Barry Bennett: Our Steps Are Ordered

Charis Bible College Ministry Training Program Coordinator, Barry Bennett. (Click to enlarge)Barry Bennett is the Coordinator of the third year Ministry Training Program at Charis Bible College in Colorado Springs. This new program has effectively expanded CBC's curriculum to include a third year specifically geared for those desiring to enter full-time ministry. The third year is designed to implement Andrew's vision for a more intense time of training for those called to pastoral or para-church ministry.

Prior to stepping into his role as Coordinator, Barry had served the Lord in a variety of capacities in North, Central and South America. He was born again in the early 1970's, and is a graduate of Christ for the Nations Institute. While attending CFN, Barry discovered he had a heart for missionary work; Barry, Betty Kay and their three young children David, Daniel and Leah on the mission field in Guatemala in 1989. (Click to enlarge)he also found he had a heart for fellow student, Betty Kay. As it turned out Betty Kay shared the same heart, both for reaching the nations with the gospel—and for Barry. The two were married while still attending CFN, and shortly after graduation hurried out to the mission field in Guadalajara, Mexico. It didn't take long for the Bennetts to realize they had made an error. "We thought that we would be missionaries to Mexico for an extended period of time; however, with no support, no home church, and no experience, we quickly realized that we had jumped the gun," said Barry.

After four months in Mexico, the Bennetts returned to Texas and became involved with a local church. Eleven years later, after working bi-vocationally in ministry and in the secular workplace, their home church sent Barry, Betty Kay and their three children to Guatemala for language learning. Barry playing guitar with the a worship team in Concepción, Chile.
(Click to enlarge)From there the Bennetts were invited to work as missionaries in Chile.

For more than a decade the couple ministered in Chile, first in Concepción and then in Santiago. Their endeavors were wide ranging and fruitful, and Barry gained experience teaching, preaching and counseling in the local Spanish-speaking community. In 1992, the Bennetts were invited to Santiago to bring leadership to a thirty member home church group. Eventually the Bennetts were asked to pastor the group. Under their oversight and guidance for the next eight years, the group transitioned into a fully functioning church and the membership grew to almost three hundred.

In 2000, the Bennetts began to sense that their time in Chile was drawing to a close and they prepared to return to the States. The family returned to Texas in 2001, Santiago, Chile where Barry pastored, Vida en Cristo in the early ninteen nineties. (Click to enlarge)and became part of a large Spanish congregation where their pastor allowed Barry to launch a Bible institute. The school, which was taught in the Spanish language, met several times per week and over a period of five years graduated more than 200 students.

During their season in Dallas, Barry came across Andrew's Gospel Truth program on the radio. As he listened to Andrew's teachings, Barry gained confidence in his own understanding. "I was amazed to hear someone teaching what I had been teaching, but with even more revelation," said Barry. With confirmation that his own revelation and teachings were on track, he found he had a desire to be more connected to a ministry that was so like-minded.

Barry and Betty Kay standing with a graduating class from the Spanish-speaking Instituto Avance, a Bible school they pioneered in Dallas,Texas. (Click to enlarge)A short time later the Bennett's oldest children, sons David and Daniel, both decided they wanted to attend CBC. Supportive of the decision, Barry and Betty Kay visited the Colorado campus to see where the young men would be attending school; while they were there the Lord spoke to Barry. "On a tour of the college, while passing by the auditorium, the Lord spoke to my heart and told me that someday I would teach in CBC. I was simultaneously shocked and excited," said Barry.

As the Bennetts left to head back to Dallas, they grabbed AWM job applications, filled them out and mailed them back to the ministry. In a very short time, Betty Kay was notified of a job opening at the ministry. This opening coupled with the word Barry had heard in his heart while touring the campus, Andrew and CBC Director, Gary Luecke, pray over Barry and Betty Kay (left) during an ordination ceremony.
(Click to enlarge)were enough for Barry to make arrangements to move to Colorado Springs.

Both Betty Kay and Barry were hired within two weeks of their arrival in Colorado. Initially, Barry was brought into the Phone Center as a prayer minister, but after four months, he was asked to take over a vacancy in the ministry's Encouragement Department. In this position he answered doctrinal questions asked of the ministry via correspondence. "I remained in the Encouragement Department for two-and-a-half years and responded to some 20,000 emails and letters during that time," Barry said.

While working in the Encouragement Department, Barry submitted his ministry résumé to the Director of Charis Bible College, Gary Luecke, and expressed his interest in teaching if ever the need for a substitute arose. Months later, as Barry was driving to work, he received a call inquiring whether he could speak during that morning's 8 a.m. chapel. "It was then 7:45 a.m. I felt that this was my 'divine appointment.' I said, 'yes,' rushed into my office, grabbed some notes, which were in Spanish—I hadn’t ministered in English in 18 years, and it seemed to go well," said Barry.

