History Is Built by Women Who Say Yes: A reflection by Ruthie Kim - Founder of BJM
People often ask me what the big master plan was when I started BJM. What was the vision or strategy I had for reaching women in San Francisco? That question always makes me smile, because there really wasn’t a plan. Just one small yes, followed by another and another. The truth is, BJM has been built by many of us over the years who simply felt a call, a nudge, or a stirring and said yes. It’s amazing what can be created when we keep saying yes to the small steps of obedience and surrender in front of us.
For me, that first yes came after a season of difficult burnout. I had taken a few months away from ministry, unsure if I would ever return. During that time, I began volunteering with a domestic violence agency in San Francisco. It was there that I first began to sense what would eventually become BJM. I felt deeply stirred by the unique needs of women. I saw how many were under-resourced and overlooked, and I felt an urgency for those of us who follow Jesus to respond in tangible and real ways. That moment, combined with my years of ministry on the streets with women—many who were unhoused, suffering from severe mental illness, and often the victims of assault or abuse—became the catalyst for me to say yes to this deep conviction to stand with women and contend for the future God has for them.
At the time, those everyday yeses felt small. Setting up a table on the sidewalk and painting nails. Prayer walking the neighborhood and showing up to advocate for better laws that protect women. Handing out gift bags in strip clubs, or teaching a young girl how to plié in her ballet class. But every small yes, by every single person, has contributed to what is now a movement.
Every year, when Women's History Month comes around, I am filled with joy that we have the opportunity to call attention to so many amazing women, both historical and in our community now. But it’s also a reminder that history is not only shaped by famous names or big moments. It is built by ordinary women who quietly say yes—to courage, to compassion, to justice—day after day. In many ways, that is exactly what Because Justice Matters has always been about.
This month, we invite you to partner with us financially to support this movement. We are a community committed to standing with women and girls, advocating for justice, and creating real pathways toward healing, dignity, and hope. Join us with one small yes. Sign up to be part of our monthly giving team.
Ruthie
