About
Welcome to Charis Church
About Charis
We are a church in Shawnee, Kansas
We are a family focused, Spirit-empowered church in Shawnee, Kansas.
Founding Pastors Max and Molly Cornell strive to create an authentic community where people can connect deeply with God and each other. We’re known for our unique combination of in-depth teaching and emphasis on personal encounters with the Holy Spirit. Layer on lots of fun, food, and occasionally terrible dad jokes, and you have Charis!
What Does “Charis” Mean? “Charis” is Greek for “grace.” It emphasizes our focus on the unconditional love of God. It also speaks to the way that God empowers us to live for Him.
History
Charis Christian Center
Charis Church is a sister church to Charis Christian Center (CharisChristianCenter.com) in Colorado Springs. CCC is a life giving church founded by Pastors Lawson and Barbara Perdue in 2001. Lawson and Barbara are native Coloradans. Shortly after they were married at 19, Lawson attended Dr. Lester Sumrall’s World Harvest Bible College.
After graduating, they planted Church of the Redeemed in Kit Carson, Colorado, and pastored there for 13 years, before heeding the call of God to move to Colorado Springs and begin a brand new work. Charis Christian Center held it’s first service the Sunday before 9/11 and has flourished under their leadership.
The Perdue’s are committed to sharing the message of God’s grace to the next generation, which they do weekly in their church, through their national television program Grace For Today, and by teaching in Andrew Wommack’s Charis Bible College.
And Now Charis Church!
In 2016, God called Max and Molly to start a church in the Kansas City area CCC provided oversight and financing and Pastor Lawson still serves as part of the legal board.
Charis Church held its first official service September 18th, 2016 at Prairie Trail Middle School. And on May 3rd, 2020, purchased its first church building in Shawnee. Max and Molly’s commitment is to honor their spiritual heritage by seeing lives transformed through the power of the Gospel. Come be part of the story!
Our Team
Leadership Team
Pastors
Max and Molly Cornell
Max and Molly Cornell are originally from southeast Kansas. They went to high school together and started dating at senior prom. A little over a year later after completing their first year of college, they were married. They are both graduates of Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kansas, where Max studied English and Molly studied biology. After graduation, they moved to Kansas City where Molly continued her education and became a physical therapist and Max taught high school English.
At a young age, Max began to feel the call on his life into the ministry, but was unsure how to pursue it until 2011, when God called them to attend Charis Bible College in Colorado. After graduating, Max served as an associate pastor at Charis Christian Center. Max and Molly are passionate about seeing lives transformed as the wisdom, power, and love of heaven touches earth.
They enjoy traveling (especially to places with beaches), cheering for the Chiefs and Royals, and eating good Mexican food. They have 4 kids, and a faithful dog CC.
Neil and Sarah Grindel
Children / Youth PastorsBIO
Becky Cornell
Nursery PastorBIO
Laurie & Sean Oleson
Worship PastorBIO
Beliefs
Our Essential Beliefs
Our belief system is rooted in the unconditional love of God. Jesus died for all people at all times, communicating the worth of each person and providing the only means of salvation.
In essential Christian beliefs (like the ones listed in the Apostle's Creed) we preach unity. In nonessential beliefs, we explain our position while honoring those that disagree.