Barry teaching in the CBC auditorium—just as the Lord had spoken to him. (Click to enlarge)Barry was able to teach a number of times during the 2008-2009 academic year, and he went on to teach nine courses the following year, while continuing to work full-time in the Encouragement Department. Toward the end of the 2009-2010 school year, Gary asked Barry to consider moving to CBC on a full-time basis. This year, after making the move to CBC, Barry has become the third year Coordinator and is enjoying teaching a total of fifteen courses.

Reflecting on his first full year as Coordinator, Barry said, "This year has been a great success. Almost forty students have completed the program and have been exposed to many facets of ministry."

Under Barry's leadership, the third year Ministry Training Program will continue to expand. Next year, Barry will be joined by Daniel Amstutz, Director of CBC's School of Worship, Stephen Bransford, Director of CBC's School of Media, and Pastor Greg Mohr, Director of CBC's new School of Business Administration to train and equip third year students in these specialized areas of ministry.

The steps of a good man are indeed ordered by the Lord (Psalm 37:23).

Gary Luecke: Walking God's Path

Gary Luecke, the Director of Charis Bible College in Colorado. (Click to enlarge)Less than a decade ago, Gary Luecke and his family were living the American dream. Raised in a relatively conservative setting, Gary graduated in 1985 from Lamar University with a degree in business. He and his wife, Diane were married in 1989 and Gary began a career in the automobile financial services industry, which lasted for seventeen years. “I was tracking on the corporate path with the intent to keep bettering myself and provide a good living for my family,” Gary said. This seemed like a good plan for a man with five children and a wife dedicated to home schooling their brood. The Lueckes plans changed however, when Gary began to get a hold of the Word, and the Word began to get a hold of him.

Gary remembers when he and his wife were exposed to the baptism in the Holy Spirit for the first time. Gary and his wife, Diane.
(Click to enlarge)To some extent, Gary could see the baptism from the scriptural standpoint, but he was still confused about it. In addition to his confusion, he was skeptical about the Charismatic church. Around this time, the Lueckes discovered Andrew's Gospel Truth program on Sky Angel. It wasn’t long after they began listening to Andrew that he taught about the baptism in the Holy Spirit, and for the first time, Gary felt like he was gaining revelation. “We continued to start each morning by watching the broadcast, and the manner in which Andrew explained the Bible kept bearing witness, Gary said.” Although Andrew was saying things that Gary had never heard, and were even contrary to what he believed, he knew he was listening to truth.

As the seeds of truth were planted, Gary’s desires began to change. “The Word must have kept growing in my heart because I sensed my spiritual desires increasing and changing, The Luecke family (Click to enlarge)knowing there was more to life than what I was currently experiencing,” Gary explained.

Coincidentally, as Gary began to acknowledge that his desires were changing his employer informed him that the company was going to transfer him from his Iowa location to Maryland. Gary did not have peace about making the move across the country, and instead took a demotion in order to remain in Iowa. Thankful to still have a position with the company, but realizing his ever increasing desire to know the Word, Gary began to question the future he had thought was planned out. His dissatisfaction led him to question himself about what he would do if finances were not a concern. He knew almost instantly that he wanted to attend Charis Bible College (CBC). Gary and Diane led a CBC mission team to Argentina last fall. Here Gary and several team members ministered to a local pastor. (Click to enlarge)As exciting as the prospect of attending CBC was, the idea forced Gary to begin to see his Savior in an altogether new role in his life; the role of Provider. “Truly trusting God to be my provider was a huge step for me,” Gary said.

When the Lueckes decided it was time to take the necessary steps to attend CBC, Colorado, Gary put the family's home on the market. With practicality in mind, Gary intended to wait to resign from his position until he had a real estate contract in hand. After a few weeks of waiting for the house to sell, Gary’s excitement got the best of him and he gave notice of his resignation. Within one week of submitting his resignation, the Lueckes entered a contract to sell their home.

Gary (right) sharing a word with Barry and Betty Kay Bennett (left) during an ordination ceremony. (Click to enlarge)Gary began his first year at CBC in November of 2003, and as he stepped away from corporate America, God provided for him and his family every step of the way. Gary completed three years at CBC and was then hired by the college to be the Night School Director. Within six weeks of being hired, Gary was offered the position of CBC Administrator as well. Gary accepted the additional responsibility and served in both positions faithfully for four years until last year, when he was promoted to the position of CBC Director, where he currently serves.

