In 1957, Kenneth Copeland was 20 years old, and he looked to be on his way to a successful music career. He had a hit record, Pledge of Love, at number 14 on the national charts and number one on the local charts. He even appeared on American Bandstand and was featured next to Ricky Nelson in Dig Magazine. But God had other plans for Kenneth’s life.

He soon met Gloria and asked her to marry him on their very first date. She said yes! They were married, and the newlyweds lived in a rented apartment with a rollaway bed. They cooked in a coffee pot and kept their food on the porch to keep it cold. Things were not abundant, but as Gloria sat reading a Bible given to Kenneth from his mother one day, she prayed, “God, take my life and do something with it.” She gave her life to the Lord, and just a short time later, Kenneth did the same.

Five years later, at the age of 30, Kenneth obeyed God, packed up his family, and moved to Tulsa, Okla., to enroll at Oral Roberts University in spring of 1967. Kenneth applied to be Oral Roberts’ co-pilot, and he got the job! He was a part of the flight crew, so he attended all the tent meetings and crusades. During this time, he was learning exponentially through on-the-job training because just a few short months later, God called Kenneth to start his own ministry.

One day in May 1967, Kenneth was walking along the bed of the Arkansas River in Tulsa, Oklahoma, when the Lord dropped the vision of the ministry into his heart: to preach the gospel to the nations—a call that would include using every available voice to preach the uncompromised message of faith to meet the needs of people worldwide. On September 7, 1967, Kenneth Copeland Ministries was birthed, and it all started with simple steps of obedience and faith, as well as a commitment to walk in love and the integrity of God’s Word.

Here’s what Kenneth has to say about the birth of Kenneth Copeland Ministries:  “Kenneth Copeland Ministries was birthed out of love for the people and a commitment to bring people The Word,” says Kenneth. “Our lives are totally wrapped up in ministering to the people. When we say, ‘We’re here for you,’ we mean it to this point—everything we do, everything we preach, every broadcast we come on, everywhere we minister, everything we say and do is prayed, engineered, designed to minister to the people…God called us to take His message of love and faith to the whole world. We care about you, and we want to help you find the answers you need in God’s Word.”

Kellie Copeland, Kenneth and Gloria’s daughter, believes this is what sets Kenneth and Gloria apart:  “People all the time use the phrases, ‘Word church,’ ‘Word people,’ ‘Word movement,'” says Kellie. “Fifty years ago, faith was ambiguous. It wasn’t a movement. To us, it was just a way of life. Mom and Dad said, ‘If we see it in The Word, we’re going to form our life around that. We’re going to change our life to fit the Word.’ It’s the way we live our life. Every decision they make is formed around The Word.”