HISTORY

Andrew Wommack was born again at eight years old. Growing up he believed that he could develop a relationship with the Lord through his own righteousness.

Andrew and Jamie were married and began to lead Bible studies together. Over the next six years, they pastored three small churches.

Using a friend's closet to record, Andrew broadcast his first Gospel Truth radio program on a country and western station in Childress, Texas.

Andrew and Jamie moved their ministry to Manitou Springs, Colorado. A businessman gifted them a 3,000 square foot building. Their vision became even clearer: to teach the truth of the Gospel to the body of Christ throughout the United States and the world, emphasizing God’s unconditional love and the balance between grace and faith.

They had begun to fulfill that vision by traveling to speaking engagements, expanding radio broadcasts to over 100 stations, and distributing audio cassette tapes, which were provided at no cost to those who could not afford them.

God put 2 Timothy 2:2 on Andrew’s heart regarding starting a Bible College. In this verse Paul tells Timothy to take the things he learned and commit them to faithful men and women.

Andrew believed that academics alone wouldn’t be effective, and he was divinely shown that practical ministry training combined with Biblical teaching would prepare his students for their individual callings. After assembling a faculty of experienced ministers and teachers, Colorado Bible College opened its doors in September 1994.

By 2002, the ministry doubled in size. Before long, Andrew needed a new building to accommodate a growing student body as well as an adequate call center and television studio.

In January the Lord spoke to Andrew through Psalm 78:41 that Andrew was limiting Him by his small thinking. Andrew repented and started enlarging his vision. In December of that same year, the ministry purchased a 110,000-square-foot facility that would support AWM and the Bible College for years.

In 2002 Colorado Bible College was renamed to Charis Bible College.

As the ministry continued to grow, so did the need for a new home for AWM and, particularly, Charis. In 2009, God miraculously supplied a 157-acre pristine piece of property in Woodland Park, Colorado. The property was purchased from Eddie and Carol Sturman, and was previously owned by Gilbert Jackson who was radically saved in 1992.

After Gilbert’s conversion, his only desire was that people come to know Jesus. Before he died, Gilbert envisioned a Christian education building on his 157-acre ranch, a structure with glass walls to show off the beauty of Pikes Peak for the students.

Charis shared use of The Barn with AWM for a variety of functions and events, but with the two branches of the ministry being headquartered in two different cities, there were collaborative challenges.

In 2017, God miraculously provided a 336 acre property adjacent to The Sanctuary and a 60,000-square-foot building on that property that was also purchased from the Sturmans. The 21 million dollar property was purchased debt-free, including the 2 million dollar renovation that started in March of 2018. AWM officially moved in August of 2018.

Today it is easier than ever to engage with AWM and Charis through their websites, television networks, events, and social media platforms. Future expansion plans for Charis are extensive, including state-of-the-art college facilities to enhance the student experience. The ministry is growing like never before, continuing to fulfill the vision God gave Andrew of going as far and as deep with the Gospel as possible.