In addition to his role as Director of CBC-Colorado, Gary has also begun to lead a home church called, Grace and Faith Bible Church. During his time as a student at CBC, Andrew and some fellow students had told Gary that he was called to be a pastor. Gary initially found himself fighting against the thought, but today he has embraced his role and enjoys leading the forty-member fellowship that meets in his home. Each Sunday, the group shares testimonies, a time of praise and worship, a teaching, and a pot-luck meal together. Gary and his family have grown fond of their church family and they look forward to the gathering each week.

Like many, Gary once thought he had his whole life planned out, but today he serves as living proof that it is not in man to direct his own steps (Jeremiah 10:23). He is walking out the plan and purpose he was created for, and according to Gary, “There is more satisfaction and joy when one knows they are doing what God has called them to do!"

Kingdom Heart Ministries: Fruit of Discipleship

Founders of Kingdom Heart Ministries, Jan and Wayne Knurr. (Click to enlarge)In previous posts Andrew has shared his vision for the direction of Andrew Wommack Ministries and Charis Bible College (CBC), which is to fulfill God's call to make disciples (2 Timothy 2:2). With each passing year the fruit of CBC becomes more evident as the students take what they have learned and establish the new ministries to which they have been called. Kingdom Heart Ministries, founded by Wayne and Jan Knurr, is one such organization.

The Knurrs had been living lives committed to the Lord for more than a decade, when Wayne began having the desire to attend bible college. As the Knurrs explored the options from their home in Ripon, Wisconsin, friends in Colorado were praying for them, and felt led to send information to Wayne and Jan about Colorado Bible College (now known as Charis Bible College). This was the Knurrs introduction to Andrew's ministry.

CBC Graduate and Dean of Students for CBC Colorado, Wayne Knurr (Click to enlarge)Upon reading the information contained in the packet their friends had sent, and listening to the teaching from the various ministers on the introductory tape, the Knurrs knew without a doubt that Wayne would be attending CBC. "There was more life spoken on that tape than [we had heard] the previous seven years combined in our small town church. I knew this was the place the Holy Spirit had chosen for me to prepare for ministry," Wayne said.

Wayne completed his first year classes using the CBC correspondence program. In June of 1998, Wayne, Jan and their two daughters, then ages eight and five, moved to Colorado Springs for Wayne's second-year studies. Wayne completed the program and graduated in May of 1999. Later in 2000, Wayne was ordained by Andrew, Linus LeFever and Don Krow.

Jan Knurr leading praise and worship. Jan's third worship CD is due to be released in March of 2011. (Click to enlarge)The Knurr family returned to Wisconsin, and Wayne began ministering in a local church; however the Holy Spirit soon led Wayne back to Colorado to complete the optional third-year apprentice program at CBC. The Lord had revealed to Wayne that AWM was about to experience explosive growth and that He wanted Wayne to be part of the coming changes. Obedient to the Lord's leading, Wayne went back to CBC and served his apprenticeship; primarily under the guidance of Leon Matheny, the Dean of Students at the time. Toward the end of his apprenticeship, Wayne did not have clear direction for his next step in ministry, but later that year, Leon moved on from CBC and Andrew asked Wayne if he would take the position as the new Dean of Students. Honored, Wayne accepted his new ministerial role at CBC; an office he has held since 2002.

Wayne has been the Dean of Students at CBC Colorado since 2002.
(Click to enlarge)As Wayne prepared for ministry, Jan too, allowed the Holy Spirit to guide her in the use of her gifts. She has a special passion for leading praise and worship and for raising others to lead in the area of worship ministry. Jan also enjoys leading women's groups where she shares her revelation on relationship and intimacy with the Lord, and teaches on the topics of marriage and family.

Together, Wayne and Jan launched Kingdom Heart Ministries (KHM) in 2004. At the core of their ministry is the desire to equip, establish and exhort leaders in the church; edifying them through the five-fold ministry offices mentioned in the book of Ephesians. Jan and her worship team leading a women's conference in Colorado Springs. (Click to enlarge)The Knurrs emphasize Biblical instruction and healthy order within the church and its government, and they long to see all believers walking in the freedom the Lord has provided for them.

Today, in addition to Wayne's position with CBC, he and Jan travel throughout the United States and abroad ministering through praise and worship and sharing the Word with individuals, churches, and other ministries. The Knurrs have successfully mentored and discipled many men and women in Kingdom principles and relationship with God. Through the Knurr's cooperation with The Holy Spirit, they have seen God’s mercy, grace, and faithfulness bring freedom to people’s lives.

For more information about the Knurr's ministry and upcoming conference schedule, visit the Kingdom Heart Ministries website.