Pastor Charles Bennett, Sr. was born the sixth child of ten to Francis & Marian Bennett. He was born into Christ in May 1985, under the leadership of the late Bishop Alfred Wallace at the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ Apostolic in Baltimore, Maryland.

Elder Bennett is a devoted Pastor, as well as a devoted husband and father. He has been married to First Lady Barbara Bennett since September 1, 1979, and God has blessed them with two beautiful children:(Charles Jr. & Brittany). They also have six grandchildren (5 boys and one girl) whom they are very proud of and love dearly!

Pastor Bennett always worked tirelessly and willingly in the kingdom of God. He was chosen to be the first deacon at True Gospel Apostolic Faith Church where Bishop Otto Richardson Jr. is pastor. Pastor Bennett served in many capacities at True Gospel for a period of seventeen years. He was an exceptional Sunday School Teacher and later became Sunday School Superintendent. Other offices held at True Gospel include: Vice Chairman of Executive Board, Brotherhood President, Youth Advisor, Young Adult Choir director, Male Chorus member and director; wherever there was a need Elder Bennett was willing to serve, including driving the church van and performing custodial duties.

On July 24th, 1991, Elder Bennett obeyed the call to the ministry and preached his initial sermon, “It’s God’s Way – or No Way At All.” As a minister, Elder Bennett did not relinquish his other duties, always working diligently in the vineyard. God anointed him with wisdom from above as he began the evangelistic stage of his ministry preaching in various states across the country as well as in the country of Jamaica.

Elder Bennett was also active in the Pentecostal Churches of the Apostolic Faith International Inc. (PCAFI) He held the office of Treasurer of the Eastern & Southern States Council (ESSC) Young People Auxiliary for 6 years. Elder Bennett was ordained as an elder in the year of 2000 at the National Convention after having completed the Evangelical Teachers Association course and passing the ordination examination. He is currently the director of Church Development for the Atlantic Regional Conference (ARC) where he frequents the state of North Carolina to assist the churches of that diocese.

In Feb 2004, having received a Pastoral call from God, Elder Bennett stepped out on faith and began a work in Baltimore, Maryland – God’s Will Apostolic Ministries (GWAM) was born. Traveling from hotel to hotel for Sunday morning services and having bible study in the basement of his home, the few members of GWAM felt like the Israelites traveling from place to place with the tabernacle. But within the span of a year, under the direction of Pastor and First Lady Bennett, God brought GWAM from the tabernacle to the temple, a permanent place of worship located at 1314 Old Eastern Ave in Essex, MD. Under the leadership of Pastor and Lady Bennett and divine direction from God, GWAM burned their mortgage in just five years in 2010.

On December 31, 2013, GWAM moved to it’s current location at 155 Orville Rd in Essex, MD. This move was navigated without having to sell the former location. The current edifice enabled Pastor Bennett to realize his vision to start a community development center in June of 2022; thus was birthed the Total Development Community Center (TDCC). Through TDCC, we are able to minister to the community socially and ultimately spiritually. TDCC hosts a food pantry that feeds a minimum of 100 people weekly as well as gives away clothing to those in need. TDCC provides a myriad of services that include: mental heath services, GED training, record expungement, workplace training, and is exploring the possibility of offering transitional housing.

Pastor Bennett remains focused on the salvation of the lost while peaching the gospel of Jesus Christ and helping God’s people to be steadfast and unmovable; always abounding in the work of the Lord.