History

With less than 20 students, the ministry of Purpose Institute (formerly Canton College of Ministries) began in February of 1994 in Canton, Ohio, USA. Its founder, Bishop F. Joe Ellis simply wanted to make Apostolic ministry training available to those in his local church who were unable to relocate to be trained in a traditional setting.

In 1998, after a three month missions trip to Eastern Europe, Bishop Ellis saw first hand the overwhelming need for apostolic ministry training at the local level world-wide. When he returned home he was determined to see this become a reality. The ministry continued to grow in vision, staff and campuses.

On Friday, May 25, 2001, in a team meeting in Lancaster, Ohio, an expanded sense of calling and responsibility was realized by all present, (Gary Keller, Richard Collins, Oval Eller, Paul Cook, Shaun Eller, Tom Ellis, F. Joe Ellis). By a unanimous decision, Purpose Institute International became the new corporate name of the ministry. Since that time PI has truly become a global ministry. PI remains resolute in its vision to make apostolic training available in every nation of the world.