas the fall of 2010. He will be playing football on scholarship and he is planning to major in youth ministry. Nate has already traveled around the world speaking on God’s love to students. Abigail is headed into the second grade and is an incredible little gymnast. She is a brilliant gift from God to the Schatzline family. Along with traveling the world as evangelist, and Leading the Forerunner School, the Schatzline’s simply love to hang out and have fun as a family! They enjoy playing games, working out, playing sports, and watching cool movies. They believe they are called to be Forerunners for Jesus. They believe in living by faith and watching God do miracles. They believe the ministry has got to be fun! Their home and offices are currently located in Birmingham, AL.

Ministry History: Mercy Seat Ministries, Inc. was founded by Patrick and Karen Schatzline in 1997 after serving as youth pastors at three incredible churches. Pat and Karen launched MSM in order to fulfill the great commission. Since the launch of MSM in 1997 Pat and Karen have become two of America’s leading church speakers, revivalists, youth communicators, university speakers, and conference speakers. With a schedule that stays full year-round, Pat & Karen have established a reputation for bringing purpose through the power of Christ, and a longing to grow deeper in the presence of God. They minister in churches, schools, stadiums, outreaches, retreats, camps, leadership conferences, men’s and women’s conferences, and marriage retreats. They both travel globally seeing salvations, miracles, signs & wonders. They have ministered at some of the largest youth conferences in the world. They travel often to Australia, Singapore, New Zealand, Venezuela, and Canada fulfilling the great commission. Mercy Seat Ministries also has several evangelists that travel the nation under their covering. Pat and Karen both have honorary doctorates. From 2006-2010 Pat and Karen were the founders and Lead Pastors of the Summit Church @ Birmingham.

The Ministry of Pat Schatzline: Pat is the founder and president of Mercy Seat Ministries. Pat is an ordained minister of the Gospel with the Assemblies of God. Pat has ministered in every state in the US and to over 2 million students and adults all over the world. He is known for his crazy humor, unique ability to communicate Gods word with passion and illustrations, and most of all for his deep desire to see a generation of adults and youth experience the power of God. His gifting is best on display during the time of calling people to the altar. Hundreds always end up crying out to God. Hundreds listen on a weekly basis to Pat’s pod cast. Pat keeps a full schedule, but believes in being always at the will of Gods Spirit. Pat is a contributing author, and also has produced hundreds of resources for leaders and ministers. He has served on many national boards across America. He has been featured on Christian television, magazines, and newspapers. He has also authored many articles on leadership and ministry. He believes his greatest accomplishment is his family, and being able to help raise up over 500 students of the ministry. Pat currently serves on the leadership team of the national movement “Back to the upper Room.” A powerful prayer gathering of leaders. Pat also teaches integrity leadership on a corporate level to leaders and corporations across America. He is President of Corporate Influencers.”

The Ministry of Karen Schatzline: Karen travels not only with Pat, but also on her own speaking at conferences. Karen is known for her messages to women of all ages. She has literally touched tens of thousands of lives. She ministers with passion, purity, purpose, and meekness, and her most well-known messages include: “Confessions of a Shopaholic, “A woman after Gods own heart,” “Daddy’s Little Princess,” “Catching the Glimpse of the father,” “Hope Floats (Defeating a Spirit of Depression), and “Issues for Teenage Girls.” Karen speaks with an undying love to restore purity to a generation. Her messages reach moms, pastors’ wives, and single women alike. Thousands of women of all ages have found restored purity, purpose, and direction while under the ministry of Karen. Karen lead in the establishment of a powerful ladies ministry called “Girlfriends” located in Birmingham, AL. Karen writes a syndicated weekly column and devotional that goes out to thousands. She has a deep passion to see young ladies and women understand the power of knowing the Fathers love. Through this passion she has established “Catching the Fathers Glance.” A unique and powerful retreat for girls and ladies held all over America. Karen has been used by God to train hundreds of girls for ministry. She believes her greatest accomplishment is simply being mom to Nate and Abby, and the love of Pats life.

Forerunner School of Ministry: In 2001, Mercy Seat Ministries established The Forerunner School of Ministry—a unique training ground designed to raise up young warriors to preach the gospel. They have seen hundreds of leaders come out of this program. Mercy Seat Ministries has plans to launch at least 3 more schools of ministry by the fall of 2011. Pat and Karen often travel with a team of students from the Forerunner School of Ministry and they travel completely on a love offering basis. Mercy Seat also launched the powerful worship team “Through the Veil.”

Recent Ministry Transition: In October of 2006, Pat & Karen along with Sean and Enid Cherry founded ‘The Summit Church @ Birmingham’ to reach their city Birmingham, AL. The church continues to grow explosively both numerically and spiritually. The church is multi-generational, multi racial church who now has multiple services each week. God has allowed the church to become a major influence in the community. In May of 2010, after months of praying and seeking God, the Schatzline’s began to feel a call back to evangelism. They had continued to travel over 40 weeks a year while serving as lead pastors, but the schedule began to demand that they go out more often. Pat and Karen turned the leading of The Summit Church over to their dear friends Sean and Enid Cherry. Pat and Karen will continue to bring oversight and direction to The Summit Church @ Birmingham, but they simply could not ignore the call to go back and touch lives. As the Founders of The Summit Church @ Birmingham, Pat and Karen have dreams of launching more Summit Churches and Forerunner Schools of Ministry. They believe that now is the season to lead the masses to Christ. Now is the time for an awakening in Americas children, youth, adult and leaders.